Faith And The Oscars: What Happened To Hollywood’s Great Religious Films?
(ANALYSIS) Hollywood has long turned to faith as a source of storytelling — drawing on centuries-old sacred texts, historical figures and enduring moral questions.
From sweeping Biblical epics to modern-day dramas, movies have always explored how faith shapes human choices and the world around us. Some portray foundational stories familiar to millions of believers, while others examine the personal struggles that arise when belief collides with personal suffering.
Together, such themes show how movies can grapple with profound questions about redemption, sacrifice, justice and morality. For viewers interested in how film has portrayed faith, several Hollywood productions stand out as essential viewing (more on that further down).
Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 Academy Awards and the role of faith in movies of the past and what it means for Hollywood going forward.
What Hollywood movies about religion should someone definitely take the time to see?
Several Hollywood films about religion are widely regarded as classics because they take faith seriously as a subject and explore moral questions about belief, suffering, redemption and conscience. One of the most famous is the 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ,” directed by Mel Gibson. The film depicts the crucifixion of Jesus with striking realism and emotional intensity. It sparked enormous debate at the time, but also became one of the most successful religious films ever made, demonstrating that audiences will show up for serious portrayals of Christian stories.
Another landmark film is the 1959 epic “Ben-Hur,” starring the legendary Charlton Heston. This film, about a Jewish prince who encounters Jesus, combines large-scale spectacle with a powerful narrative about redemption. It won 11 Academy Awards and remains one of the most celebrated films in Hollywood history. Three years earlier, “The Ten Commandments,” directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Heston in the title role of Moses, is another foundational religious epic. Its story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt helped define how Biblical narratives were presented on the big screen for generations.
Finally, “A Man for All Seasons,” released in 1966, tells the story of Thomas More resisting the demands of Henry VIII. The film is admired for its thoughtful examination of conscience and the cost of remaining faithful to one’s beliefs under intense political pressure. The Vatican’s film list also serves as a solid guide for finding the best faith movies.
Why has Hollywood, especially in recent decades, had an issue with movies about faiths like Christianity?
Several cultural and industry factors have contributed to a perception that Hollywood has grown more hesitant about explicitly religious storytelling, particularly stories rooted in Christianity. One factor is the cultural shift within the film industry itself. Many filmmakers and executives work in a largely secular creative environment, which can influence the types of stories that get developed and funded. Stories about religion sometimes emerge through a more skeptical lens, focusing on institutional problems or hypocrisy rather than devotional themes.
Another factor is economic assumptions: Large studios often believe explicitly religious films appeal primarily to a niche audience. Because of this perception, many faith-based projects are produced outside the traditional studio system by independent companies or faith-focused distributors. Awards culture also plays a role. The kinds of films that perform well with religious audiences— family dramas or devotional stories — fall outside the types of films that receive recognition from institutions like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the Academy Awards.
“Sinners” was nominated for a record 16 Academy Awards. Is it a religious movie?
“Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, is not primarily a religious film — although it includes spiritual imagery and moral themes. The story follows twin brothers returning to the American South during the 1930s who confront racism, supernatural forces and the cultural power of blues music. Religious imagery does appear throughout the film because of the historical setting in the deeply Christian culture of the Jim Crow South. However, the film is better described as a horror film with spiritual themes rather than a traditional faith-based film centered on a particular religious message.
As Religion Unplugged’s chief film critic Joseph Holmes noted in his review: “It’s the pagan spiritualist Annie (played by Wunmi Mosaku) who’s the wisest and knows the most about vampires. It’s the folklore weaknesses of vampires like garlic, sunlight and silver which are able to harm them (with only a quick mention of holy water), while crosses are never mentioned or used. And when Sammy says the Lord’s prayer, the other vampires join in, with the leader saying that the prayer gives him comfort. Likewise, Sammy’s father condemns Sammy’s music and the lifestyle of sex (including adultery) and drunkenness of the musician lifestyle Sammy wants. But Sammy’s happy ending involves him choosing that lifestyle over his father’s church.”
What other movies released in 2025 that the Oscars snubbed were religious or faith-based films?
Several faith-based films released last year generated buzz among religious audiences, but predictably received little attention from the Academy. In his annual roundup of the year’s best movies, Holmes noted: “There’s no doubt that faith-based films blew up in 2025. Whether that’s in the faith-based film industry putting out record-breaking theatrical releases of ‘The Chosen’ and other Jesus movies or Hollywood exploring religion with a newfound earnestness in the horror genre or blockbusters, faith was everywhere this year.” Movies that topped his list included “Guns & Moses,” “The Last Rodeo” and “Light of the World.”
Despite the attention the Oscars garners, movies overall have dipped in popularity in recent years. Is it because audiences interested in traditional faith aren’t being served?
Partly. Movie theater attendance has dropped in recent years, especially since the pandemic and following the increase in alternatives provided by streaming services. Increasingly, the audience has fragmented into many smaller, niche ones. At the same time, Christians have become a lot more serious — and better at — when making movies about religion and themes surrounding faith.
Hollywood seems to be moving toward a view where organized religion is bad, but individual spirituality is good. What does that mean for faith-based films going forward?
When critics say Hollywood increasingly favors individual spirituality over organized religion, they are describing a storytelling pattern that has become more visible in recent decades. In many contemporary films, institutional religion — especially established churches — is often depicted as restrictive, political or hypocritical. At the same time, personal spiritual experience is frequently portrayed as authentic, liberating and meaningful.
For faith-based filmmakers, this trend could lead to two parallel paths. Mainstream Hollywood may continue producing films that explore spiritual themes in broad ways. At the same time, explicitly religious films, especially Christian ones, may increasingly be developed and distributed by independent studios and faith-oriented production companies that target audiences eager for stories rooted directly in their religious traditions. The result may be a film landscape where spirituality remains a major theme in cinema, but overtly doctrinal religious storytelling appears more often outside the traditional Hollywood ecosystem.
Clemente Lisi is executive editor at Religion Unplugged.