You probably know Dallas Jenkins as the guy who made The Chosen. It’s the show that basically rewrote the rules of how people watch—and pay for—television. But if you think his career started and ended with a viral crowdfunding campaign and a blue fish logo, you’re actually missing out on a pretty wild ride.
Jenkins didn't just wake up one day and decide to film the New Testament. Honestly, he spent nearly twenty years trying to "make it" in the traditional Hollywood machine, and for a long time, that machine didn't really know what to do with him.
The Rough Early Years and "Successful" Failures
Dallas Jenkins was basically born into the world of faith-based media. His dad, Jerry B. Jenkins, co-authored the Left Behind series, which was a massive cultural juggernaut in the nineties.
Dallas took a different path, though. He wanted to be behind the camera. Back in 2000, at only 25 years old, he produced Hometown Legend. It was a high school football drama, sort of a precursor to the Friday Night Lights era. Surprisingly, it got picked up by Warner Brothers. That's a huge deal for a kid with a small indie project.
But things weren't exactly a straight line to the top.
In 2006, he directed Midnight Clear, starring Stephen Baldwin. It was based on a short story by his father and released by Lionsgate. Then came What If... in 2010. You might remember that one—it featured Kevin Sorbo as a businessman who gets a glimpse of the life he could have had if he’d followed a different calling. It was successful in its niche, but it didn't set the world on fire.
The real turning point, or at least the one Dallas often calls his "biggest failure," was The Resurrection of Gavin Stone (2017).
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He had the backing of Blumhouse Tilt and Walden Media. He had Brett Dalton from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and WWE legend Shawn Michaels. It was a Christian comedy-drama that actually tried to be funny and self-aware. Jenkins thought this was his big break. Hollywood was ready to give him a multi-movie deal if it performed.
It bombed.
Hard.
The movie only made about $2.3 million at the box office. The deal evaporated. The phone stopped ringing. He went from being the "next big thing" in faith films to wondering if he should even be in the industry.
The Short Film That Changed Everything
While reeling from the Gavin Stone disaster, Jenkins went back to basics. He made a low-budget short film for his church’s Christmas Eve service. It was called The Shepherd.
It wasn't flashy. It was just a gritty, messy look at the birth of Christ through the eyes of a disabled shepherd. No one expected it to go viral. But when VidAngel (now Angel Studios) saw it, they realized they had something special.
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This short film became the pilot for The Chosen.
We all know what happened next. It became the most successful crowdfunded media project in history. It has reached hundreds of millions of people. But Dallas didn't stop at just directing the show; he started building a literal universe.
The Chosen Spin-offs and the "5&2 Studios" Era
By 2024 and 2025, it became clear that The Chosen was just the flagship. Jenkins launched 5&2 Studios to manage a massive slate of new content. This isn't just about Jesus anymore; it’s about the whole Bible.
- The Chosen Adventures: An animated series for kids featuring 9-year-old Abby in Capernaum. It’s got a surprising voice cast, including Paul Walter Hauser and Jordin Sparks.
- The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls: This one sounds like a fever dream, but it's real. Bear Grylls takes cast members into the wild to talk about their lives and characters.
- The Way of the Chosen: A sequel series that picks up after the Resurrection, following the Book of Acts.
- Old Testament Projects: They’ve announced a three-season show on Moses and a limited series on Joseph.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: A Return to Film
In late 2024, Jenkins finally returned to the big screen with The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. This was a passion project he’d been trying to make for fifteen years.
He managed to get Lionsgate back on board, along with Kingdom Story Company. It starred Judy Greer and Lauren Graham. Unlike Gavin Stone, this one actually landed. Critics liked it. Families loved it. It managed to be "Christian" without being "preachy," which is sort of Jenkins' signature move now.
It tells the story of the Herdmans—the "worst kids in the history of the world"—who highjack a local church's Christmas pageant. It’s funny, but it hits that emotional gut-punch at the end that Jenkins is known for.
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Complete List of Dallas Jenkins Movies and TV Shows
If you're trying to track down his work, here is the breakdown of his key projects as a director or producer.
Feature Films
- Hometown Legend (2000) – Producer
- Midnight Clear (2006) – Director/Writer
- What If... (2010) – Director
- The Resurrection of Gavin Stone (2017) – Director
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) – Director/Writer
TV and Streaming
- The Chosen (2017–Present) – Creator/Director/Writer
- The Chosen Adventures (Animated Series) – Executive Producer
- The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls (2025) – Executive Producer
- The Way of the Chosen (In Development) – Executive Producer
Notable Shorts and Specials
- The Shepherd (2017) – The short that started The Chosen
- Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers (2021) – Theatrical Special
- Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night (2023) – Theatrical Special
What You Should Watch First
If you’re new to his work, don't just jump into the middle of The Chosen. Start with the pilot short, The Shepherd. It’s about 20 minutes long and explains exactly why the show feels different from every other "Bible movie" you’ve seen. It’s dirty, it’s human, and it’s relatable.
If you want a laugh, check out The Resurrection of Gavin Stone. Even though it didn't do well at the box office, it’s actually a pretty solid movie. It pokes fun at church culture in a way that feels like it’s coming from an insider who actually likes the people he’s teasing.
Practical Steps for Viewers
If you want to keep up with the "Chosen Universe," here is how to navigate it in 2026:
- Download The Chosen App: This is still the primary way to watch the main show for free. They've integrated a lot of the 5&2 Studios updates there.
- Look for Theatrical Events: Jenkins loves the "Fathom Events" style release. Many of the season premieres and finales for The Chosen hit theaters before they hit the app.
- Check Out the Animated Series: If you have kids, The Chosen Adventures is actually designed to bridge the gap between Sunday school and actual storytelling.
Dallas Jenkins basically proved that you don't need a permission slip from a major studio to build a global audience. He took the "two fish and five loaves" philosophy and turned it into a massive media empire that’s still growing. Whether you're religious or not, the sheer scale of what he's built from the ashes of a "failed" career is something to pay attention to.