Parents' Guide to Elijah Peel

Movie 2026 PG-13 108 minutes
Elijah Peel movie poster: Malcolm Cumming plays the ukulele for Evelyn Grace Kite above a picture of him singing

Common Sense Media Review

Christie Cronan By Christie Cronan , based on child development research. How do we rate?

Prefer us on Google
age 13+

Heavy themes, language, drugs in touching faith-based drama.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

Enjoy 3 free reviews when you get the Common Sense Media app .

  • Elijah Peel movie: Malcolm Cumming sings into a mic, a bright spotlight shining on him
  • Elijah Peel movie: Malcolm Cumming and Evelyn Grace Kite reach toward each other through a bathroom door

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all

What's the Story?

When a rock star's addiction to fame and drugs comes to a screeching halt after a nearly fatal heart attack, ELIJAH PEEL (Robert Malcolm Cumming) ends up in the hospital. There he meets Jessica (Evelyn Grace Kite), a remarkable young girl whose bright spirit, unshakable faith, and wise words spark Elijah's personal redemption and the start of his journey toward healing and hope. Kevin Sorbo and April Billingsley co-star.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Offering a heartfelt example of unexpected friendship, this drama has a powerful emotional core and a soul-touching redemptive story arc. While it also has its share of the usual faith-based movie cliches, Elijah Peel benefits from its fresh, original soundtrack and a compelling performance by newcomer child actor Kite. That combo helps this indie Christian drama avoid being boring or predictable, instead managing to feel both moving and inspiring.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what Elijah Peel suggests about redemption and second chances. Do you think people can really change? Should someone be defined by their worst mistake? Why, or why not?

  • Why do you think that Elijah and Jessica reacted differently to life's problems? What do you think the way each reacted to suffering is meant to show viewers about their characters?

  • How does Elijah change over the course of the story? What events and/or people influenced him the most? How did Elijah's faith affect his decisions after his heart attack?

  • Why is it important to ask for help instead of facing life's problems alone? What are some healthy ways to support a family member or a friend who is struggling?

  • The film was inspired by a true story; how closely do you think it follows real-life events? Why do filmmaker sometimes change real-life events when making a movie?

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

Elijah Peel movie poster: Malcolm Cumming plays the ukulele for Evelyn Grace Kite above a picture of him singing

What to Watch Next

See all

Faith-Based Movies

See all

Movies About Musicians

See all recommended movie lists

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