The History of the 20th Century in Christian Movies

The 20th Century was full of dramatic stories, from extreme wars to a burst of creativity through the arts.

God was working throughout the century through normal people to whom he gave gifts and opportunities to follow him. These are all movies about Christians who were changed by Jesus, challenged by their experiences, and did wonderful things for him. Please find below a short review of 10 inspiring movies set in this period – one for each decade.

1900s & 1910s

Both Tolkien (2019) and CS Lewis: The Most Reluctant Convert (2021) are set in this period.

Tolkien 

While Lewis and Tolkien were friends in real life, and influenced each other’s books, this film doesn’t deal with their friendship. Tolkien covers the romance between he and Edith Mary Bratt and his service in World War 1. 

The biopic does not go deeply into Christianity, even though the fantasy writer was a Catholic. However, it is great to see a wholesome romance and the thing that keeps the two apart is heartrending. Tolkien’s devotion to Edith makes the movie worth watching.

CS Lewis: The Most Reluctant Convert 

This movie covers the emotional experiences of Narnia author CS Lewis’ early life, including losing a family member at a young age. It follows the intellectual journey of Lewis from atheism to Christianity.

The script is closely based on writings of Lewis, including his 1955 autobiography Surprised by Joy. Actor/Writer/Producer Max McLean moves and darts purposefully through the streets of Oxford, which are filled with ancient British buildings.The film has many flashbacks to Lewis’ earlier life including time with his brother, and with his influential tutor nicknamed The Great Knock.

Given the unique style of storytelling, and the precise characterisation that McLean brings to the role, The Most Reluctant Convert is a refreshing movie to watch. Fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity will enjoy this window into Lewis’ mind. 

McLean’s production company is currently producing a sequel, as part of a trilogy covering Lewis’ life.

1920s

Chariots of Fire (1981)

Chariots of Fire won the Best Picture Oscar and it’s easy to see why. When Olympian Eric Liddell has to choose between his moral convictions and running the race he is set to win, it is a gripping drama. There is another olympian the script also focuses on, who is hellbent on winning. The comparison of their hearts is humbling.

But of course, a script alone does not win a Best Picture Academy Award. The cinematography, period costumes, acting, and iconic music comes together to make an enjoyable and inspirational experience. It is fascinating that a film set in 1924 could work so well with electronic music in its soundtrack, and it does indeed.

1930s

Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. (2024)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Christian in Germany during the 1930s, leading up to World War 2 when he was faced with the church’s attitude to the Nazis. This film covers his time in Germany, USA, and some time in England. 

This film is a very confident, earnest and passionate depiction of Bonhoeffer’s life. His fight against racism and the Nazis carries into the war and his plot to kill Hitler. Almost every line of dialogue is spoken with urgency and determination. I also loved the family relationships Dietrich has with his siblings and parents. Bonhoeffer is a moving biopic which is essential viewing for anyone interested in World War 2 and what makes people tick.

1940s

The Hiding Place
(Theatrical Proshot) (2023)

A quite cinematic retelling of Corrie Ten Boom’s traumatic and challenging time during World War 2. She and her sister are unmarried and working in the family business – a clock shop in Holland. Their Christian compassion compels them to hide Jewish people in a fake room in the upper level of the house, which is above the shop. 

Produced by A.S. Peterson – brother of Wingfeather Saga writer, Andrew Peterson – this excellently filmed stage play tells a story of courage in scary times. Corrie’s story explores the challenges that the Bible presents us with. 

It sounds nice when Jesus told us to love our enemies. But can we actually do that, despite the pain and grief we feel?

1950s

End of the Spear (2005)

In 1956, in the jungles of Ecuador, Nate Saint, Jim Elliot and three other men had a goal of telling local indigenous people about the forgiveness that Jesus made possible. Their story involved love, tragedy and sacrifice.

End of the Spear tells the story from the perspective of Nate’s son, Steve Saint.The heart of the story is Steve’s love for his father.

The movie is beautiful, and displays many awe-inspiring scenes of the missionaries’ plane flying over the real jungles and water of South America.

The actors and actresses are all brilliant, and the movie is moving and inspirational.

1960s

Jesus Revolution (2023)

From Kingdom Story Company (the studio founded by The Erwin Brothers), producers of I Can Only Imagine, Unsung Heroes and House of David.

Arguably the best Christian movie of the past five years, Jesus Revolution explores one of the most fascinating and influential times in American history. Taking Christianity out of traditional church trappings, the youth/young adult Jesus People movement in Western USA brought lasting changes in the way many Christians worship God.

Greg Laurie is a wounded young man from a broken family, eager to heal his heart and soothe his soul, but he is looking for this through hippie circles and drugs. He almost hits rock bottom when he meets Lonnie Frisbee (who looks a lot like Jesus – played by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen), who brings him into his group home and family.

Lonnie has been telling young people about Jesus, and meets Chuck Smith in 1968 California, who opens up his dying church to Lonnie’s friends and other hippies. While Greg deals with his personal demons – and a romance – Chuck and Lonnie’s church grows quickly, but not without its own growing pains.

The Jesus People movement possibly spearheaded the modern Christian music scene, influencing millions of people in the decades since. Keith Green – writer of songs Create In Me a Clean Heart and Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful was linked to this movement.

20th Century Anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Well, while watching Jesus Revolution, we might learn that God has changed the world too.

1970s

Joni (1979)

Joni Eareckson portrayed herself in this compelling true story of faith against insurmountable odds. As a late teen, Joni was an active young woman, horse riding and swimming. What happened next changed the course of her life forever.

This is an unorthodox way to write a movie review, but I thought this direct quote from Joni herself sums it up best:

Well, it was a hot summer day. I went swimming with my sister Cathy and took a dive off this raft that was anchored far off shore of the Chesapeake Bay, and didn’t really check the depth of the water. I took the dive and the depth of the water was only about four or five feet. My head hit the bottom, that snapped my neck back and it crushed my fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, which severed my spinal cord. And that left me completely paralysed.

I was lying face down in the water, holding my breath, desperately hoping that my sister Cathy would notice that I had not yet surfaced from my dive. Just as I was about to run out of breath, a crab bit my sister’s toe. She had her back turned to me, and when that crab bit she whirled around in the water to scream to me to watch out for crabs. She saw that I wasn’t on the raft, saw my blond hair floating in the water and came racing after me and pulled me up out of the water. They sent me off to a hospital where I stayed for almost two years. 

But that was in 1967, and now almost forty years later—four decades of quadriplegia and living in a wheel chair—I can tell you honestly that I would really rather be in this chair knowing God the way I do, the peace and the comfort that he gives, than to be on my feet without him. I can say that with a smile. That is quite a miracle.

Source: Joni Eareckson Tada: I want to walk again, but not at any price, interview with

Sheridan Voysey, 29 April, 2013. Hope1032.com.au

1980s

The Case for Christ (2017)

If Joni’s autobiography (Joni: An Unforgettable Story, 1976 ) was a comfort for Christians who were suffering in life, Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Christ (1998) outlined the evidence that convinced many to follow Jesus Christ. These books became staples of every American and Australian protestant church’s library. So it was no surprise when a movie version, of the latter, was released in 2017.

While Strobel’s book is made up of interviews with many academic experts, the movie tells the story of his conversion through three parts of his life: his marriage, his legal journalism work, and yes, his investigation about Christ, with the experts.

The movie’s two shining strengths are the acting prowess of its leads, and the script by Brian Bird (When Calls the Heart; Captive (2015)). Mike Vogel and Erika Christensen, who play Lee Strobel and his wife Leslie, are such excellent actors. The emotional depth of Leslie’s heart, mind and emotions is sparked vividly alive by Christensen. She is authentic and you never doubt she’s a real person. She is the heart of the film.

The script somehow takes about 5 expert interviews and makes them captivating scenes with movement and drama (with a psychologist, medical doctor, and philosopher, to name a few). These conversations are woven seamlessly into the storyline of Lee’s marriage and his search for the truth about Christianity. Lee and Leslie’s relationship is affected by Lee’s reaction to her newfound relationship with Jesus. He wants to disprove Christianity, hoping to thereby convince Leslie of its faults. But he may have taken on more than he bargained for.

The Case for Christ never feels like an academic exercise. It feels like a window into the life of a man who is balancing the struggles of relationships with the rest of his life.

Jon Gunn, the director, went on to co-write the screenplays of I Still Believe and Jesus Revolution. He directed the brilliant Ordinary Angels and some episodes of House of David.

1990s

Unsung Heroes (2024)

Since the 1990s, there has been a steady stream of Aussies who have made music in the American Christian music industry. Hillsong. The original lineup of the Newsboys. The Paul Coleman Trio. And these days, one of the most prominent CCM acts, For King and Country.

But for some of us, we first knew For King and Country as “the little brothers of Rebecca St James.”

Her story is told in Unsung Heroes, along with her family’s. The Australian recession of the early 90s led to near financial ruin for the Smallbone family (Rebecca later took on the stage name of St James). Eager to take on a new opportunity, the family of nine move to Nashville, but soon run into a new season of poverty. 

Guided by the kindness of people at their new church, Rebecca’s voice of an angel, and Mum Helen’s gritty determination, they work to settle into Nashville life. But what about Dad David? Will his pride get in the way?

Sadly, due to numerous subplots involving family poverty and David’s mental journey, we don’t get as much screentime on Rebecca’s story. However, as a Rebecca St James fan, I know how much she talks about loving her family. And when it comes down to it, Unsung Heroes is a story of the Smallbone family, with Jesus at the centre of their ups and downs. 

We end our history lesson not with a war, or an academic giant, but with a personal look at a family of normal Christians, trying to rely on Him with desperate, dependant trust.

Conclusion

When I Can Only Imagine came out in 2018, I looked over the best Christian movies I’d seen. I thought about the excellent drama The Case for Christ, and the inspiring movie Amazing Grace, about the dedication of William Wilberforce, and his friends, to abolish the slave trade via politics in Britain. 

I came to the conclusion that Christian movies are best when we are telling our own stories.

That is not to say that fictional movies are bad. Quite the opposite – the Walden Media Narnia movies, Ben Hur and VeggieTales demonstrate that fictional movies can be gripping, excellent, godly and dramatic.

Sadly, there aren’t many examples of great fictional Christian movies. 

But a good writer and crew, paired with a true life story, can show us the best and worst of humanity, the church, and ourselves… and the transformation that HOPE brings.