Top ten religious movies for Lent 2026
By TOM QUINER, Board President, Pulse Life Advocates
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How does a film make my list of the Top Ten Religious Movies for Lent 2026? Simple, it draws me closer to God.
Some films are overtly Judeo-Christian movies, such as Ben-Hur (not on this year’s list), The Ten Commandments (not on this year’s list), The Passion of the Christ, and The Chosen. Others tell a secular story in which biblical themes subtly appear. Of these, some tell the tale geared to the eyes of a child, such as PollyAnna or The Chronicles of Narnia, but which mom and dad love just as much as the kids.
This list changes from year to year. Movies appear, then disappear, and perhaps even return because of recent events. For example, the great actor, Robert Duvall, recently died. One of his most heart-warming roles was the delightful “Second Lions,” which is laced with understated Christian themes. I added it to this year’s list. Another, “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” is particularly relevant as one of the film’s main protagonists has been in the news recently.
Some of these films are tender and funny. Others are high adventure, and still others are simply gut-wrenching and redemptive. You WILL feel more alive by viewing any of these great movies, whether a Christian or an atheist.
If you plan on viewing any of these movies with your kids or grandkids, you can check how age-appropriate they are at www.pluggedin.com.
Put the popcorn on. It’s showtime!
Top Ten Religious Movies for Lent 2026
#10: HOUSE OF DAVID. King David is one of the coolest guys in the Old Testament. Shepherd boy. Musician. Hero. Renegade. King. Sinner. Try plotting his life on a graph. Talk about ups and downs! Last year, Amazon Prime Video released an 8-episode series on the young David called “House of David.” It’s kind of like an Old Testament version of “The Chosen.” And I mean that in a totally positive way. My wife and I are loving the series. A second season is now available exclusively to subscribers of the Wonder Project add-on, and will be available to Prime subscribers at a later date. The series fills out the Davidic story taking artistic license with details not revealed in sacred scripture without compromising the message. Casting, scripting, direction, and sets are all outstanding, as is the Greek landscape that serves as the backdrop. Why do I recommend House of David? Because God is at the center of the story, and the story is packed with action. Our faith is dynamic. House of David reveals just how dynamic. God chooses an unlikely young man to lead Israel to greatness and conquer its enemies. Why did God choose David? Because God looked beyond outward appearance and saw a passionate heart. God likes passion. As the Book of Revelations (3:16) says:
“So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
House of David tracks the life of a passionate young man on the cusp of changing the world. Here it is, 3000 years later, and we’re still talking about him! I’ll binge Season Two when I visit my teenage grandson this Spring. He loved Season One.
#9: POLLYANNA. “Don’t be a Pollyanna!” is a slur that’s been around the block for over six decades. It kind of suggests that a Pollyanna is a person who incessantly promotes an unreachable level of syrupy happiness. How unfair to this marvelous lass, as portrayed by Hayley Mills in the 1960 Disney Film by the same name! One of the joys of being a grandparent is revisiting these old movies. This is a family film about a girl around twelve years of age whose parents have died. She is sent to live with her stern aunt in her attic bedroom. Despite the bad breaks life presents to Pollyanna, she always looks at the bright side of life. Her late father had taught a game called “The Glad Game.” Here’s how it works: when life gets you down, think of something that makes you glad. Thanks to Pollyanna, the game spreads like wildfire, raising the happiness quotient in the entire town. It makes me think of Dennis Prager’s book, “Happiness is a Serious Problem.” His thesis: each of us has a moral responsibility to be happy, because of the impact happiness has on others. Perhaps Prager viewed Pollyanna before writing his book! Says Prager:
“We do not enjoy being around others who are usually unhappy … In general, people act more decently when they are happy.”
This movie has so many great scenes. But let me tempt you with Karl Malden’s, as the town’s preacher (below), delivering a fire and brimstone sermon for the ages. Watch Pollyanna’s expression. Watch the entire movie to see how she melts the heart of his character, the reverend Paul Ford. “Pollyanna” makes you feel better about life. In fact, it reminds you that ‘life is beautiful.’ A nice thought to remember in a culture saturated with abortion.
#8: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. This achingly wonderful film is relevant more than ever in light of the growing anti-semitism among American youth since the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. “Life Is Beautiful” tells the tale of Guido, an Italian-Jewish waiter in 1944 who is forced into a Nazi concentration camp along with his young son, Giosuè. Robert Benigni co-wrote the script, directed the film, and portrays Guido. In the camp, rather than playing “The Glad Game”, as Pollyanna does, Guido plays an imagination game with young Giosué to protect him from the reality of their dire situation. And dire it is. There is something so profoundly moving in the father’s brilliant attempts to transform an horrific situation into one of beauty and grace. I dare you to maintain dry eyes at the film’s conclusion. Everything you need to know about “Life Is Beautiful” is summed up in the title. Everything you need to know about your life … or your dad’s life … or that of an unborn son … is summed up in the title. Even though life has its ups and downs (see the Count of Monte Christo; Pollyanna; and House of David above) God is in the midst of everything, whether we know it or not. [This movie is subtitled.]
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#7: THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON: In this cynical age, one of the most cynical things I’ve heard in recent years came out of Iceland, of all places. They averred that they have “eradicated” Down Syndrome. What that really means is that they now abort 100% of babies in the womb who have an extra chromosome, know as Down Syndrome. The implication is that these human beings are inferior, afflicted by an imperfection that renders their lives as being necessarily disposable for the good of the many. What cynical nonsense. “The Peanut Butter Falcon” stars Zack Gottsagen, who is a young man with Down Syndrome. After watching this movie, you tell me whether or not you still think this guy is disposable. That’s what the film is about, in a way. His character, ‘Zac,’ has been parked in an old-folks home by the government, because they have no other place to house him. He busts out and encounters a down-on-his luck crab fisherman, Carl, who is played by Shia Lebeouf. They eventually form a bond, leading us on a delightful adventure of brotherhood and redemption. This pro-life comedy/adventure film is rated PG-13. (For specifics on language, go to www.pluggedin.com.) This film came up because of the recent arrest of Shia Lebeouf at the Mardi Gras. Lebeouf joined the Catholic Church a few years ago and portrayed Padre Pio in a recent film. He has acknowledged his struggles with addiction and mental health issues. He is a compelling actor. Let us pray for his well-being.
#6: SECOND HAND LIONS: Every movie on this list so far is a feel-good movie (although “Life is Beautiful” is a bitter-sweet feel-good story.) “Second Hand Lions” might take the cake in the feel-good department. It features Robert Duval, who died last week, in one of his greatest roles, Hub McCann. Hub, along with his brother, Garth (Michale Caine), are great uncles to Walter (Haley Joel Osment of “The 6th Sense” fame). Walter’s ne’er-do-well mother dumps him off at Jeb and Garth’s Texas ranch, leaving him to fend for himself with his mysterious uncles who’ve never met the kid before. Wild stories swirl around Hub’s past. Can any of them be true? Does he really have a fortune hidden away somewhere? Slowly but surely, young Walter’s presence give Hub and Garth new meaning in their lives. The introduction of a beaten down old lion to their family serves as a heart-tugging symbol, as explained by the director, Tim McCanlies: ““In this case, I was really trying to get at what it is that men teach boys. This is a story about men that are sort of used up—’secondhand lions’ if you will—and this kid who really needs them and how they save each other.” In a way, Second Hand Lions builds on the theme of a previous film, Life is Beautiful. Second Hand Lions goes further: life has meaning. Hub teaches young Walter to believe in the ideals of courage, love, and honor, exactly what dads and grandfathers need to do with their sons/grandsons. The movie is so much fun with great twists and turns. But one of the highlights is Hub’s ‘speech’ he gives to young men on what every man needs to believe in, that “honor, courage, and virtue mean everything.” I’ve seen this film 3 or 4 times, and will be watching it again.
#5: THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN. One of the great joys of being a grandparent is re-watching great movies 
with your grandkids. I just re-watched “Prince Caspian” with my grandkids, and enjoyed it just as much, even more, than when it came out in 2008. The Narnia Chronics are a beloved set of books authored by C.S. Lewis, which tell adventurous tales of good vs. evil. Aslan is a giant lion who symbolizes Christ, coming and going like the wind in the land of Narnia. “Prince Caspian” presents very human themes of doubt verses faith. Do we trust that God will come through for us? Do we trust his timing, or do we insist that he adhere to our timelines? In “Prince Caspian,” the Pevensie kids are once again whisked away from 1940s England to the magical land of Narnia where they are tasked with restoring Prince Caspian as the rightful heir to the throne. Great family fun during Lent. [You can see me watching this film with my grandkids in the inset photo. “Prince Caspian” gets kind of scary in the 2nd half, at which point we excused non-teens for bedtime.]
#4: HACKSAW RIDGE. Courage and conviction are in short supply these days. So when a movie comes along about a man who stood up for his religious convictions regardless of the cost, it’s worth checking out. I finally got around to watching Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge this year (it came out in 2016). The movie marked his return to directing after a ten year hiatus. Gibson knows how to tell a story. Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of Desmond Doss, a simple man from Lynchburg, Virginia, who enlists when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He had a catch: not only would he not use a rifle, he would not even carry one. Although the ‘cancel culture’ didn’t exist in the 1940s, Doss felt the brunt of the military establishment who attempted to ‘cancel’ him via a court martial. They failed. He went on to become an invaluable member of his unit as a medic, rescuing some 75 soldiers at the brutal battle of Okinawa. His courage was contagious. Following a particularly brutal attack, Doss was wounded and exhausted after saving countless of his fellow soldiers. It was a miracle he was still alive. The soldiers were once again called to battle (the entire campaign lasted 83 days). The soldiers wouldn’t go unless Doss was with them. The commanding officer said to Doss: “These men don’t believe the same way you do. But they believe so much in how much you believe. They want a piece of it. They’re not going up there without you.” The moral: courage is contagious.
#3: JESUS of NAZARETH. This film is an epic work of cinematic craftsmanship. Robert Powell is an extraordinarily effective Jesus. It was originally broadcast as a 382 minute mini series on television in 1977. Every single minute of this film is worth it. Nothing is wasted. Director Franco Zeffirelli has created an artistic masterpiece. He is true to the Gospels and creates an ancient Holy Land that seems real to modern man. His presentation of Jesus’ telling of the Prodigal Son is a work of genius, surely inspired by the Holy Spirit! Interestingly, one of the writers was Anthony Burgess, also the author of “A Clockwork Orange.” What a cast. Each star was at the top of their game. In addition to Mr. Powell, James Farantino was a Peter for the ages. Ian McShane was a complex Judas whose motivations are slowly revealed in his deft political maneuverings. Olivia Hussey as the Virgin Mary, and Anne Bancroft as Mary Magdalene both shine. The list is endless: Christopher Plummer fleshes out the human weakness of Herod Antipas. You can’t stand him in the end. And James Mason brings Joseph of Arimathea to life. The conversation he has with Jesus about the idea of being “born again” draws you irresistibly into the essence of the Gospels. That’s why this film is so good. You feel like you’re walking right alongside of Jesus. Everything seems so authentic.
#2: THE CHOSEN: Not a movie, but rather the first original TV series about Jesus Christ. Five seasons are completed, and the sixth season will be released next year, with the finale coming out the following year. What’s interesting is that this was made outside of the Hollywood system. It was financed via crowd funding. The writers let us get to know Jesus through the eyes of key players from scripture: His disciples, Mary Magdalene, even little children. You can watch the first five seasons free on The Chosen app and Amazon Prime Video, if you have a subscription. They claim over 770 million views so far! Like most of the Biblical movies mentioned above, the creators of “The Chosen” have taken some respectful artistic license with the series. Most notably, the dialogue is somewhat modernized. It works for me, but not everyone. The sound track is modern and hip. But the writing and story telling are simply outstanding, presenting the story of Jesus in a fresh new way, drawing millions of people into the faith. My personal favorite episode is titled “Matthew 4:24.” It is brilliant. Watch the trailer (below).
#1: THE #1: PASSION of the CHRIST. This was more than a movie, it was an event that either united or divided people, much like Christ Himself. Mel Gibson’s movie was controversial. The violence is grotesque. It is not a fun movie to watch. I have seen it thrice, and I will see it again … someday. Jim Caviezel was perfect as Jesus. [As a side note, Jim Caviezel is the keynote at Pulse’s Christmas Gala on November 21st. Don’t miss out! Reserve your table today.] The movie is important because it gives modern man an inkling of what Christ did for us. I heard Fr. John Riccardo once say about Christ’s crucifixion: “If this is the cure, can you imagine the disease?” This movie forces us to think about that question seriously. The scene of Christ’s scourging is horrendous. Do you know why He was lashed 39 times? Because 40 was considered “death” by the Romans. It was unsurvivable. After watching this film, fall to your knees and thank Christ for what He did for us. Gibson is at work as I type these words on a two part sequel, “The Resurrection of the Christ.” Part One is scheduled to be released on Good Friday next year, with Part Two premiering 40 days later on Ascension Sunday.
Those are my picks. What are yours? Please let me know. I want to watch some great, new faith-filled films this Lent, starting today. So let me know your favorites right away in the comment box below!
[Tom Quiner is board president of Pulse Life Advocates. If you enjoyed this essay, be sure to subscribe to our blog. Every donation helps us expand our reach!]
