What's better than a bank holiday? Two bank holidays that fall on the same week from a weekday to a weekend — Good Friday and Easter holidays. While Easter is primarily a time of spiritual significance, it is also a time of reunions and feasting with family and loved ones.

In this article, we've come up with a list of Easter films that everyone can enjoy for a family film session.

FilmGenreYearAudience SuitabilityMood
HopFamily, Comedy, Animation2011Kids, FamiliesSilly, Energetic
Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with RooAnimation, Family2004Young Kids, FamiliesGentle, Heartwarming
Rise of the GuardiansAnimation, Fantasy, Adventure2012Kids (7+), FamiliesExciting, Magical
Peter RabbitFamily, Comedy, Animation2018Kids, FamiliesPlayful, Mischievous
Ice Age: The Great Egg-ScapadeAnimation, Comedy (Short)2016Young Kids, FamiliesLight, Goofy
Easter ParadeMusical, Romance1948Families, Classic LoversCheerful, Nostalgic
HarveyComedy, Fantasy1950Families, Teens, AdultsWhimsical, Feel-Good
Ben-HurHistorical, Epic Drama1959Teens, AdultsGrand, Serious
The Passion of the ChristBiblical Drama2004Adults (Mature Themes)Intense, Reflective
The Greatest Story Ever ToldBiblical, Epic1965Teens, AdultsReverent, Epic
The Ten CommandmentsReligious, Epic Drama1956Families, TeensMajestic, Inspirational
RisenBiblical Drama, Mystery2016Teens, AdultsThoughtful, Investigative
Son of GodBiblical Drama2014Families, TeensSpiritual, Uplifting
Light of the World Animation, Faith, Family2025Kids (7+), FamiliesHopeful, Inspirational
Jesus Christ SuperstarMusical, Drama1973Teens, AdultsBold, Dramatic
GodspellMusical, Comedy1973Families, TeensJoyful, Quirky
My Big Fat Greek WeddingComedy, Romance2002Teens, AdultsLighthearted, Feel-Good
The Secret GardenFamily, Fantasy, Drama1993 FamiliesPeaceful, Hopeful
BabeFamily, Comedy-Drama1995Kids, FamiliesWarm, Inspirational
Charlotte's WebFamily, Fantasy2006Kids, FamiliesTender, Bittersweet
The best Acting tutors available
Lee
5
5 (74 reviews)
Lee
£175
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Milly
5
5 (59 reviews)
Milly
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Yuri
4.9
4.9 (14 reviews)
Yuri
£65
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Adam
5
5 (32 reviews)
Adam
£65
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Axel
5
5 (34 reviews)
Axel
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Andrew
5
5 (18 reviews)
Andrew
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Charlotte
5
5 (19 reviews)
Charlotte
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Liam
5
5 (18 reviews)
Liam
£60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Lee
5
5 (74 reviews)
Lee
£175
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Milly
5
5 (59 reviews)
Milly
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Yuri
4.9
4.9 (14 reviews)
Yuri
£65
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Adam
5
5 (32 reviews)
Adam
£65
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Axel
5
5 (34 reviews)
Axel
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Andrew
5
5 (18 reviews)
Andrew
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Charlotte
5
5 (19 reviews)
Charlotte
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Liam
5
5 (18 reviews)
Liam
£60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Let's go

🐰 Animated Easter Films for Kids and Families

First, let's start with some family-friendly Easter animations that will keep the kids engaged and entertained for a light and easy movie night.

Hop (2011)

Director:
Tim Hill
Genre:
Live action, Animation, Comedy, Family
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 24% | 🍿 60%
Main Leads:
James Marsden, Russell Brand (voice), Kaley Cuoco, Hugh Laurie

Running Time

95 mins

Wow Factor

🌸A lighthearted take on family traditions (expectations) vs personal dreams (relatable)
🌸Chaotic music fun with a rock ‘n’ roll CGI Easter Bunny twist

Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo (2004)

Director:
Saul Blinkoff and Elliot M. Bour
Genre:
Animation, Family
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 N/A | 🍿 70%
Main Leads:
Jim Cummings, Ken Sansom, Jimmy Bennett (Voices)

Running Time

65 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Cosy storytelling featuring Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends at the Hundred Acre Wood while preparing for spring and Easter
🌸Legendary performance by Jim Cummings, who has voiced Pooh for over 30 years

Rise of the Guardians (2012)

Director:
Peter Ramsey
Genre:
Animation, Fantasy, Adventure
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 75% | 🍿 80%
Main Leads:
Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law (Voices)

Running Time

97 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Creative retelling of the transformation of holiday icons into warrior guardians, including Easter bunny
🌸Hugh Jackman's Aussie accent was the highlight of the movie

Peter Rabbit (2018)

Director:
Will Gluck
Genre:
Animation / Live-action, Comedy
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 63% | 🍿 56%
Main Leads:
James Corden, Domhnall Gleeson, Rose Byrne, Margot Robbie (Voices)

Running Time

95 mins

Wow Factor

🌸A fast-paced and humorous take on Beatrix Potter's classics
🌸A vibrant balance of live-action and animation that was shot in Australia

Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade (2016)

Director:
Richard Curtis
Genre:
Animation, Comedy, Short
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 N/A | 🍿 ~65%
Main Leads:
Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary (Voices)

Running Time

25 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Short and sweet animation that depicts the fun and chaos of Easter egg hunting in the prehistoric context
🌸Surprising way of discovering the origin of the Easter bunny in the Ice Age universe

Don't forget to check out these feel-good films to watch during the summer holidays.

📺 Classic Easter Films

You can't have an Easter movie marathon without watching some classics. Whether it's a Broadway-style musical or an epic movie with a grand-scale cast and stunts, these movies will captivate you.

Easter Parade (1948)

Director:
Charles Walters
Genre:
Musical, Romance
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 100% | 🍿 90%
Main Leads:
Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller

Running Time

103 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Iconic songs and dazzling choreographies with a beautiful depiction of Easter in New York
🌸One of the highest-grossing musicals of 1948, thanks to the chemistry between Garland and Astaire 1

Harvey (1950)

Director:
Henry Koster
Genre:
Comedy, Fantasy
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 86% | 🍿 93%
Main Leads:
James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Peggy Dow

Running Time

104 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Magical realism at its best — an unlikely friendship between a man and a 6-foot invisible rabbit
🌸Solid performance by Josephine Hull, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress

Ben-Hur (1959)

Director:
William Wyler
Genre:
Epic, Historical Drama
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 86% | 🍿 89%
Main Leads:
Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins

Running Time

212 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Breathtaking chariot scene, depicting real crashes without CGI
🌸Won 11 Oscars, an unbeatable record until Titanic tied it in 1997

If you are a fan of darker movies, don't forget to explore these scary movie recommendations.

The best Acting tutors available
Lee
5
5 (74 reviews)
Lee
£175
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Milly
5
5 (59 reviews)
Milly
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Yuri
4.9
4.9 (14 reviews)
Yuri
£65
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Adam
5
5 (32 reviews)
Adam
£65
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Axel
5
5 (34 reviews)
Axel
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Andrew
5
5 (18 reviews)
Andrew
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Charlotte
5
5 (19 reviews)
Charlotte
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Liam
5
5 (18 reviews)
Liam
£60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Lee
5
5 (74 reviews)
Lee
£175
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Milly
5
5 (59 reviews)
Milly
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Yuri
4.9
4.9 (14 reviews)
Yuri
£65
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Adam
5
5 (32 reviews)
Adam
£65
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Axel
5
5 (34 reviews)
Axel
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Andrew
5
5 (18 reviews)
Andrew
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Charlotte
5
5 (19 reviews)
Charlotte
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Liam
5
5 (18 reviews)
Liam
£60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Let's go

✝️ Faith-Based Easter Films

Of course, Easter is essentially a time of reflection on the most significant events of the Christian faith — the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many good faith-based films combine good writing based on the Scriptures and good acting to bring the story alive and relatable to the audience.

The Passion of Christ (2004)

Director:
Mel Gibson
Genre:
Biblical Drama
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 49% | 🍿 80%
Main Leads:
Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Monica Bellucci

Running Time

127 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Intense and emotional portrayal of Christ's final hours, in Aramaic
🌸Filmed in Italy, the main lead who played Jesus endured real injuries during the crucifixion

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

Director:
George Stevens
Genre:
Epic, Biblical
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 42% | 🍿 70%
Main Leads:
Max von Sydow, Charlton Heston, Telly Savalas

Running Time

199 mins

Wow Factor

🌸An elaborate depiction of Jesus's miracles, his crucifixion, and resurrection
🌸The scenes were filmed in various authentic Judean locations, showcasing vast and beautiful desert landscapes

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Director:
Cecil B. DeMille
Genre:
Epic, Religious Drama
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 84% | 🍿 89%
Main Leads:
Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter

Running Time

220 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Many iconic scenes from Exodus came alive, such as the burning bush and the parting of the Red Sea
🌸It was the most expensive and most successful film ever made in the 50s, and DeMille's last directorial 2

Risen (2016)

Director:
Kevin Reynolds
Genre:
Biblical Drama, Mystery
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 54% | 🍿 70%
Main Leads:
Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth

Running Time

107 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Offers a detective-investigation perspective of Christ's resurrection from a Roman's point of view
🌸Good writing and production, with filming taking place in Spain and Malta 3

Son of God (2014)

Director:
Christoper Spencer
Genre:
Biblical Drama
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 21% | 🍿 73%
Main Leads:
Diogo Morgado, Roma Downey, Greg Hicks

Running Time

138 mins

Wow Factor

🌸The story of Jesus's ministry until his ascension, told from the perspective of the Apostle John
🌸Compelling focus on specific scenes, like the resurrection of Lazarus and the Last Supper

Light of the World (2025)

Director:
Tom Bancroft & John J. Schafer
Genre:
Animation, Faith, Drama, Family
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 80% | 🍿 90%
Main Leads:
Benjamin Jacobson, Ian Hanlin, Michael Benyaer, David Kaye

Running Time

91 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Told through a child's perspective, young John
🌸Beautiful 2D animation that covers the full Easter story, centred directly on Christ — suitable to screen during Sunday School or family gatherings

🎶 Easter Musicals and Comedies

If you are looking for something to sing-along with and to laugh out loud with family and friends, here are some movies to explore.

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Director:
Norman Jewison
Genre:
Musical, Rock Opera
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 52% | 🍿 74%
Main Leads:
Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman

Running Time

106 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Bold rock soundtracks with theatre retellings of the life of Jesus Christ
🌸Iconic opening sequence that blurred the lines between the "theatre" performance and the acting

Godspell (1973)

Director:
Davie Greene
Genre:
Musical, Comedy
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 63% | 🍿 75%
Main Leads:
Victor Garber, David Haskell, Lynne Thigpen

Running Time

103 mins

Wow Factor

🌸A lively musical with a focus on parables according to the Gospel of Matthew
🌸Settings are in modern-day New York City

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Director:
Joel Zwick
Genre:
Romantic Comedy
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 76% | 🍿 73%
Main Leads:
Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine

Running Time

95 mins

Wow Factor

🌸Lots of feel-good humour and depiction of Orthodox Easter traditions
🌸A sleeper hit that became the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2002

If you love My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you would surely enjoy watching these romantic films on Valentine's Day too.

🌿 Feel-Good Spring Films to Watch at Easter

Just as Easter marks the beginning of spring, it would be great to watch the following light-hearted movies that remind you of the beauty and vitality of the season.

The Secret Garden (1993)

Director:
Agnieszka Holland
Genre:
Family, Fantasy, Drama
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 89% | 🍿 84%
Main Leads:
Kate Maberly, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott, Maggie Smith

Running Time

101 mins

Wow Factor

🌸A movie that reminds you of spring in its natural beauty and lush visuals
🌸Poignant portrayal of childhood and a sense of belonging in a family

Babe (1995)

Director:
Chris Noonan
Genre:
Family, Comedy-Drama
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 97% | 🍿 75%
Main Leads:
James Cromwell, Magda Szubanski, Christine Cavanaugh

Running Time

92 mins

Wow Factor

🌸A lively and heartwarming story about farm animals with believable friendships
🌸Actual animals and animatronic puppets played the animal characters, with this film receiving seven Academy Award nominations

Charlotte's Web (2006)

Director:
Gary Winick
Genre:
Family, Fantasy
Rotten Tomatoes:
🍅 78% | 🍿 65%
Main Leads:
Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese (voices)

Running Time

97 mins

Wow Factor

🌸A beautiful and faithful adaptation of E.B. White's novel, readers would love it
🌸Intriguing life lessons on friendship and solid acting by Dakota Fanning

We hope you've enjoyed this article. There's certainly a wide range of movies to watch during the Easter holiday, depending on the genre and who you're watching with. Feel free to discover these lovely Christmas films to watch during the year-end vacation.

References

  1. to, C. (2026). Easter Parade. Metro Goldwyn Mayer Wiki; Fandom, Inc. https://mgm.fandom.com/wiki/Easter_Parade
  2. Most Colossal of All; At 75. Cecil B. DeMille is completing the biggest film project of his--or any other’s--career. (1956, August 12). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1956/08/12/archives/most-colossal-of-all-at-75-cecil-b-demille-is-completing-the.html
  3. Filmed in Malta: “Risen” tells resurrection tale through a sceptic - The Malta Independent. (2026). Independent.com.mt. https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2016-02-20/local-news/Filmed-in-Malta-Risen-tells-resurrection-tale-through-a-sceptic-6736153649

Summarise with AI:

Did you like this article? Leave a rating!

5.00 (1 rating(s))
Loading...
portrait of writer Joyce

Joycelyn Ong

An avid reader and writer, Joycelyn loves the art of communication and is passionate about all kinds of media.