Movies About the Bible That Bring Scripture to Life

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Bible stories can sometimes feel incredibly distant from us. These movies about the Bible help bridge that gap. In each of these films, the biblical accounts are thoughtfully explored. It’s one thing to simply retell the story — "Here it is, this is what the Bible says." It’s quite another to dive deeply into the characters, giving them real-life personalities and making them react in believable ways, all while staying true to Scripture. Here are some of my favorite movies about the Bible. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

01 The Ten Commandments (1956)

Charlton Heston and Yul Brenner in The Ten Commandments
Paramount Pictures

"Moses' God is God."

In one of Charlton Heston’s greatest performances, The Ten Commandments, there is a powerful portrayal of the Exodus — the freeing of God's Chosen People from slavery in Egypt.

Moses (Charlton Heston), saved from the Nile as an infant, grows up as an Egyptian prince. His greatest rival for the princess’s hand is Ramses (Yul Brynner). When Moses learns of his Hebrew heritage, he leaves his princely life behind to help his people. Ramses wins the princess and banishes Moses to the desert, where God calls Moses to lead His people to freedom.

But Ramses is not about to let Moses lead all of his slaves to any kind of a Promised Land. He installs obstacle after obstacle to prevent the Hebrews from leaving Egypt. As a result, the ten plagues strike Egypt, the death of the first born of all the Egyptians finally changes the Pharaoh's mind and the Hebrews are free to go.

But the princess, now Pharaoh's wife, is not ready to forgive Moses for forgetting her for a new God and shepherd girl and she sends Ramses back after Moses. But God is good and delivers the Chosen People even from Ramses' army in many miraculous ways. Like all these movies about the Bible, this film really helps the viewers to think about this Bible story in context about how it probably really played out.

Points to Consider:

• Every commandment, in one way or another, is broken in the course of this movie. This is used to portray the need for God's law because men are ignoring it written in their hearts. 
• That being said there is never anything too impure in this movie. Two passionate kisses and the Egyptian princess looks at several men in lust and enjoys teasing both Moses and Ramses as to who she truly loves, but nothing goes too far.
• The ground opening to swallow idol worshippers may be scary for small children.
• There is one sad thing about this movie: Instead of the point being that God delivered His people and gave them the laws to live by, the point is "the birth of freedom". The makers took it from a Christian story to an Americanism and brotherhood-of-man point of view. Very sad.

Where to watch!

02 Samson (2018)

Taylor James in Samson (2018)
PureFlix Entertainment

"Lord, give me your strength one last time. Let me die with the Philistines."

This high-quality retelling of the Old Testament hero Samson portrays him as the real-life Hulk of the Bible. Samson thoughtfully shows his rise, fall, and the power of God's forgiveness, diving into Samson's complicated relationship with the Philistines and his struggle to remain faithful to his vows.

The film takes creative license in showing how Samson battles his personal weaknesses — loving Philistine women, bending the letter of his vows, and trying to live on his own terms rather than God's. Meanwhile, his enemy Prince Rala cunningly exploits Samson’s pride and impulsiveness.

Delilah, future queen and willing conspirator, seduces Samson and discovers the secret of his strength. Betrayed and captured, Samson repents, regains his faith, and ultimately sacrifices his life to save his people. The film's focus brings to mind that Samson’s life foreshadows Christ’s sacrifice, making it a profound story of redemption.

Points to Consider:

• While traces of "birth of freedom" language exist, the main theme is God's forgiveness and following His will.
• This movie contains some romance and kissing.

Where to watch!

03 Esther Adaptations

Thaao Penghlis, Hadeel Sittu, Jen Lilley and Robert Miano in
The Book of Esther (2013)
PureFlix Entertainment

“Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

The story of Esther has been retold countless times on screen, but one of the best adaptations—though not the most cinematic or visually stunning—is PureFlix’s The Book of Esther (2013). This live-action version faithfully follows the Biblical account while weaving in a few elements that feel reminiscent of Cinderella, Ever After, and even Grisly Grisell.

If you are a fan of PureFlix Originals, you’ll likely enjoy this film, which was directed by beloved PureFlix actor David A. R. White and features familiar faces like Robert Miano and Joel David Smallbone. Jen Lilley makes a lovely Queen Esther.

While the sets are admittedly cheap and the costumes a bit tacky, this version stands out in a very important way: it’s wholesome and appropriate for the entire family to sit down and watch together—something that can't be said for the more polished but problematic 1999 Book of Esther made-for-TV movie from The Bible Collection.

Overall, The Book of Esther is a charming, heartfelt portrayal of a young woman who, through courage and faith, saves her people.

Where to watch!

Honorary mentions: 

• Esther: The Girl Who Became Queen (VeggieTales)
• Queen Esther (The Greatest Adventure)

The Book of Daniel (2013)

Robert Miano and Lance Henriksen in The Book of Daniel (2013)
PureFlix Entertainment

Again featuring the talents of Robert Miano as the older Daniel, The Book of Daniel recounts the story of the prophet and his life under four foreign kings during the Babylonian Captivity. Although it may be a bit broad for one film, the small antidotes from this life are interesting to watch.

This unique slant tells not only the well-known story of the lion's den, but includes the stories of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago and the fiery furnace, the writing on the wall with King Belshazzar, and the eventual end of the Captivity.

Where to watch!

The Chosen (2017–Present)

Shahar Isaac, Jonathan Roumie, George Xanthis, Paras Patel in
The Chosen Season 2 Episode 5
Loaves and Fishes Productions

The Chosen offers the life of Christ in a way we've never seen before. With realistic characters, rich storytelling, and high production quality, this TV series immerses viewers in the world of the Gospels without being cheesy or preachy.

We were skeptical when The Chosen first came out, but it blew us away with its faithful yet fresh take. From the relatable portrayals of the Apostles to the reverent depiction of Christ (Jonathan Roumie), this series breathes new life into the familiar Gospel stories.

If you want an even deeper dive, read our full review here!

Need a Few More Movies About the Bible?

Check out these runner-up titles:

• Ben-Hur (1959) — Not a direct Bible story, but heavily intertwined with the life of Christ and themes of forgiveness and mercy. (Charlton Heston again!)
• Risen (2016) — A Roman soldier investigates the mystery of Jesus’ missing body after the Crucifixion. A detective story set during the Resurrection!
• Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018) — Focuses on St. Paul’s final days and St. Luke’s (Jim Caviezel) mission to document his story.
• The Bible: A Brickfilm (2020) — A creative retelling of major Bible stories using LEGO animation, making it a fun and surprisingly thoughtful watch for families and fans of stop-motion storytelling.

Finding Inspiration and Faith Through These Movies About the Bible

Watching movies about the Bible isn't just about entertainment — it’s a way to better understand Scripture, to imagine the real emotions and struggles of the people God chose, and to bring the ancient world a little closer to our own hearts.

These films have helped me think more deeply about these stories, and I hope they do the same for you. Let me know which film touched your most or if there are any must watches that I missed!