15 best Easter movies and cartoons for the whole family to enjoy
Easter 2024 is fast approaching, and families are already thinking about what to do to make the holiday memorable. Unlike in previous years, most people will spend this important holiday indoors due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease. Nonetheless, everyone can still enjoy the long weekend by doing fun indoor activities like binge-watching Easter movies and playing indoor games.
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What should watch for Easter? It is essential to select films that entertain as well as teach us valuable life lessons.
Best Easter movies and cartoons for the whole family
When choosing Easter movies, it is necessary to balance between Christianity Easter movies for the practising believers and funny Easter movies. Films are a good way of bonding as a family, and they are also excellent teaching aids for crucial life and religious lessons.
What films are on over Easter? Typically, many networks show Bible-related stories as well as movies with Easter-related themes. There is always a wide array of options to choose from.
What are the best Easter movies for the entire family? Below is a compilation of the best Easter movies for families that you can binge-watch during the fast-approaching holiday.
15. Pieces of Easter
Source: Facebook
- Release: 2013
- Country: USA
- Writer: Jefferson Moore
- Director: Jefferson Moore
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Genre: Comedy/ Family
This funny Easter film is about a young executive African-American lady who is travelling across the country to be with her family over the Easter holiday. Unfortunately, she has a car mishap that she cannot fix, so she is stranded.
She goes to the doorstep of an isolated farmer who wants to be left alone in life. She eventually gets help from him in his old Chevy pickup, but at a cost.
The entire journey is chaotic because the lady is arrogant, and the farmer is grumpy. Together, the two face several other mishaps such as a rat-infested motel, holdups at convenience stores, and rural rabbit stalkers.
It is funny to watch how the two personalities collide now and then. Some of the cast members in this film are Christina Marie Karis, Jefferson Moore, Rodney Cox, Melissa Combs, and Charlie Douglas, among several others.
14. The Story of Ruth
Source: Facebook
- Release: 1960
- Country: USA
- Writer: Norman Corwin
- Director: Henry Koster
- Runtime: 132 minutes
- Genre: Drama/ Romance/ History
The Story of Ruth is a Christian Easter movie that was inspired by a story in the book of Hebrews. It is an interesting way to teach children about the scriptures.
The plot starts when Ruth, a Moabitess child, is exchanged for money at the Chemosh temple. She serves as a priestess to the idol for very many years.
One day, as she arranges the temple for a ritual, she interacts with a Judean family that comprises of husband Elimelech, wife Naomi, their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, and the parents' daughter-in-law, Orpah.
Ruth is interested in learning about the God that the family believes in, so she starts to see Mahlon in secret. Unfortunately, a tragedy strikes the area, so Ruth accompanies Naomi to Bethlehem. She starts a new life there.
Some of the cast members in this film are Stuart Whitman, Tom Tryon, Elana Eden, Peggy Wood, and Viveca Lindfors, among others.
13. Peter Rabbit
Source: Instagram
- Release: 2018
- Country: USA
- Writers: Rob Lieber and Will Gluck
- Director: Will Gluck
- Runtime: 95 minutes
- Genre: Adventure/ Family/ Comedy/ Fantasy
What should I watch on Netflix for Easter? Peter Rabbit is one of the best Easter movies on Netflix today. It is an adaptation of the book dubbed Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.
It is one of the best Easter cartoon movies because its themes contain essential life lessons for both children and adults.
In the plot, Peter Rabbit, his triplet sisters whose names are Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-Tail, and their cousin Benjamin always steal from Mr McGregor's veggie garden.
Unfortunately, Mr McGregor passes away, so there is no longer anyone to stop the five kids from loitering and stealing from his property. Later, a relative inherits the house and land, so he comes over to see it.
He discovers that there is more to the land than he imagined. He ends up feuding with the rabbits. Later, the new owner discovers he is in love with Bea, who truly loves nature.
What will he do to win her heart? Some of this film's voice actors and actresses are James Corden, Domhnall Gleeson, Sia, Margot Robbie, Daisy Ridley, and Elizabeth Debicki, among others.
12. The Last Temptation of Christ
Source: Instagram
- Release: 1988
- Country: Canada and USA
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Novel writer: Nikos Kazantzakis
- Screenplay writer: Paul Schrader
- Runtime: 164 minutes
- Genre: Drama
While The Last Temptation of Christ is not an Easter bunny movie, it is a good way of telling the life of Jesus Christ to children. Adults also get to learn something new from the film.
Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter, is troubled by the temptations he gets from the demons. He faces struggles as any other human being does.
He carries the guilt of making crosses for Roman people and struggles with His pity for humankind. However, He remains at the call of God Almighty, and He is willing to do what God wants Him to.
As His journey on earth comes to an end, He faces His greatest temptation on the cross. In the film, Willem Dafoe portrays Jesus, Harvey Keitel portrays Judas, Verna Bloom portrays Mary, the mother of Christ, and Barbara Hershey acts as Mary Magdalene.
11. Noah
Source: Instagram
- Release: 2014
- Country: USA
- Writers: Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel
- Director: Darren Aronofsky
- Runtime: 138 minutes
- Genre: Action/ Drama/ Adventure/ Thriller/ Romance
Why is Noah one of the most suitable Easter movies for kids and adults? It tells the story of Noah from the book of Genesis in the Bible, as he follows God's command without asking any questions.
He builds an ark right before the apocalyptic flood that sweeps all the cursed lands that are occupied by humans. Darren Aronofsky's interpretation of the story is engaging and thrilling.
The unique thing about the film is that it is surreal, and the writer incorporates bits of information from other mythologies and religions.
The visuals are fantastic. In this era of superheroes, Noah is created as an action hero as opposed to an ordinary man.
However, the action hero becomes an antihero as the waters hit hard, showing that everyone has their moments of weakness.
Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson, and Douglas Booth are some of the cast members in this movie.
10. I Can Only Imagine
Source: Instagram
- Release: 2018
- Country: USA
- Writers: Bart Millard and Jon Erwin
- Directors: Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin
- Runtime: 110 minutes
- Genre: Biography/ Drama/ Family
I Can Only Imagine is not one of the movies about Easter, but it addresses the virtue of forgiveness, which everyone in the family needs to have. It reminds every viewer of the power that lies in forgiveness.
Bart Millard, a ten-year-old, lives in Texas with his mother and very abusive dad. His mother drops him at a Christian camp one day, and he meets Shannon there.
After the camp is over, he goes home to find that his mother has left. The movers are taking away her belongings.
He confronts his dad out of anger. The dad, however, denies that being abusive caused his mother to leave. Years later, Bart and Shannon are high school sweethearts.
Bart is on the football team to appease his father, but he breaks both ankles, and that marks the end of the game for him. The only other option for him is to join a music class.
J. Michael Finley, Madeline Carroll, Dennis Quaid, and Cloris Leachman are some of the cast members of the film.
9. Barabbas
Source: Facebook
- Release: 1961
- Country: Italy and USA
- Novel writer: Pär Lagerkvist
- Screenplay writer: Christopher Fry
- Director: Richard Fleischer
- Runtime: 137 minutes
- Genre: Biography/ History/ Drama
This is another Bible-related story for the entire family. It is about the robber named Barabbas, who was spared from being crucified.
This was after Pilate influenced the decision of the people on whom to crucify. Barabbas struggles with his faith because he is haunted by the image of Jesus on the cross.
He faces his inner demons and ultimately chooses to follow the same Christ, who was crucified on his behalf. In 1962, the film won the National Board of Review award for Top Foreign Film.
Some of the actors and actresses featured in this movie are Anthony Quinn, Silvana Mangano, Arthur Kennedy, Harry Andrews, and Ernest Borgnine.
8. The Ten Commandments
Source: Instagram
- Release: 1956
- Country: USA
- Writers: Dorothy Clarke Wilson and J.H. Ingraham
- Director: Cecil B. DeMille
- Runtime: 220 minutes or 231 minutes (Roadshow Version)
- Genre: Adventure/ Drama
The Ten Commandments won an Oscar Award, Special Christopher Award, and IFMCA Award, among other awards. It is a Christian movie base on the story of Moses, the Egyptian prince, who later learned that he was of Hebrew origin.
Pharaoh Rameses I of Egypt condemns all newborn males to death, but an infant named Moses is placed in a reed basket and set adrift River Nile. He is saved by Pharaoh's daughter, who raises him as her own.
Years later, his true heritage is disclosed, and he is sent out of Egypt. He leaves, marries, and is blessed with a son.
However, God asks him to back to Egypt to free his people from slavery. In Egypt, he discovers who his closest enemy is, and it is not Rameses II. Will he deliver his people?
Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget, and Martha Scott are some of the cast members in the movie.
7. Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
Source: Instagram
- Release: 2002
- Country: USA and UK
- Writers: Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki
- Directors: Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer
- Runtime: 82 minutes
- Genre: Animation/ Musical/ Adventure/ Drama/ Comedy/ Family
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie should be on your list of Easter cartoons to watch because it has songs to sing along to as a family as well as an exciting storyline. The singing Veggies' car stalls, so they are stranded in a dilapidated seafood outlet where everything is bizarre.
Bob the Tomato and the children sit still to listen to the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything story as they await a tow truck. The story is about Jonah, who was a mailman who brought direct messages from God.
Jonah loves his job, but this changes when God sends him to Nineveh. Instead of following the correct route, he goes in the opposite direction on a pirate ship.
He ends up in a whale's belly. In a hilarious twist of events, the whale delivers him to Nineveh.
Some of the voice actors and actresses in this cartoon film are Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki, Lisa Vischer, Shelby Morimoto, and Dan Anderson.
6. Easter Parade
Source: Instagram
- Release: 1948
- Country: USA
- Writers: Sidney Sheldon and Frances Goodrich
- Director: Charles Walters
- Runtime: 103 minutes
- Genre: Musical/ Romance
Don Hewes works with Nadine Hale as her dancing partner, but she decides that she wants to go solo. Don takes Hannah Brown as his new partner, and the pair end up becoming very successful.
Florenz Ziegfeld is interested in the Don-Hannah team, but he declines the offer because Nadine also works in the Ziegfeld Follies.
He is in love with Hannah, but he keeps his relationship with her professionally, so Hannah assumes that he is in love with Nadine.
He does his best to prove to Nadine that he can make any partner a star.
This film features Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin, and Clinton Sundberg.
5. Ben-Hur
Source: Instagram
- Release: 2016
- Country: USA
- Novel writer: Lew Wallace
- Screenplay writer: Keith R. Clarke
- Director: Timur Bekmambetov
- Runtime: 123 minutes/ 114 minutes (Mainland China)
- Genre: Action / Drama/ Adventure/ History
Judah Ben-Hur is a Jewish prince who is accused falsely of treason by his adopted Roman sibling, Messala. The latter joins the Roman army and goes to fight in Germany.
Ben-Hur develops feelings of love for Esther, who is the family slave. Their differences do not legally allow him to pursue her, but he declares his love for her when her father wants to marry her off. She becomes his wife.
After three years of being in the warzone, Messala comes back, but his return happens just as a rebellion by the Zealots starts. The Jews are tired of being oppressed by the Romans.
The stars in this movie include Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Rodrigo Santoro, and Nazanin Boniadi.
4. The Miracle Maker
Source: Instagram
- Release: 2000
- Country: UK and Russia
- Writer: Murray Watts
- Directors: Derek W. Hayes and Stanislav Sokolov
- Runtime: 90 minutes
- Genre: Animation/ Biography/ Drama
This is an animated film that tells the story of Jesus Christ from Tamar's eyes. The plot explores His life from the moment He starts preparing to leave Joseph's house to start the work that God sent Him to accomplish.
His ministry in different places is explained as well as His condemnation and crucifixion. Eventually, He rises from the dead.
Some of the voice actors and actresses in this movie are Ralph Fiennes, Michael Bryant, Julie Christie, Rebecca Callard, James Frain, and Richard E. Grant.
3. Son of God
Source: Instagram
- Release: 2014
- Country: USA
- Writers: Richard Bedser and Christopher Spencer
- Director: Christopher Spencer
- Runtime: 138 minutes
- Genre: Biography/ Drama/ History
This movie explores the story of the life of Jesus Christ in a manner that is both inspirational and powerful. It has fantastic visuals and excellent performances from the members of the cast.
Some of the stars in this film are Diogo Morgado, Greg Hicks, Adrian Schiller, Darwin Shaw, Sebastian Knapp, and Joe Wredden.
2. The Greatest Story Ever Told
Source: Instagram
- Release: 1965
- Country: USA
- Writers: Fulton Oursler and Henry Denker
- Directors: George Stevens and David Lean
- Runtime: 260 minutes/ 199 minutes (edited)
- Genre: Biography/ Drama/ History
The Greatest Story Ever Told is also one that explores the life and ministry of Jesus.
Some of the cast members are Max von Sydow, Michael Anderson Jr., Carroll Baker, and Pat Boone.
1. Jesus Christ Superstar
Source: Instagram
- Release: 1973
- Country: USA
- Writers: Melvyn Bragg and Norman Jewison
- Director: Norman Jewison
- Runtime: 106 minutes
- Genre: Drama/ History/ Musical
This movie is based on a concept album project by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It offers an in-depth story about the last six days of Jesus Christ's life through Judas Iscariot's eyes.
The unique thing about it is that there are no written lines. Instead, everything is sung. Some of the cast members are Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, and Barry Dennen.
Are you looking for the best Easter movies to watch with your family? The compilation of films above is not only educative but also funny. Happy Easter holidays to you and your loved ones.
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