Hope you have a better Good Friday than Jesus Christ did!
Movie junkie or not, movies are relevant for every season! Be
it Thanksgiving or Christmas, there’s always a movie that keeps the holiday
spirit alive and abuzz.
Speaking of which, Good Friday is fast approaching. And we
know that a lot of us have lost the plot of even our holiest of days. For
example, Good Friday is one of the most sacred days on the Christian calendar,
as it commemorates the day of crucifixion of Jesus. However, this day is often
overshadowed by free meals at the church and preparation of Easter.
Whether you agree or not, the day of mourning and praying is often
stripped off its historical and religious significance. Even the strongest
believers sometimes get carried away with Easter decorations and carbs-filled
family feasts.
Even though movies-watching tradition sometimes believed to
deviate us from the true meaning of religious holidays such as Good Friday,
part of that same tradition pull us back on track. Here are 10 must watch
movies for Good Friday 2021 that teach us what this holy day is all about:
The
Greatest Story ever Told
Starring Max Von Sydow, John Wayne, Chartlon Heston, Sidney
Poitier, and Shelley Winters, this 1965 movie portrays the life of Jesus Christ
for four hours straight. Even though this movie didn’t perform well at the box
office, Sydow’s performance as Jesus Christ has inarguably defined the screen
adaption of Jesus for generations.
Jesus
of Nazareth
It’s just the start of the list, and we’re already cheating. Well,
it’s worth it! Jesus of Nazareth is not actually a movie, but a miniseries
released in 1977. It tells the story of Jesus over a period of more than SIX
freakin…. oops… holiest hours!
The modern generation may find this series a bit boring or
out-of-time, but it’s enlightening in so many ways. Go give it a try! The film
stars James Earl Jones as Balthazar, Christopher Plummer as Herod Antipas, and
Laurence Olivier as Nicodemus.
Risen
Released in 2016, Risen
follows a journey of Clavius, a Roman military tribune, along with his friend
Lucius, who tries to find out the truth behind Jesus crucifixion.
They learn
some shocking facts during their journey. Risen
is going to be one of the best Christian movies you will ever see for sure.
Joseph:
King of Dreams
This 2000’s animated movie follows the life of Joseph from
slavery to becoming the most powerful person in Egypt. Jesus’s story has been
told in a very unique manner that is not only entertaining, but also
enlightening.
God Bless
the Broken Road
The heart touching story is about love between a driver and a
widowed mother while she struggles to hold on to her faith. This movie is
particularly helpful for all those who’re struggling to keep their faith in God
– and let’s be honest, many of us have been through that phase.
Jesus
Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a movie adaption of the Broadway
hit, released in 1973. Directed by Normal Jewison, it stars the hunky Ted
Neelay as Christ. The musical flick has same catching tunes that will remain stuck
in your head long after the Easter hangover finally ends.
The
Passion of Christ
Directed by Mel Gibson, the movie focuses on Jesus’ last
moments before his crucifixion in truly horrific details. This movie might not
be an appropriate choice for kids, but if you’re interested to watch a profound
depiction of Jesus’ last moments, this movie should be the in your ‘to watch’
list for Good Friday 2021.
The movie stars Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ who has been
remarkable throughout his performance. Caviezel’s Christ doesn’t just die
painfully but believably, he lives well, too. The movie portrays his
compassion, justice, love, and sense of humor through a variety of pleasant
flashbacks from his life.
Ben-Hur
This 1959 version of Ben-Hur is legendary in so many ways.
This academy-winning movie features Charlton Heston as the title character— a
member of Judean royalty military who was betrayed and sent into slavery by a
Roman friend— who takes back his freedom and comes back for revenge.
While Jesus is not a protagonist of this movie, he is
definitely the center of it all. The movie is based on best-selling novel
called Ben-Hur: A tale of the Christ.
Don’t worry, this movie does not contain any visuals of Jesus; we only see his hands,
legs, kindness and sacrifice. Most importantly, we see how people react to Him
in the movie.
The
Ten Commandments
This epic Biblical movie fictionalizes the pre-Good Friday
world of the Old Testament and the life of Moses – before Jesus came to this
world. The movie stars Charlton Heston
as Moses, who brings down the Ten Commandments down from the mountain, while
Egyptian Prince Rameses (portrayed by Yul Brynner) is on his tale to kill him.
The
Letters
The film follows the story of Mother Teresa through the
letters she wrote to father Celeste ves Exem. Her letters reflect her struggles
with doubts and alienation from God and people around her. The movie is
particularly inspirational for those who believe in Christianity.
There you go, we’ve given you names of 10 movies that depict
Christianity and Jesus in a unique yet enlightening and inspirational ways. These
movies will help you learn the true meaning of these religious days, including
Good Friday. So, grab your popcorn and watch our list of Good-Friday-themed films!
Stay tuned to Hayvine for the best Netflix shows, Disney
animated movies and series, along with Zootopia, Luca, and Sponge on the Run.
We will update our blog with the best kids’ movies of 2021, so don’t forget to like
our Facebook page.