focus on the family movie reviews jesus revolution

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Parents' guide to, jesus revolution.

Jesus Revolution Movie Poster: Joel Courtney stands in the center dressed in a late 1960s outfit, with Kelsey Grammar, Kimberly Williams Paisley, Anna Grace Barlow, DeVon Franklin, and Jonathan Roumie surrounding the image like a circle as they look out or down

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 24 Reviews
Kids Say 13 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Faith-based drama is positive, not preachy; drug use.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Substance use by teens, including scenes where main characters are tripping. Ove

Two moments of peril involving car accidents.

A developing romance.

Any Positive Content?

Themes of faith, forgiveness, finding your family, and finding yourself. Main ta

Primary characters are positive role models who demonstrate a fantastic ability

All main characters are White. Two Black characters are speaking roles, but both

Parents need to know that Jesus Revolution is the story of Greg Laurie, the founder of Harvest Christian Fellowship. Told through the lens of the Jesus movement that swept the United States in the early 1970s, the film centers on two people who helped usher that movement in: Calvary Chapel Pastor Chuck Smith ( Kelsey Grammer ) and his protégé, Lonnie Frisbee ( Jonathan Roumie ). Greg ( Joel Courtney ) is depicted as an older teen who's lost and often high, embracing the counterculture mantra "turn on, tune in, drop out." Substance use is frequent, with one party scene shot to reflect Greg and his girlfriend's experience of being high. While the overall message is "don't do drugs," the point is also made not to judge those who do. But the film's greatest takeaway (among many positive messages throughout) is that the only way a divided country can heal is through love, which means opening the door to conversations with those who behave, think, or dress differently than you do. Make no mistake: This is an evangelical film. But by taking a historical outlook and having the honesty to show main characters as flawed and/or going too far, it remarkably doesn't come off as preachy!

To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Substance use by teens, including scenes where main characters are tripping. Overdose. Scary moments while characters are high, which are portrayed as leading to growth and maturity. It's expressed that drug use is a tool in a quest for having a relationship with God. A negative character drives drunk, with a harsh consequence. Smoking. Party scene with teens shows beer bottles.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Themes of faith, forgiveness, finding your family, and finding yourself. Main takeaway is impossible to miss: To heal divisiveness between communities, we need to be open to talking with one another, including those who look and act differently from us.

Positive Role Models

Primary characters are positive role models who demonstrate a fantastic ability to communicate. That said, some frequently do drugs, which is portrayed as leading to character growth. Pastor Chuck Smith provides an example of humility , finding success after taking advice from his teen daughter. While others in his age group and community see hippies as repugnant, Chuck uses empathy to see them for who they are and want to be. Despite objections of those who'd discriminate against hippies based on their appearance and behavior, Chuck demonstrates courage by opening the church to allow them to sit, speak, and play music, helping to fuel a national spiritual awakening. Chuck also encourages a young man who wants to serve by giving him opportunities, a bet that pays off in the long run.

Diverse Representations

All main characters are White. Two Black characters are speaking roles, but both are on the fringe. Some background actors are people of color. There's economic diversity, but the poor family is depicted as broken, while the upper-middle-class and wealthy families are seen as whole. Most female characters exist only as girlfriends and wives; one identifies so completely with having a male partner that she's shattered without a man. The Madonna-whore cliché is in play, with Greg's future wife depicted with an angelic glow and his mother as a one-dimensional alcoholic harlot. The exception is Chuck's teen daughter, a positive force who thinks for herself and advocates for others.

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Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

Parents say (24)
Kids say (13)

Based on 24 parent reviews

Safe! Amazing movie about the Love of Christ!

Best, groove movie ever, what's the story.

In JESUS REVOLUTION, Calvary Chapel Pastor Chuck Smith ( Kelsey Grammer ) meets street preacher Lonnie Frisbee ( Jonathan Roumie ), who believes that America's youths are leaning into a "turn on, tune in, drop out" counterculture in their search for answers -- and God. Smith opens the doors of his conservative church to the flower children, helping to spark a spiritual awakening movement across the United States. One of those who sees the light is Greg Laurie ( Joel Courtney ), an older teen who's lost and often high. It's through Greg's connection with his girlfriend, Cathe ( Anna Grace Barlow ), that he finds Calvary Chapel and God, leading him to turn his life around.

Is It Any Good?

Part history lesson, part biopic, this faith-based drama is likely to have wide appeal, even for secular viewers. It takes place in the five years between two Time magazine cover stories: The 1966 "Is God Dead?" issue, which investigated the abandonment of religion in America, and the 1972 "The Jesus Revolution" article about hippies whose pursuit of peace and love transformed into a higher love with Christ, as they took to the streets to spread "the good news" and got baptized in droves. Adapted from Greg Laurie's same-named autobiographical novel, it begins with the point of view of the skeptical reporter writing the second article, who is astounded at how a generation of young people who disengaged from society and were considered the outcasts of American culture wound up finding fellowship with the most buttoned-up conservatives of the country. And the way the Erwin brothers (producer Andrew and writer-director Jon) -- the faith industry's dream team -- lay it out, the situation is both knock-you-over-with-a-feather surprising and makes-total-sense affirming.

This drama is almost certain to energize and inspire the Christian crowd, but it's also likely to captivate those who tend to avoid films about religion. That's both because it's very well made and because there's an honesty and accountability here. Jesus Revolution depicts real people and real things that happened. It shows us church leaders who weren't making good decisions, who were in over their heads, who had the will but not the skill, who thought too much of themselves, who were imperfect. And the filmmakers take their own community to task, showing what occurred decades ago to suggest that similar mistakes are being made in the present. But the film also suggests that similar success can happen again if we follow the Bible's No. 1 directive to "love one another." Without anyone in the film ever saying it, viewers will still get the message that the only way to heal deep cultural and political divisions is to stop judging and start loving because, yep, that's what Jesus would do.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about why the United States was in turmoil from 1966 to 1972. In what ways was the country divided at that time? How does that compare to the United States now?

Who do you consider to be role models in the movie? What character strengths do they demonstrate?

What is a Madonna-whore complex, and how does it play out in the media? Which characterizations fall into this cliché in Jesus Revolution ? Why can these archetypes be damaging?

How does Jesus Revolution compare to other faith-based films you've seen? What message do you think audiences of faith will take away? What about secular viewers?

Movie Details

In theaters : February 24, 2023
On DVD or streaming : April 24, 2023
Cast : Joel Courtney , Kelsey Grammer , Jonathan Roumie
Directors : Jon Erwin , Brent McCorkle
Inclusion Information : Middle Eastern/North African actors
Studio : Lionsgate
Genre : Drama
Topics : Book Characters , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Humility , Teamwork
Run time : 120 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : strong drug content involving teens and some thematic elements.
Last updated : June 23, 2024

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‘Jesus Revolution’ – Plugged In Director Adam Holz Discusses the Film

The film Jesus Revolution has outperformed Hollywood expectations at the box office, and movie audiences are giving the film high ratings.

As Focus on the Family’s Plugged In reported :

Those who buy the tickets loved the film (as did Plugged In ). Jesus Revolution is thus far registering a 99% ‘freshness’ rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes and an A+ mark from CinemaScore.

The movie has several story lines; one follows Chuck Smith, played by Kelsey Grammar, a struggling pastor in Costa Mesa in 1970. Smith opens his church, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa , in Southern California, to young people from the “counterculture movement” of that era, including a charismatic, Spirit-filled hippie – Lonnie Frisbee, played by The Chosen’s Jonathan Roumie.

Their lives intersect with a young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) and his girlfriend Cathe Martin (Anna Grace Barlow), and they all become swept up in the Jesus Movement. The Calvary Chapel Association has now grown from Smith’s small church to more than 1,800 fellowships around the world.

Greg Laura has pastored Harvest Christian Fellowship , in Riverside, California, for 50 years and has preached the gospel to millions at Harvest Crusades . Laurie recently told Fox News:

I hope my story can inspire young people in difficult circumstances to know that God can intervene in their life and change their story.

The Daily Citizen spoke with Plugged In Director Adam Holz about the film. Here’s the second part of that interview, where we discussed the quality of the film, what we can learn from it, who should see the movie and some discussion points for families.

You can read part one, here.

Daily Citizen: Plugged In rates films on issues that might concern parents – sex, violence, substance abuse, language, spiritual content – but rarely do you rate the overall quality of a film. Christian films can have a reputation for being preachy and not quite up to Hollywood filmmaking quality. How do you rate Jesus Revolution in terms of the story, filmmaking, entertainment and overall quality? Is it preachy – like watching a sermon, or is it a good film?

Adam Holz: I think it’s among the best Christian movies I’ve seen; it’s a film with very high production values. Codirector Jon Erwin knows how to tell a story that’s faith-focused, and yet one that also has the ability to connect with viewers who aren’t necessarily in the evangelical fold.

I think this film, more than many Christian films, has the ability to tell a story that could potentially draw in viewers who otherwise haven’t given Christianity much of a chance. It’s not preachy, it doesn’t feel like a sermon, and it’s a genuinely well-made film about a hugely important moment in our country’s history.

DC: Do you have any takeaways from the film about what we can learn about God and ourselves?

Holz: Perhaps the biggest is how easily we can become hardened and judgmental, even as we try to be effective ambassadors for the Gospel. It’s so easy—it’s very naturally, actually—to get set in our ways and to be unable to see how God is at work in people whose lives and experiences are very different than our own.

I think this story reminds us of that and challenges us to be humble, to be receptive and to look for opportunities to love and accept people whom we might otherwise be tempted to judge or exclude in some way.

DC: Should families see Jesus Revolution together? What age is it appropriate for? And do you have any suggestions for discussion points for parents?

Holz: I think families with mature tweens and teens could and perhaps should see it together. The movie is rated PG-13 primarily due to references to LSD use, an important piece of the countercultural movement in that season.

The movie doesn’t glorify drug use or really show it directly, but we certainly have a couple of scenes where multiple people are under the influence. In that sense, the filmmakers have sought to tell a true story about that time that doesn’t completely sanitize those elements, nor does it focus on them gratuitously or glorify them.

As for discussion points or questions, I think parents could talk with their children about these questions:

What did some of the characters turn to in their attempts to fill themselves and find real meaning in life? How did those various approaches work?
What do we choose in order to fill that vacant space inside? How are those things (and perhaps screens in particular) similar to or different from the things we see in this movie?
What are some of the barriers that keep us from trusting God fully? What are some of the hurdles we see in this film, and how do we see similar things in our own lives?
Do you think it’s easy to trust God to fill that empty spot, what French philosopher and theologian Blaise Pascal called a “God-shaped vacuum” in our hearts? Why or why not?
Why do you think that the counterculture movement often blended drug use and sexually promiscuous behavior? What, if anything, do you think is the connection between those two behaviors?
What issues do you think make it hard or challenging to follow God today?
How does this story encourage you in your own faith journey?

DC: Any other thoughts about the movie you’d like to share?

Holz: I think Jesus Revolution is among the best faith-oriented films I’ve seen.

It’s not cheesy or preachy, and the characters here all have flaws that make them relatable. None of them are squeaky-clean “saints” who’ve never struggled or whose faith magically makes everything work.

Instead, we see people with real flaws and issues who meet Jesus and begin to experience his healing power. They’re able to “taste and see that the Lord is good” ( Psalm 34:8 , ESV), even though life sometimes has difficult moments and rough edges to endure.

I think this film will encourage Christians, especially, to hang on to their faith and to tell others about Jesus.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Johnston

Jeff Johnston is a culture and policy analyst for Focus on the Family and a staff writer for the Daily Citizen. He researches, writes and teaches about topics of concern to families such as parental rights, religious freedom, LGBT issues, education and free speech. Johnston has been interviewed by CBS Sunday Morning, The New York Times, Associated Press News, The Christian Post, Rolling Stone and Vice, and is a frequent guest on radio and television outlets. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from San Diego State University with a Bachelors in English and a Teaching Credential. He and his wife have been married 30 years and have three grown sons.

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Jesus Revolution Parent Guide

Filled with scenes of radiant conversions, this movie also examines the challenges that come as new beliefs come into conflict with messy realities..

Theaters: In the 1970's, a preacher opens his church doors to the wandering hippies who have descended on California, leading to a spiritual awakening for a generation.

Release date February 24, 2023

Run Time: 120 minutes

Get Content Details

The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kirsten hawkes.

When Janette Smith (Ally Ioannides) brings home a hitchhiker named Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), her father is taken aback. Unsettled by the cultural turmoil of the late 1960s, Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammar) is particularly mystified by hippies and is unsure how to relate to a long-haired man with an unkempt beard sitting in his living room. As Pastor Smith speaks with Frisbee, he realizes that he has a deep knowledge of the Bible and a sincere determination to share its hope-filled message with anyone who wants to be transformed by the love of God.

Humbled by the young man’s profound faith, Pastor Smith opens up his church, providing a warm welcome to anyone who wishes to attend, be they barefoot, homeless, or addicted. Some of his congregants are horrified, but others embrace the new adherents, and the church begins a period of explosive growth, spawning a revival movement across the state.

Jesus Revolution is based on a true story, a Christian revival movement that began in Chuck Smith’s Calvary Chapel. The movie does a fine job of capturing the excitement of the period, as open-hearted, fresh-faced young people flock to the “good news” of the Christian gospel. There are joyful baptisms and bursting chapels and radiant smiles. There are also marital problems, financial stresses, institutional strains, interpersonal rivalries, and the everyday irritations that are bound to occur when people try their faltering best to reach imprecise but lofty goals.

The most interesting part of the film comes when the euphoria of conversion crashes against the rocks of messy reality. As Frisbee and Smith disagree on how services should be conducted; as charismatic spirituality conflicts with institutional stability, the two men find themselves at odds. When they battle over whose church Calvary is, it seems possible that pride and arrogance could destroy their ministry. Laurie also learns that religious faith won’t protect him against heartache – and he struggles to regain the hope and joy that animated his initial conversion. If this movie spent less time on beatific smiles and more on excavating the bedrock of faith in trying times, it would be a better film.

Don’t get me wrong: Jesus Revolution isn’t a terrible film. Given my routine complaints about plastic, paint-by-numbers Christian movies, this should be seen as a compliment. The script’s overriding message – that Christianity isn’t a country club for the comfortable but a welcoming refuge for those on the margins – is both relevant and timely. Hopefully, the story’s emphasis on inclusion and empathy will be a wake-up call for those of us in the pews who might have slipped into complacency or self-righteousness. Whether viewers share Smith and Laurie’s particular variety of Christianity is less important than the movie’s reminder of the basic tenet of all Christian denominations: love of God and love of neighbor.

About author

Kirsten hawkes, watch the trailer for jesus revolution.

Jesus Revolution Rating & Content Info

Why is Jesus Revolution rated PG-13? Jesus Revolution is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for strong drug content involving teens and some thematic elements

Violence: People are shown driving under the influence of drugs and later of alcohol. A drunk driver is involved in a car accident and is later shown with bandages and scars. A person has a seizure after using drugs. Sexual Content: None. Profanity: None. Alcohol / Drug Use: Drugs are frequently discussed as is addiction. Teenagers are shown using drugs and driving under the influence. A young person has a seizure as a result of taking drugs. Characters smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. An adult is seen intoxicated on several occasions.

Page last updated January 23, 2024

Jesus Revolution Parents' Guide

Do you have religious beliefs? Do you share them with your family or did you seek them out independently? Have you experienced a strong religious conversion? How do you retain your sense of commitment?

You can see how closely the movie sticks to real events in the links below:

History vs Hollywood: Jesus Revolution (2023)

The Cinemaholic: Is Jesus Revolution Based on a True Story?

Religious revivals have ebbed and flowed across the United States. For more information about this manifestation of Christian zeal, you can read these articles:

Brewminate: The Four “Great Awakenings” in American Christian History

Share Faith: What Sparked These 5 Great American Revivals ?

The New York Times: “Woodstock” for Christians: Revival Draws Thousands to Kentucky Town

Loved this movie? Try these books…

The film is based on the book Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today by Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn. Greg tells his life story in Lost Boy and provides Christian insight in Every Day with Jesus, Breakfast with Jesus, and As It Is in Heaven: How Eternity Brings Focus to What Really Matters.

Chuck Smith shares his life’s experiences in Chuck Smith: A Memoir of Grace.

Lonnie Frisbee shares his perspective on his ministry in Not By Might Nor By Power: The Jesus Revolution, which he co-authored with Roger Sachs. Other books by Frisbee and Sachs include The Great Commission and Set Free.

Episode 170: A Look at Jesus Revolution

The new Christian movie Jesus Revolution lands in theaters on Friday. The Plugged In team takes a look at this film and explains why it may be worth your time and money. Adam Holz then shares his Hollywood interviews with actors Jonathan Roumie, Joel Barlow, and Anna Grace Barlow.

Get more episode resources: http:// www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-169/

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