Common Sense Media Review
Biblical reenactments are theatrical and very violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
THE BIBLE is a docudrama that features adaptations of known Bible stories that are believed to have changed the world. From the stories of Noah's Ark and Moses (played by William Houston), to the birth and death of Jesus of Nazareth (Diogo Morgado), the series offers dramatic renditions of biblical tales that are understood to have a major impact on the way people interpret good, evil, faith, and religion around the globe.
Is It Any Good?
Those looking for an objective, history-oriented discussion of the Bible and its overall impact on humanity will not find it here. Some may also object to the representations of biblical figures, which reflect a very glamorous notion of what people looked and sounded like at the time. But viewers looking for an interesting and/or entertaining Judeo-Christian themed interpretation of Bible stories will find it worth watching.
The series, which is co-produced by Touched by an Angel star Roma Downey, attempts to reflect the essence of each story by following the traditional narratives about well-known biblical figures while adding flair with lots of theatrically violent action scenes and interesting actor portrayals of archangels and death. However, there is little explanation offered about why these events are believed to have changed the world. As a result, tales about acts like Abraham's banishment of his son Ishmael (which many believe led to the division between the Hebrews and the Arabs), are never contextualized, leaving those who are unfamiliar with these stories without any knowledge of their significance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about media portrayals of the Bible. Why are there so many movies based on bible stories? What are some of the most famous actor portrayals of biblical figures? If you were to choose a story from the Bible to reenact, which one would it be? Why?
Is there anything controversial in this depiction of important religious stories?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 2, 2013
- Cast : Darwin Shaw , Diogo Morgado , Keith David
- Directors : Mark Burnett , Roma Downey
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : LightWorkers Media
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 481 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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