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THE CHOSEN Series Sees Viewership Explosion During Quarantine

Photo via Dallas Jenkins Instagram

THE CHOSEN Series Sees Viewership Explosion During Quarantine

By Allyson Vannatta, Senior Writer

THE CHOSEN, a streaming series following the life of Jesus, became a huge break-out show while millions of people were quarantined during COVID-19.

Since quarantine, Movieguide® recorded thousands of viewers looking for a review of the series. A VidAngel press release also shows that THE CHOSEN is one of IMDb’s top 250 rated shows. The Chosen app, where audiences can watch the show, was downloaded over 100,000 times leading up to Easter, which helped it crack the top 20 most downloaded entertainment apps. The series has a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 100% critic score.

It’s safe to say people around the world love the show, and are hopefully helping to spread the message of Jesus to people they know!

Two people associated with the show recently spoke with CBN about their experiences while creating and filming the program.

When it came time to give the show a title, writer and director Dallas Jenkins decided on the name because of the term “Chosen One” that’s used when referring to Christ.

“We look at and use the term for Christ as the ‘Chosen One.’ So, it refers to Christ in many ways. The Jews are God’s chosen people. Even as an Evangelical, I believe that. And the people that Christ chose to follow Him and be on his team – as we like to say – it’s a little bit of a nod to that,” Jenkins explained.

Related: THE CHOSEN’s Jonathan Roumie: Surrendering to God Led Me to This Role

Jenkins said producing this series is different than most of the movies that try to show Jesus’ life in a limited amount of time.

“When you do a movie about the life of Christ, you’ve got 90 to 120 minutes to try to cover a lot of ground.”

He added, “So, oftentimes it goes from miracle to miracle. Bible story to Bible story. Jesus is typically the main character. So, you are just seeing things through His eyes and you’re encountering people for a very brief amount of time.”

The first season is comprised of eight episodes with a second season on the way. This makes it the first ever multi-season television show about the life of Jesus.

Related: THE CHOSEN Series Halfway Funded for Season 2

Jenkins said, “We are able to really explore in-depth, these people.”

Jonathan Roumie, who won the Grace Prize® at the 2020 Movieguide® Awards for his role as Jesus, said, “It’s humbling. It’s overwhelming. It’s inspiring. It’s faith inducing.”

He added, “Faith strengthening. It’s kind of indescribable.”

These comments echo what Roumie told Movieguide® about his faith growing “exponentially” while filming the show.

Roumie told CBN News it was intimidating to play Jesus, but that doesn’t mean the actor didn’t feel a calling toward the role.

He previously told Movieguide® that he believed he was always supposed to play Jesus in the series.

“I believe that God has had this plan for me from the time I was 12 years old,” he said.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.