Shubhabrata Dutta
When it comes to revealing the beauty and mystery of existence and the universe, movies hold a secret key to unlock cryptic answers. As a unique art form that deals with space and time, cinema has been exploring the haunting question of “Who am I?” for more than 100 years. Almost all the master filmmakers who took this path ended up in one abstract and intangible phenomenon that can be represented by the generic term “spirituality.” Filmmakers like Andrei Tarkovsky, Theo Angelopoulos, Béla Tarr, and Ingmar Bergman elevated their movies into profound meditations on humanity and its myriad spiritual ways of interacting with the universe. Netflix features a good bunch of these movies, which will make you stop and think about life a bit more keenly.
17. A Taste of Sin (2023)
This Frank Rajah Arase-directed Ghanaian film follows two pastors who struggle with their temptations. On the one hand, we have Pastor Teddy, who has committed sins driven by lust while his wife struggles to cope with the truth that she cannot conceive. On the other hand, we have Reverend Todd, also married, who has not only had illicit affairs with his disciples but has also been stealing money from the church donations. Amidst faith, truth, sin, forgiveness, and redemption, ‘A Taste of Sin’ delves deep into the spiritual side of man that is as strong as it is fragile. The cast includes Jackie Appiah, Majid Michel, Abena Akuaba, and Jackie Appiah. You can watch ‘A Taste of Sin’ here.
16. War Room (2015)
Made by the Kendrick Brothers, Alex and Stephen Kendrick, who are known for their faith-based dramas, ‘War Room’ shows how a family of three on the verge of being pulled apart due to personal issues is kept from that by the divine entry of an elderly woman into their lives. Tony Jordan and his wife, realtor Elizabeth Jordan, are having a tough time as a married couple, and it is affecting their daughter Danielle. One day, Elizabeth meets Miss Clara, who wants to sell her house. The woman introduces Elizabeth to her war room, a room where she prays. Clara tells her to do the same, and with faith in her heart. This seems to be Elizabeth’s last resort. Can it help her keep the family together? Starring Priscilla Shirer, T.C. Stallings, Karen Abercrombie, and Alena Pitts, ‘War Room’ is a true-to-form spiritual drama about how God does listen when we really want Him to. The movie can be streamed here.
15. Ruth & Boaz (2025)
Based on the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz, Alanna Brown’s movie revolves around Ruth, a hip-hop artist from Atlanta, and Boaz, a vineyard owner. Ruth undergoes a tragedy and decides to go to Tennessee for some peace and to get over the pain. While caring for an old woman, she meets Boaz. As much as she starts to like him, she is unable to move on from her tragedy, something that even Boaz understands. He makes it clear that he is there for her, but in Ruth’s case, only she can find the power she needs to move on. All Boaz can afford is time. Starring Serayah as Ruth and Tyler Lepley as Boaz, ‘Ruth & Boaz’ is a heartwarming drama about love and faith, two necessary ingredients of spirituality. You can watch it here.
14. Faith for the Impossible (2025)
Based on the book ‘Turn Things Around’ by Renee Murdoch and Philip Murdoch, which tells the true story of American pastor Renee Murdoch who was attacked in Rio de Janeiro by a homeless man in 2012, ‘Fé para o Impossível,’ AKA ‘Faith for the Impossible,’ is a Brazilian drama. The story focuses on the aftermath of the attack on Renee (Vanessa Giácomo), showing how her family came together to face the pain and held on to hope and faith while Renee was fighting for her life in the ICU. Eventually, she pulled through. Shot in a way that feels like a documentary, ‘Fé para o Impossível’ is directed by Ernani Nunes. It can be streamed here.
13. Mary (2024)
D. J. Caruso’s biblical film ‘Mary’ centers on Mary, mother of Jesus, and shows her life from her birth to that of her son, Jesus Christ. This incorporates Herod’s tyrannical rule, Mary’s pregnancy, her meeting with Joseph, and her giving birth to Jesus. Starring Noa Cohen as Mary, Anthony Hopkins as Herod, and Ido Tako as Joseph, ‘Mary’ offers an epic-scale retelling of the biblical tale and offers a captivating drama for those looking to rekindle their faith and spirituality. ‘Mary’ can be streamed here.
12. A Week Away (2021)
‘A Week Away’ is a Christian teen drama film directed by Roman White. The story of this jukebox musical film follows Will (Kevin Quinn), a troubled teen who faces a critical decision – juvenile hall or a summer camp. Opting for the latter, Will embarks on a transformative journey. He is immediately captivated by Avery (Bailee Madison), while his friend George (Jahbril Cook) pines for Presley (Kat Conner Sterling). You can watch the movie here.
As camp competitions ensue and friendships solidify, Will’s murky past threatens to tarnish these newfound bonds. The film beautifully reintroduces classic Christian tracks from legends like Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and Steven Curtis Chapman, crafting them into contemporary masterpieces. Featuring performances by Bailee Madison, Kevin Quinn, David Koechner, and Sherri Shepherd, the movie beautifully showcases the power of redemption, love, and community. You may watch the film here.
11. Blue Miracle (2021)
‘Blue Miracle’ is a drama film directed by Julio Quintana. Set against the backdrop of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the narrative revolves around “Papa” Omar, who runs the Casa Hogar orphanage. With the establishment on the brink of foreclosure, an unexpected twist arrives in the form of a street kid, Moco, and a stolen watch that belongs to a fishing boat captain named Wade Malloy.
As Hurricane Odile wreaks havoc, the international Bisbee Black and Blue Fishing Tournament turns to locals for participation. Omar and the orphans team up with a down-on-his-luck Wade to compete in the tournament, hoping the prize money might save their home. Featuring Dennis Quaid, Jimmy Gonzales, and Raymond Cruz, this touching drama beautifully portrays the themes of hope, perseverance, and community. Its inspiring storyline highlighting resilience in the face of adversity is what makes the film a worthy addition to the list. Feel free to check out the movie here.
10. Come Sunday (2018)
Written by Marcus Hinchey, ‘Come Sunday’ is a drama movie that stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jason Segel, Condola Rashad, and Lakeith Stanfield. The Joshua Marston directorial follows Carlton Pearson, an internationally renowned and popular pastor who, after arriving at a shocking conclusion, risks his family, church, and everything else to spread the message. He soon begins to preach that there is no hell, a view that contradicts Christian beliefs. As a result, he is immediately branded as a heretic and is ostracized from the church. He now faces an uncertain future, but does he change his controversial stance? You can watch ‘Come Sunday’ here and find out.
9. The Forge (2024)
As the title suggests, Alex Kendrick’s Christian drama ‘The Forge’ shows the forging of a 19-year-old laid-back Isaiah Wright (Aspen Kennedy) who has spent a year out of high school doing nothing. When given a month to find a job or leave the house by her mother, Cynthia (Priscilla Shirer), he looks for a job and finally comes across one at Moore Fitness. Its president, Joshua Moore (Cameron Arnett), slowly brings out a change in him through his mentorship, and Isaiah eventually realizes there’s more to him than he thought, thereby forging into a better version of himself. With strong biblical messages and a compelling story underscored by powerful acting, ‘The Forge’ is an underrated Christian film you can watch and get inspired by right here.
8. Facing the Giants (2006)
Alex Kendrick’s ‘Facing the Giants’ follows coach Grant Taylor (Kendrick), who has to navigate his personal life, which involves his and his wife’s struggle with having a baby, and his professional life, which is about getting his football team out of self-doubt and moving up in the league. When all else fails, he reaches out to his old coach, who suggests taking the Christian path. Then, slowly, things begin to change, and so does the team. With a powerful story that stresses the power of the human spirit and faith, ‘Facing the Giants’ is a worthy spiritual drama. You can watch it right here.
7. PK (2014)
At times, it takes an outsider to raise questions about the status quo we are living in. In the Indian satire movie ‘PK,’ an alien who is stranded on Earth after a crash landing starts asking questions about things we believe are universal norms and rigid customs. The movie is a terrific portrayal of spirituality and religion as two institutions complementing each other while cashing in on people’s vulnerabilities. The alien, PK, provokes the establishment with his innocent questions about faith, spirituality, beliefs, customs, laws, and many more. People even mistake him for God! He is beaten to a pulp, makes unlikely friends, and finds even love but no answers to his questions. ‘PK’ is Indian cinema at its absurdist and satirical best. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the movie features Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma in the lead roles. ‘PK’ became one of the biggest hits of Indian cinema and garnered rave reviews from Indian and international critics. You can stream it here.
6. The Devil All The Time (2020)
‘The Devil All The Time’ is a Gothic crime-thriller film directed by Antonio Campos. This tale, steeped in violence, faith, and darkness, is set in southern Ohio and West Virginia from the close of World War II to the 1960s. Based on the novel by Donald Ray Pollock, this gripping narrative weaves the stories of various deeply flawed individuals, including a tormented war veteran, Willard Russell (Bill Skarsgård), and his orphaned son, Arvin (Tom Holland).
The nefarious activities of serial killer duo Carl and Sandy Henderson and the twisted evangelism of preacher Roy further complicate this bleak landscape. Robert Pattinson, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, and Sebastian Stan round out an impressive ensemble cast. Through its multifaceted exploration of generational violence, faith, and redemption, the film delves deep into the soul’s murkiest corners. A rich tapestry of interconnected tales, the film confronts the dual nature of humanity, exposing both its darkest vices and its capacity for redemption. You can watch the film here.
5. IO (2019)
The Netflix film ‘IO’ is a meditative walk through themes like the fate of humanity, existence, identity, and our spiritual connection to Earth. The plot is set on a futuristic Earth destroyed by the greed of mankind. People are fleeing the planet, which is no longer inhabitable. The new human hotspot is Jupiter’s moon IO and the space beyond it. But some people stay behind, determined to fix Earth and make it glow like a blue diamond again.
Sam, who is a young scientist and daughter of a pro-Earth activist, decides to stay behind. Though she has a plan to save Earth, staying behind is dangerous because the atmosphere is running out of Oxygen. The key to Sam’s destiny is in the title of the movie, ‘IO,’ which stands for the mortal lover of Zeus and the mother of Hercules in mythology. ‘IO’ puts forward the complex connection between women, Earth, fertility, and the phenomenon of “birth.” The movie, which stars Margaret Qualley, Anthony Mackie, and Danny Huston in the lead roles, is directed by Jonathan Helpert. You may watch the film here.
4. You People (2023)
Starring Jonah Hill, Eddie Murphy, and Lauren London, ‘You People’ is a story of an interreligious couple, i.e., a white Jewish man (Hill) and a Black Islam woman (London), and their families. As expected, we are subjected to a cross-culture exploration and the issues that modern love is underscored by, including different cultures, different expectations, generational dissimilarities, and different faiths. How the couple maneuvers through all this is what we find out in this social commentary disguised as a romantic comedy. You can stream it here.
3. Ram Dass, Going Home (2017)
Produced by Further Pictures, ‘Ram Dass, Going Home’ is a short documentary that paints an inspiring portrait of the titular protagonist. The famous author and advocate for awareness of death and dying has, since the 60s, remained an influential spiritual figure by offering people much-needed guidance on life. While his unforgettable message continues to resonate with his followers, facing his own death now, Ram Dass must use his own philosophy of death and dying to face the final months of his life. The film revolves around his philosophy and work by trying to enlighten viewers with his thoughts on different aspects of life. Feel free to check it out here.
2. The Two Popes (2019)
Directed by Fernando Meirelles, ‘The Two Popes’ stars Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) and Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI. The events in the film take place after the Vatican leaks scandal and explore the relationship between the two men of faith as they discuss their tastes, their differences, their choices, the way they perceive God, and even their favorite TV shows, among other stuff. All this is underscored by the Cardinal’s submission of resignation as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, something that Pope Benedict doesn’t want to sign. A great film propelled to brilliance by the performances of the two prolific actors, ‘The Two Popes’ received nominations at the Oscars, the BAFTAs, and the Golden Globes. You can stream it here.
1. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ’ showcases the titular period in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, borrowing from various biblical accounts and gospels. The agony, the betrayal, and the torture he underwent before his crucifixion are shown in a gripping and graphic manner. The movie stars Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ, Maia Morgenstern as Mary, and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, among others. ‘The Passion of the Christ’ doesn’t hold back the emotions it wants to convey, and to that effect, tests your inner strength that is required to merely be a spectator as God’s Son is tortured. You can watch the movie here.
Read More: Best Documentaries About Religion on Netflix
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