Top 10 Children’s Bible Movies of All Time

1. The Prince of Egypt (1998)

The Prince of Egypt is a masterpiece of animated storytelling and music. It follows Moses, who grows up in luxury as an Egyptian prince alongside his adopted brother, Rameses. When Moses discovers his Hebrew heritage and sees the suffering of his people, his life changes forever. After fleeing into the desert, he encounters God at the burning bush and is given a daunting mission: return to Egypt and command Pharaoh to let God’s people go. The movie creatively captures the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and Israel’s deliverance.

Beyond the spectacle, this movie teaches our children that God can use anyone, no matter how inadequate or fearful they feel. Moses was in exile and lacked confidence, but God empowered him to stand before Pharaoh. It reminds us that we can find our true identity as God’s beloved children, and that God always hears our cries when we suffer. As the Lord reminds us in Exodus 3:7-8: “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them.”

Watching Moses step up in faith teaches our kids that when God calls us to do something challenging, he helps us with everything we need to do so well.

Photo Credit: © DreamWorks Animation 

2. The Nativity Story (2006)

This movie presents a compelling portrayal of how Mary and Joseph relied on God to help them overcome challenges leading up to the birth of Jesus. The film captures their humble beginnings in Nazareth, the angel Gabriel’s visit, and the difficult, long journey to Bethlehem for the Roman census. Rather than presenting a sanitized postcard version of Christmas, The Nativity Story shows the real struggles that Jesus’ courageous parents had to deal with from society’s pressures on them. It also shows the long journey of the Magi and King Herod’s search for Jesus before it celebrates Jesus’ peaceful birth.

When we watch this film with our kids, we can all be inspired by Mary and Joseph's incredible obedience. They were young, but spiritually mature as they faced doubt, public shame, and harsh conditions, yet trusted God’s plan every step of the way. It features the first Christmas in real human history, showing that God frequently works through humble, ordinary people to fulfill his promises. We see this in Luke 1:30-31 when the angel tells her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” It inspires us to trust God with our own unexpected journeys because we can know that he’s in control. 

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Boonyachoat 

3. David (2025)

David brings one of the most beloved Old Testament stories to life through incredible animation. The movie follows the young shepherd boy David, who spends his days protecting his father's sheep, playing his harp, and praising God under the open sky. When the strong Philistine army threatens Israel with their terrifying giant champion, Goliath, none of Israel’s seasoned soldiers dares to step forward. Armed only with his sling, five smooth stones, and trust in God, David boldly steps onto the battlefield to confront the giant and change his nation’s history.

David shows us that true strength comes from trusting God to empower us. When we face giant-sized problems like fear, anxiety, bullying, or uncertainty, we don’t have to face them in our own limited power. God looks at the heart, and when we rely on him, he gives us courage to stand strong. David models this faith in 1 Samuel 17:45 when he declares: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” That’s a message our children can keep in mind whenever they face their own giant challenges.

Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios, used with permission 

4. The Chosen: The Messengers (2021)

Originally created as a special Christmas episode for the hit television series The Chosen, this movie cleverly weaves two timelines together: the personal events surrounding the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and a time decades later when an aging Mary shares her memories with the apostle Luke. It shows how Jesus’ birth brought immediate hope to ordinary, outcast shepherds and transformed the world forever. This film helps us see Jesus not as a distant historical figure, but as Emmanuel – God literally with us. It shows our families that God chose to enter our fallen world in the most vulnerable way possible.

The central takeaway for our children is that God draws near to the humble, rejected, and lonely, and he invites all of us to share in his peace. As the angels proclaimed to the shepherds in Luke 2:11: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” It encourages us to celebrate the truth that Jesus came to save every single one of us.

Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios 

5. The Star (2017)

The Star retells the story of the very first Christmas from a fun perspective: through the eyes of the stable animals! The hero is Bo, a tiny donkey who dreams of a bigger, more exciting life outside his daily grind. After breaking free, Bo joins forces with Ruth, a lovable sheep, and Dave, a funny dove. Together with three wisecracking camels, this eccentric group of friends follows a bright star in the night sky. Along the way, they unknowingly become heroes, protecting Mary and Joseph from King Herod’s royal hunter and helping to make sure that Jesus is born safely.

While The Star is full of humor and upbeat music, it also presents an important spiritual truth: no creature is too small or insignificant in God’s kingdom. Just as Bo thought he was an ordinary donkey trapped in a mill, God used him for a glorious purpose. It teaches our kids that God has a unique plan for each of us because he loves us completely. As John 3:16 reminds us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Watching this movie together is a wonderful way to show our children that Jesus’ birth was God’s gift of love to us. 

Photo Credit: ©YouTube/YouTube Movies & TV

6. Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002)

Popular VeggieTales characters like Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber take us on a hilarious adventure in this movie. When a group of kids gets stranded in a seafood restaurant, the “Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” step in to tell them the story of Jonah. We watch as Jonah, a prophet of God, receives a direct command to go preach to Nineveh – a city full of notoriously mean people. Unwilling to obey, Jonah runs away on a ship, gets caught in a storm, gets swallowed by a giant fish, and eventually learns what second chances are all about.

Through silly songs and charming humor, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie teaches us about obedience, mercy, and second chances. It helps us explain to our children that we can never truly run away from God when he calls us. It also reminds us that God is full of compassion and wants us to practice forgiveness and give grace and mercy to others, even when it’s hard to do so. God’s call in Jonah 1:2 (“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me”) shows us that God cares about lost people everywhere. This colorful movie challenges us to drop our prejudices and love others with the same merciful heart God shows to us.

Photo Credit: Big Idea Entertainment 

7. Joseph: King of Dreams (2000)

This is a beautiful animated musical that tells the story in Genesis chapters 37-50. Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, is blessed with prophetic dreams and given a coat of many colors by his father. Jealous of his status, his brothers betray him and sell him into Egyptian slavery. Through years of wrongful imprisonment, false accusations, and betrayal, Joseph stays faithful to God. God eventually elevates him to become Pharaoh’s top man, which enables Joseph to save all of Egypt (and ultimately his own starving family) from a devastating famine.

This movie highlights God’s ultimate sovereignty. It teaches our children that even when bad things happen or when people hurt us, God can take those painful moments and weave them into something wonderful. It also models the life-changing power of forgiveness, encouraging us to choose grace over bitterness. Joseph captures this truth when he reunites with his brothers in Genesis 50:20, saying: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” It gives us hope that God is always working behind the scenes for our good.

Photo Credit: Dreamworks Animation 

8. Journey to Bethlehem (2023)

This live-action musical brings the story of Mary and Joseph to life with high energy, catchy songs, and colorful dance numbers. The film explores Mary’s faith, her unexpected betrothal to Joseph, and the challenging news that she will give birth to the Messiah. Joseph wrestles with his own doubts and societal expectations, while King Herod schemes to protect his crown through dramatic villain songs. Despite these obstacles, Mary and Joseph’s growing love and shared trust in God guide them all the way to Bethlehem.

By using fun musical storytelling with biblical themes, this movie can help our families feel the joy and awe of the Christmas story. It highlights the importance of faith, sacrificial love, and surrendering our personal plans to fulfill God’s higher purposes for us. As Matthew 1:18 explains: “His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” Watching Mary and Joseph embrace this miracle encourages our children that they can find lots of joy if they dare to say “yes” to God.

Photo Credit: ©Affirm; used with permission. 

9. One Night with the King (2006)

This movie tells the heroic Old Testament story of Hadassah, a young Jewish orphan who eventually becomes Queen Esther of Persia. Living under the loving guidance of her wise uncle Mordecai, Esther conceals her Jewish identity when brought into the royal palace of King Xerxes. When the wicked advisor Haman devises a sinister plot to destroy all the Jewish people throughout the empire, Esther must risk her life by entering the king's presence uninvited. Armed with prayer, courage, and wisdom, she exposes the plot and saves her people from destruction.

Esther’s story can be a powerful reminder for kids that God places us right where we are for a specific, holy purpose. It teaches us that God will help us do what’s right even when we’re afraid. We learn to trust that God is always working on our behalf, even when it’s hard for us to notice God’s presence with us. Uncle Mordecai’s famous challenge in Esther 4:14 is also true for us today: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” One Night with the King inspires our children to stand up for truth and protect others whenever God gives them the opportunity.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/tomertu 

10. The Ten Commandments (1956)

Even though this monumental epic is an older movie with a slower pace than today’s movies, it’s still inspiring and entertaining to watch as a family. The Ten Commandments tells the story of Exodus on a grand scale. We watch Moses grow from an Egyptian prince to a humble shepherd, and finally to the chosen deliverer of Israel. From the terrifying plagues and the burning bush to the parting of the Red Sea and the carving of God’s law on Mount Sinai, this movie offers older kids and families a grand sense of reverence, awe, and respect for God’s holiness. It demonstrates God’s authority over earthly kingdoms and highlights the lasting importance of God’s moral law.

As Exodus 20:1-2 says: “And God spoke all these words: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.’” Watching The Ten Commandments helps us reflect on God’s strength and the blessing of being faithful to God and his commandments together as a family.

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures