(REVIEW) Fans of “The Chosen” TV series shocked the entertainment industry by rocketing the tiny Christmas special — which is essentially a Christmas carol show with a short Christmas-themed episode of “The Chosen” attached to it — to over $10 million at the box office its opening week.
Read More(REVIEW) The latest Hollywood blockbuster “Dune,” a space opera based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, is essentially a philosophical thought experiment that asks, How would Islam adapt and change thousands of years into the future on a distant desert planet? By projecting into the future, the film highlights our present reality.
Read More(REVIEW) New biopic “King Richard” shares the origins of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams through the eyes of their father, Richard. It’s a heartwarming story of strength, athleticism and family but often gets too hung up on its protagonist to feature its proper stars.
Read More(REVIEW) The new documentary “The Jesus Music” interviews iconic Christian artists like Amy Grant, TobyMac, Michael W. Smith and more. It’s a fun documentary, but its nostalgia overshadows many more important discussions on the current state of Christian music — for Christians and non-Christians alike.
Read More(REVIEW) The horrifyingly addictive Netflix Korean thriller has become the number one television show in more than 90 countries. But beyond the surprising visuals and horrific violence that touch on an array of themes, the show also has something to say about religion — specifically Korean forms of Christianity.
Read More(REVIEW) The movie “God’s Not Dead: We The People” is another very bad entry in a very bad franchise. But the real issue is that no one is making movies that express the experiences of the Christian conservative audience in ways that are high-quality, nuanced and productive and encourage the best angles of those people.
Read More(REVIEW) Disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker has been broadcasting “The Jim Bakker Show” since 2003, nine years after his release from prison. Today, it reflects an empty shell of his former glory, featuring prophetic apocalyptic preaching.
Read More(REVIEW) A new Ken Burns documentary on PBS tells the story of the world’s greatest heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, including his friendship with Malcolm X and faith journey to Nation of Islam and then Sunni Islam.
Read More(REVIEW) New biopic “Respect” shows the trajectory of the life and career of “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. Through personal strife and career hurdles, Franklin’s Christian faith remained at the center of her life. The movie shows both how it influenced her style and saved her more than once.
Read MoreNBC’s “Manifest” has been a top trending show on Netflix for weeks. Its faith themes — including a primary focus on a New Testament Bible verse — have enriched the show and focused on themes of redemption.
Read More(REVIEW) A new documentary by the BBC on Hillsong Church reveals new insight into the global evangelical church network’s celebrity culture, sex scandals, and questionable financial dealings.
Read More(REVIEW) Netflix’s latest reality series about a highly successful businesswoman who left a strict Orthodox Jewish community is hilarious at times and binge-worthy but adds to the narrative that religion is oppressive. Meanwhile, Orthodox Judaism is attracting more young people in the U.S. than previous generations despite religion’s overall decline.
Read More(REVIEW) A new PBS documentary on the life of Pope Francis that premiered on June 20 presents an hour long overview from his childhood to his papacy. It paints Francis as a reformer of the Catholic Church and a pope who cares greatly for other people.
Read More(REVIEW) The movie “The Divine Ponytail” packs a lot in just 91 minutes and doesn’t ignore Roberto Baggio’s Buddhist faith and how it helped motivate the former Italian soccer star at the World Cup and beyond.
Read More(REVIEW) “The Chosen” season two is not as strong as its first season. It rushes scenes and narrative arcs and lacks the multi-episodic drama of the first season. But these weaknesses don’t strike to the essential strengths of the show: a show that portrays a Jesus and disciples faithful to scripture and embraces creativity in the art form.
Read More(REVIEW) This unique sporting event is the focus of a new 69-minute documentary called “The Holy Game” by filmmakers Brent Hodge and Chris Kelly. The film, distributed by Gravitas Ventures, details what’s often called the “World Cup of the church” — but also takes a behind-the-scenes look at these young seminarians who love both playing the game and God.
Read MoreBoth TV series about ultra-Orthodox Jewish life show the very human side of life in ultra-Orthodox communities and the Middle East apart from the incredibly tense political times experienced there. They unite audiences and make a closed-off society relatable. The reason: the common humanity and terrific allure of the personalities brought to life on the film stage.
Read More“Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog” is a new movie that shows World War 2 and the Holocaust through the eyes of Kaleb, a loyal German Shepherd. We talked to director Lynn Roth about making the movie and why Jewish tradition is so important.
Read MoreBilly Graham is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential evangelists of our time. He’s the subject of a new PBS documentary which covers the span of his life. Here are five additional facts they didn’t include.
Read More(REVIEW) “The Sons of Sam,” a new Netflix crime documentary, retells a series of murders in 70s New York City from the perspective of an obsessive journalist who hoped to prove the serial killer David Berkowitz was connected to a nationwide network of satanic killers. It praises the journalist for unfounded claims and neglects to discuss Berkowitz’s Christian conversion, a necessary and inspiring part of his story.
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