Positive, Role Models Today & through History in Movies about real events that strengthen Internal Locus of Control (responsibility, courage, hope) in audiences- Dr. Diane Howard (historian, reviewer, writer)

by DrDianeHoward | created - 21 Jul 2020 | updated - 22 Jul 2020 | Public

2020, Diane Howard, Ph.D. (Performances Studies),movie editor, interviewer, publicist reviews top redemptive, family movies & TV timely for content and artistry to promote hope and encouragement that nothing is new under the sun and we can learn from history and inspirational stories. (See https://dianehoward.com/)

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1. Son of God (2014)

PG-13 | 138 min | Biography, Drama, History

37 Metascore

The life story of Jesus is told from his humble birth through his teachings, crucifixion and ultimate resurrection.

Director: Christopher Spencer | Stars: Diogo Morgado, Amber Rose Revah, Greg Hicks, Adrian Schiller

Votes: 19,368 | Gross: $59.70M

2. The Passion of the Christ (2004)

R | 127 min | Drama

47 Metascore

Depicts the final twelve hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, on the day of his crucifixion in Jerusalem.

Director: Mel Gibson | Stars: Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov

Votes: 240,148 | Gross: $370.78M

3. The Bible (2013)

TV-14 | 440 min | Action, Drama, War

A religious dramatic miniseries about God's creation and physical landmark events leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Stars: Keith David, Robert Powell, Jake Canuso, Diogo Morgado

Votes: 11,978

4. A.D. The Bible Continues (2015)

44 min | Drama

Follows the book of ACTS. Shows the complete message of Christ and the transformation of Saul to Paul and how the high priest of Judea does not believe in what has taken place after the Crucifixion of Christ.

Stars: Richard Coyle, Vincent Regan, Adam Levy, Joanne Whalley

Votes: 5,203

5. The Gospel of John (2014)

Unrated | 160 min | Drama

The life and toils of Jesus Christ, depicted as written in the gospel of John. Narrated in English, following the New International Version of the scripture, while the actors speak in Aramaic.

Director: David Batty | Stars: David Harewood, Selva Rasalingam, Mourad Zaoui, El Mahmoudi M'Barek

Votes: 974

6. The Gospel of Mark (2015)

Not Rated | 123 min | Drama

According to THE GOSPEL OF MARK, Jesus is a heroic man of action, an exorcist, healer, and miracle worker - the Son of God who keeps his identity secret. This critically acclaimed, epic ... See full summary »

Director: David Batty | Stars: Selva Rasalingam, Karima Gouit, Ramdane Aala, Ettuhfi Abdellatif

Votes: 370

7. The Gospel of Luke (2015)

Not Rated | 215 min | Drama

The Gospel Of Luke from The Bible.

Director: David Batty | Stars: Selva Rasalingam, Karima Gouit, Mourad Zaoui, El Mahmoudi M'Barek

Votes: 479

8. The Gospel of Matthew (2016)

Not Rated | 190 min | Drama

This critically acclaimed, epic production – five years in the making – is the first-ever word-for-word account of the life of Jesus as recorded in the biblical Gospel of Matthew.

Director: David Batty | Stars: Selva Rasalingam, Karima Gouit, Ramdane Aala, Ettuhfi Abdellatif

Votes: 307

9. Billy Graham: An Extraordinary Journey (2018 TV Movie)

Not Rated | 48 min | Documentary, Biography, Family

Explore key moments in Billy Graham's journey as a dairy farmer's son who rose to prominence, becoming one of the most influential religious leaders in modern history.

Directors: Daniel Camenisch, Vonda Harrell | Stars: Billy Graham, Paul Harvey, Jeff Hoyt, Morrow Graham

Votes: 251

10. Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009 TV Movie)

Not Rated | 90 min | Biography, Drama

Biography of Ben Carson who grew up to be Dr. Ben Carson, a world famous neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins.

Director: Thomas Carter | Stars: Cuba Gooding Jr., Kimberly Elise, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Alora Adams

Votes: 13,821

11. On Wings of Eagles (2016)

PG-13 | 108 min | Biography, Drama, History

Eric Liddell - China's first gold medalist and one of Scotland's greatest athletes - returns to war-torn China.

Directors: Stephen Shin, Michael Parker | Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Bruce Locke, Jesse Kove, Shawn Dou

Votes: 1,059

12. Harriet (I) (2019)

PG-13 | 125 min | Action, Biography, Drama

66 Metascore

The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

Director: Kasi Lemmons | Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn

Votes: 28,849

13. Hidden Figures (2016)

PG | 127 min | Biography, Drama, History

74 Metascore

The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.

Director: Theodore Melfi | Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner

Votes: 240,829 | Gross: $169.61M

14. Glory (1989)

R | 122 min | Biography, Drama, History

78 Metascore

Robert Gould Shaw leads the U.S. Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices from both his own Union Army, and the Confederates.

Director: Edward Zwick | Stars: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman

Votes: 138,858 | Gross: $26.83M

15. Amazing Grace (2006)

PG | 118 min | Biography, Drama, History

65 Metascore

The idealist William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.

Director: Michael Apted | Stars: Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Romola Garai

Votes: 25,262 | Gross: $21.21M

16. Unbroken: Path to Redemption (2018)

PG-13 | 98 min | Biography, Drama, History

39 Metascore

The next amazing chapter of Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini's powerful true story of forgiveness, redemption, and amazing grace.

Director: Harold Cronk | Stars: Samuel Hunt, Merritt Patterson, Bobby Campo, David Sakurai

Votes: 3,332 | Gross: $6.22M

17. The Victor Marx Story (2012)

60 min | Documentary

Born to an absentee father who was a pimp and a drug dealer; who didn't claim him as his own child, Victor Marx was left for dead in a cooler by a child molester at the age of 5 in the deep... See full summary »

Director: Trey Reynolds | Stars: Victor Marx, Eileen Marx, Karl Marx, Arlys McDonald

Votes: 58

18. Same Kind of Different as Me (2017)

PG-13 | 119 min | Biography, Drama

47 Metascore

International art dealer Ron Hall must befriend a dangerous homeless man in order to save his struggling marriage to his wife, a woman whose dreams will lead all three of them on the journey of their lives.

Director: Michael Carney | Stars: Greg Kinnear, Renée Zellweger, Djimon Hounsou, Jon Voight

Votes: 8,422 | Gross: $6.42M

19. The Great Debaters (2007)

PG-13 | 126 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

65 Metascore

A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.

Director: Denzel Washington | Stars: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker

Votes: 60,729 | Gross: $30.23M

20. Lincoln (2012)

PG-13 | 150 min | Biography, Drama, History

87 Metascore

As the American Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Votes: 265,709 | Gross: $182.21M

21. The Better Angels (2014)

PG | 95 min | Biography, Drama, History

53 Metascore

The story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana and the hardships that shaped him, the tragedy that marked him for ever and the two women who guided him to immortality.

Director: A.J. Edwards | Stars: Jason Clarke, Diane Kruger, Brit Marling, Wes Bentley

Votes: 1,427

22. A Hidden Life (2019)

PG-13 | 174 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

78 Metascore

The Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector, refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II.

Director: Terrence Malick | Stars: August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, Maria Simon, Karin Neuhäuser

Votes: 25,992

23. End of the Spear (2005)

PG-13 | 108 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

45 Metascore

Two people come to the end of a spear in order to realize that the divisions between them are not real.

Director: Jim Hanon | Stars: Louie Leonardo, Chad Allen, Jack Guzman, Christina Souza

Votes: 5,392 | Gross: $11.97M

24. Priceless (II) (2016)

PG-13 | 97 min | Crime, Drama, Romance

41 Metascore

A widower who's lost custody of his daughter finds himself unable to hold down a job. He agrees to drive a truck cross-country, no questions asked, but when he discovers the nature of his cargo, he is faced with a life-changing decision.

Director: Ben Smallbone | Stars: Joel Smallbone, Bianca A. Santos, David Koechner, Jim Parrack

Votes: 4,004 | Gross: $1.50M

25. Foundations of Freedom: What Makes America Different? (2015)

Not Rated | 82 min | Documentary

Throughout history, the global landscape has been marked by instability. Nations on every inhabitable continent have seen governments rise and fall, some over twenty times in the span of a ... See full summary »

Director: Tom Newman

26. Tolkien (2019)

PG-13 | 112 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

48 Metascore

Tolkien's novels were inspired by his mom's storytelling, falling in love with another orphan, Edith, forming a brotherhood with 3 other misfits at school, Oxford, the trench war of WWI and later telling stories to his own kids.

Director: Dome Karukoski | Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Colm Meaney, Derek Jacobi

Votes: 43,497 | Gross: $4.54M

27. Noble (2014)

PG-13 | 100 min | Biography, Drama

63 Metascore

Christina Noble overcomes the harsh difficulties of her childhood in Ireland to discover her destiny on the streets of Saigon. A true story.

Director: Stephen Bradley | Stars: Deirdre O'Kane, Sarah Greene, Gloria Cramer Curtis, Brendan Coyle

Votes: 1,788 | Gross: $0.35M

28. The American Heritage Series (2009)

TV-G | Documentary

Discover the forgotten and astonishing story of our nation's founding in the American Heritage Series. For centuries, we were taught a providential view of American history that presented ... See full summary »

Director: David Barton

Votes: 22

29. Discovering America's Founders (2009)

Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary

Ride along with Dave Stotts in another installment of the award-winning Drive Thru History video series, as he takes a fast-paced drive through American history. Based on the work of ... See full summary »

Star: Dave Stotts

Votes: 7

31. Palau the Movie (2019)

Not Rated | 120 min | Biography, Drama, History

A story of relentless grit, motivational strength and humbling triumph, PALAU is a film many will relate to. As a young man, a passion and vision to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to all ... See full summary »

Director: Kevin Knoblock | Stars: Gastón Pauls, Santiago Achaga, Agustin Amoedo, Alexia Moyano

Votes: 88 | Gross: $0.13M

32. Kingdom Men Rising (2019)

Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary

Kingdom Men Rising is a documentary exploring what it means to be a real man in the midst of cultural trends where there is confusion about masculinity. Challenging men to rise above what we've become to lives of no more excuses.

Director: Kyle Lollis | Stars: Tony Evans, Tim Brown, Tony Dungy, Arthur Evans

Votes: 52 | Gross: $1.19M

33. Emanuel (2019)

Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary

66 Metascore

An inside look at the tragic event that took place in Charleston, South Carolina at the Emanuel AME Church, where 9 innocent churchgoers were gunned down.

Director: Brian Tetsuro Ivie | Stars: George Howard Adams, A.R. Bernard, Nadine Collier, Brien Gregorie

Votes: 298 | Gross: $1.20M

34. The Heart of Nuba (2016)

85 min | Documentary, Biography, War

66 Metascore

In the war-torn Nuba Mountains of Sudan, American doctor Tom Catena selflessly and courageously serves the needs of a forgotten people, while the region is bombed relentlessly by an ... See full summary »

Director: Kenneth A. Carlson | Stars: Cornelio Catena, Gene Catena, Nancy Catena, Paul Catena

Votes: 133 | Gross: $0.04M

35. Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable (2018)

PG | 100 min | Documentary, Sport

55 Metascore

After losing an arm to a shark attack at age 13, Bethany Hamilton refuses to give up her dreams of being a professional surfer.

Director: Aaron Lieber | Stars: Alana Blanchard, Adam Dirks, Tobias Dirks, Madison Graber

Votes: 786 | Gross: $0.59M

36. I'll Push You: A Real-Life Inspiration (2017)

100 min | Documentary, Adventure, Drama

It all started with three little words. I'll Push You is an up-close and personal look into the dynamics of a life-long friendship between of two best friends - Justin Skeesuck and Patrick ... See full summary »

Directors: Chris Karcher, Terry Parish | Stars: Patrick Gray, Justin Skeesuck, Ted Hardy, Michael Turner

Votes: 83

37. The Blind Side (2009)

PG-13 | 129 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

53 Metascore

The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.

Director: John Lee Hancock | Stars: Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Jae Head

Votes: 344,579 | Gross: $255.96M

38. A Nation Adrift (1995 Video)

TV-PG | 59 min | Documentary

This is the true story of how God's sovereign hand guided the founders of America. It takes you on a journey...from Christopher Columbus to Jamestown...from Valley Forge to the ... See full summary »

Director: Brian Barkley | Star: Tom Kane

Votes: 32

39. Squanto: A Warrior's Tale (1994)

PG | 102 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

Fictional chronicle of Squanto's life prior to and including the arrival of the "Mayflower" in 1620.

Director: Xavier Koller | Stars: Adam Beach, Mandy Patinkin, Sheldon Peters Wolfchild, Irene Bedard

Votes: 1,342 | Gross: $3.34M

40. Jackie Robinson (2016)

TV-PG | 240 min | Documentary, Biography

Documentary chronicles the personal and professional life of Jackie Robinson from his birth in 1919 to his death in 1972. Robinson's rise from humble beginnings to became an American hero and pivotal figure in American history are detailed.

Stars: Keith David, Jamie Foxx

Votes: 510

41. The Pilgrims (2015 TV Movie)

PG | 90 min | Documentary

Arguably one of the most fateful and resonant events of the last half millennium, the Pilgrims' journey west across the Atlantic in the early 17th century is a seminal, if often misunderstood episode of American and world history.

Director: Ric Burns | Stars: Sue Allan, Bernard Bailyn, Michael Braddick, Marge Bruchac

Votes: 147

42. Saints & Strangers (2015)

192 min | Drama, History

Story of the Voyage of the Mayflower and the first year of The Pilgrims in America.

Stars: Vincent Kartheiser, Kalani Queypo, Tatanka Means, Keenan Arrison

Votes: 2,238

43. Sacagawea (2003 Video)

45 min | Short, Adventure

She was an expectant mother, but she endured every hardship these seasoned soldiers experienced. Without her the Corps of Discovery would have failed. This program re-enacts her journey in ... See full summary »

Director: Rolf Forsberg | Stars: Melisa King, David Williams, Daniel Rowland, Andiel Brown

Votes: 31

44. Drive Thru History (2005– )

TV-G | Documentary, Family, History

David Stotts travels to various locations in the United States, Europe, and the Holyland explaining the history behind each place and how Christianity has changed it.

Star: Dave Stotts

Votes: 93

45. Pocahontas: Dove of Peace (2016)

Not Rated | 35 min | Documentary, Biography, History