Here are a dozen Easter movies to watch while staying home with your family

Weldon B. Johnson, Arizona Republic
·4 min read

Like most major holidays, Easter has been the inspiration for many classic – and not so classic – movies.

Some filmmakers attempt to tell the story of Jesus’ life and resurrection, while others use elements of that story to get across other ideas. There are plenty of kid-friendly links to the holiday as well, with animated rabbits delivering candy and eggs or other symbols of spring. And some movies simply use Easter as a setting for telling entirely different tales altogether.

Here are a dozen favorite Easter movies. The list includes classic period pieces, musicals, animated stories for kids and a few Easter-adjacent films. Check your favorite streaming or rental sites to see which of these classic are available to you.

Classic Easter movies

1959: "Ben-Hur," based on the novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ," by Lew Wallace.
1959: "Ben-Hur," based on the novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ," by Lew Wallace.

"Ben Hur" (1959): Starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd and Haya Harareet. Heston made a career out of movies in this genre — he also starred as Moses in "The Ten Commandments," another film popular at this time of year. In this story he stars as Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who is betrayed and imprisoned by a Roman friend. Ben-Hur’s life is touched by Jesus in several memorable ways.

"The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965): Starring Max von Sydow, Dorothy McGuire and Charlton Heston. This is probably the most straightforward Easter story on the list as it attempts to chronicle the life of Jesus from birth to resurrection. The movie was based on a 1947 radio series.

"The Passion of the Christ" (2004): Starring Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci and Maia Morgenstern. This film depicts, in unflinchingly brutal detail, the final 12 hours of the life Jesus. Reportedly, director Mel Gibson’s goal was to give the audience a realistic look at the cruelty Jesus endured on that day.

Easter musicals

Fred Astaire and Judy Garland are "A Couple of Swells" in 1948's "Easter Parade."
Fred Astaire and Judy Garland are "A Couple of Swells" in 1948's "Easter Parade."

"Easter Parade" (1948): Starring Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford and Ann Miller. Astaire is a dancer looking for a new partner when he meets Garland and movie magic follows. The story isn’t all that important — the dancing and Irvin Berlin’s songs (including the title number) are the reasons to watch.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" (1973): Starring Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson and Yvonne Elliman. “Jesus Christ Superstar” is among the most produced musicals on high school and community stages. The 1973 film is based on the Broadway version of the story of the last few days of Jesus’ life as seen by Judas Iscariot.

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Easter movies for kids

"It’s the Easter Beagle Charlie Brown" (1974): Fans of the Peanuts specials about Halloween and Christmas will enjoy this one as the Easter story gets the Charlie Brown treatment. Charlie Brown’s dog Snoopy takes on the role of the Easter Bunny.

"The Easter Bunny Is Comin’ to Town" (1977): Fans of the Christmas classic "Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” might recognize the voice of Fred Astaire as S.D. Klueger, the mailman who narrates the story. The story involves the Easter Bunny delivering eggs and candy to kids.

"Hop" (2011): Starring Russell Brand, James Marsden and Elizabeth Perkins. This film mixes live actors with animation as it tells the story of the Easter Bunny’s son E.B., who moves to Los Angeles to become a drummer in a rock band.

Loosely connected to Easter

“Rebel Without a Cause” (1955): Starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo and Jim Backus. It's the classic tale of misguided teenage angst in Jim Stark, a newcomer in town who makes a series of unfortunate choices. The story doesn’t involve Easter, but it does take place at that time of year.

Graham Chapman as Brian "Monty Python's Life of Brian."
Graham Chapman as Brian "Monty Python's Life of Brian."

"Monty Python’s Life of Brian" (1979): Starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam. This irreverent comedy is considered a classic by fans of the British comedy troupe but might not be for everyone. It tells the story of Brian Cohen, whose life parallels that of Jesus in a number of ways. “Life of Brian” includes the memorable song, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”

"Cookie’s Fortune" (1999): Starring Glenn Close, Julianne Moore, Liv Tyler and Charles S. Dutton. The story takes place during Easter weekend and revolves around a woman’s attempt to cover up her aunt’s suicide. This quirky movie features great performances from Close, Moore, Dutton, Patricia Neal and Courtney B. Vance.

“Lilies of the Field” (1963): Starring Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala and Lisa Mann. Poitier is a construction worker headed west for a job who stops at a farm run by nuns in the Arizona desert to get water when his car overheats. He ends up staying to help the nuns build a chapel while also teaching (and learning) lessons on tolerance. The connection to Easter is mainly in the name (lilies are a symbolic flower for Easter), but it’s a good chance to appreciate Poitier.

Reach the reporter at weldon.johnson@arizonarepublic.com. Or follow him on Twitter at @weldonjohnson.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best Easter movies 2020: Passion of the Christ, Ben Hur, Easter Beagle