HomeResourcesEntertainmentTop 10 Redemptive Father's Day Films

Top 10 Redemptive Father’s Day Films

-

Redemptive movies provide good stories for families, children, and parents. They are especially significant today because so many are confined to their homes with their families. We all want to take this time to improve family relationships, and what better way than to watch a fulfilling movie. This Father's Day, we are sharing some of our top picks.

Here are our top ten redemptive films that tell outstanding, inspiring stories about fathers:

#1 – Mully
#2 – Kingdom Men Rising
#3 – Wonder
#4 – Connect
#5 – I Can Only Imagine
#6 – I Still Believe
#7 – Goodbye Christopher Robin
#8 – Beautifully Broken
#9 – Finding Nemo
#10 – Bella

#1 – Mully

Mully is an incredible documentary about the life and work of Charles Mully and his devoted wife and children. Mully has worked to rescue and rehabilitate over 12,000 homeless street children who live in Kenya. They are able to go back to their tribes as doctors, teachers, and other trained professionals. It is one of the most astonishing true stories of rescue and rehabilitation of street children. The Mully Children’s Family is an invaluable role model for the whole world of how faith and hard work can turn a desert of hopelessness into an oasis of eternal hope. Charles Mully is a larger-than-life father, who was himself originally a homeless street child.

This amazing documentary is included with Amazon Prime Video.

#2 – Kingdom Men Rising

Kingdom Men Rising explores what it means to be a real man. In the midst of cultural confusion about masculinity, Dr. Tony Evans addresses God’s Purpose for men. Respected pastor, author, and broadcaster, Evans explores the biblical intentions of masculinity and encourages believing men everywhere to take up the mantle of God’s original purpose. This documentary film is an extension of two of Evans’ books, “Kingdom Man” and “No More Excuses.”  This movie provides an honest portrayal of today’s man that is countered by God’s original design. This powerful documentary explores what it means to be a real man in a modern age. It addresses many of the unique challenges men face today related to significance, priorities, race, passivity, and more. He challenges men to step more actively into their purpose with no more sitting on the sidelines, no more excuses.

This compelling documentary about faith and counter-cultural courage can be rented at minimal cost or purchased on Amazon Prime Video.

#3 – Wonder

Wonder PG tells the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that have initially prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. The movie follows Auggie’s first year in school from his perspective and that of those around him. Auggie’s dad, mother, and sister encourage him. His dad says, “I know you don’t always like it, but I love it. It’s my son’s face.” While it discourages bullying, the movie encourages seeing others beyond external appearances. It encourages kids to have quality friendships and show compassion. Auggie’s extraordinary journey unites and proves you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. Wonder is a delightful, entertaining, uplifting movie that is suitable for older children through adults.

This movie can be rented for a minimal cost on Amazon Prime Video.

#4 – Connect

In the film Connect, Kirk Cameron, an inspiring father of eight addresses concerns about the smartphones that most of our children carry in their pockets. He argues they make people more vulnerable to dangerous peer and online pressures. In our social media-centered world, the smartphone has become an integral part of our kids’ lives. How can parents and grandparents today guide and equip their kids to survive and thrive in an ever-changing and increasingly dangerous digital environment?

Child development experts find links between the use of electronic devices and negative effects on concentration, emotional health, sleep, empathy, and more. Host Kirk Cameron goes to experts and then shares what he has learned that will enlighten, challenge, and encourage parents. His goal is to strengthen families. For parents committed to rearing their kids to make a positive impact, Connect provides help for parenting kids in a social media world. This documentary deals with the importance of positive, healthy relationships.

This documentary can be seen for free on Amazon Prime Video.

#5 – I Can Only Imagine

I Can Only Imagine PG is a heartfelt film based on a true story that demonstrates the power of forgiveness and redemption. This engaging movie tells the amazing true story behind Christian band MercyMe’s iconic, history-making song “I Can Only Imagine.” Running from a troubled home life, an abusive father, and a broken relationship, Bart Millard has found escape in music. Hitting the road in a decrepit tour bus, Bart and his band, MercyMe, set out on an amazing journey. This movie is uplifting and music-filled. It beautifully illustrates the power of forgiveness and God’s love. Bart Millard, best known as the frontman of award-winning Christian group, MercyMe, is an acclaimed songwriter and artist. The iconic song “I Can Only Imagine” made history in 2014 as it surpassed 2 million digital downloads. It was the first Christian song to go platinum and double platinum in the digital domain.

This hopeful movie can be seen for free on Amazon Prime Video.

#6 – I Still Believe

Amid life’s challenges, I Still Believe, is a powerful reminder that in life’s storms, true hope can be found. God is available to us, which is especially important in our suffering. I Still Believe is an encouraging movie about the power of Love, how Love can change one life, and how one life can change the world. It is the real-life story of chart-topping singer Jeremy Camp and how God has been with him in great challenges and loss. Featuring engaging performances by top performers, I Still Believe is directed by The Erwin Brothers. They tell the story of a singer-songwriter who found the strength to press on in the face of overwhelming grief.

This movie based on a true story can be rented or purchased at minimal cost on Amazon Prime Video.

#7 – Goodbye Christopher Robin

Goodbye Christopher Robin PG follows the personal and literary development of A.A. Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh. A.A. Milne, called Blue, suffers from PTSD sustained from fighting in WWI. He decides to move his family to the countryside to overcome writer's block as he attempts to write a book on the evils of war. Blue and his young son Billy take hikes and long walks, during which they play together. They pretend that Billy’s teddy bear is in his own world with his donkey, pig and, other animal friends. Billy asks Blue to write a book for him, so he begins to write a book about Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh. The two become immersed in the Hundred Acre Woods. After the book is finished, there is immense praise.

This movie can be rented or purchased at minimal cost on Amazon Prime Video.

#8 – Beautifully Broken

Beautifully Broken is a heart-grabbing moving about the convergence of a refugee’s escape, a prisoner’s promise, and a daughter’s painful secret. As three fathers fight to save their families, their lives become intertwined in an unlikely journey across the globe. These three fathers (one American and two Rwandans) stop at nothing to protect their children. In this true story, a child sponsorship through Compassion International changes the lives of real people.

The story begins with William Mwizerwa, a father who is fleeing the Rwandan Genocide with his family. They narrowly escape death from soldiers’ machetes and guns. In a Kenyan refugee camp, William learns that he can participate in a program that can take him to America. Once he establishes residency, he can bring his family. William goes to America and meets Randy Hartley, who is facing challenges with his family. Randy’s daughter Andrea is becoming increasingly rebellious due to a secret that she shares only with a child sponsorship pen pal, a Rwandan girl, Umuhoza. Out of a growing friendship, Randy and William inspire each other to keep their families together. They eventually develop an outreach center to assist refugee families from war-torn countries, which also brings William’s wife and daughter to America. Randy asks William to guide his family to Rwanda for Andrea to see her Rwandan pen pal. Randy and William’s family go to Rwanda where more trials, but amazing redemption awaits. William learns that if everyone believed in the concept of “an eye for an eye,” the whole world would go blind.

This movie can be seen at minimal cost on Amazon Prime Video.

#9 – Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo G is a delightful animated adventure movie about a small clownfish in search of his son, who has ended up in a human fish tank. This movie has great heart, values, and cinematography, supported by entertaining and comedic characters. Marlin, clownfish Nemo's father, goes to great lengths and through perilous adventures to find and rescue his son. Nemo has a stunted fin, but with the support of his family and friends learns to overcome his disability. Disney movies like Finding Nemo satisfy a longing in audiences for childhood innocence, and for the eyes of a child that sees the wonder of life.

This charming movie can be seen at minimal cost on Amazon Prime Video.

#10 – Bella

Jose is a clean-cut, athletic young man at the top of his game. He has just signed a big soccer contract, but before long he becomes a down-hearted man, cooking in his brother Manny's restaurant. After a waitress, Nina, comes in late, Manny fires her. Jose tries to befriend her and learns she is contemplating an abortion. He asks her if she'll consider adoption, and he even offers to take the child. Despite Manny's anger, Jose takes Nina to his parents' house to meet his family of loving, delightful Spanish-speaking immigrants. We learn that Jose had lost his soccer contract when he was involved in an accident, which kills someone. However, Jose is able to find redemption when he becomes a loving adoptive father. Bella begins with the narration, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”  This movie is PG-rated and appropriate for teens through adults.

This inspiring movie is available on YouTube Movies to Buy or Rent at minimal cost or to buy on Amazon.

Conclusion

Redemptive movies like these are especially needed in times of crisis like we have today.  Redemptive family movies with Christian values are showing us how to find healing, unity, and a positive way forward in the intense divisiveness of our day.

Further, we are seeing, especially as our churches use streaming media more and more, that we are reaching the world more than ever with the Gospel through media technology. Redemptive movies honestly and authentically depict the Gospel in human lives as it redeems, restores, and revives human lives in all demographics for now and eternity.

Much is at stake with the success of redemptive movies. We can facilitate the impact of inspiring, redemptive movies by seeing and sharing these films with family, friends, churches.

Diane Howard
Diane Howardhttps://dianehoward.com/
Dr. Diane Howard is a frontline journalist known for exclusive interviews with leading figures in artistic, redemptive media. She has been involved in decades of qualitative and quantitative research on the verifiable power of role models. She also serves as talent and as a dialogue, dialect, voice-over coach. A former Professor of Performance, Media, and Film Studies with a Ph.D. in Performance Studies (College of Communication, University of Texas, Austin), she has been involved in multiple aspects of artistic, redemptive communication media, regionally to internationally. She can be found online at dianehoward.com. As a free resource for churches, Diane has created an IMDb list of films for church libraries available here: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls090258766/  

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured Posts

LATEST POSTS