The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Kernel Score: 84% · 5,030 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Drama

Released: 2004-02-25

Runtime: 127 minutes

Is The Passion of the Christ worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A graphic, harsh account of the last hours of Jesus's life, told in Aramaic and Latin. It's intense and powerfully made, but extremely violent, and your reaction will depend on your faith and tolerance for brutality.

Watch it if you

  • want a faith-based drama told in a raw way
  • can handle sustained, graphic violence
  • are interested in a serious take on the story

Skip it if you

  • dislike graphic suffering on screen
  • want a broader telling of Jesus's life

Best for: Serious solo viewing

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch The Passion of the Christ

  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

A graphic portrayal of the last twelve hours of Jesus of Nazareth's life.

The Passion of the Christ parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that The Passion of the Christ is an R-rated graphic depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, featuring intense torture and brutality.

  • Violence & scariness: Intense — Extremely graphic depiction of torture, brutality, and crucifixion central to the film's portrayal of Christ's final hours.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like The Passion of the Christ

If you liked The Passion of the Christ, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Jesus (1979) — 91%: A fuller, calmer telling of the Gospel story.
  • The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1965) — 85%: Austere, respected film of the Gospel of Matthew.
  • Ben-Hur (1959) — 88%: Classic epic with a Christ-centred storyline.
  • Hacksaw Ridge (2016) — 92%: Faith-driven true story with brutal action.
  • Silence (2016) — 79%: Serious drama about faith under pressure.
  • Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018) — 84%: Faith-based drama set in early Christianity.

Director

Mel Gibson

Cast

  • Jim Caviezel as Jesus
  • Maia Morgenstern as Maria
  • Christo Jivkov as Juan
  • Francesco De Vito as Pedro
  • Monica Bellucci as Magdalena
  • Mattia Sbragia as Caifás
  • Toni Bertorelli as Anás
  • Luca Lionello as Judas
  • Hristo Shopov as Poncio Pilato
  • Claudia Gerini as Claudia Procles

The Passion of the Christ FAQ

Is The Passion of the Christ worth watching?

Depends on your taste. A graphic, harsh account of the last hours of Jesus's life, told in Aramaic and Latin. It's intense and powerfully made, but extremely violent, and your reaction will depend on your faith and tolerance for brutality.

Where can I watch The Passion of the Christ?

In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is The Passion of the Christ OK for kids?

The Passion of the Christ is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Passion of the Christ is an R-rated graphic depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, featuring intense torture and brutality.

What movies are like The Passion of the Christ?

If you liked The Passion of the Christ, try Jesus, The Gospel According to St. Matthew, Ben-Hur and Hacksaw Ridge.