Trying to stay on top of what is not only current, but also not a waste of your time is like adding another part time job to an impossible schedule.
As believers in Jesus, our hearts should be guarded against content that would discourage our faith, or tempt us into sin. This adds another layer of difficulty to the whole family movie night idea.
At Christian Life Daily, we’ve done the work for you this holiday season with this list of must-see movies for your family this Christmas season.
So much of what is available in the entertainment industry does not have “keeping our minds set on the Heavenly Father” as the primary goal during production.
Does this mean that Friday nights during this Christmas season have to be spent watching cheesy Hallmark flicks, where yet another person was struck by the holiday spirit while falling in love with a second-rate actor?
No, it doesn’t. There are many wonderful films that are centered around Biblical themes. Watching such movies during this season helps remind us the reason for the joy that is within us (Romans 15:13).
Here are some of the most entertaining and content-rich films that are sure to give your family a boost in their faith, as well as a much-needed break from the distractions that this time of year can bring.
The Star
The classic and beloved story of the birth of the Messiah has a fun twist as it follows the perspective of the donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem. This Sony Pictures Animation film debuted in 2017, and has become a holiday staple in many homes, and for good reason.
Grossing a modest $38,641,925 at the box office, The Star features the behind the scenes story of the animals involved in the journey from Mary being told she is to carry the Son of God in her womb, to the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger.
Many animals have a heart transformation as they are moved by the joy and excitement of the birth, like the dogs that were hunting the donkey that carried Mary, but became good-natured after seeing baby Jesus in the middle of all the stable animals gazing at Him.
The Christian Post reports on all the familiar voices you will hear in this family-friendly animation, that is sure to give extra meaning to this Christmas season:
“”The Star” features voice-overs from Steven Yeun (“The Walking Dead”) as Bo the donkey; singer Kelly Clarkson as Leah the horse; Anthony Anderson as Zach the goat; comedian Gabriel Iglesias as Rufus the dog; Kris Kristofferson as the Old Donkey; Zac Levi playing Joseph; Gina Rodriguez as Mary (mother of Jesus); Oprah Winfrey as Deborah; Tyler Perry as Cyrus and Tracy Morgan as Felix.”
Read CLD’s official review of this movie here.
Purchase a copy for your family here:
I Can Only Imagine
You have certainly heard the hit song “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me if you have been perusing the radio in the last ten years. The song was released as a single in 2001, and has since become the “best-selling Christian single of all time”, according to USA Today, selling a staggering 2.5 million copies.
The song’s success was mainly contributed to the wide appeal it offered, posing the question many often wonder, “What would it be like to go to Heaven?”
Now, well over a decade after the song stole the heart of the nation, it has turned into a captivating movie. The film takes a broader approach to the life after death question, following the relationship between Millard (J. Michael Finley) and his abusive father (Dennis Quaid).
Quaid’s character finds faith after a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, and aims to turn his life around. After Millard’s father dies, he is led to the lyrics of the song, which offer comfort to himself and those affected by the September 11th terrorist attacks.
The 2018 film brought in $17.1 million nationwide during opening weekend, according to the Christian Post, moving up to $83 million overall.
In this season it’s easy to get lost in the gifts, fruit cake, and housing of out-of-town family, forgetting the promise of everlasting life we have in Jesus. Watching this moving film will remind the whole family that Christmas time is about the coming of a Savior that conquered death.
Read CLD’s official review of this movie here.
Purchase a copy for your family here:
Paul, Apostle of Christ
Impressing naysayers, Paul, Apostle of Christ made it to the top 10 at the box office during opening weekend, according to the Christian Post. This 2018 film is about Luke visiting Paul in Rome while he is in Nero’s prison.
Nero is relentless, persecuting Christians. During these dark days, Luke presses onward to tell others about the Gospel while writing details on “The Way”; living life as a renewed spirit in Christ.
This movie is rated PG-13, and is not recommended for the younger ones in the family for its “violent content and disturbing images”. Written and directed by Andrew Hyatt, and starring James Faulkner as Paul, and Jim Caviezel as Luke, Paul, Apostle of Christ takes you on a journey of what it meant to witness to others in the first century.
Jesus’ birth is celebrated at Christmas, bringing a light into the world that changed the course of many who were touched by His life, death, and resurrection. We must not forget when celebrating the birth of our Savior that we are to be a light unto the world ourselves for He lives in us, sharing the gospel as Paul and Luke did.
Purchase a copy for your family here:
Son of God
Pulling in $67.8 million, Son of God is about the unsettling times of Israel, and Jerusalem in particular, during Jesus’ ministry. As Christ went around performing miracles and sharing the gospel of hope through salvation, High Priest Caiaphas, played by Adrian Schiller, feels threatened.
Roman Governor Pontus Pilate (Greg Hicks) is concerned with Caiaphas’ leadership, fearing that there may be an uprising. This unwarranted fear led to the goal of taking Jesus’ life in order to regain control of the people.
Starring Diogo Morgado and Roma Downey, this 2014 Biblical drama directed by Christopher Spencer, shows us how Jesus’ birth was for the purpose of His death and resurrection, offering salvation to all who call upon His name (John 3:16).
Purchase a copy for your family here:
Risen
“Risen accomplishes something quite remarkable: It tells the familiar, timeless story of Jesus’ death and resurrection from a fresh vantage point.”, says Adam Holz for Plugged In.
There are many films following Jesus throughout his ministry, with many of them also highlighting the lives of the disciples. However, there are none quite like Risen where the life of a Roman soldier is followed while he searches for Jesus’ body after the resurrection.
Roman Military Tribune Clavius, played by Joseph Fiennes, attempts to prove the rumors about the resurrection wrong as he searches for where the body could have gone, interrogating all those who claim supernatural occurrences.
This 2016 film, directed by Kevin Reynolds, grossed $46 million. The film shows us the power of Jesus’ life, even on the most unsuspecting people. There is no escaping the influence Jesus has had on the world, and no time makes that more apparent than this holiday season.
Purchase a copy for your family here:
Saving Christmas
It wouldn’t be a holiday movie night without at least one cheesy film on the watch list. Saving Christmas has the entertainment of a Hallmark movie, but with actually a deep meaning. This 2014 family favorite stars Kirk Cameron as he tries to get his brother Christian to see that Christmas is more than lights and presents.
Cameron tries to give meaning to Christmas tradition, attempting to show they have correlations to Christ. Facing a dilemma with the commercialism of Christmas, you can watch what Christian’s end result becomes.
This is a great movie for the whole family, reminding everyone why they celebrate Christmas to begin with, hopefully pulling importance away from the part that the consumer industry tries to make front and center.
Purchase a copy for your family here:
Whichever movie you and the family sit down to watch together this holiday season, make sure that you make know the reason for the season.
Enjoy some quality time together, snuggling in the matching family pajamas grandma got you last year, and gather around the popcorn bowl for a night of holiday cheer.
(h/t Christian Life Daily)