10 Best Biblical Movies and Religious Films for Families
10 Best Biblical Movies and Religious Films for Families Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Close
Rated: PG
Run Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Stars: Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Thomas Haden Church, Margo Martindale
Director: Randall Wallace Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers >
Run Time: 2 hours 18 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Nick Nolte
The Bible Is Back on Screen
Movies inspired by the Good Book are all the rage this year but these 10 classics remind us they have a high standard to meet
Charlton Heston parts the Red Sea in one of the most well-known biblical movies of all time, "The Ten Commandments." Everett Collection is resurrecting the biblical epic, a genre with a unique blend of spectacle and substance: , the story of Jesus as told by the makers of last year's History channel miniseries , has grossed more than $50 million since it opened Feb. 28. , starring as a brooding ark builder, set sail March 28. And director has cast as his action hero in , shot in 3-D and due in theaters Dec. 12. Also in the wings in Hollywood: films based on the stories of , and . Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Bible tales with big stars are nothing new, of course. Here are 10 fit for family viewing — no graphic violence (as in 2004's ) or excess lustiness (as in 1949's ) in sight!The Robe 1953
In the first film released in CinemaScope, stars as Marcellus, a Roman tribune commanding the soldiers ordered to crucify . His life, along with that of childhood sweetheart Diana () and slave Demetrius (), changes forever when Marcellus wins the Messiah's garment in a drunken game of dice. magazine called "ablaze with Technicolor and alive with romance, action and Biblical pageantry … Hollywood at its supercolossal best." The movie earned five Oscar nods but won only for costume design.The Ten Commandments 1956
A top-notch plays Moses, the adopted Egyptian prince who leads the enslaved to freedom. Shown on ABC each spring, has become to what is to . This final offering from the master of the film epic, , gave the director the chance to partly remake his 1923 silent version. () and () verge on kitsch, but it's hard to knock the predigital parting of the .Barabbas 1961
is the imprisoned thief whom Pontius Pilate released after the crowd chose to save him over Jesus. After witnessing Christ's death and learning of his teachings, a guilt-ridden Barabbas ends up toiling in a mine, fighting as a gladiator and taking part in the burning of Rome. Filmed in , the epic undertaking captivated audiences with its massive battle in a gladiator arena and a crucifixion sequence shot during an actual eclipse of the sun.King of Kings 1961
went from directing 1955's to this thoughtful portrait of a rebel with one. He artfully juxtaposed large crowd scenes (the Sermon on the Mount) with intimate moments between Jesus and Mary. The first mainstream film in English to show Jesus' face onscreen, came under fire for casting Hollywood-handsome in the title role. Its reputation and influence have recovered nicely from those initial pans.Rated: PG
Run Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Stars: Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Thomas Haden Church, Margo Martindale
Director: Randall Wallace Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers >
The Greatest Story Ever Told 1965
Director went overboard in portraying the life of Jesus: overlong (the original cut exceeded four hours), over budget ($20 million, a record at the time) and overcast ( as King Herod). Despite these missteps, there's much for modern audiences to savor: The film marked the first English-language appearance of , recruited for the role of Jesus, and the star cameos outnumber those in The Longest Day, from crooner as the angel at the tomb to as an unnamed Roman centurion. (Stalwart as ever, the Duke intones: "Truly this man was the son of God.")The Bible In the Beginning 1966
's ambition reached biblical proportions when he attempted this adaptation of the first 22 chapters of Genesis. The critics were less reverent, with the assailing its "lack of conviction." Watch it for Huston's performance as a kindly Noah and s as . ( and ) show up in the nude, but it's all very discreet, making the film appropriate for grade-schoolers and up.Jesus Christ Superstar 1973
The famously irreverent rock opera by r and underwent a few resurrections of its own, from a No. 1 album in 1970 to a five-time nominee on in 1971 to a box-office hit on the big screen two years later. Shot in , the film centers on the clash between Jesus () and () during the week of the Crucifixion. Despite its countercultural vibe, Superstar holds up surprisingly well today.Jesus of Nazareth 1977
AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe . takes a naturalistic approach to the miracles and other events detailed in the Bible. himself had asked TV impresario to undertake the project, and the title role was initially considered for and . The filmmakers wisely hired an unknown instead: British actor , whose deep blue unblinking eyes were a great asset on camera. The stellar supporting cast (Oscar winners , , , Anthony Quinn, and ) proved a strong draw as well; 90 million U.S. viewers tuned in over two nights.Run Time: 2 hours 18 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Nick Nolte