There are numerous films featuring Jesus of Nazareth, the first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader who is the central figure of Christianity. Films about Jesus range from serious dramas that aim to be realistic or align with Biblical stories of his life, while others can be outrageous comedies that tell Biblical stories for satirical purposes. Depictions of Jesus have appeared in several television shows — notably Family Guy, in which Jesus Christ is a recurring character (alongside God), and has had a few of his own plotlines within the show.
However, there are dozens more blockbuster films that depict the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of the Christian Messiah, from films dating as far back as the Silent Era to ones that are currently in production. With that, here are 10 of the best movies about Jesus, ranked.
10 Risen
Risen is a 2016 biblical drama film starring Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth, and Cliff Curtis. The film follows a Roman soldier’s search for Yeshua’s (AKA Jesus) body following his resurrection. Clavius (Fiennes) and his aide, Lucius (Felton), are tasked with finding Yeshua’s (Curtis) body after it mysteriously disappears. His soldiers claim that Yeshua’s followers stole it to make it appear that He rose from the dead. Clavius is skeptical that Yeshua could possibly defeat death, but his investigation begins to change his mind.
While Risen received mixed reviews from critics following its release, the film was a box office success. It grossed $46.1 million worldwide against a budget of $20 million.
9 The Greatest Story Ever Told
Released in 1965, The Greatest Story Ever Told is an American epic film produced and directed by George Stevens. The film details the biblical account of Jesus of Nazareth, beginning with the Nativity and following through to the Ascension. The film began as a half-hour radio series in 1947 before Fulton Oursler wrote a novel on it in 1949. Then, 20th Century Fox gained the novel’s film rights in 1954. Stevens became involved in the project in 1958, but when Fox backed out in 1961, the project was moved to United Artists.
Told in two parts, the film has a runtime of four hours and 20 minutes. The Greatest Story Ever Told consists of an ensemble cast, featuring Max von Sydow as Jesus, with Dorothy McGuire, Charlton Heston, Claude Rains, Jose Ferrer, Martin Landau, David McCallum, and more. It serves as Claude Rains’ final film role. While the film was a box office failure, The Greatest Story Ever Told has since gained a cult following. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, but did not win any.
8 Barabbas
The religious epic film Barabbas released in 1961, and expands on the career and life of Barabbas, a prisoner who was chosen instead of Jesus to be pardoned and released at the Passover feast. Anthony Quinn stars as Barabbas, with Silvana Mangano, Katy Jurado, Arthur Kennedy, Harry Andrews, Ernest Borgnine, Vittoria Gassman, and Jack Palance. The film is based on Pär Lagerkvist’s 1950 Nobel Prize-winning novel of the same name.
After Barabbas was pardoned and released, he becomes haunted by the image of Jesus for the rest of his life. He goes through several challenges and struggles with his spirituality, before ultimately becoming a follower of the man who took his place.
7 The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 epic Biblical drama film produced, directed, and co-written by Mel Gibson. Jim Caviezel stars as Jesus of Nazareth, with Maia Morgenstern as Mary, mother of Jesus, and Monica Belluci as Mary Magdalene. As per the title, the film covers the final 12 hours before Jesus’s death, known as “the Passion.” The film also dhows flashbacks to biblically based moments in Jesus’s life, such as The Last Supper and the Sermon of the Mount. The dialogue is entirely in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin, with subtitles.
The Passion of the Christ received controversial and polarizing reviews from critics. Some saw the film as a religious and holy experience, praising the casts’ performances and the musical score, while others found it antisemitic and violent. Regardless, the film became a box office hit, as the fifth highest-grossing film of 2004 internationally at the end of its run. It is also the highest-grossing Christian film of all time and the highest-grossing R-rated movie domestically. Currently, a sequel highlighting the resurrecting of Jesus is in the works, with production expected to begin mid-2023 (via Screen Rant).
6 Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 musical drama film based on the 1970 rock opera of the same name. Starring Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, and Barry Dennen, the film focuses on the conflict between Judas and Jesus during the latter’s crucifixion week. Following its release, Jesus Christ Superstar received mixed reviews from critics, with a few religious groups offering criticism. Neeley, Anderson, and Elliman received Golden Globe Award nominations in 1974 for their roles of Jesus, Judas, and Mary Magdalene, respectively.
5 The Jesus Film
Shot on location in Israel, The Jesus Film is a 1979 Biblical drama film chronicling the life of Jesus Christ. Occasionally referred to as the most watched film of all time, The Jesus Film uses the Gospel of Luke as the main inspiration, with sporadic voice-over narration. The film begins with His birth and ends with His resurrection. The film has been praised for hits attention to authenticity, while also being criticized as basically being an illustrated gospel.
4 The Miracle Maker
Released in 1999, The Miracle Maker is a Welsh-Russian stop motion-animated film chronicling the life of Jesus Christ. The main plot is shot entirely in stop-motion, with hand-drawn animated cartoons used for flashbacks, stories, visions, parables, and spiritual encounters. Upon release, The Miracle Maker received positive critical response, with various critics citing as well-grounded in the historical, political, cultural, religious, and economic realities of the time in which Jesus lived.
3 The Gospel of John
The Gospel of John is a 2003 epic Biblical drama recounting the life of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of John in the Bible. The film is word-for-word aligned with the American Bible Society’s Good News Bible without additions or omissions. Christopher Plummer serves as the narrator, with Henry Ian Cusick as John. The film is a largely faithful adaptation of the Gospel of John, with a few inaccuracies, receiving mixed to positive reviews from critics.
2 King of Kings
King of Kings is an epic religious film directed by Nicholas Ray and released in 1961. The film takes its inspiration from the New Testament, telling the story of Jesus of Nazareth, from his birth and ministry to his death and resurrection. Jeffrey Hunter stars as Jesus, with Robert Ryan, Sibhan McKenna, Vivera Lindfors, Ron Randell, Hurd Hatfield, and Rip Torn in supporting roles. While the film received mixed reviews, it was a box office success.
1 Ben-Hur
The 1959 epic religious film, Ben-Hur is a remake of the 1925 silent film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. With a budget of $15.175 million, the film had the largest budget and set of any other film produced at the time. It was the fastest and highest grossing film of 1959, as well as the second highest-grossing film in history at the time, just behind Gone with the Wind. It won a record 11 Academy Awards and was named the 72nd best American film by the American Film Institute in 1998, and the second-best American epic film in the AFI’s 10 Top 10. In 2004, Ben-Hur was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
The film follows Judah Ben-Hur, who lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem. He arrives as the commanding officer of the Roman Legions with his old friend, the new governor Messala. However, their political views separate them and Messala sends Judah into slavery. He regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.
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