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The 10 Best Christian Movies of 2022

• Michael Foust CrosswalkHeadlines.com Contributor
• Updated Dec 22, 2022

For fans of faith-based films, 2022 was one of the best years in recent memory.

The veteran duo of Alex and Stephen Kendrick released their first original drama since 2019. Kingdom Story, the company behind I Can Only Imagine , released a documentary about a country music legend.

We got faith-based movies from Sight & Sound, Great American Family and Pure Flix. We got one from Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg. Of course, we got a film from the makers of The Chosen , too.

Following are the 10 best Christian movies of 2022, listed in alphabetical order:

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Drs Producoes

1. The Case for Heaven

Journalist Lee Strobel travels the world to investigate near-death experiences and the afterlife. The film includes interviews with Francis Chan, Andrew Palau, John Burke and researcher Sharon Dirckx. We also hear one of the last interviews with the late evangelist Luis Palau. Strobel, a former skeptic of near-death experiences, now says he believes in them. "Even as a Christian," he told Crosswalk, "I was skeptical about near-death experiences initially until I did the research.

2. A   Christmas … Present

A woman reaches out to her brother following the tragic death of his wife, only to learn he is doing better than expected. The film stars Candace Cameron Bure as a real estate agent, Maggie, who organizes a Christmas get-together at the home of her brother, Paul, and his daughter. Though grieving, Paul is finding peace in his Christian faith and in the knowledge he will see his wife again. The film was one of 18 original Christmas films that debuted on Hallmark-rival Great American Family this season.

Photo courtesy: ©Fathom, used with permission.

3. The Chosen: Season 3 (episodes 1 and 2)

Jesus sends out the disciples two-by-two and encourages them to preach the gospel boldly even though danger is lurking. (" Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”) It includes the first two episodes of Season 3 of  The Chosen  and explores multiple scenes from Scripture, including the Beatitudes sermon. The  film  soars in its portrayal of the love and grace practiced within the early church. It was the best faith -based movie of 2022.

4. Family Camp

Two polar-opposite families are forced to bond – and to share a yurt – during a church summer camp. The faith-based comedy stars the comedic duo known as the Skit Guys (Tommy Woodard and Eddie James), who portray the movie's fathers – one who is a workaholic dad and the other who is over-the-top spiritual. It includes lessons about family, forgiveness, reconciliation and work-life balance. It also stars Leigh-Allyn Baker ( Will & Grace ) and Robert Amaya ( Courageous, Moms' Night Out ).

Photo courtesy: ©The Chosen, used with permission.

5. Father Stu: Reborn

A young boxer who is searching for meaning in life opts to become a priest. The  film  stars Mark Wahlberg in the lead role and tells the true story of Stuart Long, who won the 1985 Golden Gloves boxing heavyweight title in Montana before dabbling in the entertainment industry and then turning to the priesthood. A motorcycle accident – he was nearly killed – changed the direction of his life. Later, Long developed a rare autoimmune muscle disorder and died at the age of 50. It's a powerful tale of second chances, perseverance and finding purpose amidst trials. Two versions of this film were released: one rated R and the other rated PG-13. ( Father Stu: Reborn  is the PG-13 version.) Both contain coarse language. Wahlberg said he prayed over the movie "a lot." The movie, he told Crosswalk, "was my calling."

6. 5000 Blankets

A wife is inspired to collect blankets for the homeless after her husband, who suffers from mental illness, goes missing on the streets. The film is based on the true story of Cyndi Bunch and her young son Phillip, who launched a homeless ministry (Phillip's Wish) in Fort Worth, Texas after the subject was personalized and they saw a need. It stars Anna Camp ( The Help, Pitch Perfect ) and Carson Minniear ( Palmer ), both of whom are excellent and believable. 5000 Blankets  includes solid messages about love, compassion and overcoming tragedy.

Photo courtesy: ©Sony, used with permission.

7. I Heard the Bells

A father writes one of the most famous Christmas carols in American history in the wake of a personal tragedy. The  film tells the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who penned  I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day  (and also  Paul Revere's Ride) . Though grieving, Longfellow found strength in his Christian faith. It is the first movie by Sight & Sound Films, a company launched by Sight & Sound Theatres. The goal of Sight & Sound films, director Josh Enck told Crosswalk, is to "portray the stories of figures and events from history that changed the world because Christ first changed them." The movie includes a powerful message about finding hope and purpose in the midst of loss.

8. Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon

The Christian faith of the "Man in Black" is explored in this documentary, which includes interviews with family members such as son John Carter Cash and sister Joanne Cash Yates. It also includes interviews with Marty Stuart, Wynonna Judd, Jimmie Allen, Alice Cooper, Greg Laurie, Sheryl Crow and Tim McGraw. Kingdom Story Company – the same company that produced I Can Only Imagine , American Underdog, I Still Believe and Woodlawn – made it. For Cash, faith "was just what was most important to him," his son John Carter Cash told Crosswalk. It's the best faith-based documentary of the year.

Photo courtesy: ©Sight & Sound, used with permission.

9. Lifemark

The world of a high school teenager gets rocked when his birth mom contacts him, wanting to meet. It's based on a true story and was produced by the same faith -based filmmakers – Alex and Stephen Kendrick – who made  War Room, Courageous  and  Overcomer . The  film  stars Kirk Cameron, Dawn Long, Rebecca Rogers and Marisa Lynae Hampton. Newcomer Raphael Ruggero is excellent in the lead role. It's one of the best life-affirming films ever made. "We're hoping it will not only save a lot of lives, but we're hoping that it will inspire a lot of believers to support adoption in their local communities," producer Stephen Kendrick told Crosswalk.

10. Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters

A business-focused father faces a crisis when his future business partner – his adult daughter – declares she's getting married and moving away. The movie is based on the book of the same name by Meg Meeker and includes echoes of the classic film Father of the Bride  (1991). This hilarious comedy includes solid messages about fatherhood, family and love. It includes Hallmark-like "feels" and debuted on Pure Flix, the faith-based streaming platform that has seen its library grow since being purchased by Sony (which owns the faith-centric Affirm Films). It stars Bart Johnson ( JAG, High School Musical ), Robyn Lively ( 9-1-1: Lone Star ) and Maria Canals-Barrera ( Wizards of Waverly Place ).

Also worth watching:  The Mulligan, It's Christmas Again, Why The Nativity?  and  Patterns of Evidence: Journey to Mount Sinai.

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press,  Christianity Today , The Christian Po st , the   Leaf-Chronicle ,  the Toronto Star and   the Knoxville News-Sentinel .

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The Best Christian Movies Of 2022

Sometimes you need some wholesome entertainment – especially this year. These new Christian movies coming out this year are giving out a highly inspirational and faith-based messages. From romantic dramas to family comedies, there are a great deal of films with Christian themes and religious undertones to enjoy with your family or by yourself. Try out Father Stu with Mark Wahlberg as a real-life fighter who became a priest. Maybe Redeeming Love is more your speed, with a western theme and an epic love story. 

If you're looking for some of the greatest movies for children and kids or the best Christian movies beyond this year, be sure to check out the top  Christian kids movies  as they tend to have storylines that are often entertaining and enlightening, and you never have to worry about shielding your young ones' eyes.

What do you think are the best 2022 movies with Christian themes? What films have good Christian values? There are many movies with Christian lessons in them. Vote up your favorites to help decide the  best! 

The Mulligan

Family Camp

Sometimes in order to reconnect, families have to come together. In this 2022 Christian comedy, a summer camp serves as the perfect venue for Tommy and his family to spend some much needed time together. Hijinks and inspirational vibes ensue.

Mark Wahlberg has been vocal in interviews about his spiritual beliefs and actually fought for this movie to get made. He plays a real-life boxer who decides to become a priest. Mel Gibson and Jackie Weaver also star. 

• # 203 of 240 on The 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
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Tyson's Run

Major Dodson draws from real life experiences to bring this inspiring story to life alongside Amy Smart and Rory Cochrane. This faith-based film is great film for family night that is sure to lift up everyone's spirit.

Redeeming Love

An adaptation of the novel by Francine Rivers that was published in 1991. Redeeming Love is a romantic drama of epic proportions, set against beautiful California landscapes during the Gold Rush with exciting perfromances from Abigail Cowen and Tom Lewis.

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Best Movies of 2022

More By Brett McCracken

Are movies still relevant? In recent years, the question has been asked frequently . With streaming and mobile entertainment devices rising, and the pandemic’s devastating blow still lingering, the question is valid. Even as Hollywood rebounds a bit at the box office ( up 21 percent in 2022), critics rightly observe that innovation is suffering. Sequels, reboots, and franchises rule the day and artsy “prestige films” can’t find audiences . Part of the problem: audiences have a growing (and justifiable ) sense that Hollywood is increasingly less interested in entertaining them than in force-feeding them progressive ideals .

As I put together my list, I focused on films that didn’t pit entertainment against artistry or confuse the difference between having something to say and telling audiences what to think. The best movies captivate audiences because they’re artistically excellent. And the best movies provoke audiences to wrestle with ideas rather than be bludgeoned with arguments.

As a reminder, don’t take my commendations as wholesale endorsements of the content. Just because I loved a film doesn’t mean I loved everything in it, and a “best” movie doesn’t mean an appropriate movie for all audiences. Though the films highlighted below are all in some way edifying—depicting goodness, truth, or beauty in ways Christian viewers can celebrate—a few are rated R and should especially be viewed with caution and discernment.

Here are my 10 favorites, 10 honorable mentions, and 10 excellent documentaries released in 2022.

Todd Field’s TÁR doesn’t spoon-feed a “message” to audiences. That’s why it’s great. The film’s rise-and-fall narrative centers on orchestra conductor Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett in one of the most interesting acting performances I’ve seen in years), a ruthless character who feels more robot-like than human as she follows a hypercalculated script. One mark of a great film is how many topics of theological import it might spark in a discussion. As I wrote in my lengthy review of the film in October, TÁR provides fodder for thinking about contemporary confusion about gender and human anthropology, social media’s revealing nature, cancel culture’s relationship with sin and forgiveness, life’s fundamental uncontrollability, the tragedy of the autonomous self, and more. To be sure, Lydia Tár isn’t a sympathetic character and the film never justifies her behavior. But I do think Field wants us to reflect on how Tár is an archetype of the modern self , with all its fragile premises and false promises. In that way, we see in Tár a picture of our cold, secular, strange new world —and wonder where we go from here. Available to stream at home . Rated R.

2. Devotion

In some ways, Devotion is the anti- TÁR . If TÁR exposes the flawed logic that says achieving greatness must come at the cost of relational commitments and selfless love, Devotion shows greatness is achieved because of relational commitments and selfless love. As one character says in the film, “The real battle in all of life is being someone people can count on.” Based on the 2015 book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice , the Korean War–era film tells the true story of the first African American naval aviator Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors) and his friendship with fellow aviator Tom Hudner (Glen Powell). In a contemporary Hollywood landscape where expressive individualism and woke narratives dominate, Devotion foregrounds the virtue of devoted relationships: faithfully showing up for one another and following through on duty, whether in marriage or friendship or war. Though quieter and less thrilling than the similar Top Gun: Maverick (which also stars Glen Powell), Devotion is no less inspiring and arguably has a clearer moral vision. In theaters now. Rated PG-13.

3. Top Gun: Maverick

Something uncommon: when the most popular movie of the year ($1.5 billion in the global box office) is also one of the best. In this case, the blockbuster sequel fires on all the right cylinders to capture the zeitgeist. It entertains in a time when people feel preached at. It honors the past and celebrates things like received wisdom and institutional duty in a time when all of this is daily undermined in pop culture. As I wrote in my review (contrasting Maverick with Lightyear ), Maverick is radical in its refusal to preach some Important Social Message. “More radical still is Maverick ’s conviction that the best way forward involves backward-looking retrieval : honoring the past rather than discarding it; seeing value in some measure of traditionalism rather than constant iconoclasm.” Rent on Amazon or watch on Paramount+ . Rated PG-13 .

4. Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood

Richard Linklater’s rotoscope memoir is more than meets the eye. At first glance, it’s a quaint assemblage of snapshots from Linklater’s childhood in 1960s Texas. But if you know Linklater, you know he’s a director very interested in memory, time, epistemology, and how cinema as a form interacts with these things. By replicating specific memories (which will ring true for any American born between WWII and the internet age) only loosely tied together by a “plot” about the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing (seen through a kid’s eyes), Linklater shows how movies mirror the mind. We process and remember reality—whether our own lives or distant images of men on the moon—through imperfect filters of memory and imagination. Does that mean reality only “exists” in the subjective mind? No. But it does mean the mind is a miraculous creation, and the movies are a miraculous mirror. Watch on Netflix . Rated PG-13.

Jordan Peele’s third film is the best sort of sci-fi thriller. It keeps you guessing—not only in the “what will happen next” sense but in the “what does this all mean” sense. Peele has proven himself a top-notch entertainer and a prophetic provocateur. His movies are fun to watch but also get us thinking about unsettling questions. In Nope ’s case, Peele prompts us to think about sin, spectacle, and the idea of divine wrath . The alien monster here (spoiler alert!) has serious Angel of Death vibes, evoking a biblical agent of wrath who has come to judge an unholy people. The film’s opening quote of Nahum 3:6 (“I will cast abominable filth upon you, make you vile, and make you a spectacle”) reinforces the film’s atmosphere of divine wrath. Has there ever been a summer blockbuster that takes sin, judgment, and wrath as seriously as this film does? Nope. Rent on Amazon or watch on Peacock . Rated R.

6. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d told me in January that a movie about a precocious, stop-motion-animated, one-inch talking shell (voiced by Jenny Slate), costarring Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes , would be one of my favorite films of the year. But here we are. Marcel is perhaps the sweetest and most smile-inducing movie of 2022, even as it ponders death, grief, and life’s fragility. On top of the existential truths it captures, Marcel also contains insightful commentary on the nature of viral celebrity and media in the age of YouTube. More than anything, it’s a film about joy: joy in family, joy in friendship, and joy in the many wonders of life we often miss. Rent on Amazon . Rated PG .

7. The Worst Person in the World

Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World may be the best film ever made about millennial angst. The Norwegian filmmaker sets the film in circles of affluence in Oslo, following a millennial woman, Julie (Renate Reinsve), whose commitment-averse meandering in her 20s leaves her cold and alone in her 30s. As Matthew Schmitz observes in his review for The American Conservative , Julie “avoids every choice that can narrow her future.” Few films have more potently exposed the empty romance of the autonomous self, “empowered” to live free of the sacrifices requisite in things like marriage, parenthood, and rootedness. But as Julie finds out by the end of the film, radical autonomy isn’t freeing. The final scenes find her looking at others through windows and computer screens, herself a distant spectator gazing flatly into a mediated void. Rent on Amazon or watch on Hulu . Rated R.

8. After Yang

What’s the meaning of human connection when one part of that connection isn’t human? This is one of the questions raised by Kogonada ’s quiet yet potent family drama, which stars Colin Farrell as a tea shop owner whose family of four includes a “son” named Yang (Justin Min) who looks and acts like a human but is actually a robot. Like Kogonada’s previous film, Columbus ( which I also highly recommend ), After Yang is less about a propulsive plot than powerful moments. From the fun opening dance scene to a lovely dialogue scene about tea (in which Farrell impressively impersonates German filmmaker Werner Herzog), After Yang stitches together a tapestry of reflections on memory, time, beauty, and humanity. Rent on Amazon or watch on Showtime . Rated PG.

9. Avatar: The Way of Water

I disliked James Cameron’s 2009 Avatar , and I literally groaned when I first saw the trailer for the sequel (especially the ghastly, and rightly lampooned , Papyrus-esque title font). But unexpectedly, the three hours I spent watching this big-screen spectacle were enthralling. The film’s immersive world-building reminded me of Tolkien’s concept of subcreation , done on a grand, movie-magic scale. On top of that, some of the story’s themes are compelling. Yes, there’s weird nature-worship pagan spirituality here. But The Way of Water is surprisingly conservative in its celebration of family and especially fatherhood (“A father protects,” Jake Sully says near the film’s end. “It’s what gives him meaning.”). At a time when Hollywood’s treatment of gender is as fluid as Pandora’s pristine water, I’ll take a film that isn’t afraid of letting males and females be different. In theaters now. Rated PG-13 .

10. Montana Story

A deconstructed Western of sorts, Montana Story tells a simple yet potent story about one family forever changed by a father’s sin. Set in the changing landscape and culture of the contemporary Western U.S., the quiet film follows estranged half-siblings Cal (Owen Teague) and Erin (Haley Lu Richardson) as they reunite and inch toward reconciliation against the backdrop of their father being on life support. Though not an easy film to watch, Montana Story finds hope in the beauty of hardy landscapes and growth that comes when we confront and work through trauma. Rather than relegating its traumatized characters to a boring arc of unending pain, Montana Story sets the stage for what’s ultimately more interesting: renewal, redemption, and moving on in health. Rent on Amazon . Rated R.

10 Honorable Mentions

Aftersun ( TGC review ), All Quiet on the Western Front , The Banshees of Inisherin , The Batman ( TGC review ), Elvis ( TGC review ), The Fabelmans ( TGC review ), Hustle , KIMI ( TGC review ), Thirteen Lives ( TGC review ), Triangle of Sadness .

10 Excellent Documentaries

Here are 10 of the best documentaries released in 2022 (listed in alphabetical order).

Facing Nolan

You don’t have to be a baseball fan to love this film about Nolan Ryan’s rise from being a lanky high school pitcher in rural Texas to a hall-of-fame legend. Perhaps the best thing about the film is the centrality of Ryan’s family. Though star athletes don’t always succeed in the home as much as they do on the field, Ryan did—and it’s inspiring to watch. Watch on Netflix . Rated TV-14.

Fire of Love

This quirky film—about French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft—is the sort of documentary I love. It foregrounds the odd wonders of the world, including the wonderful eccentricity of humans who are captivated by it. Watch on Disney+ . Rated PG.

Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues

I learned so much in this documentary—not only about jazz pioneer and cultural icon Louis Armstrong himself but about the mid-20th-century world in which he rose to prominence and made a lasting mark. Watch on AppleTV+ . Rated R.

Lucy and Desi

Amy Poehler’s documentary about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz is a must-see for those interested in television history. Avoiding politics or didactic “messages,” the biographical narrative simply presents the story of a Hollywood power couple in a consistently compelling way. Watch on Amazon . Rated PG .

Though it occasionally borders on hagiography, this portrait of iconic actor Sidney Poitier is informative and helpful, reminding us of the power of entertainment to change minds—and cultures—over time. Watch on AppleTV+ . Rated PG-13.

Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist

“Jaw-dropping” is an overused descriptor, but for this film, it applies. Nothing I watched this year caused my jaw to drop as many times as this did. Among other things, the film connects some dots for me about how digital technology has paved the way for transgender ideology . Watch on Netflix . Rated TV-MA.

The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari

This harrowing, survivor-told account of the 2019 White Island volcano disaster is both a cautionary tale (nature is sublimely beautiful but deadly; see Fire and Love ) and an inspiring account of heroism. The story stuck with me perhaps because I was a tourist in New Zealand a few weeks after the calamity took place. Watch on Netflix . Rated PG-13.

What Is a Woman?

I doubt Matt Walsh’s film ( my review ) will be on many critics’ “best of 2022” lists. That’s because most critics refused to even see it . The refusal of so many to even engage with the film’s arguments against prevailing gender ideology is a clue that Walsh is onto something. Watch on DailyWire+ . Unrated.

What We Leave Behind

The Spanish saying Hay más tiempo que vida (“There’s more time than life”) stands out as the central line of Iliana Sosa’s quiet portrait of her aging grandfather. As we walk with our loved ones in their final days, the pain of life’s brevity is achingly clear. Through a very specific story, this film captures universal truth. Watch on Netflix . Rated PG.

Ostensibly a wildlife documentary about rescuing and rehabilitating wild ocelots in the Peruvian Amazon, Wildcat turns out to be as much (or more) about the healing and redemption of traumatized people. Watch on Amazon starting December 30 . Rated R.

TGC reviews media that is not suitable for everyone. To help readers make wise viewing decisions, we recommend reading “ Should I Watch This? ” and checking out a content guide.

Is there enough evidence for us to believe the Gospels?

Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communications at The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World , Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community , Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism and Liberty , and Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide . Brett and his wife, Kira, live in Santa Ana, California, with their three children. They belong to Southlands Church , and Brett serves as an elder. You can follow him on Twitter .

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Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, redeeming love.

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"Redeeming Love" is based on a best-selling novel by Francine Rivers , set during the California Gold Rush and inspired by the Biblical story of Hosea, a prophet, who married Gomer, an unfaithful woman. Publisher’s Weekly said about the book, “Writers like Rivers are why people buy Christian fiction,” and, as with the film, for some people that will be a recommendation and for others a warning. The novel has a lot of passionate fans who will want the movie to be exactly what they imagined on the page, and that is what they will find. It is sincerely made, with exceptionally attractive actors who give heartfelt performances in some beautiful settings, in a story that fits comfortably and reassuringly into a particular spiritual world view. For those who do not share that view or the storytelling traditions of giving oral testimony about horrific challenges leading to a connection to God, the film will not be as satisfying.

The title makes it clear that there will be no ambiguity about where it is going. First there will be sin and then there will be redemption through prayer. As Shakespeare said, though, the heroine in this story is “more sinned against than sinning.” She is called Angel (the angelically lovely Abigail Cowen ) and the man who will help her find redemption is Michael Hosea ( Tom Lewis ). I already pointed out the lack of ambiguity, but just to be even clearer, in the spirit of a movie that really spells everything out, it begins with a bunch of people panning for gold in the muck, one jubilantly finding a shining nugget. 

Angel is the most sought-after prostitute in the town, so prized that there is a daily lottery to be with her. We first see her gazing dully out of the window as behind her a man puts money on the table before he leaves. One of the other young women from the brothel tells her, “You’ve got to hope for something more in this world.” Angel says she gets by because “I never look back and never look forward.” That is not exactly true as there are a bunch of flashbacks as she does look back, giving us several flashbacks to see the horrific abuse she has suffered. 

Michael is a farmer who prays for a wife. He is led to Angel. He goes to the brothel and pays for her time but just talks to her. She is so traumatized that she is incapable of responding to kindness or even simple decency. He does not give up, though he wryly admits, “The next time I pray for a woman to share my life I’m going to be much more specific.” Finally, he gets her to marry him. Though she goes with him to the farm, she tells him she will only “play along until I pay you what I owe you.” He is so gentle and respectful that she begins to trust him, and so she leaves because she cannot be the woman she thinks he deserves. There will be more abuse and more healing before, well, see the title.

The relentlessness of the litany of tragic pain and loss inflicted on Angel, including incest, suicide, theft, abortion, child molestation, abandonment, sex trafficking, arson, and much more, may come across as unsettling to those not schooled in this specific form of Christian storytelling. Those from more fundamentalist traditions will be more at home with the “ Hell House ”-style fascination with (and amplification of) the sins of the world and the eternal damnation that is the consequence. Whether innate or learned, there are narrative beats familiar from most mainstream stories that make “Redeeming Love” uncomfortably unbalanced for audiences who are from other faith traditions or secular.

Cowan and Lewis make a very appealing couple, warm and natural even with the most heavy-handed dialogue. It's impossible not to root for them, and Lewis somehow makes Michael’s near-saintly patience and gallantry seem human. But the other characters are barely sketched-in props, the storyline is wildly melodramatic, and the movie is at best casual and at worst an endorsement of lynching (guilty) people accused of crimes. The biggest problem is that the most touching moments are hammered so hard. "Redeeming Love" could have tried to reach a broader audience but settles for preaching to the choir.

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Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

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Film credits.

Redeeming Love (2022)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexual content, partial nudity, and strong violent content.

134 minutes

Abigail Cowen as Angel

Tom Lewis as Michael Hosea

Logan Marshall-Green as Paul

Nina Dobrev as Mae

Famke Janssen as Duchess

Eric Dane as Duke

Wu Ke-Xi as Mai Ling

• D. J. Caruso

Writer (book)

• Francine Rivers
• D.J. Caruso

Cinematographer

• Rogier Stoffers
• Brian Tyler
• Breton Vivian

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The Scene That Clint Eastwood Cut to Make Unforgiven a Classic

Movies Based On The Bible Coming Out In 2022 And Beyond

As audiences return to theaters across the country, Christian-themed and Bible-based movies are also making a strong comeback, with a schedule of both theatrical and streaming releases extending all throughout 2022 and beyond. Some of these Christian films set to come out are simply faith-based, telling important stories of how Christianity affects the lives of everyday people. One 2022 movie in particular, though, is the highly-anticipated sequel to perhaps the most notable Bible movie ever released, and it's based on the life and death of Jesus Christ himself.

Bible movies aren't just an important means for Christians to explore their faith and share their stories, either. They're also quite lucrative: affordably produced, and with loyal followings within already-established audiences of all ages willing to pay to see the narratives on screens large and small, according to Faith Driven Investor . Regardless of why someone might be interested in the upcoming Bible movies in 2022 and beyond, a quick look at five of the most notable proves the months and years ahead have a lot to offer for those interested in the genre.

Redeeming Love

The first notable bible movie anticipated in 2022 is "Redeeming Love," expected January 22. According to Evangelical Focus , the movie is an adaptation of a popular Christian novel of the same name. It's directed by D.J. Caruso ("The Shield") and stars Abigail Cowen ("Fate: The Winx Saga"). Set in the California Gold Rush of the 1850s, "Redeeming Love" is a love story that's loosely based on the Old Testament's Book of Hosea (via Herald Dispatch ).

Cowen plays Angel, a sex worker seeking a second chance, which she finds through Michael Hosea, played by Tom Lewis. She's surprised and uncertain when Hosea pays to spend time with her, yet refrains from physically consummating the relationship. Through Angel, Michael finds God's true meaning, and Angel learns to trust men again after traumatic experiences in the past. It's a romantic story with strong Christian themes teaching the value of unconditional love, despite heartbreak and betrayal.

The Unbreakable Boy

Written and directed by Jon Gunn ("The Jesus Music"), "The Unbreakable Boy" is a film adaptation of the popular 2014 book " The Unbreakable Boy: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love ," written by Scott M. LeRette and Susy Flory. With powerful Christian subject matter, the movie tells the story of a father and his son, who lives with autism and a rare bone condition. Throughout the movie, the boy's father learns important lessons through faith — among them, how to face adversity — as well as understanding his son's own relentless optimism and indomitable spirit.

According to the film's website , "Unbreakable Boy" is set to come out March 18, 2022 from Kingdom Story Company, a leading Christian film producer, and it stars Zachary Levi ("Shazam!") in the role of the father, and Jacob Laval ("The Plot Against America") as his son. Patricia Heaton, from TV's "Everybody Loves Raymond," also appears in the film. Director Jon Gunn is also known for his work on "I Still Believe," the true story of Christian musician Jeremy Camp.

The Mulligan

Also tentatively set to be released in spring of 2022 is "The Mulligan." Starring none other than the acclaimed pop singer Pat Boone, "The Mulligan" is a golf movie with Christian themes that's all about second chances, according to Christian Film Blog . In the movie, Eric Close ("Nashville") plays a businessman at the end of his rope who gets a shot at redemption through his Christian father, and when he meets an old golf pro named Old Pro, played by Boone.

The movie is based on a well-known book of the same name, and it's directed by Michael O. Sajbel (via IMDb ). The writer credits also include Ken Blanchard, known as a business consultant and motivational speaker (via Box Office Revolution ). The movie was shot at The Currahee Club in North Georgia, and well-known sports broadcaster Jim Nantz makes an appearance in the film, meaning it's a must-see for both sports fans and the Christian faithful alike (via PR Newswire ).

Family Camp

Produced by Provident Films, one of the most prominent faith-based movie studios in the business, "Family Camp" is also expected sometime early 2022. Starring Tommy Woodard ("The Glory of Christmas") and Eddie James ("Super Dads"), "Family Camp" tells the story of two fathers who couldn't be less alike. When they meet while camping with their families and forced to sleep in the same close quarters, they choose to compete for the camp trophy. Through that experience, Woodard and James learn the power of family, repairing their rocky marriages and their relationships with their own children.

Billed as a "Skit Guys Movie," referring to the on-stage comedy duo of Woodard and James, known for addressing Christian themes in a positive context, "Family Camp" also stars Leigh-Allyn Baker ("Charmed"). The movie is directed by Brian Cates, known for producing "Where was God?" in 2014, among other notable projects, according to IMDb . It's the first feature-length film from the popular comedy duo.

The Passion of the Christ: The Resurrection

Perhaps the most highly-anticipated Bible movie releases in 2022, however, is "The Passion of the Christ: The Resurrection." The film is the sequel to 2004's "The Passion of the Christ," directed by Mel Gibson, telling the first part of the story of Christ's crucifixion, including Jesus' capture by the Romans and his agonizing experience on the cross. In a 2016 appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" (posted on YouTube ), Gibson revealed the plot of the new movie, which follows Christ throughout the three days following crucifixion, when it is said he spent time in hell before leading up to the point of his return on Earth. Gibson is, in fact, planning a trilogy based on the life of Christ, but a timeline for the third installment of "The Passion of the Christ" has yet to be announced.

The script for the much-anticipated second movie, however, has been in development since 2016, according to Cinema Blend , and Gibson will return to helm the production, with Jim Caviezel ("Person of Interest") reprising the role of Jesus . Screenwriter Randall Wallace also worked with Gibson on "Braveheart" and "We Were Soldiers."

These, of course, are just five releases Christian movie fans are most excited to see in 2022 and beyond. Other Christian-themed films to look forward to include "On a Wing and Prayer," "Peace River," and "The Hail Mary," according to Box Office Revolution .

NO VACANCY (2022)

"trust god’s plan".

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: While there are some adult themes and intense scenes, drug addiction and violence are eventually redeemed through the power of God’s Word Written.

More Detail:

NO VACANCY tells the true story of a reporter who’s demoted to the rural town of Leesburg, Florida, but finds purpose and faith when she pursues a story about a local Baptist church’s efforts to support the homeless physically and spiritually. NO VACANCY portrays this true story in a lively, compelling way and has a strong Christian, moral worldview stressing key biblical themes like redemption, sacrifice, trust, and perseverance, but MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children and young teenagers due to some intense violence and references to overcoming drug addiction.

The movie opens with a man walking into the middle of a street, hoping that a car will hit him. It’s later revealed he’s addicted to drugs and believes there’s no hope for his life. The man, Cecil Johnson, eventually makes his way to a liquor store, and a friendly man offers to buy him breakfast.

Johnson is thankful for the meal, and the man tells him that he knows of a rehab center that can help him with his addiction to cocaine. Johnson agrees and starts rehab.

At the same time, a reporter named Brandi Michaels is demoted to Leesburg, Florida, after her news company goes digital and has to make some cuts. Brandi is frustrated that she has yet to make it on the newspaper’s front page, despite all her hard work. Brandi’s demotion couldn’t come at a worse time, because she has to take care of her alcohol-addicted brother and their mother, who has dementia.

Reluctantly, Brandi accepts a story that follows the efforts of Pastor Cliff Lea and his Church, First Baptist Church of Leesburg, to buy a motel to offer shelter for the homeless. Brandi is personally opposed to any kind of religion, but she honestly starts to research the story and the positive impact it would have on the community.

As Brandi continues to research the Church’s desire to buy the motel, she interviews a now clean Cecil Johnson. Johnson tells Brandi of his miraculous transformation.

Pastor Lea needs $600,000 to buy the motel. On top of the financial challenge, the city officials are against the church buying the building because they believe it will only put the middle-class families surrounding the motel at higher risk.

Despite the odds stacked against him and the church, Pastor Lea trusts God. As Brandi uncovers the truth behind what the church’s purchase of the building would do for the community, she knows that her story could help or sink Lea’s plan.

After a personal encounter with God, Brandi knows what she must do. However, with the city against them, with Lea and the Church put their faith in God or lose hope?

NO VACANCY portrays this true story in a compelling way that keeps viewers engaged from start to finish. Performances by Dean Cain, TC Stallings and Sean Young bring their individual storylines to life and help create a cohesive overarching story.

NO VACANCY has a strong Christian, moral worldview. It stresses prayer, trusting God over man, redemption, the power of the Gospel, and unity. It also supports God’s call in the Bible to care for the poor and needy. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children and young teenagers due to some intense violence and references to overcoming drug addiction.

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• DVD & Streaming
• Drama , War

Content Caution

In Theaters

• November 23, 2022
• Jonathan Majors as Jesse Brown; Glen Powell as Tom Hudner; Christina Jackson as Daisy Brown; Thomas Sadoski as Dick Cevoli; Joe Jonas as Marty Goode; Serinda Swan as Elizabeth Taylor; Joseph Cross as Charlie Ward

Home Release Date

• January 8, 2023
• J.D. Dillard

Distributor

• Sony Pictures

Movie Review

You might think that being the first Black naval pilot to enter into aerial maneuvers in the Korean War would be a thing of high pride for Jesse Brown. But he hasn’t the aptitude or patience for such things. It’s hard enough being Black in the 1950s—a time of cultural prejudice and change—without being looked at, evaluated and judged constantly.

And of course, standing in front of an F4U Corsair while reporters from Look magazine snap photos and talk about the “Black folks” back home, just adds all the more pressure.

Jesse must push himself harder, further. He must be better. Good enough may be just dandy for some white pilots, but Jesse can’t be simply good enough.

He and his wife, Daisy, love each other dearly and do their best at raising their little daughter. But sometimes, they kinda feel like they’re on their own little island: alone and separate. And some of Jesse’s fellow pilots—all white—even make that standoff clear on the flight deck.

The new guy, Tom Hudner, however, is different. Yeah, he’s a bit cocky, having actually come from officer’s flight school, but he’s one of the good ones. And when he’s assigned as Jesse’s wingman, the two become friends, slowly … but definitely.

Black, white or green, a pilot needs a good wingman if he hopes to succeed. You need someone you can trust flying next to you, someone you can believe in. Otherwise, you’ll end up going down in flames.

And that’s a trip Jesse Brown can’t afford to take.

Positive Elements

This is more than a film about a Black pilot in the 1950s. It’s also the story of a Black hero. Even though he never asked for recognition, Jesse Brown becomes a man who many in his community (and onboard his ship) look up to as an inspiration. And at the same time, he chooses to be a levelheaded individual who navigates the cultural prejudice around him.

For instance, while out on leave with fellow pilots, Jesse refuses to drink and always steels himself to quietly defuse any potentially explosive situations, even when other pilots don’t. And the film points out that Jesse let his valiant actions speak for him—gaining the respect of even those who seemingly despise him for his race.

Jesse and Daisy are an example, too, of a loving couple devoted to one another. And Tom demonstrates his friendship and respect for Jesse.

Spiritual Elements

On the battlefield, a pinned-down marine asks his buddy if he knows any prayers. The buddy replies that they could ask God to send the help of angels. (And in a way, he gets his request fulfilled.)

Sexual Content

The pilot’s commanding officer jokingly comments that the pilots are not in the service to fly and have sex.

While on leave, however, several of the naval pilots disembark with just that goal in mind. They flirt and carouse. Jesse abstains, however, and walks on the beach. But there he meets a bathing suit-clad Elizabeth Taylor (yes, the famous actress) with some other bikini girls. She invites him and his friends to a party, which is filled with women in low-cut and figure-hugging outfits. Tom connects with a pretty woman whom he kisses.

Jesse and Daisy kiss lovingly on several occasions. In the pilots’ locker room, the camera spies a number of pinup pictures of bikini-clad women.

Violent Content

This is a war movie, but much of the devastation on hand is seen from a pilot’s perspective high above the ground. Planes drop highly explosive bombs and riddle the battlefields with gunfire. Rail depots, artillery sites and bridges are bombed and destroyed, and we see hundreds of soldiers running for cover.

That said, there are some up-close battle scenes on the ground as marines in foxholes are bombed with artillery shells and picked off by the strafing enemy gunfire and sniper fire. Some men are shot in the head and torso and crumple backward, dead.

Pilots attempt to land their nose-heavy planes on a carrier deck for the first time. One flies in too low and crashes into the rear of the ship. We don’t see the actual crash, but men run to the stern and see the smashed plane remains sinking.

Jesse comments that he refuses to follow the signaling crewman’s directions while approaching the ship because he fears the man would purposely cause him to crash because of his race. He also speaks with Tom about the torture he went through while applying for the Navy. The officers forced him to endure grueling conditions for hours because they refused to believe that a Black man could swim.

Jesse and Tom encounter and dogfight with a Russian MiG jet. We see planes explode. All of the pilots endure heavy artillery fire, and some are shot down. We see one pilot on the ground, trapped in his burning plane.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear three or four uses of the n-word and other racial crudities. Other than that, there are four s-words spit out, along with a use each of the words “a–,” “h—,” “d–n” and “whore.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Being the 1950s, a lot of men and women smoke cigarettes on several occasions, and one officer smokes a pipe. When Jesse and his fellow pilots go into Italy on leave, they strap packages of cigarettes under their shirts to exchange for cash and booze.

We also see the pilots drinking during social gatherings. And all but Jesse drink pretty heavily while on shore leave. Several pilots and other seamen get drunk and stagger about during leave. Some cause fights.

Other Negative Elements

On several occasions, in an effort to push himself through difficult situations, Jesse looks in the mirror and intensely recites a string of odious and racially derogatory slurs at himself. They’re all hateful statements, we later discover, that were said to him in the past and that he’s written down in a notebook.

A few white pilots and sailors make some ugly comments to Jesse as well, calling him a circus act and worse. We see people gambling and losing.

Devotion is a very good war movie.

I can’t say that this pic ever soars into the stratosphere of “great” movies, aesthetical—thanks to a pedestrian script and a few difficult problem spots—but it definitely flies straight and true.

The film’s presentation of its Black pilot hero (based on the real Korean War vet) and his family; the aerial action; the solid acting; the emotional comradery; and even most of the 1950s social commentary make this an enjoyable, enlightening and, for a war movie, relatively content-free film.

There are, however, a few moments—when Jesse Brown stares into a mirror and batters himself with coarse racial slurs, for instance—that detract. Those raw interactions may be intended as a bit of shocking racial therapy for viewers, but they, and a few other content concerns, nudge this pic into a less-than-positive airspace for younger family members.

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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Reviewed by: Pamela Karpelenia CONTRIBUTOR

Hedonism, unbriddled decadence, debauchery and depravity in Hollywood film industry

Rewriting history

What does it mean to be LASCIVIOUS? Answer

Outrageous excess

What is the FALL OF MAN? Answer

Self destructive behavior

Drug and alcohol abuse / About DRUNKENNESS in the Bible

Movie with very strong and crude sexual content

What is sexual immorality ?

Nudity —Why are humans supposed to wear clothes?

Sexual lust outside of marriage —Why does God strongly warn us about it?

Is there a way to overcome excessive lust for sex?

FILM VIOLENCE

HOLLYWOOD DISCONNECT —Why is there a disconnect between “Hollywood” and the rest of America? Answer

CHANGE HOLLYWOOD —What is being done to change the values of “Hollywood”? Answer

Ego and excessive ambition / pridefulness vs. humility

Danger of believing yourself to be invincible and that you can have and do anything

Purity —Should I save sex for marriage?

TEMPTATIONS —How can I deal with them?

CONSEQUENCES —What are the consequences of sexual immorality?

What is SIN AND WICKEDNESS? Answer

About DIVORCE and God’s Word

SUICIDE —What does the Bible say? Answer

Hollywood’s seedy underbelly revealed—grossly immoral, obscene, blasphemous, evil and disgusting”

B efore I review this film, I want be very clear that I regret watching it. My favorite movie of all time is “Singin’ in the Rain,” and this film goes out of its way tarnish any idea of what people enjoyed about that film and old Hollywood itself. The film showcases the most depraved and disgusting behavior while attempting to make homosexuality seem normal in comparison and the portraying the black character as having a moral high ground, opposite of the white white characters which are shown as odious in nature. This absolutely intentional woke antic is something I’m noticing more and more as a person that happens to be black. I have come grown to truly despise this narrative that is running rampant in modern cinema.

I want to start out by absolutely discouraging anyone from seeing this film, and I will lay out why.

“Babylon” starts off with the lead character attempting to get an elephant to a party. This seemingly comical opening quickly makes a turn, where a character is soon covered in elephant feces, it serves as prelude of what the viewing audience is in for.

Let’s start with the acting, our “protagonist” Manny ( Diego Calva ), is an immigrant who came to America to chase a dream of working in films, he’s soon met by Nellie LaRoy ( Margot Robbie ), a wild aspiring actress who sees herself as a star who hasn’t had her big break. The film has several different storylines, including the prominent character of Jack Conrad ( Brad Pitt ), a leading man of the silent film era. Other side storylines include Sidney Palmer ( Jovan Adepo ) a talented black trumpet player who believes he wants the limelight. The cast is star studded with supporting actors Li Jun Li , Jean Smart and Tobey Maguire . The acting is well done, but the film itself is just abhorrent.

The plot highlights the end of the silent movie era and the transition into talking pictures. It follows the characters in their rise and fall, with twisted turns along the way. A lot of the characters are loosely based on real Hollywood stars of that time, although there is no real way to know the actual level of debauchery occurring at that time and how much is embellished for shock value, because the director knew he could get away with it by calling it art.

There is an attempt to showcase the beauty of moviemaking and the people who made it possible, with the deeply secular message that life is fleeting, so do as you will, but film is immortal. However, the way it’s conveyed is atrocious, with every heinous thing imaginable on full display.

As for objectionable content, take your pick! Blasphemy (over 20 instances), foul language (over 150 F-words alone, graphic sex/orgies, fornication, murder, blood, feces and urination, homosexuality (shown as good and as almost virtuous), alcohol, drinking, drugs, blood, violence, suicide, male and female nudity (frontal and back), eating of a mouse fully shown. Sexual intercourse shown at parties and in a dungeon of some sort. Nothing is implied, everything is shown in explicit detail; I had to overt my eyes.

The depravity of man is on full display.

“Flee from Babylon ! Run for your lives! Do not be destroyed because of her sins. It is time for the LORD’s vengeance; he will repay her what she deserves.” — Jeremiah 51:6

We as Christian must not conform to this world. The Bible’s warning is apt, avoid this film and everything it promotes. There is no redeeming value, nothing but vile refuse portrayed as art. I view this film as an obituary for Hollywood.

• Violence: Extreme
• Profane language: Extreme
• Vulgar/Crude language: Extreme
• Nudity: Extreme
• Sex: Extreme
• Drugs/Alcohol: Extreme
• Occult: Extreme
• Wokeism: Extreme

Learn about DISCERNMENT —wisdom in making personal entertainment decisions

• Learn about spiritual DARKNESS versus LIGHT

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

• Young people

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

An Apple TV+ Christmas Carol Retelling

No one has ever said, “I want to watch another version of A Christmas Carol.” However, this classic tale is told with a twist. We hear from the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) as he examines the mistakes he made on earth. Currently, his project is Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), and the two of them go on an introspective journey. This Spirited Christian Movie Review will tell you what you need to know about the content of this movie before watching it with your family.

In the traditional Charles Dicken’s Christmas Carol, the ghosts visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve and give him a chance to change his life. Furthermore, the movie explores the question, “Is long-term change possible?”

Spirited Christian Movie Review – Synopsis:

The Ghost of Christmas Present picks a person to be visited by the three spirits. While Ghost of Christmas Present tries to redeem Clint Briggs, he finds that he has met his match. When Briggs forces Christmas Present to examine his own life, he explores the question of whether people can really change. And will Christmas Present be able to have a new future?

Synopsis from Studio:

“Each Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) selects one dark soul to be reformed by a visit from three spirits. But this season, he picked the wrong Scrooge. Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) turns the tables on his ghostly host until Present finds himself reexamining his own past, present and future. For the first time, “A Christmas Carol” is told from the perspective of the ghosts in this hilarious musical twist on the classic Dickens tale. From Director Sean Anders (“Daddy’s Home,” “Instant Family”), written by Sean Anders and John Morris, with original songs by Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land”) and production numbers choreographed by Chloe Arnold (“The Late Late Show with James Corden”), this modern retelling is a sweet and spicy holiday treat.”

What Parents Want to Know – Spirited Christian Movie Review:

This movie has a PG-13 rating, and between Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, there is no shortage of foul language. In fact, the following language is just some of the items you will want to watch out for: several “oh my g-d,” h-ll, d-ck (male body part), b-tch, Bullsh-t, a-s, d-mnit, wh-re, prick, “diddled your wife,” “kiss my dickens,” crap, b-stard, more. 

Additionally, there are other phrases, “holding hands was 3rd base,” “slap your head off,” “your accent blows,” “F-U,” “busting my balls,” and “god I miss drinking.

There are numerous instances of violence, including a bar fight, a brawl in the street, people falling down steps, being pushed down steps, someone being hit in the head with a ball, another person being hit by a bus, and a man being thrown on the ceiling.

In the beginning scene, a woman is haunted by ghosts, and she is in a cemetery. Then the ground opens up and swallows her. 

Adult Themes:

There is plenty of drinking throughout the movie.

Additionally, in one dance scene has some women dancing in skimpy outfits. While the dance is fast-paced ,you don’t see the outfits up close.

The finger is given.

Spiritual content:

A reference is made to a “virgin birth.”

Remember, this is A Christmas Carol spinoff. There are ghosts – Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas Yet-to-Come. One of them appears as the grim reaper, and all you see are bony fingers. When the Ghost is shown, it is very creepy and ugly. 

There is talk about the “soul that we redeemed.”

A man walks through a ghost. 

Viewing Recommendations for Spirited Christmas Movie Review:

First, the musical score in this movie is fantastic. However, due to the excessive language, this movie should not be viewed by children. The music is great, the script is A+, and it has a great message. Finally, if the language does not bother you, you will most likely enjoy this holiday movie.

Will Ferrell is Ghost of Christmas Present

Ryan Reynolds is Clint Briggs

Octavia Spencer is Kimberly

Sunita Mani is Ghost of Christmas Past

Patrick Page is Marley

Loren G. Woods is Ghost of Yet to Come

Tracy Morgan (voice) Ghost of Yet-to-Come

Joe Tippett is Owen

Marlow Barkley is Wren

Aimee Carreras is Nora

Andre Anders is Carrier

Jen Tullock is Wendy

Adams Grupper is Mr. Bryan

Jimmy Fallon as himself

Director: Sean Anders

Writers: Sean Anders 

Producers: 

Sean Anders

George Dewey

Jessica Elbaum

Executive Producers:

Diana Pokorny

Justin Paul

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 2 hrs, 7 mins

Release Date: November 18, 2022

Songs in Spirited:

That Christmas Morning Feelin

Present’s Lament

Bringin’ Back Christmas

The View from Here

The Story of Your Life (Marley’s Haunt)

Good Afternoon

The Story of Your Life (Clint’s Pitch)

Unredeemable

The View From Here (Riverwalk)

Do A Little Good 

Finally, the last scene does a reprise: That Christmas Morning Feelin’ (Curtain Call)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is good afternoon an insult was it ever an insult.

In the movie, “good afternoon” is considered an insult in the 1800s. Basically, it means “f- you.” However, in real life, it has never been considered an insult.

Where was Spirited filmed?

This modern musical based on “A Christmas Carol” was filmed entirely in Massachusetts from July through October 2021.

Where can I watch Spirited starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell?

Spirited is streaming on Apple TV+. It is an Apple Original. Apple TV+ offers a one-week free trial.

Read the history of A Christmas Carol

Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!

Christian Homeschooling mom – 30 years and counting

Autism Mom & Disney enthusiast

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Movie Watch: Top Christian Movies to See in 2022

Are you looking for top Christian movies to see in 2022? It is no secret that one of the best ways to unwind after a long week of work is by seeing movies. If you want to be careful about what you watch, especially with the profanity in the media, then consider seeing Christian films.

There is a long list of Christian movies that pass faith-based messages to every age group. Finding these movies might be pretty tricky, so we have compiled a list for you.

Top Christian Movies to See in 2022

All the movies on our list are 2022 movies, so if you love to watch the latest movies, this list might interest you. Check them out below:

The Case for Heaven

This movie is a documentary by Lee Strobel, a Christian apologist. The investigative documentary examines shreds of evidence for heaven based on a book having the same title. A 2017 movie titled “The Case for Christ” had its foundation in Strobel’s conversion story.

According to Strobel, the idea for “The Case for Heaven” came after he had a near-death experience. He told Got questions Ministries that “ several years ago, I almost died. My wife found me unconscious on the bedroom floor. She called the paramedics. I woke up in the emergency room. And a doctor looked down at me and said, ‘You’re one step away from a coma, two steps away from dying.’ And so I lingered, sort of hovering over that fuzzy border between life and death for quite a while until doctors could save my life .”

Strobe described the experience as “clarifying,” saying that one begins to wonder what happens after one dies. 

Tyson’s Run

This movie shows the life of a fifteen-year-old autistic boy in public school for the first time. The boy runs his first marathon to seek his father’s approval. He had to be trained by an award-winning marathon runner.

The movie stars Major Dodson, an actor on the autism spectrum. In a featurette for “Tyson’s run,” Dodson explained that Tyson is a great guy with several goals and aspirations. He went on to say, “ He cares about his friends, he cares about his family. He wants to impress his father. He’s just a normal kid, for the most part, living with a normal family trying to do something big .”

Dodson also highlighted that he, just like Tyson, had experienced growth in his social skills. His mother, Jen Dodson, reiterated that acting had transformed her son. She said, “ It was very safe for him to get a script and act out those emotions .”

This movie is the latest from the famous Kendrick brothers , Alex and Stephen. Both are known for their long line of faith-based films such as Facing the Giants, War Room, Fireproof, Courageous, and Overcomer . 

Lifemark will arrive in the fall and features movie star, Kirk Cameron. The movie that will spotlight adoption was shot between March and April 2021. According to Alex Kendrick, the film was shot without any publicity. This is because they didn’t want to disrupt the momentum of “ Courageous Legacy ” and “ Show Me the Father ,” both released in 2021. Asides from this, Alex said, “ We learned in the past, if we announce the movie, and people know we’re shooting, people just show up on our set. And sometimes they drive from far away. We’ve learned to shoot quietly and then talk about it after the fact .”

The Unbreakable Boy

This movie’s release date is yet to be announced, but it also focuses on an autistic boy. The boy, who has a rare bone condition, uses his unshakable faith to inspire everyone around. This movie is based on actual life experiences and a book with the same title.

It will be released under the auspices of Kingdom Story Company, the same company that released movies like “ I Can Only Imagine ,” “ I Still Believe ,” and “ American Underdog .” The Unbreakable Boy stars an array of Hollywood stars such as Amy Acker, Patricia Heaton, Zachary Levi, and Meghann Fahy. Kevin Downes, Andrew Erwin, and Jon Erwin produced the movie while Jon Gunn directed it.

When speaking to Crosswalk , Andrew Erwin said that he and his brother, Jon, make movies for both the Christian and secular markets. In his words, “ The way we tell the stories we do is an introduction to the idea of the gospel – of the good news that we all hold dear, of redemption. And if we can take a product that unifies our audience, but gives a platform to trigger that fear of missing out, then that creates an opportunity to share that message outside the church walls. And so we’re very, very passionate about that. And I think that’s why we try to find things that are broadly appealing, that have mainstream appeal [and] that have mainstream actors in order to earn the right to be heard .”

Note that “The Unbreakable Boy” is rated PG. This is because it features alcohol abuse, some language, language, and strong thematic material.

That’s it for our list of top Christian movies in 2022. Most of them are yet to hit the big screen, but they are all worth anticipating. What other films do you think we should consider? Kindly suggest them in the comments section below. Meanwhile, please take some time to check out the exciting articles on GodKulture.

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10 christian films in theaters and streaming this fall.

Several faith-based films are available for Christian audiences to enjoy this fall.

Offerings abound this season and movie lovers can enjoy everything from a story about a rock star to one about a saint to a film about American freedom to the search for Mount Sinai.

In recent years, Americans' appetite for faith-based content has grown. An example of this is the success of the film "I Can Only Imagine," based on the life story of Christian singer Bart Millard that brought in $17.1 million domestically during its opening weekend in 2018, and over $83 million overall, surpassing expectations. 

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Although some thought the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns might stifle the interest in and success of these films, audiences simply moved from movie theater seats to streaming services. Now theaters are back in full swing and so is the amount of Christian content available. 

Here's a list of 10 faith-based movies available this fall.

Jeannie Ortega Law is a reporter for The Christian Post. Reach her at: [email protected] She's also the author of the book, What Is Happening to Me? How to Defeat Your Unseen Enemy   Follow her on Twitter: @jlawcp  Facebook: JeannieOMusic

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Redeeming love, common sense media reviewers.

Faith-based romance lacks book's chemistry; sex, violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

The movie's messages include the importance of red

Supported by his faith, Michael loves Angel uncond

Most of the characters are White Americans (a few

A character orders someone to kill an unarmed man

A sex worker is known to have had sex with hundred

Language includes "son of a bitch," "whore," "bitc

Adults drink at taverns, brothels, and dinners.

Parents need to know that Redeeming Love is based on best-selling author Francine Rivers' 1991 historical Christian romance. Inspired by the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible story of the prophet Hosea and his marriage to Gomer, the story takes place in 1850 during the Gold Rush. Farmer Michael Hosea (Tom Lewis)…

Positive Messages

The movie's messages include the importance of redemption, faith, and honesty. Unwavering belief in God and unconditional love for your spouse are also major themes. Overt Christian messages through on-screen prayer.

Positive Role Models

Supported by his faith, Michael loves Angel unconditionally (and unrelentingly). No matter how many times she wrongs him or leaves him, he remains loyal and loving. He's also hard-working and disciplined. Angel has survived very difficult circumstances and grows to believe herself worthy of love. Lucky and Mai Ling are kind and look out for Angel. Paul starts off angry and mean, but like Angel, redeems himself through faith and love. Other characters are sadistic and cruel, like Duke and his goons.

Diverse Representations

Most of the characters are White Americans (a few are identifiably of Irish heritage). Chinese and Black actors play sex workers, a maid, and unnamed clients of a sex worker.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

A character orders someone to kill an unarmed man in front of a little girl, as well as to kill another woman and to burn down two establishments. A madam's hired muscle bloodily beats up a woman. A child hears her father beating her mother (off camera); the mother later sports a black eye. Angel is a sex worker who's raffled off in a daily lottery for her services. A man threatens to rape a woman. A character is hanged by a mob. Two people are killed by fire. A pedophile "owns" a young girl and displays her at a brothel. Brothel owners are abusive toward their sex workers.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A sex worker is known to have had sex with hundreds, if not thousands, of men. She's displayed in a window, and in various scenes, nudity is partial or implied (i.e. her hair covers most of her breast, but the sides are visible, or she covers herself with shawls, robes, or blankets, but it's still clear she's topless). Several kissing scenes and at least three love scenes between Angel and Michael; shoulders and backs are visible, and some quiet moaning and heavy breathing can be heard. A sex scene takes place off camera; the participants adjust their clothes afterward.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language includes "son of a bitch," "whore," "bitch," "damn fool," "you're a dirt farmer," "hell." One use of "My God."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Redeeming Love is based on best-selling author Francine Rivers' 1991 historical Christian romance. Inspired by the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible story of the prophet Hosea and his marriage to Gomer, the story takes place in 1850 during the Gold Rush. Farmer Michael Hosea (Tom Lewis) prays for a wife and falls for Angel ( Abigail Cowen ), the highest-earning sex worker in Pair-a-Dice, California. The movie, like the book, deals with heavy subjects including child and domestic abuse, forced prostitution and human trafficking, and more. The film has strong, clear faith-based messages and themes of compassion, empathy, and perseverance, but there's also partial nudity, kissing, and non-explicit sex scenes, as well as several sequences that take place in brothels. Violence is pervasive, too, with the threat of/references to child and adult rape, pedophilia, incest, brawls, beatings, domestic abuse, and murders, including a lynching. Adults drink, and language includes "son of a bitch," "damn," "whore," and other insults. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Soft-core Christian Porn

Some things you cannot un-see, what's the story.

Based on author Francine Rivers' best-selling 1991 Christian romance novel, REDEEMING LOVE takes place in the 1850 Gold Rush town of Pair-a-Dice, California, where Angel ( Abigail Cowen ) is the most sought-after sex worker in the town's classiest brothel, run by powerful madam Duchess ( Famke Janssen ). Men enter a daily lottery for the chance to pay for Angel's services. One day, a handsome, humble farmer named Michael Hosea (newcomer Tom Lewis) prays to God for a wife and then is struck instantly with the certainty that Angel will be that wife when he sees her walking around town. Michael pays for time with her, but just to talk -- and to try to convince her that she's meant to marry him. After Angel (who has a traumatic history of domestic, sexual, and emotional abuse) is bloodily beaten, she agrees to leave with Michael, but she remains uninterested in being a wife, while he remains steadfast in his faith that they're meant to be together. The movie, like the book, is inspired by the Old Testament story of the prophet Hosea and and his adulterous wife, Gomer.

Is It Any Good?

Even fans of Rivers' beloved Christian romance aren't likely to think that this uninspired, overlong adaptation does the sweeping story justice. Cowen, who's probably best known for the Netflix series Fate: The Winx Saga , tries to imbue Angel with the emotional detachment you might expect from a trauma survivor. Lewis is less convincing/successful. In only his third screen project, the classically trained British actor (reportedly a graduate of the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) doesn't seem comfortable with the role, the accent (it's one of the worst approximations of a Southern accent in recent memory), or even his co-star. Cowen's best scenes are with the other sex workers -- like Lucky ( Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O'Donnell ), a young Irish woman who loves to drink, and Mai Ling (Ke-Xi Wu), who was sold to Duchess by her father. There's a real sense of camaraderie among the trio.

Although the movie is much more mature than the average faith-based movie (with sex work, pedophilia, domestic abuse, sex scenes, etc.), it's still as much a love story between the main character and God as it is a romance between a faithful man and a "fallen woman." And Christian viewers are likely to have a different reaction to the plot than non-Christians. To the former, Michael's actions might be easy to understand as a beautiful expression of his conviction in God's promises and the sanctity of marriage; to the latter, he might seem more like a misguided stalker (albeit one who doesn't require sex for his kindness) who all but kidnaps Angel and forces her to be his wife and farmhand. Despite the film's shortcomings, Logan Marshall-Green , Nina Dobrev , and Eric Dane are memorable in supporting roles as Michael's skeptical brother-in-law, Paul; Angel's put-upon single mother; and Angel's evil former "owner" (Dane channels his Euphoria villainy here), respectively. Ultimately, it's easier to get invested in the Job-like nature of Angel's many tribulations and Michael's enduring love on the page. On the screen, this adaptation underdelivers -- but at least a portion of the movie's proceeds go to combating human trafficking.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Redeeming Love 's messages. What love does the title refer to? Do you need to be a Christian or know the story of Hosea to enjoy the movie? Who do you think the movie's target audience is?

What does Angel mean when she says she doesn't need or want to be owned again? How does her relationship with Michael evolve?

How do the characters demonstrate character strengths like empathy and perseverance ? Which characters do you consider role models ?

Movie Details

• In theaters : January 21, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : March 8, 2022
• Cast : Abigail Cowen , Tom Lewis , Famke Janssen
• Director : D.J. Caruso
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Universal Pictures
• Genre : Romance
• Topics : Book Characters , History
• Run time : 134 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : mature thematic content, sexual content, partial nudity, and strong violent content
• Last updated : December 30, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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‘Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy’ Review: A Scary Look at the Potential Soldiers of a Second Trump Reign

The followers of Christian Nationalism want a theocracy. Stephen Ujlaki and Chris Jones's chilling film suggests that another Trump presidency could help them get it.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

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In 2017, Trump, once he took the reins of power, was constrained — by the other branches of government, and by the rule of law. He didn’t become the explicitly, committedly anti-democratic figure he is now until the 2020 election, when his declaration that he was actually the winner, and that Joe Biden had stolen the election, became the new cornerstone of his ideology. In the intervening period, Trump has been setting himself up to rule the United States as an authoritarian leader, and that meshes perfectly with the goals of Christian Nationalism, a movement that’s built around the dream of transforming America into a theocracy: a Christian nation ruled by a higher power than the Constitution — that is, by the will of God, as interpreted by his white Christian followers.

The alliance between Trump and Christian Nationalism is a profound one. Progressives tend to be focused, to the point of obsession, on the hypocrisy of the alliance — the idea that men and women who are supposedly devoted to the teachings of Jesus Christ could rally behind a sinner and law-breaker like Trump, who seems the incarnation of everything they should be against. The documentary fills in their longstanding justification: that Trump is seen as a modern-day version of King Cyrus, a pagan who God used as a tool to help the people. According to this mode of opportunistic logic, Trump doesn’t need to be a pious Christian; his very recklessness makes him part of a grander design. The Christian Nationalists view Trump much as his disgruntled base of working-class nihilist supporters have always viewed him — as a kind of holy wrecking ball.    

But, of course, that’s just the rationalization. “Bad Faith” captures the intricacy with which Trump, like certain Republicans before him, has struck a deal with the Christian Right that benefits both parties. In exchange for their support in 2016, he agreed to back a slate of judicial appointees to their liking, and to come over to their side on abortion. Trump’s victory in 2016, like Reagan’s in 1980, was sealed by the support of the Christian Right. But what he’s promising them this time is the very destruction of the American system that they have long sought.   

The most chilling aspect of “Bad Faith” is that, in tracing the roots of the Christian Right, the movie colors in how the dream of theocracy has been the movement’s underlying motivation from almost the start. In 1980, when the so-called Moral Majority came into existence, its leader, Jerry Falwell, got all the attention. (A corrupt quirk of the movement is that as televangelists like Falwell, Pat Robertson, and, later on, Joel Osteen became rich and famous, their wealth was presented as evidence that God had chosen them to lead.) But Falwell, despite the headlines he grabbed, wasn’t the visionary organizer of the Moral Majority.

That was Paul Weyrich, the owlish conservative religious activist who founded the hugely influential Council for National Policy, which spearheaded the structural fusion of Christianity and right-wing politics. He’s the one who went to Falwell and Robertson and collated their lists of supporters into a Christian political machine that could become larger than the sum of its parts. The machine encompassed a network of 72,000 preachers, it employed sophisticated methods of micro-targeting, and its impetus was to transform Evangelical Christianity into a movement that was fundamentally political. The G.O.P. became “God’s own party,” and the election of Reagan was the Evangelicals’ first victory. We see a clip of Reagan saying how he plans to “make America great again,” which is the tip of the iceberg of how much the Trump playbook got from him.

Randall Balmer, the Ivy League historian of American religion who wrote the book “Bad Faith,” is interviewed in the documentary, and he makes a fascinating point: that there’s a mythology that the Christian Right was first galvanized, in 1973, by Roe v. Wade — but that, in fact, that’s not true. Jerry Falwell didn’t deliver his first anti-abortion sermon until 1978. According to Balmer, the moment that galvanized the Christian Right was the 1971 lower-court ruling on school desegregation that held that any institution that engages in racial discrimination or segregation is not, by definition, a charitable institution, and therefore has no claim to tax-exempt status.

This had an incendiary effect. Churches like Jerry Falwell’s were not integrated and didn’t want to be; yet they also wanted their tax-exempt status. It was this law that touched off the anti-government underpinnings of the Christian Right, much as the sieges of Ruby Ridge and Waco became the seeds of the alt-right. And it sealed the notion that Christian Nationalism and White Nationalism were joined at the hip, a union that went back to the historical fusion of the two in the Ku Klux Klan’s brand of Christian terrorism.

“Bad Faith” makes a powerful case that Christian Nationalism is built on a lie: the shibboleth that America was originally established as a “Christian nation.” It’s true to say that the Founders drew on the moral traditions of Judeo-Christian culture. Yet the freedom of religion in the First Amendment was put there precisely as a guard against religious tyranny. It was, at the time, a radical idea: that the people would determine how — and what God — they wanted to worship. In truth, Christian Nationalism undermines not only the freedoms enshrined by the Constitution but the very concept of free will that’s at the heart of Christian theology. You can’t choose to be a follower of Christ if that belief is imposed on you.

Reviewed online, April 2, 2024. Running time: 88 MIN.

• Production: A Heretical Reason Productions, Panarea production. Producers: Stephen Ujlaki, Chris Jones. Executive producers: Peter D. Graves, John Ptak, Mike Steed, Todd Stiefel.
• Crew: Directors: Stephen Ujlaki, Chris Jones. Screenplay: Stephen Ujlaki, Chris Jones, Alec Baer. Camera: Bill Yates, Pilar Timpane, Trevor May. Editor: Alec Baer, Chris Jones. Music: Lili Haydn, Jeremy Grody.
• With: Peter Coyote, Elizabeth Neumann, Randall Balmer, Ken Peters, Eboo Patel, Katherine Stewart, Samuel Perry, Russell Moore, Rev. William Barber II, Linda Gordon, Jim Wallis, Lisa Sharon Harper, Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove, Anne Nelson, Brent Allpress, John Marty.

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Someone Like You

Based on the novel by #1 NYTimes bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, "Someone Like You" is an achingly beautiful love story. After the tragic loss of his best friend, a grieving young archit... Read all Based on the novel by #1 NYTimes bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, "Someone Like You" is an achingly beautiful love story. After the tragic loss of his best friend, a grieving young architect launches a search for her secret twin sister. Based on the novel by #1 NYTimes bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, "Someone Like You" is an achingly beautiful love story. After the tragic loss of his best friend, a grieving young architect launches a search for her secret twin sister.

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In one of L.A.’s largest cash heists ever, burglars steal as much as $30 million from vault

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In one of the largest cash heists in Los Angeles history, thieves made off with as much as $30 million in an Easter Sunday burglary at a San Fernando Valley money storage facility, an L.A. police official said.

The burglary occurred Sunday night at a facility in Sylmar where cash from businesses across the region is handled and stored, said L.A. Police Department Cmdr. Elaine Morales.

The thieves were able to breach the building as well as the safe where the money was stored, Morales said. Law enforcement sources said the burglary was among the largest in city history when it comes to cash, and the total also surpassed any armored-car heist in the city.

Mystery surrounds the break-in.

Sources familiar with the investigation told The Times that a burglary crew broke through the roof of the Gardaworld building on Roxford Street to gain access to the vault. But it is unclear how they avoided the alarm system.

Neighbor heard odd noises amid heist of up to $30 million from Sylmar vault

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The Canada-based security company has not responded to requests for comment.

The operators of the business did not discover the massive theft until they opened the vault Monday. An ABC-7 TV news helicopter video showed a large cut on the side of the building covered by a piece of plywood.

Authorities were alerted, and detectives from the LAPD’s Mission Division station responded to the crime scene to gather evidence.

A law enforcement source confirmed to The Times there was an effort to breach the side of the cash-holding building in addition to the roof. At least one alarm was triggered during the crime, but it was not connected to local law enforcement, according to a source familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to discuss it publicly.

Brink’s heist mystery: Questions about a timeline that ‘doesn’t make any sense’

A 298-mile drive in 2 hours and 4 minutes? The chronology described in a legal filing and law enforcement documents has added to the mystery surrounding the multimillion-dollar jewelry heist from a Brink’s truck.

Sept. 16, 2022

Further adding to the intrigue is that very few individuals would have known of the huge sums of cash being kept in that safe, according to law enforcement sources.

The break-in was described as elaborate and suggested an experienced crew who knew how to gain entry to a secure facility and go unnoticed.

Scott Andrew Selby, co-author of “Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History,” said that the theft has “all the markings of a really well-thought-out job” that was done by a “professional crew,” adding that based on other major heists of this nature, it is likely that the thieves had some inside intelligence.

He said investigators will be “looking around the globe for crimes with a similar M.O.”

As to whether the money is traceable, Selby said it depends on whether there are records of serial numbers or the cash that was collected is already in circulation. It is hard to hide ill-gotten gains and launder traceable bills, he said.

“As technology progresses and the world gets small, there are a lot of ways you can mess up and get caught,” Selby said. “With touch DNA, the slightest mistake can expose the identity of a member of the crew, leading authorities to eventually identify their associates.”

An FBI spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday night that the agency and the LAPD are investigating the theft.

A federal source said investigators were trying to complete a full accounting of the missing cash, but said it could be the largest cash heist in L.A.’s history.

The prior largest cash robbery in Los Angeles was on Sept. 12, 1997, with the theft of $18.9 million from the former site of the Dunbar Armored facility on Mateo Street. Those behind the incident were eventually caught .

Sunday’s theft comes nearly two years after the multimillion-dollar heist of jewelry from a Brink’s big rig at a Grapevine truck stop.

As much as $100 million in jewels and valuables was taken from the truck.

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In that case, thieves made off with the goods at 3 a.m. on July 11, 2022, taking more than 20 large bags stuffed with jewelry, gems and other items that the Brink’s tractor-trailer had been transporting to the L.A. area from the International Gem and Jewelry Show in San Mateo.

The heist occurred during a 27-minute window in which one driver slept in the vehicle’s sleeper berth and another ate a meal at the Flying J, a sprawling truck stop just off Interstate 5’s sinuous Grapevine in Lebec, Calif.

That crime remains unsolved.

Since a burglary crew broke through the reinforced roof of a Laguna Niguel bank and blew a hole in the safe more than four decades ago, it’s been extremely rare in Southern California for thieves to break in from above.

But a decade ago, rooftop bandits breached a series of banks in strip malls across the San Gabriel Valley. They stole at least $16 million before five were caught by the major crimes unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Last July, a burglary crew broke in through the roof of a wine specialist in Venice, making off with about 800 bottles worth about $600,000 — one of the biggest crimes in California wine history .

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After $30-million L.A. heist, can DNA, fingerprints, video help crack case?

April 8, 2024

The perfect heist? Inside the seamless, sophisticated, stealthy L.A. theft that netted up to $30 million

April 6, 2024

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Richard Winton is an investigative crime writer for the Los Angeles Times and part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2011. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016.

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