If you walked into a Christian bookstore back in 2014, you couldn't escape the Newsboys' anthem or that little indie film that somehow toppled Hollywood giants. It started with a simple premise: a college student vs. an atheist professor. Now, years later, the franchise has morphed into something much bigger, and honestly, a bit more complicated to track. If you're scrolling through streaming services trying to figure out how many God's Not Dead movies are there, the answer isn't as straightforward as a simple trilogy.
As of early 2026, there are five official feature films in the God's Not Dead franchise.
That might surprise people who tuned out after the second or third one. Most casual viewers remember Kevin Sorbo's dramatic showdown in the first film, but the series has actually traveled from college classrooms to courtrooms and all the way to the halls of Congress. It’s been a wild ride for Pinnacle Peak Pictures (formerly Pure Flix), and they don't seem to be stopping anytime soon.
The Full List of God's Not Dead Movies
Keeping these in order is kinda like following a long-running TV procedural. While the main character of the series is technically Reverend Dave Hill (played by David A.R. White), the "opponent" changes every single time. Here is the breakdown of the five films that have been released so far.
1. God's Not Dead (2014)
The one that started it all. You've got Josh Wheaton, a freshman who refuses to sign a paper saying "God is dead" for his philosophy class. Professor Radisson, played with peak intensity by Kevin Sorbo, makes him defend his faith in front of the whole class. It was a massive hit, raking in over $60 million on a tiny budget.
🔗 Read more: The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads: Why This Live Album Still Beats the Studio Records
2. God's Not Dead 2 (2016)
This time, the fight moves to a high school. Melissa Joan Hart plays Grace Wesley, a teacher who answers a student's question about Jesus and ends up in a massive legal battle. It brought back some familiar faces and cemented the idea that these movies were going to tackle "ripped from the headlines" religious freedom cases.
3. God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness (2018)
This one felt different. It was darker, more somber. A fire destroys St. James Church on a university campus, and Reverend Dave has to deal with the school trying to kick them off the land. Unlike the first two, it actually focuses more on internal struggle and reconciliation than just winning a debate.
4. God's Not Dead: We the People (2021)
Released during the height of the streaming shift, this installment took a sharp turn into political territory. It centers on homeschooling families being targeted by the government. It felt very much like a product of its time—very focused on parental rights and government overreach.
5. God's Not Dead: In God We Trust (2024)
The most recent entry in the saga. After years of being the "pastor who helps," Reverend Dave finally steps into the political ring himself. The plot follows him running for a seat in Congress. It’s basically the culmination of his character arc from a local pastor to a national figure. It also brought back Ray Wise as the antagonist, Peter Kane, who originally appeared in the second movie.
💡 You might also like: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
Why Do People Keep Asking How Many There Are?
The confusion usually stems from how these movies were released. The first two were big theatrical events. You probably saw the posters at your local Cinemark. But by the time We the People came out, the distribution model had shifted.
Fathom Events handled some limited theatrical runs for the later films, but many fans only discovered them once they hit Pure Flix or Great American Pure Flix (their new home). If you only watch what's on Netflix, you might think the series ended years ago. Honestly, the franchise has become a staple of the "faith-based streaming" world more than the summer blockbuster world.
The Continuity Question
Do you have to watch them in order? Not really.
While David A.R. White’s character, Reverend Dave, is the connective tissue, each movie is mostly a standalone story. You can jump from the first one straight to the fifth without being totally lost, though you'll miss out on why Dave has so many gray hairs now. The movies function more like "case studies" in faith rather than a serialized epic.
📖 Related: Who was the voice of Yoda? The real story behind the Jedi Master
What’s Next for the Franchise?
With five movies in the bag, rumors are always swirling about a sixth. There was a lot of buzz online about a title called Rise Up, which eventually evolved into the fifth movie, In God We Trust. As of right now, there hasn't been an official greenlight for a "God's Not Dead 6," but given how well these perform on streaming platforms, it’s a safe bet that Dave Hill isn't done with his crusade just yet.
If you’re looking to catch up, the best place to find the entire collection is usually through the Great American Pure Flix app. They’ve consolidated most of the franchise there. Occasionally, the older ones pop up on Amazon Prime or Peacock, but they tend to rotate in and out.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night
- Check your subscriptions: See if you have Great American Pure Flix or a similar faith-based streamer to watch the newer entries like We the People and In God We Trust.
- Watch the 2014 original first: If it’s been a decade, the first film is still the best place to start to understand the "debate" format the series is known for.
- Look for the 5-Movie Collection: Physical media fans can often find DVD bundles that include all five films, which is usually cheaper than buying them individually on digital stores.
Regardless of where you stand on the politics or the theology, the sheer longevity of this series is impressive. Five movies in twelve years is a pace most Hollywood franchises would envy.