Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Faithful drama doesn't shy from Bible's bloodiest moments.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A.D.: The Bible Continues
What's the Story?
Picking up where the epic docudrama The Bible left off, A.D.: THE BIBLE CONTINUES tells the story of Jesus Christ's (Juan Pablo Di Pace) crucifixion and his disciples' efforts to carry on his ministry after his death, as described in the books of the New Testament. The series also explores the political and religious realities of the era through the actions of key players such as Caiaphus (Richard Coyle), Pontius Pilate (Vincent Regan), and Antipas (James Callis).
Is It Any Good?
This movie is grand in scope, but not always grand in production quality. A.D.: The Bible Continues marks the second time Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, The Voice) and his wife, Roma Downey, have teamed up to bring a biblical epic to television (the first being The Bible, which originally aired on the History Channel and cast Downey in the role of Mother Mary). Downey doesn't reprise her role in A.D.; Greta Scacchi plays it. But eagle-eyed Downton Abbey fans will spot (with some amusement) that the series' beloved but bumbling Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle) appears here as Joseph of Arimathea, the wealthy and rather elegant man who offered his own tomb for Jesus's burial.
The series gets points for sticking closely to its source material and promoting positive messages that, though steeped in Christian tradition, have widespread appeal -- among them faith, hope, love, and loyalty. But viewers who don't come from a Christian background aren't likely to care about (or, in some cases, even understand) what they're seeing on-screen, especially since A.D.'s Jesus is the character who lacks the most depth and, by extension, feels the least relatable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the intended audience for A.D.: The Bible Continues. Who's the most likely to watch? Is being a Christian a prerequisite to understanding and enjoying it?
How does the depiction of Christ's crucifixion and the events that followed it in A.D.: The Bible Continues compare to other depictions? Does it do anything differently? If not, why revisit a story that's been told so many times?
The violence in A.D.: The Bible Continues is realistic, but at what point does realistic become gratuitous? How much blood is too much?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 3, 2015
- Cast : Greta Scacchi , Richard Coyle , Juan Pablo Di Pace
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Gay Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : MGM
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , History
- Run time : 60 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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