The 20 greatest all-time Easter movies

The Easter holiday (complete with stereotypical gifts of the season and a parade celebration) are the backdrop for this popular musical film starring a couple of Hollywood superstars in Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. Gene Kelly was originally slated to star opposite Garland, but suffered an injury before the film began shooting. Astaire, who came out of retirement for the role, more than held his own. Memorable numbers, written by Irving Berlin, from the film include "Steppin' Out with My Baby" and the title song.

An Easter tradition like chocolate eggs and butter lamb, there is just something right about knowing this Cecil B. DeMille epic biblical drama will be airing on this special Sunday. Spanning nearly five hours on network television (on ABC, who has aired the film on the Saturday night prior to Easter Sunday nearly every year since 1973), this iconic Charlton Heston-led classic about the life of Moses also features some exceptional supporting performances by Yul Brynner (Rameses II), Anne Baxter (Nefretiri) and Edward G. Robinson as the highly entertaining Dathan. Once Easter dinner is done and it's time to stretch out on the couch, flip on The Ten Commandments as appropriate background noise. 

More from Charlton Heston, this time in his Academy Award-winning role as the fictional Judah Ben-Hur, the Jewish prince who meets Jesus and tries to restore his family name against the Roman Empire. One of the most elaborate films of all time, and the most expensive ($15.175 million budget, or about $160 million in 2024) movie at the time, the religious aspect and time-period setting makes it appropriate for Easter season. This epic picture, known for the most legendary onscreen chariot race of all time, won 11 Academy Awards and remains a memorable viewing experience after all these years. 

One of the great biblical films of all time, and one of the most in-depth regarding the life of Jesus — from his celebrated birth to resurrection to the ascension. Originally a radio program from the mid-to-late 1940s, the movie version has become a rite of passage during the Easter season, and Holy Week in particular. It's an epic film about religion, so, of course, Charlton Heston is involved — though not as Jesus (who is portrayed quite well by Max von Sydow), but John the Baptist. Other Hollywood stars of the time featured: Dorothy McGuire (the Virgin Mary), Claude Rains (Herod the Great), Telly Savalas (Pontius Pilate) and Sidney Poitier (Simon of Cyrene).

Here's why we included the term "specials" in the title of this list. Based on the 1957 novel The Easter Bunny That Overslept, this stop-motion animated special (from the legendary Rankin/Bass studio) first aired in April 1971 and tells the story of Easter Bunny Peter Cottontail. The ambitious Peter is awarded some increased responsibility, with plenty of challenges to be faced, as the holiday approaches. Legendary disc jockey Casey Kasem voices Peter, while Danny Kaye and Vincent Price are also featured. 

The film version of the 1970 concept album from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber highlights the cult aspect of Jesus' followers while offering a modern-day chronicle of his final days. Ted Neeley's career-defining role as Jesus was good, but Broadway veteran Carl Anderson steals the show as the conflicted Judas Iscariot. Meanwhile, co-star Yvonne Elliman earned acclaim for the creepily poignant "I Don't Know How to Love Him." Other musical highlights include the Jesus-Judas tug amid the "The Last Supper" and iconic "Superstar." Fun fact: Philip Toubus, who played Peter in the movie, went on to become a Hall of Fame adult-film actor and director — under the stage name Paul Thomas. 

Made-for-holidays television specials were all the rage in the 1970s and '80s, and animated Peanuts fare was popular then, and simply iconic to this very day. This particular classic sees Charlie Brown and Co. getting ready for Easter by coloring eggs, while Linus tries to convince the gang that the "Easter Beagle" is the key to a special holiday. The CBS primetime episode received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Children's Special, and remains a treat for all ages. 

In the spirit of The Greatest Story Ever Told, Jesus of Nazareth was a true television event during the late 1970s — and throughout a good chunk of the 1980s — during the Eastern holiday. Directed and co-written by the legendary Franco Zeffirelli, the British-Italian production initially was aired in miniseries form in the United States, Setting it apart from other films about Jesus' life, Jesus of Nazareth was more dramatic in its telling, focusing on — and somewhat taking liberties — with the attitudes and beliefs of such characters as Judas Iscariot  (Ian McShane) or Joseph of Arimathea (James Mason). The all-star cast also includes Robert Powell as Jesus, Anne Bancroft (Mary Magdalene), James Earl Jones (Balthazar) and Anthony Quinn (Caiaphas). 

One of the more creative and controversial takes on the adult life of Jesus. Another Martin Scorsese-Paul Schrader collaboration (coming more than a decade after Taxi Driver), there are those who either love, hate or seem completely "meh" about The Last Temptation of Christ. With Willem Dafoe in the starring role, Harvey Keitel as Judas and Barbara Hershey taking on Mary Magdalene, the movie depicts Jesus and the many temptations that test his faith versus humanity: lust, fear, anger, etc. The movie made more than $33 million and Scorsese was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director.

Not an obvious Easter movie, but the Easter Bunny actually plays a decent-sized role in this day-in-the-life Kevin Smith comedy about mall dwellers. In fact, at New Jersey's Eden Prairie Mall, the Easter Bunny display went up a few days after Christmas. Of course, the Mallrats version of the Easter Bunny is wrongfully accused of physically abusing Brodie Bruce (Jason Lee), who was actually beaten up by Shannon Hamilton (Ben Affleck), the creepy proprietor of Fashionable Male. Ultimately, it didn't matter — Jay and Silent Bob took matters into their own hands. 

This DreamWorks animated musical film is a condensed, modern-day, almost Cliff Notes version of The Ten Commandments. It follows the life of Moses in a straightforward manner that's pretty easy for a wide age range to grasp . This highly entertaining movie, complete with A-list voices from Val Kilmer  (Moses), Ralph Fiennes ( Rameses) and Sandra Bullock  (Miriam) — just to name a few — is also known for its stellar soundtrack, highlighted by the Oscar-winning "When You Believe,"  performed by Whitney Houston   and Mariah Carey.

This popular romantic drama, nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, and starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Deep, Judi Dench and Alfred Molina has two of the main Easter season topics well covered. It takes place during Lent, in the repressed fictional French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, and revolves around candy. In this case, the  chocolate shop run by Binoche's Vianne Rocher. Of course, those who gave up chocolate, or all sweets, for Lent might have a hard time watching this movie during those 40 days leading up to Easter. 

The response to director Mel Gibson's big-screen version of the final 12 days of Jesus' life was quite polarizing. It was hailed for its poignant, innovative, and borderline-scholarly approach to the story. At the same time, it was chided for what some critics and activists viewed as antisemitic-leaning with depictions of gratuitous violence and even a hint of incestuousness. Still, it had people talking and talking 20 years ago. It essentially introduced the world to Jim Caviezel (Jesus), who has since made some questionable career and personal moves, and remains the most successful Christian film of all time, making $612 million internationally.

Totally under the radar and likely not known by many, Hank and Mike has the potential to exude a guilty-pleasure vibe. Co-writers of this Canadian comedy, Thomas Michael and Paolo Mancini, also star as a couple of corporate Easter Bunnies, who are fired and turn to a series of odd jobs — since they apparently don't have any real employable skills other than dressing in a pink costume — to survive. Though rude, crude and generally dislikable, it's an interesting watch with the ability to stick on the viewer — or at least those with a bit of a twisted and juvenile sense of humor. 

Critics weren't big fans of this forgotten live-action/animated  fantasy comedy about young rabbit E.B. (Russell Brand), who has dreams of becoming a rock-and-roll drummer rather than follow in his father's footsteps as the next Easter Bunny. Though the plot is disjointed, there are some notable individual performances beyond Brand. Hank Azaria, as the voice as the Spanish Carlos the Chick and James Marsden, in human form, as the slacker who befriends E.B., both stand out. All we ask is give Hop a chance.

Part of the Ice Age franchise of films, Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade was released as a television special and is set after the fourth movie in the series, Ice Age: Continental Drift and Ice Age: Collision Course.  Manny (Ray Romano), Sid (John Leguizamo) and Diego (Denis Leary) are all back and getting ready for Easter by doing some egg-sitting of sorts. Of course, hilarity ensues and it's a truly a good time for all. Now, it's not necessary to see the other films in the  Ice Age series to enjoy this special — but it couldn't hurt. 

One of the more innovative angles to the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. In the case of the highly entertaining Risen , it's a drama that tells the story of Roman soldier Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), who is tasked with trying to find Jesus' body after it disappears from the tomb. Clavius is a conflicted character, who essentially oversaw the execution of Jesus' crucifixion, but finds himself wondering if the so-called "King of the Jews" actually rose from the dead. Fiennes is solid in just about everything he's done, even if still under the radar to a host of mainstream audiences. 

Let's give this movie an "A" for effort in trying to put a scholarly spin the tale of a sex worker-turned-dedicated follower of Jesus (played in this film by Joaquin Phoenix). One of the more recent biblical  dramas is worth a look to see how director Garth Davis tries to add depth to Mary Magdalene (solidly portrayed by the still-mystical Rooney Mara), doing so by digging deep into the person, and what she was really like — something more than a promiscuous groupie looking to belong. At times it works, but not consistently, though good enough to keep us involved.   

The beloved tale of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit was brought to life in recent years, and is one of the true stars of this list. This live-action animated take features a a rambunctious Peter (brilliantly played by James Corden), who has some maturing to do, but also uses his cunning and whimsical nature to help his family (of both animals and humans) find happiness. Another movie that should entertain viewers of all ages, while managing not to tarnish the legend of the original Peter Rabbit story.

Comedian Jo Koy might have dropped the ball as host of the Golden Globes Award ceremony, but his turn as a Hollywood leading man was more serviceable. Traditional holiday comedies involving a specific ethnic group have become more common over the last 25 years or so. In this case, Ko's Joe Valencia, a struggling comedian, actor and single father, and his dysfunctional and loud Filipino family break bread on Easter Sunday. Of course, plenty of drama and decent laughs result from the gathering. Yes, it's rather predictable, but entertaining nonetheless.