Catholics are in a bit of a quandary when it comes to finding movies that truly inspire. Almost all modern movies simply overly worship things like power, pleasure, wealth, or honor. These are all fine things in and of themselves, but most movies involve elevating these things to the level of worship.
Furthermore, most non-Catholic “Christian” movies involve, let’s just say, an approach to evangelization that we just aren’t too comfortable with. They have beautiful intentions, but they just present a Christianity that we aren’t entirely comfortable with.
So, here is a short list of 10 movies that, intentionally or not, are very important for Catholics to watch. These are not in any particular order, and it will be made clear for any that are not suitable for children.
Babette’s Feast (1987)
A story of the power of gratitude, and the importance of sharing joy and giving to others, Babette’s Feast has virtues on many levels. The story culminates in a beautiful allegory of a Eucharist feast. The movie is in Danish and other languages, and will surely become a favorite of any Catholic that watches it.
The Mission (1986)
Loosely based on Jesuit missionaries in South America, this beautifully shot movie with a star-studded cast, and one of the best soundtracks in cinematic history, The Mission tells the story of the power and pain of evangelization. This complicated film finishes with eloquent statements by both the heroes and the villains of the film and gets richer and more enlightening with each viewing.
The Diary of a Country Priest (1951)
An inexperienced, sickly priest (Claude Laydu) shows up in the rural French community of Ambricourt, where he joins the community’s clergy. But the locals don’t take kindly to the priest, and his ascetic ways and unsociable demeanor make him an outcast. During Bible studies at the nearby girls school, he is continually mocked by his students. Then his attempt to intervene in a family feud backfires into a scandal. His failures, compounded with his declining health, begin to erode his faith.
A Man for All Seasons (1966)
The story of St. Thomas More, is the story of incredible courage in defending one’s faith. This is a superbly acted film with another sensational cast. A Man for All Seasons shows us the importance of sticking to one’s faith and also is a reminder that the outside world is one that most often has priorities that aren’t aligned with God’s.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
This powerful depiction of the torturous end to Christ’s Passion, in this 2004 film is definitely not appropriate for young children. The movie is artfully shot, with a very (alarmingly, at times) realistic portrayal of what Jesus endured as he died for us on the cross. A sequel is in the works.
The Shack (2017)
*Also probably not suitable for young children, The Shack is a movie that seems like it could easily veer into the “cheesy Christian” genre of films becoming more popular today. However, it simply works on many levels. Few movies have ever approached the concept of the triune God better than the Shack and the painful process of a man going from being overcome with anger and making himself “the judge” to being a man of forgiveness is told splendidly. Not specifically a Catholic film, the Shack is a wonderful reminder of how we need to be in “right praise” with God.
The Song of Bernadette (1943)
The Song of Bernadette tells the tale of the Marian apparitions at Lourdes, France. Today visited by more Christians yearly than Muslims that visit Mecca, Lourdes is one of the most revered religious sites in the world. The movie tells the tale of young Bernadette, who has regular visions of a mysterious lady. As the story unfolds, the mystery of who she is is revealed. Moreover, the story of Bernadette is revealed as well. As she joins a convent, she endures unimaginable pain yet reveals it to no one, displaying the qualities that would later make her a Saint.
Fatima (2020)
A retelling of the story of Fatima, Portugal, this movie is included here over the original film decades before. Fatima goes back and forth in time, telling the story of three young children, who, in 1917 had numerous encounters with Mary. Mary foretold many things that would unfold in the future, which have come true.
Calvary (2014)
Of all of the movies listed here, this is the one least suitable for children, as it often dives into some brutally honest discussion on sin and depravity. The premise is that a priest in Ireland hears the confession of a man that tells him he was abused by a priest as a child. He then acknowledges that the priest that is hearing the confession is innocent, but he is going to kill him in a week to prove a point. The story mirrors in many ways the story of Christ’s week-long approach to Calvary. Calvary uses Ireland’s relationship with the Catholic Church as a metaphor for how the Catholic Church hurt the world with the child abuse scandal, how the world has failed on its own, and how we all need to practice forgiveness.
Of God’s and Men (2010)
The true story of a monastery in Algeria that is under siege by Islamic terrorists, Of God’s and Men slowly unveils the complicated relationship between the monks and the local community, which shares a different faith, and also with some of the terrorists, who are enemies not only of the Christian monks but also of the locals that share their faith of Islam. The monks have decisions to make, and how the true story unfolds is both heartbreaking and uplifting.