Movie ranking lists are popular in the entertainment realm. There are rankings for Marvel movies, Pixar movies and even limited series such as Jaws.
There are fewer rankings, though, for Christian movies. It's a smaller genre with fewer fans than Disney and the MCU. Besides that, Christians are less prone to be critical.
But what if we did rank a subset of Christian movies? And what if we began with those by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, the "Lewis and Clark" Christian movie duo who blazed a trail nearly two decades ago for other filmmakers to follow? (Their brother, Shannon, joined them as a producer with 2015's War Room.)
I consider myself a big fan of their movies, having teared up in every single one (I ain't ashamed) and having reviewed each of their movies, minus the first one, Flywheel. They excel at stories that aim straight for the heart.
Here, then, are the Kendrick Brothers' movies ranked from No. 1 to No. 8:
Photo courtesy: ©Affirm, used with permission.
1. War Room (2015)
An on-the-rocks marriage is saved by the prayers of an elderly woman who often visits her "war room" – that is, her prayer closet. War Room starred T.C. Stalling and Priscilla C. Shirer as the lead couple and Karen Abercrombie as the prayer warrior. It opened at No. 2 at the box office and then climbed to No. 1 on its second weekend – a rare feat in the movie industry. Incredibly, its second-weekend gross ($13.3 million) was higher than what it made on its first weekend ($11.3 million) – another rarity. It won a Movie Guide Award for Most Inspiring Movie of the year and received an A+ Cinemascore. Rated PG for thematic elements throughout.
2. Courageous (2011)
A police officer strives to become a better father after suffering a life-altering tragedy. It starred Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel, Kevin Downes and Ben Davies as four lawmen/friends who dive into Scripture to discover what God's Word says about the family. Courageous opened at No. 4 at the box office and stayed in the Top 10 for four weeks. It Won a Movie Guide Award for Most Inspiring Movie and also received an A+ CinemaScore. (A 2021 version of the film, Courageous Legacy includes an updated ending.) Rated PG-13 for some violence and drug content.
3. Fireproof (2008)
A fireman attempts to save his struggling marriage by undergoing a "Love Dare," a 40-day challenge that teaches him about unconditional love. (Dare No. 1: Say nothing negative to your spouse.) It starred Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea and Ken Bevel and was the Kendricks' first big hit, opening at No. 4 and staying in the Top 10 for three weekends. It also included a little movie magic for the dramatic on-screen silhouette kiss: Cameron actually was kissing his real-life life, Chelsea Noble. It received an A+ CinemaScore from moviegoers and won Movie Guide's Most Inspiring Movie Award. Rated PG for thematic material and some peril.
Photo courtesy: ©Sony, used with permission
4. Lifemark (2022)
An 18-year-old high school student named David embarks on a journey to meet his birth mom with the support of his adoptive parents. It was based on a true story and a real-life documentary, Lived On Parker Avenue. Lifemark starred Raphael Ruggero in the lead role, Kirk Cameron as the adoptive father, and Dawn Long as the birth mother who takes the first step in reaching out. Reviewer Michael Medved called it "undeniably moving ... with universally capable performances creating a range of sympathetic characters." It was the first Kendrick Brothers dramatic film not to be directed by Alex Kendrick. (That role went to Kevin Peeples.) It was No. 4 in the nation on opening night. Rated PG-13 for some thematic material.
5. Overcomer (2019)
A successful high school basketball coach is faced with an identity crisis when his star players move away, and he is forced to coach cross country. The film weaves together his story with that of a female athlete while tackling a significant biblical subject: the believer's identity in Christ. It starred Alex Kendrick, Priscilla C. Shirer, Cameron Arnett, Shari Rigby and Aryn Wright-Thompson. It won a GMA Dove Award for Inspirational Film of the Year and a Movie Guide Award for Most Inspiring Movie. Overcomer opened at No. 3 and stayed in the Top 10 for five weeks. It also received an A+ CinemaScore from moviegoers. Rated PG for some thematic elements.
Photo courtesy: ©Fathom, used with permission.
6. Show Me the Father (2021)
Inspiring stories of earthly fathers are interwoven with spiritual truths of God the Father. It was the first documentary from the Kendrick Brothers and included interviews with Focus on the Family's Jim Daly, Texas pastor Tony Evans and former NFL coach and player Sherman Smith, among others. It's a must-see film for fathers and even includes a few jaw-dropping, uplifting moments that will surprise you. It received an A+ CinemaScore and is one of the best spiritual documentaries you'll ever watch. Rated PG for thematic material.
7. Facing the Giants (2006)
A failing football coach, inspired by his faith, dares his players to believe in the impossible – both on and off the field. Facing the Giants did not open in the Top 10 but nevertheless grabbed national headlines for what it was: A church-produced movie that made $4 million on a paltry $100,000 budget. A Washington Post story in 2006 summarized the industry consensus: "'Facing the Giants,' Shot On a Shoestring and a Prayer, Does Miraculously at Box Office." It also received national attention for being rated PG due to its religious content. (The Motion Picture Association of America received thousands of complaint letters.) It starred Alex Kendrick and Shannen Fields. Rated PG for some thematic elements.
8. Flywheel (2003)
A corrupt used car salesman grows convicted about his actions and decides to sell vehicles honestly. Flywheel was the first movie made by Alex and Stephen Kendrick and opened in local theaters, grossing $37,000 on a $20,000 budget. Cast members wore their own clothes to cut down on expenses. "We adopted the mindset that God is the best movie maker, and He can produce a movie better than anyone in Hollywood. We operated off the basis that if God blessed the effort, it would work," Alex Kendrick told the Christian Index in 2006. With eight movies on their resume and millions of fans inspired by their stories, it's safe to say the Kendricks' gospel-centric strategy has been successful, no matter how you measure it.
Photo courtesy: ©Affirm Films, used with permission.
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.