Do You Need a License to Show a Movie at Church? A US Guide

Yes. In the United States, a church that shows a movie to a group needs permission from the copyright owner, and that is true even when the event is free and the church is a nonprofit. The sanctuary, the fellowship hall, the youth room and the parking lot all count. The usual solution is a blanket church video license, such as the one sold by Christian Video Licensing International (CVLI). The DVD you bought or the streaming account you pay for is licensed for private viewing only.

This guide explains what the law says, how a church license works, what it does not allow, and what to do if the budget is tight. We read the US Copyright Act on copyright.gov and CVLI's published terms on October 31, 2026. We are not lawyers, so for an unusual case ask the licensor or a copyright attorney.

Which situations need a license?

The Copyright Act defines a "public" performance as one at a place open to the public, or at any place where "a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered." That wording explains most of the answers below.

• Your family at home, or a few close friends in the living room: no license needed. That is private viewing.
• A church movie night in the fellowship hall, free or not: license needed.
• A youth group, kids' ministry or midweek program showing a film: license needed.
• A short clip played during a sermon or lesson: license needed. CVLI says its license covers movies "in full or in part."
• A small group meeting in a member's home: a gray area. The more it looks like an invited church event rather than friends gathering, the more likely it is public. Ask your licensor before you rely on the exception.
• A film in the US public domain, or a video your church made itself: no license needed. More on this below.

Why "free" and "nonprofit" do not change the answer

Section 106 of the Copyright Act gives the copyright owner the exclusive right to perform a work publicly. The exceptions in Section 110 are narrow. Reading the text of Section 110, they cover face-to-face teaching in a classroom of a nonprofit educational institution, performances of "a nondramatic literary or musical work or of a dramatico-musical work of a religious nature" in the course of services at a place of worship, and some performances of nondramatic literary or musical works without an admission charge. A feature film does not fit any of those groups, and film licensors treat a church movie night as a public performance.

CVLI states it plainly: nearly all DVDs, Blu-rays, streaming services and downloads are authorized for personal, private use only, so special permission is needed for any public performance, "including in church ministry."

Under Section 504(c), a court can award statutory damages of $750 to $30,000 per work, and up to $150,000 per work if the infringement was willful. It can reduce the award if the infringer was not aware and had no reason to believe the showing was an infringement. Most churches never see a courtroom, but the license costs far less than finding out.

How a church video license works (CVLI as an example)

CVLI is one licensor that serves churches. Its terms of agreement set the rules, and other licensors may differ, so read whichever one you choose:

• Blanket coverage. The license covers titles from participating studios and producers. CVLI says that is more than 5,000 of them, and it publishes an authorized producers list. Check your film's studio on that list before you plan the event.
• Not every film is covered. CVLI's own FAQ has an entry on why some Christian movies are not covered. If a title is missing, contact the film's distributor for permission.
• You still need a legal copy. The terms say only "legally obtained" works may be shown, and the cost of the disc or rental is separate. The copy can be a DVD, a stream or a download.
• No admission fee. The terms say no admission or other fee may be charged to the audience, and the showing cannot be used to endorse goods or services.
• No public promotion of the title. The terms say specific titles, their characters and producers' names may not be advertised to the general public.
• No editing or copying. You may not duplicate or modify the film.
• Named locations. Showings happen at the facilities listed on your application. Tell the licensor if you use another building.
• Renewal. The annual license renews for another year unless you cancel with 30 days' written notice before the term ends. CVLI also describes a short-term license for a single event or a mission week.
• Price. The fee depends on factors such as the number of facilities, so check the current price on CVLI's site rather than relying on a number from a blog.

CVLI runs regional sites for Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and other countries. Copyright rules differ by country, so use your own country's site for local terms. The legal explanation in this guide is about US law.

A checklist before movie night

1. Pick the film and find its studio or distributor on the credits or the disc. 2. Check coverage against your licensor's producers list. If it is not listed, ask the distributor in writing. 3. Buy the license (annual or short-term) before the event, not after. 4. Get a legal copy you are allowed to show under the license terms. 5. Promote the night without the title. "Family Movie Night, Friday at 6" avoids the advertising restriction, and you can reveal the film inside the church. 6. Keep it free. If you want to raise money for a mission trip, ask the licensor or distributor first. Do not sell tickets or require a donation to get in. 7. Keep your license confirmation where the event team can find it, and add it to your church movie night plan.

Free streaming is not the same as free to show a crowd

Our guide to where to watch Christian movies free lists legal free services. Those are for personal viewing. A free ad-supported service does not give your church the right to put the film on a screen in front of a group, so a license still applies.

What can you show without buying a license?

• Public domain films. In the US, a film published in 1930 or earlier is now in the public domain. Biblical silent epics such as Cecil B. DeMille's *The Ten Commandments* (1923) and *Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ* (1925) entered the public domain in 2019) and 2021). A modern restoration, a new musical score or a narrated edition can carry its own copyright, so check the exact version you plan to show.
• Your church's own videos. If your team shot and edited it and used no licensed music or footage, it is yours to show.
• A film with written permission. Some independent filmmakers and ministries will grant a church a one-time screening. Get the permission in writing and keep it.
• A different activity. A book club on the film's source book, a discussion night with a short licensed clip, or a game night gives you the gathering without the screening. Our faith movies for family night list and free Christian movies for kids can help you decide which films are worth the license first.

Sources

• U.S. Copyright Office, Title 17, Chapter 1, Sections 101, 106 and 110 (definition of "publicly," exclusive rights, exemptions)
• U.S. Copyright Office, Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 504(c) (statutory damages)
• CVLI, Church Video License terms of agreement (rights, restrictions, renewal, legally obtained works)
• CVLI, About CVLI and home page (private-use-only statement, coverage, short-term license, regions)
• Wikipedia, The Ten Commandments (1923 film) and Ben-Hur (1925 film) (public domain status)