New Christian Movies in Theaters: Fall 2026 Release Dates and Ratings

Six faith films are playing or opening in US theaters between now and Christmas 2026. Seniors is already showing. JOSHUA—Live! from Sight & Sound Theatres opens nationwide on October 30. Drummer Boy and Jimmy both open on November 6, God With Us reaches select theaters on November 13, and Zero A.D.: The Birth of Christ opens on December 11. Three of them are rated PG-13 for war or violent content, so they are not all a good fit for a family night with younger children.

Below are the dates, what each film is about, who it suits best, and what parents should know before buying tickets. Release dates come from each film's official site or distributor page as of October 26, 2026. Limited and "select theaters" releases vary by city, so confirm showtimes locally before you plan a group trip.

The fall and Christmas 2026 release calendar

• Now playing: Seniors (opened October 23)
• October 30: JOSHUA—Live! (nationwide; some theaters began on October 29)
• November 6: Drummer Boy (Angel Studios) and Jimmy
• November 13: God With Us (select theaters)
• November 15 (at home, not in theaters): The Chosen Season 6 premieres on Prime Video. See our Season 6 schedule and catch-up guide
• December 11: Zero A.D.: The Birth of Christ (Angel Studios)

Seniors (now playing)

A rebellious high school senior is sentenced to court-ordered community service at a retirement home and ends up befriending a troubled war veteran. According to the official site, the story is about two men facing the pasts they have been running from, and about finding purpose and hope at any age. This is the quiet, character-driven option on the list. It works well for a parent and teenager, or for grandparents and grandchildren who are old enough to talk about regret and second chances afterward. The official site does not list a rating, so check your theater's listing before you take younger children.

JOSHUA—Live! (from October 30)

This is not a conventional movie. It is a filmed stage production by Sight & Sound Theatres, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania company known for large-scale Bible musicals with live animals and huge sets, recorded in front of a live audience. It tells the story of Joshua taking over from Moses and leading Israel toward the Promised Land, with "one last fortified city" standing in the way and "unexpected help" coming from behind enemy lines. If you know the Bible, that is Jericho and Rahab from Joshua 1 to 6.

Sight & Sound says the film is in theaters nationwide beginning October 30. Runs are short and set by each cinema: one Virginia theater, for example, is showing it for seven days, from October 29 to November 4. If you want to go, book in the first week. Use the JOSHUA—Live! site to find a theater.

Best for: families with children of all ages, Sunday school classes and church groups. Reading Joshua 1 to 6 together beforehand gives children something to look for on screen.

Drummer Boy (November 6)

The band for KING + COUNTRY made this movie musical with Angel Studios. Brothers Ben Smallbone and Joel David Smallbone directed it, and Joel stars alongside Lucas Leach, India Brown and Melora Hardin. Set during the American Revolutionary War, it follows two brothers who end up on opposite sides, and, in Angel's own words, a story in which "the fight for freedom becomes a battle for forgiveness." Coming in the 250th anniversary year of American independence, the timing is deliberate.

It is rated PG-13 for war violence and some bloody images, and Angel's own age guidance is 12 and up. Teens who liked Hacksaw Ridge or Unbroken will probably connect with it. Younger fans who know the band from its Christmas music may find the battle scenes too much.

Video: DRUMMER BOY | Official Trailer | In Theaters Nov 6 | Angel by Angel (YouTube)

Jimmy (November 6)

Jimmy is the true story of actor James Stewart between his Best Actor Oscar for The Philadelphia Story and It's a Wonderful Life. He enlisted at the start of World War II, flew 20 combat missions over Europe and rose to the rank of colonel. He came home shaken, and then the role of George Bailey came along. KJ Apa plays Stewart, Max Casella plays Frank Capra, and Aaron Burns directed it (Wikipedia).

Strictly speaking, it is not a Christian film. It is a faith-friendly biopic about a man rebuilt by purpose and community, which is exactly what It's a Wonderful Life is about. That is why it appears on faith-film release calendars. It is rated PG-13 for some war violence and bloody images, thematic elements and smoking (Rotten Tomatoes).

One practical note: the Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) is giving away $1 million worth of free tickets to service members, veterans, first responders and their families, CBS News reported. With Veterans Day on November 11, it is a natural outing with a grandparent who served. Afterward, watch It's a Wonderful Life together at home. It shows how the war years and the film connect.

God With Us (November 13, select theaters)

Writer-director Jimmy Jenkins (Sinners Wanted) retells the nativity as a modern parable. Childhood sweethearts Mary Anne Thomas and Joseph "Junie" Love face "an impossible position" in an inner-city neighborhood, with a birth "that could change the world." The cast includes Aspen Kennedy (The Forge), Ashley Olivia Fisher, Rotimi, Roger Guenveur Smith, Ashley Rios, Gregory Alan Williams, Clifton Powell and Lil Rel Howery, according to the official site and the Gospel Music Association.

It mixes drama with humor, and its modern setting makes it a good choice for a youth group or a small group that wants to discuss what Mary and Joseph actually risked. It is a "select theaters" release, so use the film's ticket page to find a screen near you. No rating was listed when we checked, so check before taking children under 13.

Zero A.D.: The Birth of Christ (December 11)

This is the big one. Angel Studios is releasing it, and Alejandro Monteverde (Sound of Freedom) directed it. It is not a gentle manger story. It is set during the Massacre of the Innocents from Matthew 2, when Herod orders the killing of Bethlehem's boys and Mary and Joseph have to flee. Deva Cassel plays Mary, and the cast includes Sam Worthington, Ben Mendelsohn and Gael García Bernal. Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ, plays King Herod. John Debney, who scored The Passion, wrote the music, and the film runs 115 minutes (Wikipedia).

It is rated PG-13 for strong violent content, bloody images and thematic elements, and Angel recommends it for ages 13 and up (Angel). For a Christmas film that younger children can watch, choose The Nativity Story or the animated The Star at home. Save Zero A.D. for teens and adults.

Video: Zero A.D.: The Birth Of Christ | Official Trailer | In Theaters Dec 11 by Angel (YouTube)

Which one should you see?

• With children under 12: JOSHUA—Live! is the clear pick. Seniors may suit older children once you have checked the rating. For a movie night at home instead, our family list with age guidance has 15 picks.
• With teens: Drummer Boy for the music and the history, Zero A.D. if they can handle intense violence, and God With Us if you want a conversation starter.
• With grandparents or veterans: Jimmy, especially around Veterans Day.
• As a church or small-group outing: JOSHUA—Live! or God With Us. Our guide to hosting a church movie night covers group logistics and discussion questions, and most of it applies to a theater trip too.

Before you buy tickets

Ratings tell you what is in a film, but not whether your child is ready for it. For scene-by-scene detail, use one of the parent review sites in our guide to Christian movie review sites. Check the run length, too: event releases like JOSHUA—Live! can disappear after a week, while wide releases like Drummer Boy usually stay longer if attendance is good.

Will these be free to stream?

Not yet. None of the six has an announced streaming date, and new theatrical releases are rarely free in their first year. If you are watching at home this season, there is already plenty you can watch legally for free. See our guide to watching Christian movies free and legally, the Great American Christmas 2026 lineup, and our Thanksgiving picks about gratitude. We will update this page when streaming dates are announced.

Sources: release dates and synopses from each film's official site (Seniors, JOSHUA—Live!, Drummer Boy, Jimmy, God With Us, Zero A.D.), cross-checked against the Faith Film Fan release list. Ratings come from the MPA rating as shown on each distributor's page or review aggregator, checked on October 26, 2026.