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You heard it here first: Easter deserves better. For some reason, this glorious holiday has been shunted aside in favor of much less deserving days of celebration. There is a serious lack of Easter movies and TV shows out there, especially compared to peer holidays such as Halloween. I know it’s not as big of a deal as Christmas, but Easter deserves better. It is arguably the most important day of the year in the Christian calendar, and if that’s not your scene, think of all the games and the chocolate. Easter has top-tier snacks: Peeps, Cadbury creme eggs, jelly beans… The list goes on. Not to mention the egg hunt extravaganza itself.
So, where are all the Easter movies? Luckily, we searched far and wide (a.k.a. did a Netflix deep dive) and found the Easter movies you can’t miss. While we wait for more of the Easter content we all deserve, here are the Netflix movies that you should watch while you enjoy your winnings from this year’s egg hunt.
'Hop' (2011)
CAST: Starring James Marsden, Russell Brand, and Kaley Cuoco
RATING: PG
DESCRIPTION: Hop is definitively the Polar Express of Easter, minus the horrifying puppet scene. It follows the heir to the Easter Bunny title, who would rather be a drummer than a public figure. Like all aspiring musicians, he escapes to Los Angeles, where he crashes on the couch of unemployed Fred. The two have to save themselves and eventually, Easter Island, from a coup at the hands of Carlos the Chick.
'Come Sunday' (2018)
CAST: Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, Condola Rashad, and Jason Segel
RATING: TV-14
DESCRIPTION: Come Sunday is a Netflix original film about the excommunication of Carlton Pearson. It is based on the true story of an evangelical bishop who preached that even those who had not been “saved” would not burn in Hell. This sentiment branded him as a heretic, causing personal and professional problems for Pearson. However, the controversy makes for a fascinating biopic and an illuminating take on organized religion that will complement the more secular aspects of any Easter celebration.
'Joseph: King of Dreams' (2000)
CAST: Ben Affleck, Mark Hamill, and Richard Herd
RATING: Not rated
DESCRIPTION: If The Prince of Egypt was a disproportionately large part of your childhood like it was for me (Catholic school), then you need to watch this Easter-worthy prequel/spin-off film. Joseph: King of Dreams adapts the biblical story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis. Joseph is the youngest and favorite of 12 sons, earning him resentment from his brothers. Despite being exiled, his special abilities help the pharaoh protect his kingdom from natural disasters. If Broadway is your Bible, this story is also the source material for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and the songs in this movie are just as fun.
'Monty Python's Life of Brian' (1979)
CAST: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, and Terry Gilliam
RATING: R
DESCRIPTION: Life of Brian is one of many masterpieces by the famed British comedy group, Monty Python. If you know anything about Mounty Python, you will be aware that you are in for a hilarious treat… and you might want to leave the kids at home (or in another room with their Easter loot) for this one. The film follows Brian, a young Jewish man who happens to be born on the same day as Jesus, is his next-door neighbor, and is mistaken for the Messiah. If you’re more into religious satire than religion itself, this is the Easter movie for you. Upon its release and subsequent allegations of blasphemy, the film promoted itself as, “So funny, it was banned in Norway!” That review still holds up today.
'Over the Moon' (2020)
CAST: Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo, and Ken Jeong
RATING: PG
DESCRIPTION: Over The Moon will not only give you your Easter Bunny fix, but it will prepare you for the upcoming Academy Awards. This Oscar-nominated Netflix original film features Hamilton star Phillipa Soo, so you already know you’re in for a family sing-a-long. The plot follows Fei Fei and her family as they prepare for a Moon Festival in their village. Sadly, Fei Fei’s mother becomes sick and gives her daughter a rabbit named Bungee before passing away. In memory of her mother, Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon to prove that the Moon Goddess is real after all.
'The Young Messiah' (2016)
CAST: Sara Lazzaro, Vincent Walsh, and Adam Greaves-Neal
RATING: PG-13
DESCRIPTION: The Young Messiah follows a young Jesus upon his return to Nazareth from Egypt. If you’re looking for a biblical drama to watch on Easter, this cerebral film is your best bet. The Young Messiah explores Jesus’s childhood and his process of realizing the significance of his future. It also examines his relationship with his mother, Mary, who is tasked with telling Jesus that he is the son of God and preparing him for what lies ahead.
'Watership Down' (2018)
CAST: James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, and John Boyega
RATING: PG
DESCRIPTION: This adaptation of Watership Down, both the novel and the 1978 film, is technically a limited series. However, it’s too Easter appropriate to be left off this list. This Netflix and BBC collaboration consists of four hour-long episodes, so if the Snyder Cut can be considered a movie, you can watch this in one sitting as well. Watership Down follows a warren (yes, that’s the word for a group of rabbits) of bunnies as they search for a new place to live. It is as heartbreaking as the synopsis makes it sound, so if you’re looking for a tearjerking reminder of how adorable the Easter Bunny’s relatives are, this is going to be your jam.
