(The Lion) — Not that long ago, it was difficult to find a movie the whole family could enjoy.
Today, though, thanks to a growing wave of talented faith-centric filmmakers and studios committed to telling uplifting stories, the challenge is often deciding where to start.
This year proved to be a strong one for faith and family films, featuring excellent animated films and action-driven titles that even hard-to-please teens embraced.
Here are the 10 best faith and family movies of 2025, in alphabetical order:
David – A shepherd boy is chosen by God to be Israel’s next king, but first must defeat a giant and flee a jealous ruler determined to kill him. This animated musical traces David’s journey from shepherd to king, featuring the soaring vocals of CCM artist Phil Wickham as adult David and Brandon Engman as young David. It ranks among the very best Bible films of the modern era and remains more faithful to the biblical text than its more famous animated predecessor, The Prince of Egypt. Rated PG for action/violence and some scary images. Angel Studios released it.
Dog Man – A human-canine police officer takes on big-city crime and a cunning feline foe. Based on the popular young-readers series by Dav Pilkey, the film follows Dog Man, a one-of-a-kind crime-fighter created through a life-saving surgery that merges a brave police dog with his human partner. The animation faithfully mirrors the look and spirit of the books, complete with bold, stylized on-screen text and visuals that feel as if they’re leaping straight from the page – with bold lessons on second chances and families. Rated PG for some action and rude humor.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (best action movie for teens) – A superhero couple celebrates a long-awaited pregnancy just as Earth faces annihilation from the evil Galactus, who offers to spare the planet only if they surrender their unborn child. Set in an alternate 1960s America, the Marvel film delivers everything fans expect – edge-of-your-seat rescues and high-stakes spectacle – while also weaving in a powerful pro-life theme. Rated PG-13 for action/violence and some language.
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) – A young Viking misfit named Hiccup defies his warrior culture when he befriends a wounded Night Fury dragon, proving that dragons are misunderstood creatures that only fight when attacked. This 2025 film was a live-action remake of the 2010 animated blockbuster film and stayed true to the original with its solid lessons on friendship, family and not judging by outward appearances. Rated PG for sequences of intense action and peril.
The King of Kings – This animated film retells the life of Christ through a young Charles Dickens, who recounts the Greatest Story Ever Told to his wide-eyed son at bedtime. It’s a faithful recounting of the gospel and includes an all-star cast: Oscar Isaac as Jesus, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Pierce Brosnan as Pilate, Forest Whitaker as Peter and Kenneth Branagh as Dickens. Rated PG for thematic material, violent content and some scary moments. Angel Studios released it.
Light of the World – A teenage boy is searching for a Messiah to overthrow the Romans but instead encounters the Savior who redeems the human soul. It’s a biblically grounded retelling of Christ’s life that unfolds through the eyes of the Apostle John as he witnesses Jesus’ miracles, teachings and ultimate sacrifice. It was produced by the Salvation Poem Project and employs hand-drawn 2D animation – a beautiful throwback to films such as the original Lion King (1994). Rated PG for violent content and thematic material.
Paddington in Peru – The Browns venture to South America with Paddington to reunite him with his beloved Aunt Lucy, only to find themselves on an unexpected adventure when she mysteriously goes missing. Paddington in Peru is the third film in a franchise that is packed with irresistible charm, kindness and family-friendly heart. This one includes solid lessons on kindness, adoption and the power of family. Rated PG for action, mild rude humor and some thematic elements.
Sarah’s Oil – An 11-year-old girl is allotted 160 acres of “worthless” land in early-1900s Oklahoma until an oil strike turns her life upside down and makes her a target of greed and racism. It’s the true story of Sarah Rector, a woman of strong faith who became one of America’s first black millionaires but first had to fight for the property she owned. Zachary Levi portrays her business partner. Naya Desir-Johnson shines in the lead role. Rated PG for thematic content, some violence, language including racial slurs, a suggestive reference and brief smoking. Due to thematic elements, this one might be best for older children and up.
Universe Designed – The world’s leading apologists, theologians and scientists present the case for God in this gripping documentary from filmmaker and former atheist Michael Ray Lewis, whose own investigation of the evidence led him to Christ. It stands among the strongest apologetics films I’ve seen and culminates with an examination of the evidence for Christ’s resurrection. For viewers who are skeptical about faith, this film offers a compelling place to start.
Zootopia 2 – The city’s best cop duo face their toughest test yet when a botched chase puts their partnership on the line. This hilarious animated film is a sequel to 2016’s Zootopia and follows Judy Hopps (a rabbit) and Nick Wilde (a fox) as they investigate a heist and mysterious historical journal connected to Zootopia’s iconic Weather Walls. It’s a marvelous story about friendship, kindness and loving those who look different. Rated PG for action/violence and rude humor.
