Published: November 9, 2023
10 Powerful Christian Films Based On True Life Events
Many faith-based movies draw inspiration from real people’s lives, telling untold stories of faith. From unbelievable tragedies to inspirational heroes, these films feature true-life events and demonstrate how the Lord uses adversity to create miracles. Who doesn’t love an uplifting movie night?
SOUND OF FREEDOM
SOUND OF FREEDOM follows the inspiring true story of Tim Ballard, a former government agent who puts his life on the line to rescue hundreds of children from sex trafficking. It features a very strong Christian, moral worldview in a story about a man who sacrifices his safety and well-being to save hundreds of children. MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for the movie’s mature subject matter, some implied and depicted violence, implied abuse of children and a drug use scene. Ultimately, however, SOUND OF FREEDOM is a gripping and hope-giving movie.
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JESUS REVOLUTION
JESUS REVOLUTION tells the true story of a group of Christians who answer God’s call to share the gospel with anti-war protestors. Together they lead a national spiritual awakening in the 1970s. It contains an extremely Christian worldview but has light violence with themes of substance abuse, sexual behavior and intense jeopardy. Despite not being appropriate for children, JESUS REVOLUTION is an uplifting film about the Christian calling to welcome lost souls to the Body of Christ.
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THE HIDING PLACE
THE HIDING PLACE is a theatrical play based on the real-life story of Corrie Ten Boom, the woman who wrote the famous memoir of how she and her family helped Jews escape the Nazis during World War II. The plot centers around the family’s imprisonment in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. THE HIDING PLACE is an inspiring movie about the power of forgiveness. Parents should know the film contains light violence, so use caution with younger children. Otherwise, it’s a film the whole family can enjoy.
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MIRACLE AT MANCHESTER
Another powerful film based on actual events is MIRACLE AT MANCHESTER. It tells the story of Bryce Newman, a teen battling aggressive brain cancer. An entire community unites in praying for a miracle, and many find their restoration in the process. MIRACLES AT MANCHESTER has a very strong biblical worldview and is a story about faith and healing through prayer. MOVIEGUIDE® advises discretion for younger children for some intense hospital scenes and mature themes. It’s an unforgettable film for the 12+ crowd.
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HACKSAW RIDGE
HACKSAW RIDGE is a touching Christian war movie about the true-life hero Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), an unarmed medic during the brutal battle of Okinawa in World War II who was given the Medal of Honor without firing his weapon. The film features an extremely strong Christian, biblical worldview with a man willing to lay down his life even for his enemies. HACKSAW RIDGE is a fantastic movie, but it contains frequent bloody violence and some foul language. MOVIEGUIDE® strongly suggests caution for children and sensitive teenagers.
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I’M NOT ASHAMED
I’M NOT ASHAMED centers on the true story of the life of Rachel Joy Scott, one of the first student victims of the 1999 Columbine shooting in Colorado. It follows her struggles with receiving God’s love and the unexpected inspiration that renews her commitment to Christ. Parents should know the film contains violent moments and questionable teenage behavior, so MOVIEGUIDE® strongly suggests caution for children. Otherwise, I’M NOT ASHAMED is a stirring movie everyone can draw inspiration from.
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THE MIRACLE SEASON
THE MIRACLE SEASON is a Christian film based on a true story of a high school volleyball team who bands together after the unexpected death of their beloved captain in an accident. The team members fight to make it to the State Championship in her honor. It features a strong Christian worldview with a focus on encouraging others. The subject matter can be heavy at times, covering the tragic loss, so it’s better suited for children 8 and up. THE MIRACLE SEASON is a wholesome and inspiring flick for parents and kids alike.
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UNPLANNED
UNPLANNED tells the true story of Abby Johnson, one of the nation’s youngest Planned Parenthood clinic directors. After a life-changing experience prompts her to quit, the organization sues her for leaving her job. It contains a strong Christian worldview but also features humanist perspectives from Planned Parenthood. It has some jeopardy and peril with bloody abortion scenes. Despite being slightly graphic, UNPLANNED is an inspiring pro-life film.
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BREAKTHROUGH (2019)
Mainstream actors Topher Grace, Josh Lucas and Chrissy Metz star in BREAKTHROUGH, a movie inspired by true events. A faithful mother prays for her son’s healing and restoration after her he drowns in a lake. It features a very strong Christian worldview that shines a light on the power of prayer. Parents should know there is light violence with scenes of peril that may frighten young children. BREAKTHROUGH is a heart-rending film for the next family movie night.
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MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN
MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN is a heartwarming movie based on the real-life story of the Beam family, whose daughter, Anna Beam, suffers from an incurable medical disorder. A miracle unfolds when she accidentally falls 60 feet into the hollow of a tree and is inexplicably cured. This faith-based family drama features a mother and father who lean on each other (and God) in crisis. The film contains scenes with jeopardy and children’s diseases that may be intense for young children. This one is a tear-jerker, so have a box of tissues nearby.
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SOUND OF FREEDOM
SOUND OF FREEDOM tells the true story of Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security agent who puts his life on the line to rescue hundreds of children out of sex trafficking. SOUND OF FREEDOM is an incredible, gripping and heartbreaking, but hope-giving, movie with a strong Christian, moral that sheds light on the need for strong people to stand up for God’s children around the world who are caught in the vicious, abusive system of human trafficking, but MOVIEGUIDE® advises strong and extreme caution for the movie’s mature subject matter, some implied and depicted violence, implied abuse of children, and a scene of some bad guys using cocaine.
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JESUS REVOLUTION
JESUS REVOLUTION is a very entertaining and accurate, though compressed, portrait of the Vietnam protest era of hippies and young revolutionaries who find Jesus because God calls several people to welcome them into the Body of Christ. At its heart, the plot is propelled by a love story between an impoverished young man, Greg Laurie, with an alcoholic mother, and a beautiful young woman named Cathe, from a wealthy Laguna Hills family in Southern California. JESUS REVOLUTION is very bold about showing drug use, communal living, protest rallies, and Christian hypocrisy, but it also has many scenes of intense jeopardy and many scenes featuring inspiring, uplifting, well-written Christian presentations and expressions of the Gospel.
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THE HIDING PLACE (2023)
THE HIDING PLACE is a filmed theatrical production based on the eponymous memoir by Corrie ten Boom, the daughter of a Dutch watchmaker who, along with her father and siblings, helped more than 800 Jews escape capture by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Since a majority of the play is lifted straight from the words of ten Boom herself, reflecting back on her own life, her unapologetic Christian worldview is ever-present in the narrative. THE HIDING PLACE is a bit overlong and deals frankly with the harsh reality of Nazi persecution, but viewers of all ages will find it spiritually and morally edifying.
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MIRACLE AT MANCHESTER
MIRACLE AT MANCHESTER is a drama streaming on Pure Flix that follows the true story of Bryce Newman, a student at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego who’s diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. MIRACLE AT MANCHESTER, which stars Dean Cain as the surgeon caring for Bryce, is an inspiring, uplifting, faith-filled movie that honors the true story and champions family and the healing power of prayer.
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HACKSAW RIDGE
HACKSAW RIDGE is a great, emotive, powerful, touching Christian war movie about Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), a courageous conscientious objector who serves as an unarmed medic during the brutal battle of Okinawa in World War II. Brilliantly directed by Mel Gibson, HACKSAW RIDGE is a captivating, emotional movie about uncompromising faith and miraculous courage. It will make you laugh and cry, but strong caution is advised because of bloody violence and some foul language.
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I’M NOT ASHAMED
I’M NOT ASHAMED opens up a small glimpse into the life of Rachel Scott, one of the young Christian victims during the Columbine school shooting in 1999, and the profound difference Rachel made before and after her untimely death. I’M NOT ASHAMED is a beautifully made movie with passionate actors, and an inspiring Christian message of compassion through Jesus, but some violent moments and displays of teenage rebellion require caution for children.
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THE MIRACLE SEASON
Based on a true story, THE MIRACLE SEASON is an inspiring sports drama about a high school volleyball team that has to step up and encourage one another when their beloved captain unexpectedly dies. THE MIRACLE SEASON is an entertaining, wholesome movie, with a strong Christian message about loving and encouraging each other in the midst of hardship.
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UNPLANNED
UNPLANNED is the incredible, powerful true story of Abby, a young woman who gets drawn into working for Planned Parenthood because she thinks that the goal is to help prevent pregnancies. UNPLANNED is extremely well made and powerful.
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BREAKTHROUGH (2019)
BREAKTHROUGH is a must-see, entertaining, powerful, convicting, heartrending story about the real-life incident of a boy who fell through some ice and had no pulse for a longer period than any doctor thought possible when he then miraculously revived. Each character, believers and unbelievers, undergoes a tremendous journey in BREAKTHROUGH, an inspiring movie that will make you laugh and cry.
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MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN
MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN is a heartrending, faith-affirming drama about the true story of a 12-year-old girl suffering from a very serious medical disorder. The cast and the filmmakers do a beautiful job making this story come alive.
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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.
