Refreshing Christian Movies Everyone Should Watch
March 19, 2010 
7 Comments
Movies can inspires everyone, but it is very hard to find good, clean, family oriented movies especially with a Christian theme. So many times we go to watch a seemingly great movie and it’s filled with content that is raunchy, totally goes against Christian values or some are totally satanic.
Christian movie producers have been making films for years that is geared towards the Gospel and family viewing, but they haven’t gone mainstream as yet. The Christian movie industry is changing, but it will take a while to see great content flooding the video stores and it will take a lot more to convince Hollywood that these films are worth the millions of dollars that goes into production, but viewing these movies speaks volumes to the people behinds the scenes.
Thank God, that He is continually inspiring the hearts of film makers, producers, directors and actors, to create more films that have a Gospel message so that the entire family can watch. Below are just a few movies that I would recommend for anyone to watch, it is a mixed list, so most likely you will find one that you can share with friends, family, church congregation or someone who is searching for answers. Enjoy!
The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
Best buddies Dustin (Jansen Panettiere), Albert (Frankie Ryan Manriquez), and Mark (Allen Isaacson) are twelve year old boys looking forward to a summer of fun in 1970. When Dustin mows the lawn of seventy-five year old Jonathan Sperry (Gavin MacLeod), a man he has seen at church, a unique friendship develops.
What happens the rest of this summer is something Dustin and his friends will never forget! sperrymovie.com
The Imposter Movie
Christian rock’s hottest band, “Grand Design” is heading to the top! Unfortunately, lead singer Johnny C (Kevin Max of dcTalk) is personally spiralling down. His nightly concert performances about Jesus are a stark contrast of his selfish lifestyle he finds himself in each morning. At the height of his fame Johnny’s world comes to a crashing halt and thus begins a turbulent journey back home to find out if his shattered marriage can be restored.
Now at odds with his long time band leader and friend James (Jeff Deyo former lead singer Sonic Flood) over his lifestyle Johnny is removed from the band. Coached by his mentor, Proff (played by Kerry Livgren of the band Kansas) and a eccentric homeless man, Popeye (Tom Wright of World Trade Center, Barbershop). Will Johnny find his way back? theimposter.pureflix.com
In The Blink of An Eye
It was meant to be the perfect getaway, suddenly it became a horrific vacation for Detective David Ramsey (David A.R. White). While aboard a private yacht on the shimmering Sea of Cortez, David’s wife and friends suddenly disappear. During the investigation, as David’s police Captain (Eric Roberts) is helping him unravel the mystery, David is shocked to wake up from the terrible nightmare…or was it? Caught in the recurring turmoil of knowing tragedy is inevitable, David realizes he is powerless to stop it. As each day repeats, David discovers evidence of a worldwide event known in Biblical prophecies as The Rapture. Now he must fight unseen forces to uncover the truth before time runs out. blink.pureflix.com
To Save A Life
The film tells the story of Jake Taylor, a young man who has it all: a basketball scholarship, the ideal girlfriend, and the right friends. But faced with the demands of the in-crowd, Jake has written off his childhood best-friend, Roger. Isolated and mistreated, Roger finally takes his anger to the extreme when he shows up one day on campus with a gun. Jakes last-ditch effort cant stop Roger. And the events which follow rock Jakes world. He begins to question everything. But most of all, he cant stop asking: Could I have saved Roger?
In his search for answers, Jake finds himself looking for the next Roger. He reaches out to geeks, losers, and loners. But crossing the strict high school caste lines threatens everything Jake values. And pushes him to answer the most important question of all: What do I want my life to be about? This film doesn’t shy away from the real struggles facing our teens.. It is rated PG-13 because it portrays some of these issues accurately: from teen sexuality, to abortion, to cutting, to drug and alcohol abuse, to suicide.
But because it does so, teens are praising this film for its realistic and relevant portrayal of their world and responding enthusiastically to its message. As teen author and speaker Zach Hunter comments: It conveys the raw emotions of life and the ups and downs of high school My friends who have seen the film are already talking about it and encouraging others to go see it. A must see for all teenagers and parents. tosavealifemovie.com
Fireproof
At work, inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter’s adage: Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules. Growing up, Catherine Holt always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter…just like her daddy. Now, after seven years of marriage, Catherine wonders when she stopped being “good enough” for her husband. Regular arguments over jobs, finances, housework, and outside interests have readied them both to move on to something with more sparks.
As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb’s father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment: “The Love Dare.” Wondering if it’s even worth the effort, Caleb agrees-for his father’s sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the book’s daily challenges are tied into his parents’ newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened. While trying to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and again. He finally asks his father, “How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?” When his father explains that this is the love Christ shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. And with God’s help he begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife. fireproofmovie.com
Hidden Secrets
What if your deepest secret were suddenly exposed? Nine friends discover just how explosive it can be when their past becomes their present. Reunited at the funeral of hometown hero Chris Hayden, the friends find tensions escalating rapidly as their darkest secrets are revealed. Jeremy (David A.R. White-Mercy Streets”), struggling with his calling as a former youth pastor, is caught in an awkward love triangle between his new fiancée and his old flame Sherry (Tracey Melchoir-Bold and Beautiful”). As the embers of the past relationship reignite, Jeremy’s fiancée Rachel (Stacey Keanan-Step by Step”), who is determined to solidify their relationship, demands he affirm his commitment to her.
Meanwhile, Gary (John Schneider-Dukes of Hazzard”, Smallville”) questions everyone’s beliefs as this close-knit group of friends disputes world views, lifestyles, and personal passions. Pastor Wexler (Reginald Vel Johnson-Die Hard”. Family Matters”)encourages them not to give up but to follow the truth that Chris Hayden lived. Hidden Secrets is a story of love, friendship, redemption and ultimately faith. Humorous, touching and always entertaining. hiddensecrets-themovie.com
The Blind Side
The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family. Based on the remarkable true story of Baltimore Ravens offensive left tackle Michael Oher played by Quinton Aaron.
Michael grew up in the inner city housing projects with his mother in Memphis, Tennessee aptly named “Hurt Village”. Michael’s story begins with him being homeless and coming from a broken home with a drug-addicted mother, and an absentee father. Because of his family circumstances, Family Services took control of his life as he was growing up. Unfortunately, he was being bounced around in and out of foster homes, and now as a teenager he has taken it upon himself that he would rather be homeless. theblindsidemovie.com
The Nativity Story
A drama that focuses on the period in Mary and Joseph’s life where they journeyed to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) lives in the small town of Nazareth. She’s still young enough to play with the other children of the town, although she must also work to help her poor family get by. The people of the town can barely pay the king’s taxes. When one of their neighbors loses his daughter to involuntary servitude to pay off a tax debt, Mary is forced into a betrothal by her parents to Joseph (Oscar Isaac), a young homebuilder who has had his eye on Mary. New Line Cinema
The Passion of Christ
A depiction of the last twelve hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, on the day of his crucifixion in Jerusalem. The story opens in the Garden of Olives where Jesus has gone to pray after the Last Supper. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot, the controversial Jesus–who has performed ‘miracles’ and has publicly announced that he is ‘the Son of God’–is arrested and taken back within the city walls of Jerusalem. There, the leaders of the Pharisees confront him with accusations of blasphemy; subsequently, his trial results with the leaders condemning him to his death. thepassionofchrist.com
As much as I like the idea of Christian movies some of them are just bad. Fireproof being a good example of that. Yes its a good message, but much of the acting is not very good, it was hard for me to take it seriously many times. I think this is such an untapped genre, that has alot of potential and I hope someone at some point puts some production value into Christian movies. I mean just look how well “Passion” did.
I haven’t seen blindside yet, but I hear its great and I can’t wait to watch it.
I tend to agree with you Jon, some of them that I have seen have very low production value, one of the problem is that Hollywood is not pumping a lot of money into these types of movies, because they are faith based, so what happens is that most of the producers, look for actors/non-actors that they can pay from a small to medium budget. At the same time we cannot depend on Hollywood to pump money into these films (though it is needed).
We have to do our part by supporting the films when they come out, some of them come out and we never hear about them because the money for advertisement is not there to push them to the general public. Passion of Christ did great at the box office for a couple of reason, it had a well know story, a lot of money for production and advertisement and overall it was done well with Mel Gibson as Director, can’t beat that
. I think at the end of the day people are looking for great story telling, great message, great acting and directing, getting these all together in one package consistently in Christian movies is something that can be achieved, we will have to wait and see.
The one reason I can not watch the Passion is that I become completely critical. This only happened after the second time I decided to watch the movie. Like many know (or don’t know) there are many unbiblical undertones wrought by the producers themselves. For example, every time the word “mom” or “mother” or “woman” appears in relation to Mary, Jesus’ mother, it is capitalized (this comes straight from the Roman Catholic teaching that Mary is sinless and should be “venerated” (worshiped))
There are many other things that irritate me about how Mel Gibson polluted the story of Christ with that kind of heresy.
I agree with you Skylar, the film does have a lot of un-biblical undertones, it is actually a Catholic depiction of the event. I actually saw some of the errors when I was watching the movie, I did not notice the caps on mary’s name (that is interesting). The only reason I placed it in the list is because, the film is well done artistically and historically (minus the catholic input) and most of all it is the most accurate depiction of the brutality that Jesus suffered for our sins, we really get a chance to go back in the past and see what he suffered emotionally, physically and spiritually. I have seen many people come to saving faith after watching the movies.
On the same thought, as Christians, we must not depend on a film to study the Bible, the whole truth lies in the Word of God, that is why Bible study is so important, as with every movie the agenda of the producer/s is embedded in the film, so we must be careful.
Right, Mel Gibson took the direction of the film from Catholic theological world views. And, although I agree it is a very good depiction of the Crucifixion, it is always difficult for me to watch something knowing that the truth was twisted in the making of such a work of art. =p
I suggest also “Facing The Giants” and “Faith like potatoes”
Awesome! I love Facing the Giants, I did not remember that one….I will check out Faith like Potatoes, thanks