Today is Good Friday, an important holiday remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. It is a dark and tragic moment in history, but it leads to a very powerful motif that many movies will take inspiration from.

To get your mind wrapped around the powerful story of Jesus’ crucifixion, there is a plethora of Jesus biopics (The Passion of the Christ being the big one). For those who want to celebrate the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus through the artistry and imagination of the director, I would suggest these movies.

  1. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and Wardrobe- this is low-hanging fruit for sharing a Gospel message, but it is powerful and appropriate for kids. Aslan is a powerful Messiah hero.
  2. Hellboy (original)- Hellboy may have come from the bowels of hell, but he uses his unique situation to beat back the forces of evil. Only one hero is suited for the job to destroy darkness,
  3. Taken- How far would a father go to save the child he loves? Liam Neeson turns the world upside down to get back his daughter. God gave his only son to get back his creation.
  4. Man on Fire- Denzel Washington killed and tortured his share of kidnappers to save the daughter of a South American family, but only through sacrifice can he get her back.
  5. My Iron Giant- An alien robot, decides to befriend a boy. When the government deems the robot a threat, the Iron Giant must give his life to keep his loved ones safe.