Can We Speak Honestly About “Christian” Movies?
I have a confession to make: I don’t like “Christian” movies. I mean the ones that are trying to sell tickets en masse to the Christian population. There are many wonderful films with storylines that portray the Gospel (films like Selma and Calvary), but aren’t wearing the “Christian” label or marketing to the Christian audience.
So, can we speak honestly about “Christian” movies?
They’re overwhelmingly terrible. Lacking in beauty and imagination. Hard to describe as art.
Check out this list of 2014 “Christian” movies with their Rotten Tomatoes rating…
Son of God – 21%
God’s Not Dead – 17%
Noah – 77%
Heaven is for Real – 46%
Persecuted – 0%
Holy Ghost – not scored
The Identical – 7%
The Remaining – 50%
Believe Me – 37%
The Song – 29%
Left Behind – 2%
A Matter of Faith – not scored
Saving Christmas 0%
Exodus – 28%
Of the 12 films scored, they averaged just 26% on the Tomatometer (60% and above is considered “fresh,” while 59% and below is considered “rotten”).
Interestingly, the audience review of God’s Not Dead was 80% – compared to the critic’s review of 17%. That’s quite the disparity. Check out what National Catholic Register Film Critic Steven Greydanus had to say about this movie:
I know we all have different tastes – in art, food, music, and movies. But I do wish we could speak more honestly about “Christian” movies.
My guess is that these types of movies will continue to be made at an ever-increasing pace because there is much money to be made from the Christian audience. I think it’s unfortunate.
I’d much rather have seen one good movie like Calvary (89%) or Selma (99%) than the twelve listed above.
Question: What do you think about “Christian” movies?
I am a husband, father, pastor, leader & reader. I love God, love people & love life.
So so true. They feel insipid to say the least. I love good writing, wit, art. Unfortunately they don’t qualify. I also love good novels and honestly have found a well written book that is not “Christian” with objectionable material far better than some of the substandard writing they keep all clean and perfect for the Christian label. It all feels anesthesizing. I am an adult and can filter what I read and watch. There is plenty of beauty, truth, and meaning in challenging material that doesn’t always conform or behave. Please treat me like my abilities and appreciation is in fact above a 7 yr. old level.
I feel kind of strongly about “Christian” movies and books and have for a long time.
Beth
I hear you Beth. I think in the quest to make the content as “unoffensive” as possible, it ends up becoming offensive to the intellect – we know this is not what life looks like, sounds like, or feels like.
Just for the record, if a movie is labelled “Christian” and I hear a lot of “ooo’s” and “aaaaahs” about one at church, I will have no interest in it. I wasted a good couple hours a years ago on one of the “Left Behind” flicks and would rather not waste any more. Got a lot more out of “Unbroken”, even the Tolkien Trilogy of movies. I enjoy movies for entertainment and sometimes to be challenged, and I appreciate being given something to think about rather than same-old-same-old. And “Christian” movies are rarely done well. If we’re going to be ‘Christian’ in the arena of art, then it should reflect the excellence, creativity and beauty of the One we are endeavoring to honor.