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There Are More Faith-Based Movies Than Ever, But Why?

Photo by Aaron Burden via Unsplash

There Are More Faith-Based Movies Than Ever, But Why?

By Movieguide® Contributor  

In recent years, there has been an increasing trend in Hollywood to produce faith-based films that focus on religious themes and values. 

While the trend has taken Hollywood by surprise, there are some clear-cut reasons for audiences’ renewed interest in uplifting entertainment.

The audience for faith-based films has grown, particularly among Christians. According to a study by Barna Group, a research organization that tracks religious trends.  

“Four out of ten adults (41%) said that within the past two years they had seen a movie that had caused them to think more seriously about their religious faith,” the study stated.  

 This has created a demand for more films with religious themes. 

Faith-based films have also proven to be profitable. Low budget movies such as “God’s Not Dead” produced $65 million on a $2 million budget. Which attributed to a huge financial success within the industry.  

Movieguide®’s annual Report to the Entertainment Industry has shown that year after year, movies with moral, family-friendly, and uplifting content perform better at the box office than movies with excessive foul language, violence and sex.

Despite Hollywood ostrazising actors and directors who stand firm in Christian values, streaming platforms and independent studios have paved away for some of Hollywood’s biggest names to create their own content. Stars such as Mel Gibson, Mark Wahlberg and Chrissy Metz have either taken on roles or directed films that are faith-based.  

Mark Wahlberg recently described his faith as “the most important aspect of my life.”  

“It’s the most important thing. It’s afforded me all the things that I’ve been able to accomplish in my life – my faith, my discipline,” Wahlberg declared.  

“People need to have faith and hope,” Wahlberg addressed in an interview with Fox News’ Raymond Arroyo. “I just knew that I needed to make this movie, and this was my calling and this was my mission. And, now, it’s needed more than ever.” 

One director, David Helling, made his debut in the new film HIS ONLY SON which stages the Biblical event of Abraham and Isaac.  

“My reason for wanting to do ‘His Only Son’ is to give an answer to the scoffers and the skeptics, for one, and to give a defense to believers that they could then answer the skeptics in their own lives,” Helling stated.  

“Because this passage in Scripture that we find in Genesis 22… where the Lord tests Abraham and asks him to lay his own son upon the altar as a burnt offering is one of the most scoffed at passages, one of the most controversial passages that we see in scripture,” Helling continued. “So, to be able to dig into the word and draw out what the Lord was doing and what the Lord was pointing to in the testing of Abraham’s faith, that’s what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do this film in particular.”  

Helling also touched on why Hollywood is taking notice in faith-based films.  

“I think Hollywood is taking notice because, at the end of the day, they see, OK, well, if there is revenue to be made through this type of entertainment, they might then now put more resources behind it. And because of that, we will start to see more and more of this content come out for a season,” Helling concluded. 

Ultimately, Helling’s goal as a filmmaker is to continue to spread the Gospel through his work.  

“My heart is to do biblical films for as long as the Lord allows me to do it in order to bring Scripture’s truth from the page to the screen so that others can see these accounts as real people and be drawn to the word into the Gospel for themselves.” 

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.