The 12 Best Christian Movies of 2024

  • Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
  • Updated Dec 13, 2024
The 12 Best Christian Movies of 2024

A decade ago, it was difficult to find quality faith-based entertainment. Today, though, such options are seemingly endless. 

Christian titles are available on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video, alongside dedicated faith-based streaming services. Meanwhile, Christian titles arrive almost every month in theaters.

And despite what you may have heard, the best films in this genre can stand up to the best of mainstream entertainment. Everything in the faith genre has leveled up -- the storytelling, the production quality, the performances. Today’s faith-based movies are light years ahead of yesteryear’s. 

Compiling a best-of list is always difficult. For starters, you have to ask: What is a Christian film? For this compilation, we’re using a straightforward definition: a movie with strong Christian themes. It also needs to be generally family-friendly. To keep it simple, this list only includes movies released in theaters. 

Here are the 12 best Christian movies of 2024, in alphabetical order.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/skynesher

  • Average Joe

    1. Average Joe

    A high school football coach defies orders to halt his post-game prayer. It’s the true story of Joe Kennedy, an unassuming assistant coach who, for years, knelt in prayer at midfield after every game, win or lose, with little fanfare. His faith-filled act gained national headlines only when school officials -- acting on a complaint -- told him to stop. After he refused, he was dismissed. Kennedy then sued the school district, eventually winning a major case at the U.S. Supreme Court. The film explores the backstory you didn’t know, highlighting the tension it created between him and his wife. (She worked for the school district.) It’s an inspiring story of standing up for what’s right. Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and violence.

    Photo Credit: ©GND Media Group

  • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

    2. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

    A courageous mom volunteers to direct the church’s annual Christmas play, only to see it potentially sabotaged when six unruly siblings audition for the lead roles. The catch? Those siblings intimidate the other kids into backing out of auditions. This hilarious, uplifting movie is based on a children’s book of the same name and follows the tale of the Herdmans -- the “worst kids in the history of the world.” They lie. They steal. They smoke cigars! This instant Christmas classic carries the mischievous charm and nostalgic feel of such movies as Home Alone (1990) and A Christmas Story (1983). It’s the best family movie of the year, with solid lessons about outreach, kindness, grace, and redemption. Kingdom Story Company made it. Rated PG for thematic material and brief underage smoking.

    Photo Credit: ©Allen Fraser/Lionsgate

  • Bonhoeffer

    3. Bonhoeffer

    A young man risks his life to stand up to Nazism and its hate-fueled rhetoric. The film follows the real-life story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Christian theologian who led a movement, the Confessing Church, that opposed Adolf Hitler’s plan to rid the world of Jews. Sadly, many German Christians remained silent. This Angel Studios film follows Bonhoeffer’s journey from Germany to the United States and then back to Germany, where he was executed for his role in a plot to assassinate Hitler. It’s a gripping tale of courage and was directed by Todd Komarnicki, who previously helped make Sully and Elf. Rated PG-13 for violent content, thematic elements, and some smoking.

    Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios

  • Cabrini, Angel Studios to release Cabrini

    4. Cabrini 

    A humble Italian woman travels to New York to serve the poor and ends up transforming the world. The film tells the true story of Frances Cabrini, who launched orphanages, schools, and a hospital in America’s largest city as part of a ministry that eventually went worldwide. It was the “largest charitable empire the world had ever known,” the film says. Filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde (Bella, Sound of Freedom) directed it. Cabrini carried a bigger budget than most faith films -- $50 million -- and it shows in its scope on the screen. Angel Studios released it. Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some violence, language, and smoking.

    Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios, used with permission.

  • Disciples in the Moonlight

    5. Disciples in the Moonlight

    A courageous group devises a daring plan to smuggle copies of God’s Word into the Midwest in a dystopian future where the Bible is outlawed in America. This thought-provoking story offers an action-packed plot with plenty of surprises. Critics will undoubtedly challenge the premise with a common objection: “That could never happen in America.” That’s likely true, but Disciples in the Moonlight envisions a world where Truth is openly rejected, God’s Word is readily scorned, Americans regularly twist the Bible to suit their own agendas, and Christians are pressured to compromise. All of that is already present in today’s America. It’s one of the better under-the-radar movies you’ll ever watch. Brett Varvel directed it. Unrated.

    Photo Credit: ©Fathom

  • The Forge

    6. The Forge

    An irresponsible young man named Isaiah discovers the value of life, hard work, and faith through the guidance of a wise mentor. This Kendrick Brothers film spotlights the biblical concept of discipleship in a way few other films have. As the film opens, Isaiah is an unemployed young man who has more interest in girls and games than in responsibility. But by the film’s end, he has grown into a leader both at work and at church. It stars Cameron Arnett (Overcomer) as the mentor, former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson as a friend, Aspen Kennedy as Isaiah, and Priscilla Shirer as Isaiah’s mom. It enjoyed box office success in America and in Brazil, too, where it rose to No 1. Rated PG for thematic elements

    Photo Credit: ©Sony

  • Homestead

    7. Homestead

    Families struggle for survival after a nuclear bomb detonates in Los Angeles, plunging the nation into an apocalyptic chaos. Although not a Christian movie in the traditional sense, this Angel Studios movie weaves in compelling biblical themes of compassion and selflessness as it raises important questions about self-reliance. It features top-shelf talent (Neal McDonough, Jesse Hutch, and Bailey Chase) and a unique distribution model, with the film and the next two episodes in the TV series releasing the same day at Angel.com. Ben Smallbone directed it. Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements. 

    Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Angel Studios

  • Ordinary Angels Movie

    8. Ordinary Angels

    A hairdresser rallies a church and a community to assist a widower whose daughter is critically ill. The film is based on a true story about a Louisville, Ky., woman who launched a fundraiser for a family she barely knew, driven by her mission to help a 5-year-old girl receive a life-saving organ donation. Along the way, the woman battles her own demons, including alcoholism. This Kingdom Story Company movie stars Hillary Swank and Alan Ritchson and includes solid lessons about kindness, generosity, and selflessness. Producer Andy Erwin told Crosswalk it shows the “gospel in action.” It’s a hope-filled story that sparks tears and inspires acts of kindness. Rated PG for thematic content, brief, bloody images, and smoking.

    Photo credit: ©Lionsgate; used with permission.

  • Sight Movie Angel Studios

    9. Sight

    A Chinese boy prevails against overwhelming obstacles to become a world-renowned eye doctor. The film tells the true story of Dr. Ming Wang, who grew up during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), a dark period in Chinese history when schools were closed, books were burned, and education was seen as counter to the Communist cause. Eventually, though, he moved to America to become one of the world’s top eye doctors whose innovations restore sight to the blind. He also became a Christian. The film features Oscar nominee Greg Kinnear (As Good As it Gets, You’ve Got Mail) as Ming’s associate and actor Ben Wang -- who is in the upcoming Karate Kid movie -- as a young Ming Wang. It features solid lessons about determination and perseverance. Rated PG-13 for violence and thematic material. 

    Photo credit: ©Angel Studios; used with permission.

  • Sound of Hope

    10. Sound of Hope

    A small-town Texas family takes in two children from the foster system, sparking a movement that sees 77 of the toughest-to-place children adopted. The film is based on the true story of pastor WC Martin and his wife Donna, who feel called by God to rescue children who -- in his words -- “don’t nobody else want.” He urges his congregation to follow their lead and, soon, 22 families in the community express interest. It’s one of the grittiest inspiring films you’ll ever watch, in part because the film doesn’t sugarcoat the families’ struggles. (None of them are wealthy.) This one is not for young children. Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving child abuse, some violence, language, and brief suggestive material.

    Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios

  • unsung hero, new movie to tell the story of the Smallbone's moving to America

    11. Unsung Hero

    An Australian family leans on their faith in God and their love for one another after their cross-world relocation to America goes awry. The movie follows the true story of David and Helen Smallbone, who moved to the U.S. in the early 1990s for his job only to have it fall apart soon after they arrived. With no job and little money, the family scrambles in order to survive -- mowing lawns, raking leaves, and cleaning houses. Eventually, they discover that their oldest child, Rebecca, has a gifted voice. The Smallbones, of course, are the parents of CCM artist Rebecca St. James as well as Joel and Luke Smallbone of For King & Country. It’s one of the most uplifting films of the modern era. Rated PG for thematic elements. 

    Photo Credit: ©Lionsgate/Kingdom Story Company, used with permission

  • White Bird Movie

    12. White Bird

    A boy removed from school after bullying learns about courage, kindness, and bravery through his grandmother’s account of being hidden as a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. The film is based on the book of the same name and serves as a prequel and sequel to the 2017 movie Wonder. White Bird opens with a scene involving Julian, the student in Wonder, who was suspended for bullying and was subsequently withdrawn from school by his parents in protest. Bryce Gheisar returns for the role of Julian. It’s one of the best films of the year. It’s a Kingdom Story Company movie. Rated PG-13 for some strong violence, thematic material and language. 

    Photo Credit: ©Lionsgate

    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. 

    Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.