Sometimes, life knocks us down so hard that we forget how to get back up. We lose faith… in people, in kindness, in the idea that good still exists. But then, a story comes along that reminds us that hope is never truly lost. This is that list. A collection of films so powerful, so deeply moving, that they will crack your heart open, let the light in, and leave you believing in something bigger than yourself.
Johannesburg, South Africa (19 March 2025) – Life can be heavy. Some days, it feels like the weight of the world is just too much, and all you want is a reason to believe that kindness, hope and goodness still exist. Sometimes, all we need is something to restore our faith.
It’s the season of Lent. A time of reflection, faith and renewal. Just like December brings a flood of Christmas movies and October is packed with horrors, I thought: why not create a list of films that inspire faith? Not necessarily religious faith (although some of them are), but faith in people, in second chances, in the resilience of the human spirit.
To tell you that I have been crying for days rewatching these films would be an understatement. My heart has been broken open and healed at the same time. Some of these are true stories, others are fictional, but every single one carries the same message… there is light, even in the darkest moments.
So, grab the tissues, get comfy and let’s dive in.
A Man Called Otto (2022)
At first glance, Otto is a grump. The kind of grumpy old man who glares at anyone who dares to park in the wrong spot or leave a gate open. But there’s more to him than meets the eye. He’s grieving, he’s lost, and, quite frankly, he’s done with life. That is until a young family moves in next door and their fiery, quick-witted neighbour, Marisol, refuses to let him disappear into himself.
This film is an emotional rollercoaster. One that sneaks up on you with its quiet moments of beauty. It’s about love, loss and the unexpected ways people save each other. Tom Hanks delivers a performance that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, proving once again why he’s one of the greatest actors of our time. If you’ve ever felt like life has knocked you down one too many times, this film will remind you why we keep going.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
Crash (2004)
If you’re looking for a movie that will shake you to your core, this is it. Crash isn’t just a film; it’s an experience. A collection of lives colliding in ways that force them to face their biases, fears and humanity. It’s a powerful, gut-wrenching look at race, prejudice and redemption in Los Angeles.
This film doesn’t hand out easy answers but it does give us something even better: perspective. It reminds us that behind every harsh word, every mistake, and every assumption, there’s a story. And maybe, just maybe, people aren’t as different as we think.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
LION (2016)
This one wrecked me. Not just a few tears. Full-body, uncontrollable sobbing. Every time I watch it, I sob.
A five-year-old boy gets lost in the streets of India and ends up being adopted by an Australian couple. But 25 years later, with only fragmented childhood memories and Google Earth as his guide, he sets out to find his biological family.
LION is a true story, which makes it all the more emotional. Dev Patel’s performance is phenomenal and Nicole Kidman shines as a mother who proves that love isn’t defined by blood. This movie is about identity, belonging and the unbelievable power of a mother’s love.
On Netflix. Also available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
Ordinary Angels (2024)
You know that one person in every community… the one who doesn’t stop until things get done? That’s Sharon (Hilary Swank), a determined hairdresser who decides to help a widowed father save his critically ill daughter.
Based on a true story, this film is about the ripple effect of kindness. It’s about stepping up when no one else will and proving that when people come together, miracles can happen.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
Pay It Forward (2000)
What if, instead of just saying “thank you,” you passed kindness forward? That’s the idea behind Pay It Forward, where a young boy sets out to change the world… one good deed at a time.
It’s a simple premise: look at the world around you and fix what you don’t like.
This film is heartbreaking and hopeful all at once. It’s a reminder that our actions, no matter how small, can have a massive impact.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Will Smith delivers one of the best performances of his career in this film about resilience, fatherhood, and refusing to give up, even when the world tells you to.
It’s based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman who finds himself homeless while raising his young son. But he never stops believing, and that belief changes everything. If you need a story that reminds you why we keep pushing forward, this is it.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
An uneducated young man from the slums of Mumbai gets onto Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and starts winning. But when he’s accused of cheating, his life story unfolds in the most unexpected way.
This film is breathtaking. It’s about fate, love, and how life gives us the answers we need, even when we don’t realise it. This is the second film on my list with Dev Patel. And he delivers an exceptional performance.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
The Impossible (2012)
This is not just a disaster film, it’s a human film. The destruction of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami is depicted with terrifying realism, but what stays with you is the sheer willpower of this family to find each other again. It’s about survival, yes, but more than that, it’s about love… the kind of love that pushes past pain, fear, and devastation.
Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor deliver performances so raw that you feel every moment of their anguish and hope. And young Tom Holland? An absolute revelation. The Impossible is a film that lingers in your heart, reminding you that even in the face of overwhelming tragedy, the human spirit refuses to be broken. I cried writing this.
On Peacock. Also available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
The Shack (2017)
This film isn’t afraid to ask the hardest questions… about loss, forgiveness and why bad things happen to good people. Mack, played with quiet devastation by Sam Worthington, is a man drowning in grief after the worst imaginable tragedy. His journey to The Shack isn’t just a physical one; it’s an emotional and spiritual reckoning that will challenge everything he believes.
The portrayal of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is unconventional, yet deeply moving, offering a perspective on faith that is comforting rather than condemning. Whether you walk away with a renewed sense of belief or simply a different way of looking at loss, The Shack is a film that meets you where you are and leaves you thinking long after it ends.
On Netflix. Also available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
Wonder (2017)
What makes Wonder so special is that it’s not just Auggie’s story, it’s everyone’s story. We see the world through his eyes but also through the perspectives of his parents, his sister and even his classmates. It’s a film that gently teaches us that kindness isn’t just a grand gesture; sometimes, it’s as simple as sitting with someone at lunch or seeing beyond the surface.
Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson bring warmth and heart to their roles as Auggie’s parents, but it’s Jacob Tremblay’s stunning performance that makes this film unforgettable. If you’ve ever needed a reminder that the smallest act of kindness can change a life, Wonder is that movie.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
While every film on this list carries a message of hope, resilience, and human connection, sometimes we seek something that speaks directly to faith, whether it’s about miracles, belief, or the spiritual journeys that change lives. I’ve compiled a list below of movies that aren’t just stories… they are deeply moving explorations of faith in its many forms, perfect for reflection during Lent.
Heaven is for Real (2014)
What if a child saw something no one else could? And what if he came back with a story that was so unbelievable that it made the world stop and listen?
Based on a true story, Heaven is for Real follows the journey of four-year-old Colton Burpo, who undergoes emergency surgery and claims to have visited heaven. His descriptions, seeing Jesus, meeting relatives who passed away before he was born, are met with skepticism, even by his own father, a small-town pastor.
The film beautifully navigates the struggle between faith and doubt. Can we believe what we cannot see? Do miracles still happen? It’s a heartfelt, emotional watch that challenges us to see the world through the eyes of a child… one who has glimpsed something beyond our understanding.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
Miracles from Heaven (2016)
Some stories shake you. This one will wreck you.
Miracles from Heaven is another true story, following the Beam family as they battle one of the most difficult challenges any parent can face – a child’s illness. Their daughter, Anna, suffers from an incurable digestive disorder, leaving her in constant pain with little hope for a normal life. But when a freak accident sends her tumbling into a tree, something inexplicable happens, she is healed.
This movie is about a mother’s unwavering love, a family’s faith being put to the test and the moments of grace that remind us we are never alone. It’s an emotional, deeply touching film that will leave you believing in the extraordinary.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
There is no film more fitting for Lent than The Passion of the Christ.
Directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, this movie is an unflinching, harrowing portrayal of the final 12 hours of Christ’s life. It takes us from his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane to the brutal, gut-wrenching journey to Golgotha, where he is crucified.
This is not an easy film to watch. It’s raw. It’s painful. It doesn’t shy away from the suffering and that’s exactly why it’s so powerful. Every moment is a reminder of sacrifice, of love, of redemption. Whether you watch it as a reflection of faith or as a piece of historical storytelling, it’s impossible to walk away from this film unchanged.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Faith-based films don’t always have to be live-action epics. Sometimes, an animated masterpiece can be just as powerful. If not more so.
The Prince of Egypt tells the legendary story of Moses, a young prince raised in the palace of Pharaoh who discovers his true identity as a Hebrew. What follows is an incredible journey, from his exile to the moment he is called by God to free his people. The plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the journey to the Promised Land… it’s all there, presented with breathtaking animation and one of the most moving soundtracks of any film.
Available to rent or buy on AppleTV, Prime Video or Google TV.
Coming This Easter to Cinemas: The King of Kings
Lastly, a movie that I am excited to see this Easter is called “The King of Kings”, which tells the story of a father telling his son the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale turns into a life-changing journey. This upcoming film is already stirring up conversations and I can’t wait to see how it brings faith and storytelling together in a way that moves hearts.
Faith isn’t just about religion. It’s about believing in something bigger than ourselves. Whether it’s love, kindness, second chances, or the simple fact that people can change. These films are proof of that. So if you’re feeling a little lost, a little tired, or just in need of something good, start here.
I promise… your faith in the world will be restored.
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