Good Movies Shows To Watch That Build Character
- 01. These Good Movies Shows to Watch Actually Matter
- 02. Why Values-Driven Entertainment Matters in Marist Education
- 03. Top 12 Movies Every Catholic Family Should Watch
- 04. Best TV Shows for Faith-Based Family Viewing
- 05. Vatican's Official "Articles of Film" List (1995)
- 06. How to Select Movies Aligned with Marist Values
- 07. Expert Insights: Film as Evangelization Tool
- 08. Practical Implementation for School Leaders
These Good Movies Shows to Watch Actually Matter
If you're looking for good movies shows to watch that align with Catholic and Marist values, start with The Mission, A Man for All Seasons, It's a Wonderful Life, The Passion of the Christ, Karol: A Man Who Became Pope, and TV series like Chosen and The Chosen (2017-present), which emphasize redemption, service to others, and spiritual formation.
Why Values-Driven Entertainment Matters in Marist Education
In Marist pedagogy, media consumption is not passive entertainment-it's a formative experience that shapes student identity, moral reasoning, and community values. According to Pope St. John Paul II's 1989 document The Rapid Development, "everything possible must be done so that the Gospel might permeate society" through digital media. Schools across Brazil and Latin America increasingly integrate curated media lists into family engagement programs, recognizing that what students watch influences their understanding of justice, compassion, and vocation.
Research from Franciscan Magazine's 2022 faculty survey showed that 87% of Catholic educators believe film selection impacts student spiritual development, with The Mission and Boys Town cited as top pedagogical tools for teaching evangelization and youth formation.
Top 12 Movies Every Catholic Family Should Watch
Based on recommendations from The Catholic Talk Show and Franciscan Magazine faculty surveys, these films have proven impact on faith formation:
- The Passion of The Christ - Mel Gibson's visceral depiction of Christ's sacrifice, viewed by over 615 million worldwide
- Nacho Libre - Jack Black's comedic take on dignity, work, and serving the poor
- Molokai: The Story of Father Damien - Heroic sacrifice for lepers in Hawaii
- For Greater Glory - Cristero War martyrs in Mexico, highly relevant for Latin American audiences
- Unplanned - Pro-life advocacy and personal conversion
- Silence - Scorsese's exploration of faith under persecution in 17th-century Japan
- Romero - Archbishop Óscar Romero's witness in El Salvador
- Doubt - Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman examine moral certainty
- The Song of Bernadette - Lourdes apparitions and humility
- The Scarlet and the Black - Gregory Peck as a priest escaping Jews from Nazi Rome
- A Man For All Seasons - Thomas More's stand for conscience against state power
- Karol: A Man Who Became Pope - St. John Paul II's life from age 19 to 1978 papal conclave
Best TV Shows for Faith-Based Family Viewing
Television series offer extended narrative arcs for deeper character formation. These shows align with Marist values of presence, family, and simplicity:
- The Chosen (2017-present) - Multi-season series depicting Jesus' life through individual disciples' perspectives; over 140 million episodes streamed globally by 2025
- Chosen (2013-2014) - Six-episode series about a man discovering he's targeted for assassination, exploring faith under pressure
- Father Brown (2013-present) - BBC mystery series starring a Catholic priest detective in 1950s England
- Agnelo - Brazilian series about a Franciscan friar solving crimes in Rio de Janeiro
- Carlos مغ vinculo - Latin American Catholic youth programming on EWTN
Vatican's Official "Articles of Film" List (1995)
In 1995, the Vatican celebrated 90 years of cinema by commissioning experts to compile a "greatest hits" list. This is not an imprimatur but an affirmation of artistic, moral, or theological greatness:
| Film Title | Year | Key Theme | Why It Matters for Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Flowers of St. Francis | 1950 | Saint biography | Shows radical poverty and simplicity |
| The Passion of Joan of Arc | 1928 | Martyrdom | Witness to truth under persecution |
| Ben-Hur | 1959 | Christian martyrdom | Redemption through suffering |
| The Mission | 1986 | Jesuit missionaries | Evangelization and indigenous rights |
| It's a Wonderful Life | 1946 | Community value | Each life has infinite worth |
| Chariots of Fire | 1981 | Faith in sports | Using giftedness for God, not self |
| On the Waterfront | 1954 | Moral courage | Standing against corruption |
| Schindler's List | 1993 | Holocaust rescue | One person can save thousands |
How to Select Movies Aligned with Marist Values
Marist education emphasizes holistic formation-intellectual, spiritual, and social. Use this framework when evaluating entertainment:
Expert Insights: Film as Evangelization Tool
"I see film as a tool or conduit for sharing the good, the beautiful, and the true... We're called to visio divina, to create something beautiful in the digital space for people to contemplate, which can lead them to God." - Eric Groth, CEO ODB Films
ODB Films, founded by Franciscan alum Eric Groth MA '93, has produced 250 films for teens in 10 years, including the Video Catechism series. Their upcoming projects include a film on St. Damien of Molokai and a documentary on Dr. Jerome Lejeune (named Venerable in 2024), directly supporting Marist education goals in Latin America.
Practical Implementation for School Leaders
School administrators across Brazil and Latin America can implement these strategies:
- Create a family movie night calendar with monthly themed selections
- Host The Chosen viewing parties with guided discussion questions
- Integrate film analysis into religion curriculum using Vatican's 1995 list
- Partner with local parishes for community screenings of The Passion of the Christ during Lent
- Use Karol for St. John Paul II feast day celebrations (October 22)
By prioritizing evidence-based media choices, Marist schools demonstrate leadership in holistic education that respects student dignity while forming conscience through the good, true, and beautiful.
Everything you need to know about Good Movies Shows To Watch That Build Character
What criteria make a movie "Catholic" or values-driven?
A film reflects Catholic values when it shows metanoia (heart transformation), redemption, heroism, or service to others-even without explicit religious content. Eric Groth, CEO of ODB Films and producer of Paul: Apostle of Christ, states: "Transformation, conversion, heroism, redemption-those are all key. They all reflect Catholic values even if a film isn't explicitly Catholic".
How do I choose movies for different age groups?
For elementary students (ages 6-11): Boys Town, Nacho Libre, The Sound of Music. For adolescents (12-17): The Mission, Hacksaw Ridge, The Chosen. For adults: Silence, A Hidden Life, Of Gods and Men. Always preview content for violence, language, or mature themes.
Where can families access these films legally?
Most titles are available onFormed.org (Catholic streaming), EWTN on-demand, Amazon Prime Video, or local library collections. The Chosen is free via its official app with optional donations. Brazilian families can access Karol and Padre Pio on Catholic Portuguese platforms.
How can schools integrate films into curriculum?
Use The Mission for history class (18th-century Paraguay), Doubt for ethics discussions, Chariots of Fire for PE/religion integration, and Boys Town for youth ministry. Include reflection questions connecting film themes to Marist pedagogy's five characteristics: simplicity, availability, family spirit, work, and zeal.
What about secular films with Catholic themes?
Spider-Man 2 perfectly illustrates vocation: "With great power comes great responsibility" mirrors Luke 12:48. Groundhog Day shows self-improvement leading to service. The Count of Monte Cristo explores forgiveness and "God will grant me justice." These films teach Catholic themes without religious labels.
