(ANALYSIS) Many characteristics of Shaker life and belief set them apart from other Protestants, but their name derives from one of the most obvious. Early Shakers manifested the holy spirit they believed dwelled within them by shaking violently in worship. The film “The Testament of Ann Lee” brings this movement to life for modern audiences.
Read More(ANALYSIS) 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.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Why do I think Christian families should have a “Christmas movie” tradition in which there are a few (very few) wonderful flicks that they watch as part of its “traditional” (small “t”) festivities linked to Christmas?
Read More(REVIEW) The film follows the real-life story of Ann Lee, who in the 18th century was the founding leader of the Shaker Movement and was proclaimed as the female Christ by her followers. “The Testament of Ann Lee” is an example of why Hollywood is interested in stories about faith. It’s also an example of why it’s hard for them to capture the experience in a way that resonates with believers.
Read More(REVIEW) “The Case for Miracles” attempts to encourage all of these groups with belief in the miraculous. Unfortunately, it tries to do too much and please too many potential audiences. The result is that, though its heart is in the right place, almost everyone, even those who agree with it, will likely go away unpersuaded and unsatisfied.
Read MoreThe hit series “Stranger Things” has become one of the biggest shows ever streamed on Netflix. The series, featuring a nostalgic mix of 1980s pop culture, government conspiracies and creatures from another dimension, have captivated millions. “Stranger Things” is not a religious series, but reminds viewers faith can take many forms.
Read More(REVIEW) The rom-com is about Joan and Larry, an elderly couple who are reunited in the afterlife as their younger, happier selves. They find themselves in a waiting room where souls have just a week to decide which “eternity zone” they want to spend forever in. Larry and Joan can’t be together if he’s in “beach” world and she’s in “mountain” world.
Read More(REVIEW) This makes film’s presentation feel extremely — for lack of a better word — basic. The movie, however, never figures out exactly which of these threads it wants to follow. Is it about the trials? The nature of evil and whether the Nazis were unique or not? Is it trying to educate viewers about Holocaust history, or say something new about it?
Read More(REVIEW) “The Carpenter’s Son” is a horror-spun story following Joseph, played by Nicolas Cage, as he tries to raise Jesus. The film claims to ask hard questions about the biblical narrative — but it just ends up merely recapitulating simplistic modern narratives.
Read More(REVIEW) While evangelicals are often said not to care about racism, quite a few movies made for that audience over the years have dealt with the topic. “Sarah’s Oil” is in that tradition — a decent faith-based historical drama that deals explicitly with race, but one that may become a rarer occurrence in the coming years.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In other words, this is another case of “good” religion vs. “bad” religion.
Read More(REVIEW) “Black Phone 2” is good when it’s going for vibe and style. The first half, where it shows characters dealing with trauma without judging them, is Derrickson at his best. But a disappointing second half that focuses more on preaching than entertainment undermines any goodwill the film built up. And its harmful spiritual messages mean that this is a phone call there’s very little reason to take.
Read More(REVIEW) There's a part of me that can’t wrap my head around the purpose of “The Chosen Adventures.” It’s ostensibly a version of “The Chosen” for kids, but the original series is already largely family-friendly. Sure, it straddles the line between PG and PG-13, but it’s really only the youngest viewers who might find it unappealing.
Read MoreNext year, a new feature-length presentation of the Crucifixion will hit the big screen. It’ll mark the culmination of the much-anticipated Season 6 of the worldwide phenomenon “The Chosen.” What should viewers expect? Will it be similar to — or different from — “The Passion” version?
Read MoreNine months before she was killed by an Israeli airstrike, Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona started quoting “Shawshank Redemption.” “Hope is a dangerous thing,” she told Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi over a WhatsApp video call. Farsi and Hassona began talking in early 2024, after Farsi’s plans to make a documentary in Rafah were upended due to the closing of the border.
Read More(REVIEW) “House of David” is the flagship title of the newly launched “Wonder Project,” and Season 2 is the biggest launch title for its new subscription platform. The series delivers on epic battles, complex characters and biblical themes. It recounts the ascent of the biblical figure David, who eventually becomes the most renowned and celebrated king of Israel.
Read More(REVIEW) The online series does a solid job of translating the biblical story and characters into a sit-com workplace comedy format. But, like the Israelites looking for the promised land, it has a long way to go before it gets there. The first season of “The Promised Land” is available on YouTube now with new episodes releasing each week.
Read More(REVIEW) “Ruth & Boaz,” a modern retelling of the biblical love story, blends faith-based themes with romantic drama and Tyler Perry-style spectacle. Directed by Alanna Brown and produced under a Netflix deal with DeVon Franklin and Tyler Perry Studios, the film explores themes of faith, redemption and healing while leaning heavily on familiar tropes.
Read More(ANALYSIS) These so-called “Jesus glow-up” posts, and their influencer authors, communicate a message that a relationship with Christ provides a “blessing of heightened physical beauty.”
Read More(ANALYSIS) More recently, a 2021 study from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative looked at 200 popular movies and found that Muslim characters were either completely missing or shown as violent. Despite the consistency of negative representations of Muslims on television following the rise in Islamophobia, the post-9/11 climate actually saw the introduction of more diverse Muslim characters.
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