Positive, Role Models Today & through History in Movies about real events that strengthen Internal Locus of Control (responsibility, courage, hope) in audiences- Dr. Diane Howard (historian, reviewer, writer)
by DrDianeHoward | created - 21 Jul 2020 | updated - 7 months ago | Public2020, Diane Howard, Ph.D. (Performances Studies),movie editor, interviewer, publicist reviews top redemptive, family movies & TV timely for content and artistry to promote hope and encouragement that nothing is new under the sun and we can learn from history and inspirational stories. (See https://dianehoward.com/)
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1. Son of God (2014)
PG-13 | 138 min | Biography, Drama, History
The life story of Jesus is told from his humble birth through his teachings, crucifixion and ultimate resurrection.
Director: Christopher Spencer | Stars: Diogo Morgado, Amber Rose Revah, Greg Hicks, Adrian Schiller
Votes: 19,660 | Gross: $59.70M
2. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
R | 127 min | Drama
Depicts the final twelve hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, on the day of his crucifixion in Jerusalem.
Director: Mel Gibson | Stars: Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov
Votes: 251,160 | Gross: $370.78M
3. The Bible (2013)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Drama, War
A religious dramatic miniseries about God's creation and physical landmark events leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Stars: Keith David, Robert Powell, Jake Canuso, Diogo Morgado
Votes: 12,350
4. A.D. The Bible Continues (2015)
44 min | Drama
Follows the book of ACTS. Shows the complete message of Christ and the transformation of Saul to Paul and how the high priest of Judea does not believe in what has taken place after the Crucifixion of Christ.
Stars: Richard Coyle, Vincent Regan, Adam Levy, Joanne Whalley
Votes: 5,362
5. The Gospel of John (2014)
Unrated | 160 min | Drama
The life and toils of Jesus Christ, depicted as written in the gospel of John. Narrated in English, following the New International Version of the scripture, while the actors speak in Aramaic.
Director: David Batty | Stars: David Harewood, Selva Rasalingam, Mourad Zaoui, El Mahmoudi M'Barek
Votes: 1,040
6. The Gospel of Mark (2015)
Not Rated | 123 min | Drama
According to THE GOSPEL OF MARK, Jesus is a heroic man of action, an exorcist, healer, and miracle worker - the Son of God who keeps his identity secret. This critically acclaimed, epic ... See full summary »
Director: David Batty | Stars: Selva Rasalingam, Karima Gouit, Ramdane Aala, Ettuhfi Abdellatif
Votes: 403
7. The Gospel of Luke (2015)
Not Rated | 215 min | Drama
The Gospel Of Luke from The Bible.
Director: David Batty | Stars: Selva Rasalingam, Karima Gouit, Mourad Zaoui, El Mahmoudi M'Barek
Votes: 499
8. The Gospel of Matthew (2016)
Not Rated | 190 min | Drama
This critically acclaimed, epic production – five years in the making – is the first-ever word-for-word account of the life of Jesus as recorded in the biblical Gospel of Matthew.
Director: David Batty | Stars: Selva Rasalingam, Karima Gouit, Ramdane Aala, Ettuhfi Abdellatif
Votes: 340
9. Sound of Freedom (2023)
PG-13 | 131 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The incredible true story of a former government agent turned vigilante who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue hundreds of children from traffickers.
Director: Alejandro Monteverde | Stars: Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, Bill Camp, Cristal Aparicio
Votes: 114,158
10. Billy Graham: An Extraordinary Journey (2018 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 48 min | Documentary, Biography, Family
Explore key moments in Billy Graham's journey as a dairy farmer's son who rose to prominence, becoming one of the most influential religious leaders in modern history.
Directors: Daniel Camenisch, Vonda Harrell | Stars: Billy Graham, Paul Harvey, Jeff Hoyt, Morrow Graham
Votes: 272
11. Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 90 min | Biography, Drama
Biography of Ben Carson who grew up to be Dr. Ben Carson, a world famous neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins.
Director: Thomas Carter | Stars: Cuba Gooding Jr., Kimberly Elise, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Alora Adams
Votes: 15,902
12. On Wings of Eagles (2016)
PG-13 | 108 min | Biography, Drama, History
Eric Liddell - China's first gold medalist and one of Scotland's greatest athletes - returns to war-torn China.
Directors: Stephen Shin, Michael Parker | Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Jesse Kove, Bruce Locke, Shawn Dou
Votes: 1,145
13. Harriet (I) (2019)
PG-13 | 125 min | Action, Biography, Drama
The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.
Director: Kasi Lemmons | Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn
Votes: 30,725
14. Hidden Figures (2016)
PG | 127 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.
Director: Theodore Melfi | Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner
Votes: 255,308 | Gross: $169.61M
15. Glory (1989)
R | 122 min | Biography, Drama, History
Robert Gould Shaw leads the U.S. Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices from both his own Union Army, and the Confederates.
Director: Edward Zwick | Stars: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman
Votes: 144,452 | Gross: $26.83M
16. Amazing Grace (2006)
PG | 118 min | Biography, Drama, History
The idealist William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.
Director: Michael Apted | Stars: Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Romola Garai
Votes: 25,696 | Gross: $21.21M
17. Unbroken: Path to Redemption (2018)
PG-13 | 98 min | Biography, Drama, History
The next amazing chapter of Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini's powerful true story of forgiveness, redemption, and amazing grace.
Director: Harold Cronk | Stars: Samuel Hunt, Merritt Patterson, Bobby Campo, David Sakurai
Votes: 3,497 | Gross: $6.22M
18. The Victor Marx Story (2012)
60 min | Documentary
Victor was abused from a young age through his teen years by several people, and he turned to drugs in adolescence to escape from the emotional pain. Instead of remaining a victim, he turns his life around and now helps others.
Director: Trey Reynolds | Stars: Victor Marx, Eileen Marx, Karl Marx, Arlys McDonald
Votes: 61
19. Same Kind of Different as Me (2017)
PG-13 | 119 min | Biography, Drama
International art dealer Ron Hall must befriend a dangerous homeless man in order to save his struggling marriage to his wife, a woman whose dreams will lead all three of them on the journey of their lives.
Director: Michael Carney | Stars: Greg Kinnear, Renée Zellweger, Djimon Hounsou, Jon Voight
Votes: 8,571 | Gross: $6.42M
20. The Great Debaters (2007)
PG-13 | 126 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.
Director: Denzel Washington | Stars: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker
Votes: 62,866 | Gross: $30.23M
21. Lincoln (2012)
PG-13 | 150 min | Biography, Drama, History
As the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Votes: 272,669 | Gross: $182.21M
22. The Better Angels (2014)
PG | 95 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana and the hardships that shaped him, the tragedy that marked him for ever and the two women who guided him to immortality.
Director: A.J. Edwards | Stars: Jason Clarke, Diane Kruger, Brit Marling, Wes Bentley
Votes: 1,465
23. A Hidden Life (2019)
PG-13 | 174 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
The Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector, refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II.
Director: Terrence Malick | Stars: August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, Maria Simon, Karin Neuhäuser
Votes: 28,171
24. End of the Spear (2005)
PG-13 | 108 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama
Two people come to the end of a spear in order to realize that the divisions between them are not real.
Director: Jim Hanon | Stars: Louie Leonardo, Chad Allen, Jack Guzman, Christina Souza
Votes: 5,503 | Gross: $11.97M
25. Priceless (II) (2016)
PG-13 | 97 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
A widower who's lost custody of his daughter finds himself unable to hold down a job. He agrees to drive a truck cross-country, no questions asked, but when he discovers the nature of his cargo, he is faced with a life-changing decision.
Director: Ben Smallbone | Stars: Joel Smallbone, Bianca A. Santos, David Koechner, Jim Parrack
Votes: 4,132 | Gross: $1.50M
26. Foundations of Freedom: What Makes America Different? (2015)
Not Rated | 82 min | Documentary
Throughout history, the global landscape has been marked by instability. Nations on every inhabitable continent have seen governments rise and fall, some over twenty times in the span of a ... See full summary »
Director: Tom Newman
27. Tolkien (2019)
PG-13 | 112 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
Tolkien's novels were inspired by his mom's storytelling, falling in love with another orphan, Edith, forming a brotherhood with 3 other misfits at school, the trench war of WWI and later telling stories to his own kids.
Director: Dome Karukoski | Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Colm Meaney, Derek Jacobi
Votes: 46,609 | Gross: $4.54M
28. Noble (2014)
PG-13 | 100 min | Biography, Drama
Christina Noble overcomes the harsh difficulties of her childhood in Ireland to discover her destiny on the streets of Saigon. A true story.
Director: Stephen Bradley | Stars: Deirdre O'Kane, Sarah Greene, Gloria Cramer Curtis, Brendan Coyle
Votes: 1,838 | Gross: $0.35M
29. The American Heritage Series (2009)
TV-G | Documentary
Discover the forgotten and astonishing story of our nation's founding in the American Heritage Series. For centuries, we were taught a providential view of American history that presented ... See full summary »
Director: David Barton
Votes: 24
30. Discovering America's Founders (2009)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary
Ride along with Dave Stotts in another installment of the award-winning Drive Thru History video series, as he takes a fast-paced drive through American history. Based on the work of ... See full summary »
Star: Dave Stotts
Votes: 8
31. America's Hidden History (2018– )
60 min | Documentary
A series of short documentaries in talk show format loosely related to US holidays. In which they imply a cover-up of historical figures who prayed. No actual plot.
Stars: David Barton, Tim Barton, Brian Birdwell, Jim Lowe
Votes: 13
32. Palau the Movie (2019)
Not Rated | 120 min | Biography, Drama, History
A story of relentless grit, motivational strength and humbling triumph, PALAU is a film many will relate to. As a young man, a passion and vision to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to all ... See full summary »
Director: Kevin Knoblock | Stars: Gastón Pauls, Santiago Achaga, Agustin Amoedo, Alexia Moyano
Votes: 96 | Gross: $0.13M
33. Kingdom Men Rising (2019)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary
Kingdom Men Rising is a documentary exploring what it means to be a real man in the midst of cultural trends where there is confusion about masculinity. Challenging men to rise above what we've become to lives of no more excuses.
Director: Kyle Lollis | Stars: Tony Evans, Tim Brown, Tony Dungy, Arthur Evans
Votes: 54 | Gross: $1.19M
34. Emanuel (2019)
Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary
An inside look at the tragic event that took place in Charleston, South Carolina at the Emanuel AME Church, where 9 innocent churchgoers were gunned down.
Director: Brian Tetsuro Ivie | Stars: George Howard Adams, A.R. Bernard, Nadine Collier, Brien Gregorie
Votes: 312 | Gross: $1.20M
35. The Heart of Nuba (2016)
85 min | Documentary, Biography, War
In the war-torn Nuba Mountains of Sudan, American doctor Tom Catena selflessly and courageously serves the needs of a forgotten people, while the region is bombed relentlessly by an ... See full summary »
Director: Kenneth A. Carlson | Stars: Cornelio Catena, Gene Catena, Nancy Catena, Paul Catena
Votes: 141 | Gross: $0.04M
36. Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable (2018)
PG | 100 min | Documentary, Sport
After losing an arm to a shark attack at age 13, Bethany Hamilton refuses to give up her dreams of being a professional surfer.
Director: Aaron Lieber | Stars: Alana Blanchard, Adam Dirks, Tobias Dirks, Madison Graber
Votes: 815 | Gross: $0.59M
37. I'll Push You: A Real-Life Inspiration (2017)
100 min | Documentary, Adventure, Drama
It all started with three little words. I'll Push You is an up-close and personal look into the dynamics of a life-long friendship between of two best friends - Justin Skeesuck and Patrick ... See full summary »
Directors: Chris Karcher, Terry Parish | Stars: Patrick Gray, Justin Skeesuck, Ted Hardy, Michael Turner
Votes: 94
38. The Blind Side (2009)
PG-13 | 129 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.
Director: John Lee Hancock | Stars: Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Jae Head
Votes: 360,542 | Gross: $255.96M
39. A Nation Adrift (1995 Video)
TV-PG | 59 min | Documentary
This is the true story of how God's sovereign hand guided the founders of America. It takes you on a journey...from Christopher Columbus to Jamestown...from Valley Forge to the ... See full summary »
Director: Brian Barkley | Star: Tom Kane
Votes: 34
40. Squanto: A Warrior's Tale (1994)
PG | 102 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama
Fictional chronicle of Squanto's life prior to and including the arrival of the "Mayflower" in 1620.
Director: Xavier Koller | Stars: Adam Beach, Mandy Patinkin, Sheldon Peters Wolfchild, Irene Bedard
Votes: 1,432 | Gross: $3.34M
41. Jackie Robinson (2016)
TV-PG | 240 min | Documentary, Biography
Documentary chronicles the personal and professional life of Jackie Robinson from his birth in 1919 to his death in 1972. Robinson's rise from humble beginnings to became an American hero and pivotal figure in American history are detailed.
Stars: Keith David, Jamie Foxx
Votes: 534
42. The Pilgrims (2015 TV Movie)
PG | 90 min | Documentary
Arguably one of the most fateful and resonant events of the last half millennium, the Pilgrims' journey west across the Atlantic in the early 17th century is a seminal, if often misunderstood episode of American and world history.
Director: Ric Burns | Stars: Sue Allan, Bernard Bailyn, Michael Braddick, Marge Bruchac
Votes: 157
43. Saints & Strangers (2015)
192 min | Drama, History
Story of the Voyage of the Mayflower and the first year of The Pilgrims in America.
Stars: Vincent Kartheiser, Kalani Queypo, Tatanka Means, Keenan Arrison
Votes: 2,281
44. Sacagawea (2003 Video)
45 min | Short, Adventure
She was an expectant mother, but she endured every hardship these seasoned soldiers experienced. Without her the Corps of Discovery would have failed. This program re-enacts her journey in ... See full summary »
Director: Rolf Forsberg | Stars: Melisa King, David Williams, Daniel Rowland, Andiel Brown
Votes: 31
45. Drive Thru History (2005– )
TV-G | Documentary, Family, History
David Stotts travels to various locations in the United States, Europe, and the Holyland explaining the history behind each place and how Christianity has changed it.
Stars: Dave Stotts, James Jay Carafano
Votes: 127
46. Pocahontas: Dove of Peace (2016)
Not Rated | 35 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Pocahontas is the true story of an amazing young woman who became an ambassador between two nations.
Director: Jarrod Anderson | Stars: Isaac Ignacio Bennett, Randall C. Benton, Felipe Chavez, Sean Edwards
Votes: 12
47. First Freedom: The Fight for Religious Liberty (2012)
84 min | Documentary
Documentary about why the freedom of conscience was codified by the founders of the US constitution.
Director: Lee B. Groberg | Stars: Dean Malissa, Randall Robinson
Votes: 15
48. John Adams (2008)
TV-14 | 71 min | Biography, Drama, History
The life of one of the USA's Founding Fathers, its second President, and his role in the nation's first 50 years.
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, John Dossett, Stephen Dillane
Votes: 36,634
49. The Alamo (2004)
PG-13 | 137 min | Drama, History, War
Based on the 1836 standoff between a group of Texan and Tejano men, led by Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, and Mexican dictator Santa Anna's forces at the Alamo in San Antonio Texas.
Director: John Lee Hancock | Stars: Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, Emilio Echevarría, Jason Patric
Votes: 22,308 | Gross: $22.41M
50. The Tuskegee Airmen (1995 TV Movie)
PG-13 | 106 min | Drama, History, War
The true story of how a group of African-American pilots overcame racist opposition to become one of the finest United States fighter groups in World War II.
Director: Robert Markowitz | Stars: Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Courtney B. Vance
Votes: 7,087
51. Apollo 11 (I) (2019)
G | 93 min | Documentary, History
A look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins.
Director: Todd Douglas Miller | Stars: Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Deke Slayton
Votes: 27,215 | Gross: $9.04M
52. Foundations of Freedom: God and Government (2015)
Not Rated | 82 min | Documentary
This generation of Americans is taught that our government was established as a secular institution. But the founders believed God was a part of everything, including government. So what ... See full summary »
Director: Tom Newman
53. The Most Reluctant Convert (2021)
73 min | Biography, Drama, History
Spanning C.S. Lewis' bitter childhood, WWI and his life-changing friendships at Oxford, The Most Reluctant Convert depicts the events that shaped Lewis' early life and journey from hard-boiled atheism to prolific Christianity.
Director: Norman Stone | Stars: Max McLean, Nicholas Ralph, Eddie Ray Martin, Richard Harrington
Votes: 1,081
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