Most Christian parents seem to know about Christ-focused movies for preschoolers and kids to enjoy, such as Veggietales, Bible Man, and shows off the Minno Kids app.  There are a plethora of entertaining, God honoring shows for preschoolers and young kids to choose from.  What I don’t hear, however, are parents talking about the latest Christian movies that are great for teens.   Many parents may assume their kids are too old for Christian movies or that their teens won’t be interested in them.  I would like to challenge that thought by sharing some amazing, God honoring movies that I believe your teens will not only love, but that will inspire and encourage them in their faith as well.  

There are many Christian movies my teens have enjoyed over the years, some of which are appropriate for preteens as well.   To narrow down my list to just ten, I included movies that have a clear, solid Biblical message rather than ones that may mention God but don’t really focus on the gospel and inspire one’s faith.  I also included only movies that have teens in the story line, making the movie more relatable for teens.  Lastly, I picked movies that contain content I felt most Christian parents would find appropriate, leaving out ones with any language, immodesty, etc. 

If you are still a “DVD” family, most of these movies can be purchased on Amazon at the links below, but they can also be found on streaming devices which I list for each.  I have also included the rating to help you determine if each movie would be a good fit for the specific age of your teen or even preteen.

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God’s Not Dead Series

Rating: PG

Streaming: Pureflix, Prime Video

This amazing series has been one of my kids’ favorites from late preteens into the teen years and has truly inspired them to stand strong in their faith.  Each of the five movies focuses on standing up for our Biblical values in various situations, such as on the college campus (God’s Not Dead), in the public schools (God’s Not Dead 2), behind the pulpit (God’s Not Dead: A Light in the Darkness), as a homeschool parent (God’s Not Dead: We the People), and in the political realm (God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust).  Positive messages include faith, courage, integrity, prayer, and justice.  Heavier topics include persecution, questioning the existence of God, and struggles of faith are also considered.

I Can Only Imagine

Rating: PG

Streaming: Netflix, Prime Video

This inspiring true story shares the testimony of Bart Miller, lead singer of Mercy Me, who grew up with an absent mother and an alcoholic, abusive father who did not approve of his love for singing.  Bart sets out on a journey to become the musician he believes God is calling him to be with the support and encouragement of his girlfriend/future wife.  It isn’t until he lets go of his anger towards his father, that God can use him to write a song that would impact more people than he could ever imagine.  Positive messages include faith, reconciliation, forgiveness, and surrender.  Alcoholism and abuse are discussed from a Biblical perspective.

Unsung Hero

Rating: PG

Streaming: Starz, Prime Video

Based on the  true story of Christian artist Rebecca St. James and her family, this inspiring story of faith amidst life’s challenges will encourage many.  Rebecca’s father, a well known Australian music producer loses everything and travels to America with his family for a new start.  Through many devastating trials, the family must persevere in faith and trust in God.  And through the mother’s unwavering prayers, faith, and encouragement, God brings the family’s dreams to fruition through Rebecca’s eventual record label.  Years later her brothers would start the band King and Country. Themes include faith, perseverance, humility, and worship.  The father struggles with a season of depression, and through his wife’s love and encouragement, he is able to overcome.

Facing the Giants

Rated: PG

Streaming: Prime Video, Fawesome, Freevee

Facing the Giants is a Kendrick Brothers film about a football coach named Grant who coaches for a private Christian school and has a 6-year losing streak.  During his seventh year of coaching, one of his key players moves to another school, and the other football players’ fathers begin to request that they find someone better to coach the team.  On top of this, Grant is having many struggles at home, including his wife’s infertility, and their desire to start a family.  When God gets ahold of Grant’s heart through the encouragement of his old football coach, he has a new perspective to lead the team not to win but to give God their best, depend on His strength, and persevere when things get hard.  His new attitude impacts his players, and God shows up in some big ways both in Grant’s life personally and in his football team.  Themes include trusting God through trials, faith, perseverance, and giving God glory in all you do.

Overcomer

Rating: PG

Streaming: Prime Video

This Kendrick Brothers film is about a basketball coach named John who has to start coaching the cross country team at the Christian private school where he works.  Only one girl named Hannah, signs up to join the team, and she has asthma.  Despite these setbacks, John tries his best to coach her.  One day, John accidentally visits the wrong hospital room and meets Hanna’s father instead.  Hannah reunites with the father she never knew while also learning lessons in faith, forgiveness, perseverance, and love.  Consequences of drugs and sexual immorality are discussed in a Biblical way.

Forge, The – DVD + Digital

Rating: PG

Streaming: Prime Video

The Forge is the newest of the Kendrick Brothers films, and its powerful message about discipleship, surrender, and forgiveness will encourage those who watch it.  The story is about Isaiah, an 18-year-old who lives at home playing basketball and video games with his friends, and has no real goals for his future.  His single mother prays for him, and encourages him to find work to help pay the bills. He ends up finding a job at Moore Fitness, where he meets Mr. Moore who takes him under his wing and starts mentoring him.  Over time with Mr. Moore’s encouragement and teaching, Isaiah accepts Jesus and learns how to walk out the Christian faith as a man of integrity.  This heart-warming story will inspire many to discipleship to see others transformed like Isaiah.

Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters

Rating: Not Rated

Streaming: PureFlix

This PureFlix Original inspired by the Best Selling Book, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, is about a wealthy businessman named Steve who is shocked by the news that his daughter, who just returned from an overseas trip, is engaged to a missionary, getting married in three months, and moving overseas.  With high hopes that his daughter would become his business partner and live the kind of lifestyle in which she was raised, Steve must learn to accept this future for his daughter and learn what it means to be a strong father.  He must also learn to love his younger, rebellious teenage daughter and be the father she needs. Positive messages include faith, family, reconciliation, humility, and missions.   The consequences of dating, partying, and drinking are discussed from a Biblical perspective.

Courageous

Rated: PG-13

Streaming: Amazon Prime, PureFlix

This action-packed Kendrick Brothers film shares the story of four police officer friends and their personal struggles with their families.  Mitchell is distant from his son. Hayes never knew his own father and has difficulties with his teenage daughter. Fuller is divorced and has joint custody of his son.  David left his teenage girlfriend when she refused to have an abortion and has never met his daughter.  When a tragedy  hits Mitchell’s family, God starts to reveal to Mitchell through His Word how to become a better father.  He and his friends make resolutions to become better fathers and husbands and lead their families well.

Lifemark [DVD]

Rated: PG-13

Streaming: PureFlix and Amazon Prime

This Kendrick Brothers film starring Kirk Cameron tells the true story of a teenage boy named David who was adopted at birth and raised in a Christian home. On his 18th birthday, he receives a message from his biological mom asking if he would be willing to meet her.  With the encouragement of his adoptive parents, David sets out on a journey with his best friend to meet his biological parents, and discovers some hard truths about his past.  Positive messages include faith, friendship, reconciliation, and forgiveness.  Premarital sex and abortion are discussed from a Biblical perspective.

Jesus Revolution [DVD]

Rating: PG-13

Streaming: Roku Channel, Prime Video

This is an amazing, true story of revival that took place in the late 1960’s about the lives of Greg Laurie, Lonnie Frisbee, and Pastor Chuck Smith.  Pastor Chuck’s church is turned upside down when his daughter comes home one day with Lonnie Frisbee, a hippie-turned-Christian who wants to start a ministry to hippies at his church.  Greg Laurie, a highschooler with a rocky family life, attends one of Lonnie’s services and eventually comes to Christ and is mentored by Lonnie.  Themes include faith, tolerance, learning humility, and trusting God when things are difficult.  The consequences of drugs are shown and how Jesus can free us from addiction.

I hope you enjoy some fun movie nights with your teens, and I am confident that these stories will inspire and encourage you in your faith as well.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8 (NIV)