Top Ten lists are scriptural.  The list below is less demanding than God‘s big ten list in Exodus 20 and less authoritative too.  Still, for you video hounds, here are ten (or more) films that take their cure from the Bible, some more closely than others.  They evoke worthy passions but it is safe to say, “the book is better!”

10.  A seven-way tie:
    Quo Vadis? (1951 - Mervin LeRoy).  Rome burns, Christians blamed.
    The Sign of the Cross (1932–C. B. DeMille).  Faith is costly for
    believers.
    Samson and Delilah (1949 - Cecil B. DeMille).  Poetic license.
    Solomon and Sheba (1959 - King Vidor).  Hollywood license, not so
    poetic.
    The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965 - George Stevens). Star-studded
    life of Christ.
    King David (1985 - Bruce Beresford).  Read the book.
    Jesus Christ Superstar (1973 - Norman Jewison). Manages to miss
    the point.

9. The Robe (1953 - Henry Koster). Marcellus, a Roman at the foot of the cross, gambles for and wins Jesus' robe. Later, tormented by guilt, he learns more about the man he helped kill and how to live with what he did.

8. King of Kings (1961 - Nicholas Ray). I saw this portrait of Christ (played by Jeffrey Hunter) as a small boy. I recall a positive impact.

7. The Gospel of John (2003 - Philip Saville). Christopher Plummer narrates a three-hour by-the-book portrayal of Jesus from John’s gospel (Good News Version).

5. The Prince of Egypt (1998 - Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells). An animated account of Exodus 1-14, told as a story of two brothers divided by destiny. Moses is seen as a prince, a prophet, a patriarch and early on, a prankster (poetic license). It’s energetic entertainment for a party at your house with a children’s Sunday School class.

5. Jesus (1979 - John Krish, Peter Sykes). Based on the gospel of Luke, used for evangelism to this day by Campus Crusade for Christ.

6. Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie (2002 - Phil Vischer). Archibald Asparagus in his role of a lunch time! The greatest fish story ever told, with mixed vegetables. Bob the Tomato and the Veggie kids find themselves at an old, rundown seafood joint where some curious Pirates share a story about Jonah--who knew what God wanted him to do, but did the exact opposite. They all learn a lesson about God’s second chances.

3. Ben-Hur (1959 - William Wyler). A Jewish prince (Charlton Heston) is betrayed by an old friend and ends up as a slave on Roman war ship. He escapes to search for his mother and sister and to seek revenge. There are several tender encounters with a Galilean Messiah along the way. Okay, it’s obvious that the spectacular sea battle involved toy boats in the long shots but the chariot race stands up well. Some prefer the silent version of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) with Ramone Navarro.

2. The Passion of the Christ (2004 - Mel Gibson). The images are brutal but inspiring. As someone (perhaps the Pope) has said : "It is as it was!" The plot follows the last twelve hours of Jesus’ life and presents the story as Isaiah foretold it: "We esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5).

1. The Ten Commandments (1956 - Cecil B. DeMille). Your modern eye will be amused by the special effects but the dialogue gets better every time you see this epic story of Moses leading Israel out of slavery. Here are a few classic lines: “Love cannot drown truth.” (Charlton Heston as Moses). “There is no freedom without the law.” (Heston). Finally, listen to these words from the woman Moses would later marry: “Our hands were not so soft but they can serve. Our bodies not so white but they are strong. Our lips not perfume, but they speak the truth. Love is not an art to us. It is life to us. We are not dressed in gold and fine linen. Strength and honor are out clothing.” (Yvonne De Carlo as Saphora).


Previous Top Tens:
Faith-Building Films to Watch with a Non-Christian Friend:
10. Luther (2003 - Eric Till).

  9. Bruce Almighty (2003 - Tom Shadyak).

  8. The Hiding Place (1975 – James F. Collier).

  7. The Ten Commandments (1956 - Cecil B. DeMille).

  6. Sergeant York (1941 - Howard Hawks).

  5. Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1973 - Franco Zeffirelli).

  4. Gods and Generals (2003 – Ronald F. Maxwell).

  3. A Man For All Seasons (1966 - Fred Zinnemann).

  2. Tender Mercies (1983 - Bruce Beresford).

  1. Stars in My Crown (1950 - Jacques Tourneur).


Movies About "Learning to Love" or "Loving to Learn:"
10. Born Yesterday (1950).

  9. Mr. Holland's Opus (1995).

  8. Ball of Fire (1941).

  7. October Sky (1999).

  6. Last of the Mohicans (1992).

  5. Shadowlands (1993).

  4. Marty (1955).

  3. These Three (1936).

  2. Stand and Deliver (1987).

  1. Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939).

Joel Mark Solliday, editor