Jesus Camp

Movie review by Common Sense Media, Common Sense Media
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Common Sense says

age 15+

Eye-opening look at the Evangelicals among us.

PG-13 2006 87 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 10 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 11 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this documentary is an outsider's look at members of the Evangelical Christian church. While it shows a Christian radio deejay who opposes what the church stands for, it does it rather respectfully. Parents should be warned, however, that there are many scenes of kids caught up in religious fervor where they look very distressed and are crying, speaking in tongues, and professing to the group that they have sinned. There is also a scene where a right-to-life advocate hands out small infant figures to the kids, tapes their mouths shut, and encourages them to express their sadness and outrage. One child says that she thinks God only comes to a church like hers. One parent home-schools her child and explains why evolution is wrong. A family recites a revised version of the Pledge of Allegiance with many mentions of God, and at one church meeting a life-size cardboard cut-out of President Bush is brought to the stage and everyone is encouraged to pray over the president, and over more conservative Supreme Court nominees.

Community Reviews

Katie R.
Katie R. Adult
January 26, 2018
age 18+

Most facsinating and disturbing at same time, movie I've seen

I highly recommend for adults to see this movie to get a sense of growing slice of life in America re: Evangelical movement, brainwashing children from a young age to be in positions of power in government, mayors etc in order to preach their far right beliefs. It was extremely thought provoking for me, that people actually live this way and do this to innocent kids, in the name of Jesus. There was a quote in the movie that said 75% of home schools in America were Evangelical. I'd heard something like this before, but it really sunk in after seeing this movie, and the implications of such. I HOPE that this movie represents only an extreme group of evangelists and not the typical, but based on the early indoctrination of children in large numbers shown here, I fear there will be a growing number of people being swept into this god-fearing extremism, based on fear and guilt, and that we and the world are inherently Bad. Now I understand much more how Evangelical adults and extreme right Christians got to be the way they are, with this extreme indoctrinization or brainwashing, without opportunity to explore the world and learn with one's own critical thinking, trial and error and open-,mindedness. This was VERY well done, unbiased and a real insiders' view to something most of us have never seen before. I applaud the directors of this movie. I thank the people in the movie for allowing this to be filmed, wow. Be ready to be shocked.
BestPicture1996
BestPicture1996 Adult
February 1, 2015
age 15+

Disturbing to say the least

I have friends on both sides of the spectrum of religious beliefs, obnoxiously hardcore atheists and obnoxiously forceful Christians. Everyone of them would cringe at "Jesus Camp," a revealing, extremely disturbing documentary on a camp targeting young children for extreme evangelism. Religions usually don't bother me unless they preach hate, which this movie does in droves, calling out abortion, Democrats and anyone who doesn't bow down to their doctrine like they practically forced the kids to bow down to a cut-out of George Bush, one of the creepiest images I've ever seen in a nonfiction film. If you're a practicing level-headed Christian, show this to your kids on what not to do and how not to force religion down other's throats. If you're not religious, this movie will only back up your beliefs, but know this is not all Christians depicted. The movie succeeds because it doesn't pick sides, it simply, as all good docs should, just shows its subjects at work.
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

JESUS CAMP focuses on the experience of children who attend youth pastor Becky Fischer's "Kids on Fire" summer camp in North Dakota for Evangelical Christians. The film follows the children, their families, and others in the Evangelical Christian world, particularly showcasing those most devoted.

Is It Any Good?

The film is fascinating, eye-opening, and sure to be controversial. The filmmakers present their material in an even-handed manner, but those who aren't accustomed to the intense devotion may find the material somewhat disturbing, if not shocking. Those familiar with this world may take exception to some of the movie, particularly with a Christian radio talk show host who doesn't think highly of the Evangelical movement.

There is plenty in this movie to upset people across the belief spectrums, and young children aren't the intended audience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about so many topics it's hard to know where to begin. If your kids like Harry Potter, they'll notice that the youth minister, Becky, speaks out against the books. Why do you think she does that? If your family is religious, you can discuss how you see worship in relation to the Christians shown here. Would you ever go to a camp with your family to feel closer to God? Why or why not? The Evangelicals here all support President Bush. What ideals do the Bush administration and the Evangelical church share? Do you think the non-Evangelicals making this film showed enough respect for their subjects? Do you think the subjects show the same level of tolerance for the filmmakers? Why do you think the subjects in this film allowed the filmmakers into their lives?

Movie Details

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