The Ten Most Spiritually Literate Films
Ten More Spiritually Literate Films
The Ten Most Spiritually Literate Foreign Language Films
The Ten Most Spiritually Literate Documentaries
Ten More Spiritually Literate Documentaries
The Five Most Spiritually Literate Television Series
Each year we see hundreds of movies and review those we can recommend to you as good companions for your spiritual journey. We encourage you to see these movies in the theater or via DVD or a streaming service. Click on the links to read full reviews.
The Ten Most Spiritually Literate Films
Driveways
Directed by Andrew Ahn
A cinematic masterwork on dealing with transitions.
Farewell Amor
Directed by Ekwa Msangi
A touching family drama about the sacred power of dance.
Hearts and Bones
Directed by Ben Lawrence
A rich and immersive drama about two men dealing with the baggage of their pasts.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Directed by Eliza Hittman
A deeply touching film that illustrates the healing power of empathy.
Nomadland
Directed by Chloe Zhao
The remarkable odyssey of a fesity women who finds community and her true self on the road.
One Night in Miami
Directed by Regina King
A fictional recreation of a gathering of four Black leaders and their sometimes heated conversations about their goals and aspirations.
Palm Springs
Directed by Max Barbakow
A romantic comedy about two people forced to really live in the present moment.
Sorry We Missed You
Directed by Ken Loach
Story of an English family on the brink of financial collapse that will catalyze your empathy for poor and middle-class families.
Soul
Directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers
An animated masterpiece about a soul's adventure that will get you thinking and talking about the life and the afterlife, your passions and purpose, and the spark that sets it all going.
Sound of Metal
Directed by Darius Marder
A quietly powerful portrait of disability, addiction, and recovery.
Ten More Spiritually Literate Films
The Assistant
Directed by Kitty Green
A sobering study of power, complicity, and the enduring violence of silence.
Burden
Directed by Andrew Heckler
True story abuot a black Christian minister who practices love, forgiveness, and reconciliation by befriending a Ku Klux Klan member.
Da 5 Bloods
Directed by Spike Lee
A trouble portrait of the Vietnam war and its toxic impact on so many black soldiers who suffered there.
The Father
Directed by Florian Zeller
A drama with a mix of sunshine and shadows about a man facing dementia and his daughter struggling to provide him the care he refuses.
First Cow
Directed by Kelly Reichart
A gentle portait of budding friendship in an alienating landscape.
H is for Happiness
Directed by John Sheedy
A totally entertaining movie about a young teen who models resilience, kindness, and a vibrantly happy outlook.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Directed by George C. Wolfe
A fierce and poetic study of music, history, and racism.
News of the World
Directed by Paul Greengrass
Western about the healing power of storytelling and kindness as a spiritual practice.
Relic
Directed by Natalie Erika James
An imaginative and moving depiction of dementia's toll on a family.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Directed by Aaron Sorkin
Courtroom drama about the demonization of dissent which continues to this day.
The Ten Most Spiritually Literate Foreign Language Films
And Then We Danced
Directed by Levan Akin
A moving exploration of coming out queer in a tradition-drenched society.
Another Round
Directed by Thomas Vinterberg
A drunken tumble through midlife crises, which calls for dissection in community conversation.
Beanpole
Directed by Kantemir Balagov
A bleak but powerful exploration of post-war trauma.
Buoyancy
Directed by Rodd Rathjen
A harsh tale of contemporary slavery and human resiliency.
House of Hummingbird
Directed by Bora Kim
A coming-of-age story filled with small moments of spiritual wisdom, including a practice for times of sadness.
La Llorona
Directed by Jayro Bustamante
A ghost story with an urgent political message
Minari
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung
A touching slice-of-life story of a Korean-American family trying to create their own version of the American Dream.
The Mole Agent
Directed by Maite Alberdi
Docu-drama about a kind man skilled in listening who goes undercover in a nursing home.
Out Stealing Horses (Ut og Stjæle Hester)
Directed by Hans Petter Moland
An enigmatic meditation on memory.
The Truth
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
A subtle exploration of art, artificiality, and complicated interpersonal dynamics.
The Ten Most Spiritually Literate Documentaries
All In: The Fight for Democracy
Directed by Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes
Informative documentary on the history of voting rights and the threats to it in our time.
Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You
Directed by Thom Zimny
A rousing and rockin' documentary in which Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band record a new album and the Boss offers spiritual commentary on the songs.
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution
Directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht
An uplifting story of disability rights advocates and their ongoing fight for justice.
David Byrne's American Utopia
Directed by Spike Lee
An inspiring musical trip through a creative new vision for building beloved community.
I Am Greta
Directed by Nathan Grossman
An enlightening documentary about a passionate young prophet for eco-justice.
John Lewis: Good Trouble
Directed by Dawn Porter
An inspiring documentary about a moral leader who modeled an ethic of love, nonviolence, and hope.
My Octopus Teacher
Directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed
A documentary illustrating the spiritual practice of reverence by a diver observing an octopus for a year.
The Social Dilemma
Directed by Jeff Orlowski
Explanations and predictions from some of the creators of social media about the consequences of our growing dependence upon digital communications.
Time
Directed by Garrett Bradley
An intimate account of mass incarceration’s toll on one family and a celebration of the power of love
What the Constitution Means to Me
Directed by Marielle Heller
Live Broadway cast production of a play about how the personal becomes political.
Ten More Spiritually Literate Documentaries
City Hall
Directed by Frederick Wiseman
A detailed documentary showing the many things a city government does for its citizens.
Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy
Directed by Elizabeth Carroll
A look at the lively life of the world's leading expert on Mexican food.
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind
Directed by Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni
A music-packed documentary revealing all the reasons to love the songs of the legendary Canadian musician.
Gunda
Directed by Victor Kossakovsky
A mesmerizing study of animal sentience.
Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something
Directed by Rick Korn
A portrait of the singer/songwriter whose story songs and humanitarian activism prove to be equally inspiring.
Jimmy Carter: Rock 'n' Roll President
Directed by Mary Wharton
A rollicking documentary about the former president's love of music and hospitality to musicians.
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life
Directed by Rick Burns
A fascinating overview of the life and work of a Renaissance Man.
A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps
Directed by Alana DeJoseph
An enlightening and inspiring 60-year history of the Peace Corps.
The Truffle Hunters
Directed by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw
An absolutely charming cinematic romp with elders and their dogs hunting for a rare delicacy.
Welcome to Chechnya
Directed by David France
A gripping documentary about LGBTQ genocide and a brave band of human rights activists trying to rescue those affected.
The Five Most Spiritually Literate Television Series
The Good Lord Bird
Directed by Ethan Hawke
A rousing, ribald, and immensely engaging miniseries on the crusade of abolitionist John Brown to free America's slaves.
Little America
Directed by Various Directors
A joyous collection of portraits of immigrant experiences inspired by true stories.
Roadkill
Directed by Michael Keillor
A political thriller that raises questions about our tolerance for corruption.
Small Axe
Directed by Steve McQueen
A powerful anthology of stories about the challenges faced by and the triumphs scored by the West Indian community in London in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
The Queen's Gambit
Directed by Scott Frank
A gripping miniseries revolving around a young woman's success in the previously all-male world of chess tournaments due to her determination, persistent study, and a little help from her friends.