Binge Watch: Religious Films

My favorite film from the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul, opens this weekend. It’s available both in theaters and on Peacock. I enjoyed the story and the humor, plus the great performances. It’s a faux documentary that follows a preacher and his wife as they attempt to re-launch their church after scandal. If you enjoy these kind of religious films, this week’s Binge Watch is for you!

Leap of Faith (1992)
About: This film stars Steve Martin as a traveling preacher. He peddles hope and preys on people’s insecurities. When he’s confronted by some real miracles, it challenges his view of the world. I love Martin in the role, and Debra Winger and Liam Neeson are also good. This is a fascinating and, at times, compelling film.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)
About: This film comes from Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks. It’s based on the Dan Brown novels and spawned several sequels. All of those films are better than this one, which generated more conversation about Hanks’ hair style than the quality of the narrative. It’s OK but it mostly doesn’t land.

Doubt (2008)
About: John Patrick Shanley adapted his own stage play into a marvelous work of fiction. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Viola Davis give incredible performances. The dialogue and the story are riveting. It was nominated for a number of Academy Awards but it should have won them all. This is one of my favorite films of all time.

Soul Surfer (2011)
About: This is the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a star surfer who lost an arm in a shark attack. It was her faith in God that helped her get back on track and return to competition. This film boasts a decent cast and a moving story. It’s a film about faith that doesn’t try to continuously preach.

Left Behind (2014)
About: This popular Christian book series has been adapted a few times. The first was done by Kirk Cameron when I was in college. More recently, it was adapted by Vic Armstrong starring Chad Michael Murray and Nicolas Cage. It’s as bad as you think it is.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.