Movies for Thinking about the Catholic Church
by RRHowell41 | created - 27 Nov 2010 | updated - 01 Feb 2016 | PublicThis list is far from complete, but it's a start.
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Quo Vadis (1951)
Not Rated | 171 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
After fierce Roman commander Marcus Vinicius becomes infatuated with beautiful Christian hostage Lygia, he begins to question the tyrannical leadership of the despotic emperor Nero.
Directors: Mervyn LeRoy, Anthony Mann | Stars: Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn, Peter Ustinov
Votes: 16,735 | Gross: $24.29M
2. Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
PG | 121 min | Biography, Drama, History
Dramatization of events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi from before his conversion experience through his audience with the pope, including his friendship with St. Clare.
Director: Franco Zeffirelli | Stars: Graham Faulkner, Judi Bowker, Leigh Lawson, Kenneth Cranham
Votes: 4,944
3. Becket (1964)
PG-13 | 148 min | Biography, Drama, History
King Henry II of England comes to terms with his affection for his close friend and confidant Thomas Becket, who finds his true honor by observing God's divine will rather than the King's.
Director: Peter Glenville | Stars: Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi
Votes: 15,831
4. A Man for All Seasons (1966)
G | 120 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of Sir Thomas More, who stood up to King Henry VIII when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry.
Director: Fred Zinnemann | Stars: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw, Leo McKern
Votes: 37,143 | Gross: $28.35M
5. The Mission (1986)
PG | 125 min | Adventure, Drama, History
Eighteenth-century Spanish Jesuits try to protect a remote South American tribe in danger of falling under the rule of pro-slavery Portugal.
Director: Roland Joffé | Stars: Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Ray McAnally, Aidan Quinn
Votes: 65,665 | Gross: $17.22M
6. Black Robe (1991)
R | 101 min | Adventure, Drama, War
In the 17th century, a Jesuit missionary nicknamed Black Robe by the natives and his small party of companions try reaching the Huron tribe in Canada all while facing mistrust, Iroquois warring parties and harsh winter conditions.
Director: Bruce Beresford | Stars: Lothaire Bluteau, Aden Young, Sandrine Holt, August Schellenberg
Votes: 7,663 | Gross: $8.21M
7. Monsieur Vincent (1947)
Not Rated | 111 min | Biography, Drama, History
St. Vincent de Paul struggles to bring about peace and harmony among peasants and nobles in the midst of the Black Death in Europe, carrying on his charitable work in the face of all obstacles.
Director: Maurice Cloche | Stars: Pierre Fresnay, Aimé Clariond, Jean Debucourt, Lise Delamare
Votes: 994
8. Thérèse: The Story of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (2004)
PG | 96 min | Biography, Drama, Family
The mesmerizing story of a young girl's romance with God. Her faith, trials, and sacrifices reveal a way of life based on love and simplicity. A contemplative film based on the true story ... See full summary »
Director: Leonardo Defilippis | Stars: Lindsay Younce, Leonardo Defilippis, Patti Defilippis, Jen Nikolaisen
Votes: 547 | Gross: $0.10M
9. Molokai (1999)
PG | 113 min | Biography, Drama
The true story of the nineteenth century priest who volunteered to go to the island of Molokai, to console and care for the lepers.
Director: Paul Cox | Stars: David Wenham, Kate Ceberano, Jan Decleir, Chris Haywood
Votes: 1,463
10. Boys Town (1938)
Passed | 96 min | Biography, Drama, Family
When a death row prisoner tells him he wouldn't have led a life of crime if only he had had one friend as a child, Father Edward Flanagan decides to start a home for young boys.
Director: Norman Taurog | Stars: Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Henry Hull, Leslie Fenton
Votes: 6,345
11. The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)
Passed | 137 min | Drama, War
A young priest is sent to China to establish a Catholic parish.
Director: John M. Stahl | Stars: Gregory Peck, Thomas Mitchell, Vincent Price, Rose Stradner
Votes: 3,090
12. The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
Unrated | 126 min | Drama
At a big city Catholic school, Father O'Malley and Sister Benedict indulge in friendly rivalry, and succeed in extending the school through the gift of a building.
Director: Leo McCarey | Stars: Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman, Henry Travers, William Gargan
Votes: 9,364 | Gross: $21.30M
13. The Nun's Story (1959)
Approved | 149 min | Drama
After leaving a wealthy Belgian family to become a nun, Sister Luke struggles with her devotion to her vows during crisis, disappointment, and World War II.
Director: Fred Zinnemann | Stars: Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Edith Evans, Peggy Ashcroft
Votes: 11,691 | Gross: $12.80M
14. Lilies of the Field (1963)
Unrated | 94 min | Drama
A travelling handyman becomes the answer to the prayers of nuns who wish to build a chapel in the desert.
Director: Ralph Nelson | Stars: Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala, Lisa Mann, Isa Crino
Votes: 13,552
15. The Shoes of the Fisherman (I) (1968)
G | 162 min | Drama
After spending decades in a Siberian Gulag labor camp, Roman Catholic priest Kiril Lakota is set free by Russian leader Piotr Ilyich Kamenev at the height of the Cold War.
Director: Michael Anderson | Stars: Anthony Quinn, Laurence Olivier, Oskar Werner, David Janssen
Votes: 4,154
This does a wonderful job of showing the election of a pope.
16. Into Great Silence (2005)
Not Rated | 169 min | Documentary
An examination of life inside the Grande Chartreuse, the head monastery of the reclusive Carthusian Order in France.
Director: Philip Gröning
Votes: 2,493 | Gross: $0.79M
Fantastic study of monks.
17. Karol, un uomo diventato Papa (2005 TV Movie)
186 min | Biography, Drama
The life of the pope John-Paul II, from his youth as a writer, actor, and athlete in war-torn occupied Poland to his election as Pope at the age of 58.
Director: Giacomo Battiato | Stars: Piotr Adamczyk, Malgorzata Bela, Ken Duken, Hristo Shopov
Votes: 2,817
18. Romero (1989)
PG-13 | 102 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The life and work of Archbishop Oscar Romero who opposed, at great personal risk, the tyrannical repression in El Salvador.
Director: John Duigan | Stars: Raul Julia, Richard Jordan, Ana Alicia, Eddie Velez
Votes: 2,448 | Gross: $1.32M
19. Mother Teresa (2003 TV Movie)
110 min | Biography, Drama
Mother Teresa's life is portrayed from the beginning of her ministry to her death. She seeks to serve the poor by creating a new "congregation" in the Church, establishing refuges for the ... See full summary »
Director: Fabrizio Costa | Stars: Olivia Hussey, Sebastiano Somma, Ingrid Rubio, Michael Mendl
Votes: 772
20. Doubt (I) (2008)
PG-13 | 104 min | Drama, Mystery
A Catholic school principal questions a priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student.
Director: John Patrick Shanley | Stars: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis
Votes: 136,054 | Gross: $33.42M
Tell Your Friends