Jimmy (2026): Jimmy Stewart Biopic Rating, Faith Content and Family Guide

"Jimmy," the Jimmy Stewart biopic that opens in U.S. theaters today, November 6, 2026, is rated PG-13 and runs about two hours. It is a war and Hollywood drama, not a church movie, but it carries real faith moments (a pocket Psalms book, Psalm 91, prayer) and its heaviest content is war violence and PTSD, not sex or language. Plugged In calls it mostly clean for older kids and teens and cautions heavily for younger children.

KJ Apa plays James "Jimmy" Stewart. The story picks up after his 1941 Best Actor Oscar for The Philadelphia Story, follows him into the U.S. Army Air Forces as a bomber pilot, and ends with his return to Hollywood to play George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. Fathom Entertainment is releasing it in theaters. We have not seen it yet, so this guide is built from the film's official site, Plugged In's scene-level parent review, Rotten Tomatoes and Wikipedia, all read on November 6, 2026.

Jimmy at a glance

• In theaters: Friday, November 6, 2026, in the United States, after festival screenings in October (it opened the Heartland International Film Festival on October 8).
• Rating: PG-13 (Rotten Tomatoes and Plugged In list PG-13). Check the exact rating reasons at filmratings.com.
• Runtime: about 2 hours.
• Director: Aaron Burns, who previously produced faith-based films including War Room, Overcomer and The Forge, according to Wikipedia.
• Cast: KJ Apa (Jimmy Stewart), Jason Alexander (Louis B. Mayer), Max Casella (Frank Capra), Sarah Drew (Hedda Hopper), Neal McDonough (Stewart's father, Alexander), Jen Lilley (Gloria Stewart), Rob Riggle (Colonel Terrill) and Kara Killmer (Lady Julia).
• Where to watch: theaters only for now. The official site says "exclusively in theaters," and Plugged In lists the home release date as TBD, so there is no streaming option yet.

Video: JIMMY – Final Trailer by Burns & Co. (YouTube)

Is "Jimmy" a Christian movie?

Not in the way an overtly Christian film is. Wikipedia notes it is "not explicitly marketed as a Christian film" but has been discussed in the context of faith-based cinema, and Burns told Christianity Today that Stewart's writings for the Christian magazine Guideposts shaped his approach. If your church group is deciding between an overtly Christian film and a clean, patriotic biopic with faith woven in, this is the second kind. For overtly faith-driven picks this season, see our guide to Christian movies in theaters in 2026 and our Drummer Boy family guide.

The faith content, scene by scene

According to Plugged In's review, the spiritual elements are present but quiet:

• Jimmy's father, a World War I veteran, gives him a pocket-sized book of Psalms to carry through the war, and Jimmy reads from Psalm 91 in Europe.
• Jimmy prays several times, including for soldiers lost on a mission, while admitting he is not "much of a praying man."
• He meets an English noblewoman, Lady Julia, at a church. She says she will pray for him and keeps a list of names to pray for.
• When a studio boss tells him to "talk to a priest," Jimmy answers, "I'm a Presbyterian." Frank Capra, a Catholic, crosses himself and tells Jimmy to "be at peace."
• While filming a scene in It's a Wonderful Life, Jimmy has a vision of his fallen comrades and his lines turn into a heartfelt prayer.

There is no sermon. The faith shows up as comfort in grief and guilt, which is accurate to how many veterans describe the war.

Content check for parents

• War violence (the main issue). Plugged In says it is "nothing too graphic or bloody" but "a fair bit": bombing runs under constant fire, planes hit by shrapnel, aircraft exploding or crashing, a bloodied soldier who dies onscreen, and a squadron plane lost at sea with no rescue in time.
• PTSD and heavy themes. Jimmy struggles with the effects of combat, has angry outbursts (one upsets a child costar), feels guilt about men who died, and a scene mentions suicide in connection with George Bailey's story. Plugged In says the film handles these subjects with care, but they can weigh on sensitive viewers.
• Language. Mild, per Plugged In: words like "darn" and "heck," with one aborted use of a stronger word.
• Romance. Kisses and a chaste wartime romance. A rushed marriage proposal is declined. In a Tonight Show clip over the credits, the real Stewart makes a humorous, suggestive remark about his twin daughters.
• Alcohol and smoking. Soldiers steal a keg, champagne appears at parties, and some characters smoke.

Plugged In's overall caution levels are heavy for kids, medium for tweens and light for teens and adults. Our read of that scale: a thoughtful 12 or 13-year-old who can handle a war movie is the natural lower end; most elementary-age children are better off waiting. Preview the trailer together and decide by temperament, not just by age.

What critics say

Reviews are mixed. Rotten Tomatoes showed 65% positive across 17 critics on November 6, with an average of 6 out of 10. Wikipedia's summary notes praise for KJ Apa's performance and for the war and post-war PTSD scenes (Deadline), and a sharply negative review from The A.V. Club, which called the retelling too larger-than-life. Early review scores can move as more critics weigh in, so check the live number before you buy tickets for a group.

Real history in the film

The official synopsis says Stewart flew twenty missions over Europe and rose to the rank of colonel before returning home "broken and disheartened," and that it was It's a Wonderful Life that brought him back to acting. Kelly Stewart Harcourt, his daughter, is an executive producer. For a church history night, the film pairs well with a viewing of the 1946 classic itself.

Planning a group outing

1. Tickets: use the "Get Tickets" and "Group Tickets" links on the official Jimmy site. Fathom runs its own showtimes, so availability varies by theater. 2. Veterans: the site advertises free tickets for veterans and a "Buy a Ticket for a Vet" option. Read the terms on the official page before you promise anyone a seat. 3. Church groups: buying tickets together is fine, but a ticket is not a license to screen the film at church later. If you plan a home-video showing once it is released, read do you need a license to show a movie at church first. 4. Pair it: a family night with a classic afterward works well, and our faith movies for family night list has options by age.

Sources

• Official film site, jimmythemovie.com: release date, "exclusively in theaters," synopsis, credits, veterans ticket offer, read November 6, 2026
• Plugged In, "Jimmy" movie review (Bret Eckelberry): PG-13 listing, caution levels, scene-level spiritual, violent, language and romantic content, read November 6, 2026
• Rotten Tomatoes, "Jimmy" (2026): PG-13, runtime, 65% from 17 critics on November 6, 2026
• Wikipedia, "Jimmy (2026 film)": release dates, cast, Aaron Burns background, festival premiere, critical summary
• Motion Picture Association rating system, filmratings.com