Good Easter Movies

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 10:04 am

These good Easter movies will provide hours of entertainment for those who celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Many of these films feature the Son of God in a central role, while others include a spiritual lesson or historical look at Christianity. And for those readers with a sense of humor, I’ve even included a little tale from the members of Monty Python. So after you’ve finished going to church and hunting for colored eggs, curl up on the sofa and pop one of the following good Easter movies into the DVD or Blu-ray player.

Netflix carries a wide selection of faith-based films, as well as every other movie under the sun. We do receive a small commission for sending you there, but any money we make goes right back into the blog.

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) – The life of Jesus Christ is examined, from his birth up until his resurrection. Max von Sydow plays Jesus, and he’s joined on-screen by Charlton Heston, Dorothy McGuire, Claude Rains, Telly Savalas, Angela Lansbury, Martin Landau, John Wayne (as a Roman soldier) and Donald Pleasance. A number of well-known actors and actresses also make cameos throughout.

The Passion of the Christ (2004) – Directed by Mel Gibson, this film offers a look at the events surrounding The Passion, including graphic portrayals of the crucifixion and torture of Jesus Christ. James Caviezel stars as Jesus, and the motion picture grossed over $600 million around the globe.

Luther (2003) – Joseph Fiennes and Alfred Molina star in this biopic about Martin Luther, the religious leader and thinker behind the Protestant Reformation. While there are a number of historical inaccuracies, it remains a fascinating look at the impact one man can have on the status quo.

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) – Directed by Martin Scorsese, this film got Catholics up in arms during its release, but that was mostly due to false rumors and ignorance about the movie’s plot. Willem Dafoe plays Jesus, and the story follows his battles with temptation and his eventual death on the cross. David Bowie stars as Pontius Pilate, and you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Harvey Keitel play Judas Iscariot.

Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) – Those with a sense of humor about religion should take a look, while anyone else will probably be offended. The irreverent comedy deals with the life of Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), a Jewish man who was born on the same day as Jesus and is continually mistaken for the Messiah throughout his life. Banned in a number of countries upon its release.

King of Kings (1961) – From the Nativity to the Resurrection, this film tells of the life of Christ and his sacrifice for humanity. The criminal figure of Barabbas is featured prominently, and his violent struggle against the Romans is contrasted by Christ’s message of love. While a failure upon its initial release, King of Kings has since become regarded as one of the finest cinematic retellings of the life of Jesus.

Ben-Hur (1959) – The winner of 11 Academy Awards, the epic stars Charlton Heston as a wealthy merchant who is sold into slavery by the Romans and eventually finds peace through the teachings of Jesus Christ. Featuring both naval battles and the famous chariot race, Ben-Hur is packed with action, romance, and a strong Christian message of love and forgiveness.

All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) – Burt Reynolds and Don DeLuise provide the voices for a couple of lovable canines who find themselves embroiled in a life of crime. When Charlie B. Barkin (Reynolds) is murdered by a gangster associate, he decides to give up his spot in heaven in order to seek revenge on Earth. But upon his return, he and pal Itchy Itchiford (DeLuise) encounter a young orphan girl in need and begin to turn over a new leaf. It’s filled with plenty of vice and other material perhaps unsuitable for smaller children, but its heartwarming message has still managed to make it a cult classic.

The Ten Commandments (1956) – Thrill to the story of Moses (Charlton Heston) and a “cast of thousands.” One of the most successful films of all time, The Ten Commandments boasts such starpower as Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson, John Carradine, Vincent Price and Yvonne De Carlo. Directed by the legendary Cecil B. DeMille.

The Cross: The Arthur Blessitt Story (2009) – This powerful documentary delivers a message of hope and faith by telling the story of Arthur Blessitt, a man who carried a twelve-foot cross to every corner of the globe while spreading the teachings of Christianity. Along the way, he broke the Guinness World Record by walking 38,102 miles.

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If this list of good Easter movies was to your liking, then check out the following:

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 at 10:04 am and is filed under Good Movies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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