Last week, Reel Speak came down the mountain with the Top 10 Best Films about the Devil written in stone by fire (read it HERE). Since evil cannot exist without good, that devilish blog could only be followed up with another stone tablet: The Top 10 Best Biblical Films.
The Bible has been a source of inspiration for millions across centuries, and has also done the job on film; telling tales of faith, love, hope, and basic good vs. evil. Even to the non-believers the stories are known, and can make for easy cinema. Some of the earliest Bible films go back to 1903 with a French production of SAMSON AND DELIAH, which would ignite a slew of Bible-based films from 1909 to 1911. Over the decades, the Bible has had its stories adapted straight-up for the screen, but have also served as the basis for alternate tellings of the old stories. Darren Aronofsky is a prime example of this, with his MOTHER! (2017), and NOAH (2014), telling those old stories in new skins. Comedy has taken a few pages out of the Good Book as well, with Mel Brooks’ HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART I (1981), and BRUCE ALMIGHTY (2003), generating laughs. For this list, the best films are the ones that explore faith using the themes, characters, and stories to the best cinematic experience.
In the beginning…
10. THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965)
This 199-minute epic by George Stevens is far from the greatest movie ever made; in fact, it was lambasted by critics at the time. But its ambition is impressive, telling the story of Jesus from the Nativity to the crucifixion. Despite its length it is concise and gets the message of Jesus across, and is a good film for kids as an intro to Bible stories. Max von Sydow plays Christ in a memorable turn.
9. THE PRINCE OF EGYPT (1998)
The first Dreamworks picture to win an Oscar and would eventually be considered to be one of the best animated films of all time. The story of Moses is told from the foretelling of his coming and his receiving of the Ten Commandments in stunning animation and an impressive voice cast: Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover, Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren, Steve Martin, and Martin Short.
8. BARABBAS (1961)
The late great Anthony Quinn plays Barabbas, the criminal who was freed so Jesus could be crucified. This is a journey of faith story, as Barabbas wrestles with believing in a higher power after Jesus rises. This showcases some impressive cinematography for its time, which filmed an actual solar eclipse to recreate the crucifixion darkness. The supporting cast is also excellent; Jack Palance, Arthur Kennedy, and Silvana Mangano.
7. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (1973)
Before Norman Jewison made icons out of Cher and Nic Cage in MOONSTRUCK in 1987, he helmed this acclaimed adaptation of the 1970 rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The film centers around the conflict between Jesus and Judas; familiar territory brought to energetic and emotional life in a musical setting.
6. DAVID AND BATHSHEBA (1951)
Stories of the crucifixion get a lot of attention on the big screen, so it’s refreshing to see one of the lesser-known tales be unspooled. This 1951 epic by Henry King follows the life of King David and his relationship with Bathsheba, who is married to another man. One of the many highlights of the film is the showdown with Goliath, played by Lithuanian wrestler Walter Talun. Gregory Peck is excellent as David.
5. NOAH (2014)
On the surface, this masterful work by visionary director Darren Aronofsky looks like an alternate tale of the great flood that dipped into the sci-fi and fantasy genre. But Aronofsky goes deeper, working in hidden items from the Bible to create a stunning and often-times mind-boggling cinematic experience. Deep faith is explored, and the emotional punch near the end really lands. Russell Crowe takes on the role of Noah, and Emma Watson steps out of her wizards robes for the first time in an impressive, grown-up role.
4. THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (1988)
Willem Dafoe plays Jesus and Barbara Hershey plays Mary Magdalene in this Martin Scorsese film that earned him a Best Director nomination. Temptation is in the title and hangs heavily over the film, as Jesus is tempted by lust and fear. Controversial for its time as it didn’t stick to the Biblical narrative but instead explored spiritual conflict. Scorsese was telling us that Jesus was still a man, which makes his eventual suffering all the more powerful.
3. BEN-HUR (1959)
William Wyler’s massive film that would win a then-record 11 Oscars including Best Picture. Charlton Heston plays the title character living just outside of the comings and deeds of Jesus, which drives his character and gives us new perspective of the familiar story. The spectacle is outstanding even by today’s action-film standards, with the chariot race still standing tall as one of the greatest scenes of all time.
2. THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (2004)
Mel Gibson’s bold and uncompromising look at the final hours of Jesus which would go on to become the highest-grossing Christian film of all time. The blood and brutality of the crucifixion is relentless, but there is an odd beauty to it as Gibson dives into committed faith and a touching mother/son story, and the cinematography gives us images that look like they floated off a Vatican painting. It is hard to watch in places but the power can be felt. This Blogger’s personal favorite of the Ten.
1. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)
Famed director Cecil B. DeMille’s astounding 220-minute epic telling the Book of Exodus, starting with the birth and exile of Moses, his deliverance of the Hebrews out of slavery, and his receiving of the Ten Commandments. Boasting some of the most impressive visual effects of its time (which still hold up today), THE TEN COMMANDMENTS boldly shows the power of God in great cinematic spectacle, and over the years the film has become a traditional Easter holiday viewing. The stone tables that Moses would receive would be the basis for all faith, which is appropriate, as THE TEN COMMANDMENTS is the basis for all Biblical films. So let it be written, so let it be done.
REEL SPEAK'S TOP 10 BEST BIBLICAL FILMS
- THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
- THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
- BEN-HUR
- THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
- NOAH
- DAVID AND BATHSHEBA
- JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
- BARABBAS
- THE PRINCE OF EGYPT
- THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
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