Easter Movies About Jesus

Updated April 1, 2024

For Easter Movies About Jesus, there is no limit to the films reporting on this idea. We wrote about 13 of our favorites.

Ben-Hur (1959)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From William Wyler, starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Haya Harareet
Rated G

Ben-Hur is a 1959 American epic historical drama film directed by William Wyler, with a screenplay by Karl Tunberg. The film stars Charlton Heston in the titular role as a Jewish prince who is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, but later returns for revenge. The story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a prince from a Jewish family who lives in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus Christ. His childhood friend, Messala, is a Roman who is adopted into the family, and serves as commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem. In a fit of jealousy, Messala betrays Ben-Hur and has him sentenced to slavery on a galley ship. After five years of grueling slavery, Ben-Hur escapes and returns home, where he discovers his mother and sister have been taken away and his estate has been confiscated. Ben-Hur is determined to seek revenge against Messala and reclaim his family's honor. To do this, he enters a chariot race, in which he plans to defeat Messala and win back his family's fortune. Through a series of adventures, Ben-Hur eventually achieves his goal, reconciling with Messala and reuniting with his family. The film also depicts Jesus Christ's teachings

Life of Brian (1979)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Terry Jones, starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam
Rated R

Life of Brian is a classic British comedy film from 1979, written and directed by Monty Python’s Terry Jones. It follows the life of Brian Cohen, a young Jewish man who is born at the same time and in the same stable as Jesus. As he grows, he finds himself constantly mistaken for the Messiah, leading to a series of misadventures. Along the way, Brian comes in contact with a variety of characters, including a rebellious group of Judean freedom fighters, a wise old man, an eccentric messiah, and a Roman Centurion. With plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor and some of Monty Python’s classic comedic writing, Life of Brian is a hilarious commentary on religion and society.

The Gospel of John (2003)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Philip Saville, starring Henry Ian Cusick, Daniel Kash, Christopher Plummer, Stuart Bunce
Rated PG-13

The Gospel of John is a 2003 British-Canadian religious drama film directed by Philip Saville and starring Henry Ian Cusick as Jesus. The film is narrated by Christopher Plummer as the Gospel of John, and covers the entire three-year ministry of Jesus as recorded in the gospel. It emphasizes the personal journey of Jesus and his inner struggles against the expectations of the people around him, and also gives attention to some of the miracles, parables and events described in the gospel. The film also focuses on the relationships that Jesus had with his disciples, and with his mother, Mary. Ultimately, it emphasizes the human side of Jesus, his compassion, courage and faith.

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Martin Scorsese, starring Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, Paul Greco
Rated R

The Last Temptation of Christ is a 1988 film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis. The story follows Jesus of Nazareth (Willem Dafoe) from his childhood to his crucifixion. It explores his inner struggle between his human desires and his divine mission, as well as his relationships with Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey) and Judas Iscariot (Harvey Keitel). In the film, Jesus is tempted by an angel to forsake his divine mission and lead a normal life as a husband and father. Ultimately, Jesus chooses to stay on his path and is crucified. The film was controversial upon its release for its depiction of Jesus and its interpretation of biblical scripture.