Wasting two hours on a poorly acted movie with a message stinks. Acting is like technology. I only notice it when there’s a problem. In other words, I try not to support movies just because they’re “Christian.” I like to support them because they’re good.

How do I define good? Entertaining. Thoughtful. Recommendable.

Entertaining= I genuinely enjoyed watching it. I didn’t have to exert any effort trying to like it.

Thoughtful= I sense a “Why?” behind the movie. If certain scenes or questions tumble around in my mind for a few days, the “Thoughtful” box gets checked.

Recommendable= In good conscience, I only recommend movies without sexual nudity, over the top profanity, or a purposefully sinister or depressing message. I like to think I have well thought out reasons for each of these standards, but I’ll save them for another article.

These movies don’t just pass my litmus test with flying colors. I’ve hoisted them onto my podium of Top 20 Movies Ever. On an almost daily basis, I find myself comparing situations in my life to specific scenes in one of these movies. I still bring them up in everyday conversation. And most importantly, each one of them helped me understand Jesus in a new way.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Movie Trivia:

Mel Gibson left out many parts of Desmond Doss’s real-life heroism. In an interview with Stephen Colbert, Mel said, “There were things he did that I couldn’t put in the film because no one would believe it.”

The Mission (1986)

Movie Trivia:

The Mission was nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture. It only won Best Cinematography.

Les Miserables (1998)

Movie Trivia:

This version of Les Misérables tanked at the box office. It made a little over 14,000,000 worldwide.

Amazing Grace (2007)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR18EuwlT-A

Movie Trivia:

Much of the dialogue set in the House of Commons is taken directly from historical transcripts.

The Apostle (1997)

Movie Trivia:

Robert Duvall spent $4,000,000 of his own money to complete the film.