Parents' Guide to

Believe (2016)

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Faith-based holiday drama has familiar messages, violence.

Movie PG 2016 117 minutes
Believe (2016) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 7+

Based on 7 parent reviews

knuckleheadmom
knuckleheadmom Parent
December 20, 2017
age 11+

Good Family Movie

A movie about faith (Christian elements are subtle) and uniting together. Recommend for older children because of some violent scenes and the story line at times is complicated, which gives the movie a slow start, but gets better once you understand the plot.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Lowe's man
Lowe's man Adult
April 30, 2017
age 10+

Tries to be something it isn't.

This movie tries to be "It's a Wonderful Life" for a new generation, but it isn't. For one thing, while the pro-Christian messages in "It's a Wonderful Life" are natural, here they feel forced and force fed. Moreover, while "It's a Wonderful Life" can be enjoyed by believers and nonbelievers alike, believers will have a real chore to enjoy this one, and don't expect nonbelievers to enjoy it. Also, while it's well and good that the main character wants to take care of the town, he's not thinking of his employees. (This was where I walked out. Now you know why I walked out in midmovie.) That aspect of the movie reinforces the stereotypes that some people have of evangelicals as supporting probusiness, antilabor policies. And don't forget the violence. The positive aspects of the movie, which feel forced rather than natural, don't make up for its strong negative elements. If you can get past all this this is a movie for you and your children 10 and up. If the negative elements would be too much for you avoid.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BELIEVE, Christmas is coming to small-town Virginia, and Matthew Peyton (Ryan O'Quinn) is in deep trouble. Not only is his longstanding family-owned business on the verge of bankruptcy -- he's forced to lay off his workers before the holiday -- but, because he's out of money, he'll have to cancel the town Christmas pageant, which has always been funded by the Peytons. Even Matthew's "friends" are up-in-arms. A few of the town's leaders beg him to sell the company so he can save his workforce and the pageant, but nothing shakes Matthew's resolve to keep his business afloat. Then he's attacked by a gang of ruffians in an isolated area just outside the city, who leave him severely hurt. He's discovered by young Clarence "CJ" Joseph (Isaac Ryan Brown), who takes Matthew to a run-down living space inhabited by the area's poor. There, CJ's mother, Sharon (Danielle Nicolet), a devoted single mom and volunteer caretaker of the other residents, tends to Matthew's wounds. It's a critical moment in Matthew's life. Always a workaholic driven by money, Matthew gets a glimpse at Sharon's more human values and CJ's abiding faith and returns to town with a renewed sense of purpose. Can redemption be far behind?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (1):

An earnest approach and some bright performances almost rescue this routine, predictable holiday drama, but its one-dimensional characters and silly plot turns can't be overlooked. Hoping to touch the heart in the same way It's a Wonderful Life has for generations (it can't be a coincidence that the "angel" at the center of Believe is named "Clarence"), Believe falls well short of its goals.

On the plus side, kids are likely to fall in love with CJ; there's no denying Brown's talent, warmth, and appeal. On the other hand, the movie's simplistic, faith-based messages appear to dictate the storyline rather than emerge from it organically. Bottom line? It's OK for holiday viewing, as long as you're ready for the elements of suspense and violence.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Believe. Do you think it's necessary to the story? How does it compare to what you might see in an action movie? Which has more impact? Why?

  • CJ is a pivotal character in this story. How does he demonstrate optimism and unselfishness? Why are these important character strengths?

  • Do movies like this one help you find answers to your own questions about life/faith, or do you like simply watching a good story? Which holiday movies have had the most impact on you?

  • Has anyone other than someone in your immediate family had a big influence on your life? What did you learn from him or her?

  • How would you describe Believe's take on the Christmas holiday? Did you know how dependent our culture is on the economics of the holiday season? How does your family deal with the contrast between that side of things and the more spiritual attitude toward the holiday?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate