Save Me!
Jesus is a pretty big guy in the Western world - known as one of the head honchos in a common religion, a nice chap of good moral fibre, or at least a keen facial-hair enthusiast. Whoever you believe this historical figure to be, you will most likely know of him and the main 'plot points' of his story (immaculate conception through self-sacrifice) and recognise that christian or not, filmmakers have often used these personal traits and events in their work. The films in this collection all incorporate (obviously and less so) this character and/or story arc, and show an interesting range of uses for them in a culture saturated with this particular religion.
Pictured: 'The Buddy Christ' - Kevin Smith brings Jesus to the kids in "Dogma".
Stigmata (1999)
6.2/10
Director: Rupert Wainwright
Starring: Patricia Arquette, Jonathan Pryce, Gabriel Byrne, Nia Long, Rade Serbedzija
A researcher of miracles (Gabriel Byrne) on behalf of the Vatican is sent to the US to uncover the truth behind a young woman (Patricia Arquette) who... Read more
Help! (1965)
7.3/10
Director: Richard Lester
Starring: Alfie Bass, Eleanor Bron, George Harrison, John Bluthal, John Lennon, Leo McKern...
Richard Lester's follow-up to 'A Hard Day's Night' doesn't try to assess the power and impact of the Beatles on popular culture, but creates as many c... Read more
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)
7.9/10
Director: Stanley Nelson
In 1978, cult leader Reverend Jim Jones encouraged his entire congregation, including himself, to participate in a mass murder-suicide that would shoc... Read more
Crimes of Passion (1984)
6.4/10
Director: Ken Russell
Starring: Kathleen Turner, Anthony Perkins, John Laughlin
A highly charged erotic thriller from Ken Russell that features some of the hottest love scenes ever for a Hollywood film. Kathleen Turner is an enigm... Read more
Who Wrote the New Testament? (2005)
7.8/10
It's the most popular book of all time yet we don't have a single page or the smallest scrap of the original to refer to. Filmed in Israel, Egypt, Tu... Read more
Wise Blood (1979)
7.2/10
Director: John Huston
Starring: Brad Dourif, Harry Dean Stanton, Ned Beatty, Dan Shor
An unlikely religious leader (Brad Dourif) recruits a ragtag band of followers for his Church of Christ Without Christ in order to expose the hypocris... Read more
The Exodus Decoded (2006)
6.8/10
Director: Simcha Jacobovici
Starring: Narrated by, James Cameron
James Cameron narrates Jewish Canadian director Simcha Jacobovici's exploration of the biblical exodus from Egypt, in light of new evidence which may... Read more
God Is Great, I'm Not (2001)
Director: Pascale Bailly
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Edouard Baer, Julie Depardieu, Catherine Jacob, Philippe Laudenba...
AKA "Dieu Est Grand, Je Suis Toute Petite". Audrey Tautou stars as Michele, a 20-year-old model, whose recent break-up has sent her into a tailspin. O... Read more
The Chronicles of Narnia 2 / 3 - Prince Caspian / The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1990)
Director: Alex Kirby
Starring: Richard Dempsey, Sophie Cook, Jonathan R Scott, Sophie Wilcox, David Thwaites
Prince Caspian calls Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan back to Narnia in his most harrowing time of need. Led by Aslan, the Great Lion, the children help... Read more
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)
7.1/10
Director: Peter Care
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Kieran Culkin, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jena Malone, Jodie Foster, Jake...
Adapted from the novel by Chris Fuhrman about a group of bright-but-bored boys in a seventies Catholic school. To amuse themselves they have written... Read more