Religion Magazine

Favourite -- and Least Favourite -- Jesus Films

By Goodacre
Every couple of years, I teach a course on Jesus in Film at Duke. Last time I taught the course, I ran a fun poll at the end in which I asked students "What is your favorite Jesus film?" I posted the results here.
This year's results are now in! Amazingly enough, the academics' most hated film of all, Passion of the Christ, gets the most votes, albeit only a fifth of the class (6/30). As before, Jesus Christ Superstar gets a good showing, as does the wonderful BBC Nativity. Newcomers Young Messiah and Risen do surprisingly well:
(1) Passion of the Christ [6 votes]
(2) Jesus Christ Superstar
The Nativity (BBC, 2010)
Young Messiah [4 votes each]
(5) Jesus of Nazareth
Life of Brian
Last Temptation of Christ
Risen [2 votes each]
One vote each:
The Gospel According to St Matthew
The Miracle Maker
The Passion (BBC / HBO, 2008)
The Bible / Son of God
This time I thought to ask them several additional questions, including "What is your least favorite Jesus film?" And here there is a clear winner!
(1) Godspell [17 votes]
(2) Life of Brian [3 votes]
(3) Greatest Story Ever Told
The Bible / Son of God [2 votes each]
One vote each:
King of Kings
Gospel According to St Matthew
Last Temptation of Christ
Killing Jesus
The Star



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