Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "1st-century"
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1. The Chosen (2017– )
TV-PG | 54 min | Drama, History
The Chosen is a historical drama based on the life of Jesus and those who knew him. Set against the backdrop of Roman oppression in first-century Israel, the series shares an authentic look at Jesus' revolutionary life and teachings.
Stars: Elizabeth Tabish, Jonathan Roumie, Shahar Isaac, Nick Shakoour
Votes: 46,718
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: 251,035 | Gross: $370.78M
3. Caligula (1979)
Unrated | 156 min | Drama, History
A dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, his brutality and his lunacy.
Director: Tinto Brass | Stars: Malcolm McDowell, Peter O'Toole, Helen Mirren, Teresa Ann Savoy
Votes: 38,340 | Gross: $23.44M
4. The Book of Clarence (2023)
PG-13 | 129 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Struggling to find a better life, Clarence is captivated by the power of the rising Messiah and soon risks everything to carve a path to a divine existence.
Director: Jeymes Samuel | Stars: LaKeith Stanfield, Omar Sy, Anna Diop, RJ Cyler
Votes: 4,594
5. Ben-Hur (1959)
G | 212 min | Adventure, Drama
After a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.
Director: William Wyler | Stars: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Haya Harareet
Votes: 253,551 | Gross: $74.70M
6. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
PG-13 | 149 min | Mystery, Thriller
A murder inside the Louvre, and clues in Da Vinci paintings, lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years, which could shake the foundations of Christianity.
Director: Ron Howard | Stars: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Jean Reno, Ian McKellen
Votes: 458,660 | Gross: $217.54M
7. Life of Brian (1979)
R | 94 min | Comedy
Born on the original Christmas in the stable next door to Jesus Christ, Brian of Nazareth spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.
Director: Terry Jones | Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam
Votes: 421,756 | Gross: $20.05M
8. Pompeii (I) (2014)
PG-13 | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A slave-turned-gladiator finds himself in a race against time to save his true love, who has been betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts, he must fight to save his beloved as Pompeii crumbles around him.
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson | Stars: Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Votes: 116,596 | Gross: $23.22M
9. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
G | 106 min | Drama, History, Musical
Film version of the musical stage play, presenting the last few weeks of Christ's life told in an anachronistic manner.
Director: Norman Jewison | Stars: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen
Votes: 29,891 | Gross: $24.48M
10. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
R | 164 min | Drama
The life of Jesus Christ, his journey through life as he faces the struggles all humans do, and his final temptation on the cross.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, Paul Greco
Votes: 63,076 | Gross: $7.63M
11. Britannia (2017–2021)
TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy
In 43 AD, the Roman Army returns to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia.
Stars: David Morrissey, Eleanor Worthington-Cox, Mackenzie Crook, Julian Rhind-Tutt
Votes: 17,853
12. Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
TV-G | 96 min | Biography, Drama, History
Beginning before the Nativity and extending through the Crucifixion and Resurrection, this mini-series brings to life all of the sweeping drama in the life of Jesus, as told by the Gospels.
Stars: Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey, Laurence Olivier, James Mason
Votes: 24,831
13. Ben-Hur (2016)
PG-13 | 123 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother, an officer in the Roman army, returns to his homeland after years at sea to seek revenge, but finds redemption.
Director: Timur Bekmambetov | Stars: Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Rodrigo Santoro, Nazanin Boniadi
Votes: 46,821 | Gross: $26.41M
14. Barbarians (2020–2022)
TV-MA | 569 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Torn between the mighty empire that raised him and his own tribal people, a Roman officer's conflicted allegiances lead to an epic historical clash.
Stars: Laurence Rupp, Jeanne Goursaud, David Schütter, Florian Schmidtke
Votes: 30,254
15. I, Claudius (1976)
Not Rated | 50 min | Biography, Drama, History
The personal and governmental affairs of the Julio-Claudian dynasty at the beginning of the Roman Empire, as recalled by one of its rulers.
Stars: Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed
Votes: 19,357
16. The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
G | 260 min | Biography, Drama, History
An all-star, large scale epic movie that chronicles the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Directors: George Stevens, David Lean, Jean Negulesco | Stars: Max von Sydow, Dorothy McGuire, Charlton Heston, Michael Anderson Jr.
Votes: 11,911 | Gross: $15.47M
17. History of the World: Part I (1981)
R | 92 min | Comedy, History, Musical
Mel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.
Director: Mel Brooks | Stars: Mel Brooks, Gregory Hines, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn
Votes: 55,208 | Gross: $31.67M
18. Risen (2016)
PG-13 | 107 min | Action, Drama, History
In 33 AD, a Roman Tribune in Judea is tasked to find the missing body of Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead.
Director: Kevin Reynolds | Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth, Cliff Curtis
Votes: 30,799 | Gross: $36.87M
19. 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: 12,348
20. The Robe (1953)
Approved | 135 min | Drama, History, Romance
In the Roman province of Judea during the 1st century, Roman tribune Marcellus Gallio is ordered to crucify Jesus of Nazareth but is tormented by his guilty conscience afterwards.
Director: Henry Koster | Stars: Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Michael Rennie
Votes: 11,731 | Gross: $36.00M
21. 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: 16,739 | Gross: $24.29M
22. Mary Magdalene (2018)
R | 120 min | Biography, Drama, History
Twelve men heard and spread the message of Jesus. Only one woman understood it.
Director: Garth Davis | Stars: Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tahar Rahim
Votes: 11,541 | Gross: $0.12M
23. Boudica: Queen of War (2023)
R | 101 min | Action, Drama, History
The eponymous Celtic warrior who rules the Iceni people alongside her husband, Prasutagus. The King dies at the hands of Roman soldiers, leaving Boudica's kingdom without a male heir, and the Romans seize her land and property.
Director: Jesse V. Johnson | Stars: Olga Kurylenko, Tim Barber, Andy Beckwith, Tom Bennett
Votes: 2,504
24. Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018)
PG-13 | 108 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama
Luke risks his life to visit Paul, who is captive in a Roman prison under Nero's rule. Together, they struggle against a determined emperor and the frailties of the human spirit to live out the Gospel and spread the message to the world.
Director: Andrew Hyatt | Stars: Jim Caviezel, James Faulkner, Olivier Martinez, Joanne Whalley
Votes: 9,890 | Gross: $17.56M
25. Barabbas (1961)
Approved | 137 min | Biography, Drama, History
Governor Pontius Pilate gave the populace a choice to spare either Barabbas, a criminal, or Jesus, condemned as a heretic, from crucifixion. The masses chose Barrabas, and he is haunted by the image of Jesus for the rest of his life.
Director: Richard Fleischer | Stars: Anthony Quinn, Silvana Mangano, Arthur Kennedy, Katy Jurado
Votes: 7,022 | Gross: $6.32M
26. Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008)
Not Rated | 116 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Asterix and Obelix compete at the Olympics in order to help their friend Lovesix marry Princess Irina. Brutus also tries to win the game with his own team and get rid of his father Julius Caesar.
Directors: Frédéric Forestier, Thomas Langmann | Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Clovis Cornillac, Benoît Poelvoorde, Alain Delon
Votes: 32,527 | Gross: $1.00M
27. 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: 19,656 | Gross: $59.70M
28. 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: 5,358
29. Fellini Satyricon (1969)
R | 129 min | Drama, Fantasy
A series of disjointed mythical tales set in first-century Rome.
Director: Federico Fellini | Stars: Martin Potter, Hiram Keller, Max Born, Salvo Randone
Votes: 17,184 | Gross: $1.14M
30. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
Not Rated | 143 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A Jewish prince seeks to find his family and revenge himself upon his childhood friend who had him wrongly imprisoned.
Directors: Fred Niblo, Charles Brabin, Christy Cabanne, J.J. Cohn, Rex Ingram | Stars: Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, May McAvoy, Betty Bronson
Votes: 7,974 | Gross: $12.45M
31. The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Not Rated | 125 min | Drama, History
A Roman soldier becomes torn between his love for a Christian woman and his loyalty to Emperor Nero.
Director: Cecil B. DeMille | Stars: Fredric March, Claudette Colbert, Elissa Landi, Charles Laughton
Votes: 2,696 | Gross: $5.97M
32. Caligula et Messaline (1981)
109 min | Action, Biography, Drama
Seductive Messalina will stop at nothing to become the most powerful woman in Rome.
Directors: Bruno Mattei, Antonio Passalia | Stars: Vladimir Brajovic, Betty Roland, Françoise Blanchard, Raul Cabrera
Votes: 728
33. The Gospel of John (2003)
PG-13 | 180 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of Jesus' life as told by the apostle John, narrated by Christopher Plummer.
Director: Philip Saville | Stars: Henry Ian Cusick, Daniel Kash, Christopher Plummer, Scott Handy
Votes: 4,195 | Gross: $4.07M
34. Warrior Queen (2003 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 83 min | Action, Drama, History
Boudica, the Warrior Queen on Britain, leads her tribe into rebellion against the Roman Empire and the mad Emperor of Rome Nero.
Director: Bill Anderson | Stars: Alex Kingston, Steven Waddington, Emily Blunt, Leanne Rowe
Votes: 1,361
35. The Nativity Story (2006)
PG | 101 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
A drama that focuses on the period in Mary and Joseph's life where they journeyed to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.
Director: Catherine Hardwicke | Stars: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Oscar Isaac, Hiam Abbass
Votes: 12,354 | Gross: $37.63M
36. The Young Messiah (2016)
PG-13 | 111 min | Drama, Fantasy
Tells the story of Jesus Christ at age seven as he and his family depart Egypt to return home to Nazareth. Told from his childhood perspective, it follows young Jesus as he grows into his religious identity.
Director: Cyrus Nowrasteh | Stars: Adam Greaves-Neal, Vincent Walsh, Sara Lazzaro, Sean Bean
Votes: 3,884 | Gross: $6.46M
37. The Kingdom of the Winds (2008–2009)
TV-14 | Drama, Fantasy, History
Story of of king Daemusin, third ruler of Goguryeo and grandson of king Jumong.
Stars: Song Il-guk, Oh Yoon-ah, Kim Jae-Wook, Choi Jeong-won
Votes: 1,432
38. Ben Hur (2010)
180 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A young Jewish prince seeks revenge after an old friend wrongly imprisons him and his family.
Stars: Joseph Morgan, Stephen Campbell Moore, Emily VanCamp, Kristin Kreuk
Votes: 2,208
39. Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)
Approved | 101 min | Action, Drama, History
In first-century Rome, Christian slave Demetrius is sent to fight in the gladiatorial arena and Emperor Caligula seeks Jesus' robe for its alleged magical powers.
Director: Delmer Daves | Stars: Victor Mature, Susan Hayward, Michael Rennie, Debra Paget
Votes: 4,263 | Gross: $26.00M
40. The Gathering (2002)
R | 92 min | Horror, Thriller
Amnesiac Cassie Grant has a premonition that someone or something wants the family that's helping her recover dead. She investigates the secrets of the town they live in and uncovers darkness, both human and supernatural.
Director: Brian Gilbert | Stars: Christina Ricci, Ioan Gruffudd, Stephen Dillane, Kerry Fox
Votes: 8,701
41. Masada (1981)
394 min | Action, Drama, History
After the destruction of the Second Temple, nine hundred Jewish zealots hold out against a five thousand man Roman legion on the mountaintop fortress of Masada.
Stars: Peter O'Toole, Peter Strauss, Barbara Carrera, Alan Feinstein
Votes: 2,435
42. The King of Kings (1927)
Not Rated | 160 min | Biography, Drama, Family
Jesus Christ faces religious and political oppression during his ministry and in the days before his death and resurrection.
Director: Cecil B. DeMille | Stars: H.B. Warner, Dorothy Cumming, Ernest Torrence, Joseph Schildkraut
Votes: 2,412 | Gross: $1.77M
43. The Legion (2020)
R | 96 min | Action, Adventure, History
Noreno, a half-Roman, is entrusted with the mission of crossing the snowy mountains of Armenia, swarming with Parthian patrols, to seek help for his slowly dying men.
Director: Jose Magan | Stars: Lee Partridge, Mickey Rourke, Joaquim de Almeida, Vladimir Kulich
Votes: 1,152
44. Jesus: His Life (2019– )
TV-PG | 43 min | Drama
Comprehensive retelling of Jesus' life story from a Biblically-accurate perspective. Live-action storytelling interspersed with brief commentary provides context about the world as it was during the early Christian era.
Stars: Houda Echouafni, Cassie Bradley, Greg Barnett, Adam Dean Ayadi
Votes: 472
45. Assassin 33 A.D. (2020)
PG-13 | 109 min | Sci-Fi
While doing research, a group of young geniuses accidentally stumbles upon a secret terrorist plot to create a time machine to go back in time and change history.
Director: Jim Carroll | Stars: Morgan Roberts, Ilsa Levine, Donny Boaz, Heidi Montag
Votes: 2,405
46. Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999 TV Movie)
PG-13 | 88 min | Drama
Mary, Mother of Jesus and her pivotal position in Christianity is portrayed in the story of the woman who has been a symbol of hope and inspiration to people of diverse faiths throughout history.
Director: Kevin Connor | Stars: Christian Bale, Pernilla August, Melinda Kinnaman, David Threlfall
Votes: 1,424
47. The Miracle Maker (1999)
G | 90 min | Animation, Biography, Drama
The story of Jesus Christ.
Directors: Derek W. Hayes, Stanislav Sokolov | Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Michael Bryant, Julie Christie, Rebecca Callard
Votes: 1,779
48. The Dovekeepers (2015)
TV-14 | 90 min | Drama, Romance
Based in Alice Hoffman's historical novel about the Siege of Masada, the miniseries focuses on four extraordinary women whose lives intersect in a fight for survival at the siege of Masada.
Stars: Maia Laura Attard, Sam Neill, Rachel Brosnahan, Cote de Pablo
Votes: 923
49. The Passion of the Christ: Deleted Scenes (2009 Video)
5 min | Short, Drama
Deleted scenes from 'The Passion of the Christ'.
Director: Mel Gibson | Stars: Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Mattia Sbragia, Hristo Shopov
Votes: 125
50. The Final Inquiry (2006)
PG-13 | 112 min | Adventure, Drama, History
In 35 A.D., a Roman tribune is sent to Palestine to investigate the death and possible resurrection of a certain Jesus from Nasareth.
Director: Giulio Base | Stars: Daniele Liotti, Dolph Lundgren, Mónica Cruz, Hristo Shopov
Votes: 1,404