Top 10 Movies About the Bible

The Bible (Old and New Testaments) has been a subject of cinema since its inception. Biblical stories were also very popular during the silent film era. However, the aesthetic approach to this subject has changed over the decades.

The 1950s with the greatest focus on the Bible

Hollywood in the 1950s tried to produce exceptional special effects with expensive films. One of these films was "The Ten Commandments" produced by the American company Paramount, which was produced in 1956 and directed by Cecil B. DeMille based on the life of Moses. The film, starring stars such as Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner, won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects and is still the sixth highest-grossing film in world cinema history.

Moses in silent films

Cecil B. DeMille, the American director of The Ten Commandments, had been working on biblical stories (Old and New Testaments) for several years before making this film. Church authorities were initially skeptical of such films, but they gradually learned how to effectively exploit the new media to their advantage.

The story of Jesus' life on the big screen

The success of biblical films in the 1950s continued this trend into the 1960s. However, directors in this decade focused more on the New Testament of the Bible and the story of the life of Jesus Christ. In 1961, Nicholas Ray made the color and sound film "King of Kings," which depicted the life of Jesus Christ. In this film, Jeffrey Hunter appeared as Jesus.

"The Gospel According to Matthew" by Paolo Pasolini

Filmmaking based on biblical stories was popular in Europe, especially in Italy. Many Hollywood films were also shot in Italy, where costs were cheaper than in the United States. In his film The Gospel According to Matthew, Pier Paolo Pasolini, a prominent Italian director, portrays the life of Jesus not as a figure of sacrifice and spirituality, but as someone who had a very important message to convey.

The greatest story of all time

Hollywood at this time also emphasized the production of big-budget, grandiose films. This grandeur could even be seen in the title of a film like “The Greatest Story of All Time.” American director George Stevens prepared this three-hour film for release in 1963. The film starred actors such as Max Seydoux as Christ and Telly Savalas as Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who shaved his head to star in the film.

Jesus Christ Superstar

The 1968 youth movement in Europe and the hippie movement in America also changed the way people viewed the Bible. Producers and directors began to present the life of Jesus in a more open and daring way. These new interpretations were well received, and the 1973 musical Jesus Christ Superstar was a huge success.

The Comedic Life of Jesus Christ

The British film “Life of Brian” tells the story of the life of Jesus Christ with humor. The film depicts the life of a Jew who was born in the same place and time as Jesus and lives peacefully in a village until people think he is the Messiah. Although he denies being the Messiah, he is ultimately crucified. Although the film was well received, it was not without its critics.

King David

But once upon a time, there were also “serious” films made about the life story of Jesus Christ with a high moral standard. One of these was the Anglo-American film “King David,” directed by Australian Bruce Beresford, which was made in 1985. Richard Gere showed off his powerful acting in this film.

The Last Temptation of Christ

It would be some time before a powerful director like Martin Scorsese stepped into the cinema scene and in 1988 once again addressed the theme of the Bible and the life of Christ. “The Last Temptation of Christ” was based on the novel of the same name by Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. The church had a very negative attitude towards this film, because Jesus Christ in this film was not a holy person and was an ordinary man struggling with “the soul of the devil.”

The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson

Australian-American actor, director, and producer Mel Gibson once again stirred up controversy over a film about the life of Jesus Christ with his 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. Gibson (while directing) depicted the final days of Jesus' life and did not shy away from depicting violence. This prompted an outcry from the church.

Source: DW