Every so often, Hollywood stumbles into something deeper than it intended. Without quoting Scripture or naming Jesus outright, certain films echo profoundly Christian themes—sacrifice, redemption, incarnation, and grace. They aren’t “Christian movies” in the marketing sense, but they carry a worldview that feels surprisingly biblical. We are seeing more and more of these movies in mainstream Hollywood, speaking to the deeper longing of the human soul.
Here are five of the most compelling recent examples. Share your own in the comments.
1. The Wild Robot (2024)
At first glance, The Wild Robot looks like a simple animated survival story. But at its heart, it’s about incarnation. Roz begins as a machine—cold, programmed, utilitarian. Yet over time, she becomes something more. She enters into the life of the island, suffers with its creatures, and ultimately gives herself for them. Her care for Brightbill, an orphaned gosling, transforms her identity from tool to parent. Pinktail, in her own humous way, teaches Roz that being a parent is hard, but worth it and mentors Roz into the role.
One of the most profound lines in the film is when Roz tells Brightbill “your life is not negotiable.” Even though he was the runt of the family and wants to give up, he has dignity in his own right and he’s worth saving.
This is deeply reminiscent of the Christian idea that love is not abstract—it is embodied. Roz doesn’t save from afar; she dwells among the creatures, learns their language, and lays down her life for their flourishing in a deeply incarnational way.
2. Project Hail Mary (2026)
Few modern sci-fi films capture substitutionary sacrifice as clearly as Project Hail Mary.
Dr. Ryland Grace is sent—reluctantly—on a mission to save humanity from extinction. He wakes up alone on a spaceship, his friends dead, lightyears from earth, burdened with a task that will cost him everything. But the turning point isn’t just saving Earth from the threat of astrophage, a living organism eating the energy from stars. It’s when Grace must choose between returning home or sacrificing his future to save his alien friend, Rocky. Friendship and love compels him to choose the latter. That moment reframes the entire story: salvation is not just about humanity—it’s about self-giving love for the “other.”
And the fact that the spaceship, the Hail Mary, is ‘full of [Ryland] Grace’ isn’t lost on any Catholic.
Even more striking is the global cooperation behind the mission. Humanity unites, sets aside differences, and sends a single representative to accomplish what no one else can. It’s hard not to see echoes of a mediator—one sent on behalf of many. Amaze.
3. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
This new Marvel entry revolves around a staggering moral dilemma: sacrifice one child to save the world—or refuse and risk everything. When Galactus demands the life of Reed and Sue’s son in exchange for sparing Earth, the world itself begins to argue that the child should be given up.
But the Fantastic Four refuse. Why? Because the life of one innocent person is not expendable—even to save billions. That conviction runs counter to utilitarian logic but aligns closely with a Christian moral vision: the value of the individual is absolute, not negotiable. And in the end, salvation comes not through sacrificing the innocent, but through self-sacrifice and unexpected grace (even the Silver Surfer’s turn).
It’s a story that quietly asks: what kind of world are we trying to save if we must destroy an innocent life to preserve it? It’s also unapologetically pro-life. Dr. Reed is a genius who desperately wants to make sure that there is nothing wrong with their unborn son. Sue calms him by using her transparent powers to show him their child in her womb, perfectly formed, beautiful, and at rest. Truly human, wonderfully and fearfully made.
4. Dune: Part Two (2024)
While Dune is often read as a critique of messianic figures Part Two unintentionally reinforces how deeply we long for one. Paul Atreides becomes the fulfillment of prophecy—but the film is uneasy about it. Is he a savior, or something more dangerous? That tension mirrors a biblical truth: false messiahs exploit power, but the true one lays it down.
Ironically, by showing a messiah who may not be trustworthy, Dune highlights the need for one who is. It exposes the human longing for deliverance while warning how easily that longing can be misdirected. Even in its skepticism, it points beyond itself.
5. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
There is just something really cool about fighter jets. On the surface, Top Gun: Maverick is about speed, skill, and spectacle. Underneath, it’s about humility, forgiveness, restoration, and sacrifice.
Maverick starts as a man defined by talent and instinct, a rebel who won’t be stopped, but also by unresolved guilt and a refusal to trust others fully. Over time, he becomes something different—not just a pilot, but a mentor willing to risk everything for his students.
The mission he is to send his students on is nearly suicidal. Maverick, against orders, proves that he has what it takes to go on the mission, complete it successfully, and even live to tell the tale. Maverick ultimately chooses to take the most dangerous role, stepping into harm’s way so that the next generation might live.
There’s also a quiet but powerful theme of reconciliation—especially in his relationship with Rooster. Forgiveness, restored trust, and the willingness to bear the weight of past failures all point toward a deeply Christian understanding of redemption. Strength, in the end, doesn’t turn out to be about proving yourself. It’s about giving yourself for the good of others.
Final Thoughts
Angel Studios has been rewriting what is possible in an explicitly Christian film. They have been creating films that have strong themes about faith without being preachy. It’s a welcome change from the cheap and cheesy sets, terrible actors, preachiness, and bad theology of Christian movies of the 90’s and early 2000’s. But it’s even more exciting to see mainstream Hollywood continue to put out truly excellent, pro-life, pro-redemption stories. And these stories are taking top spots at the box office. That speaks to a deeper longing for truth, beauty, and goodness in our culture. And makes for great conversation starters for evangelists. “Hey, did you see Project Hail Mary? What did you think of Ryland and Rocky’s relationship?” “What did you think of Stratt’s response to Ryland about whether or not she believes in God?” Let’s keep working to promote and baptize our culture into the Christian message.