You’ve probably seen a dozen versions of the greatest story ever told. Some are brutal, like Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Others are quiet and old-school. But then there’s the Son of God movie, which came out in 2014 and basically broke the mold for how faith-based films make it to the big screen.
It wasn’t born in a Hollywood boardroom. Honestly, it was born on the History Channel.
Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey had this massive hit with their miniseries The Bible. It was pulling in millions of viewers. They realized they had enough footage—and some extra scenes they hadn't used—to craft a standalone feature film focused entirely on Jesus. So, they did.
The Portuguese Jesus who surprised everyone
When Diogo Morgado was cast as Jesus, the internet kind of lost its mind. People were calling him "Hot Jesus." It sounds a bit irreverent, but it actually spoke to the vibe of the Son of God movie. Morgado brought a certain warmth and approachable charisma that you don't always see in biblical epics.
He didn't just stand there looking stoic. He smiled. He laughed with the disciples.
Some critics, like those at The A.V. Club, thought it was a bit "chintzy" or felt too much like a TV production. But for the people in the pews? It worked. It felt personal. The movie follows the life of Christ from his humble birth to the dramatic resurrection, narrated by an elderly John the Apostle, played by Sebastian Knapp.
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What happened to the Devil?
Here’s a weird bit of trivia: if you watched the original The Bible miniseries, you might remember Satan. He was played by actor Mohamen Mehdi Ouazanni. After the episodes aired, social media blew up because people thought the actor looked suspiciously like President Barack Obama.
It became a huge, distracting controversy.
Mark Burnett and Roma Downey didn't want that drama overshadowing the Son of God movie. Their solution? They cut Satan out of the movie entirely. Every single frame.
Downey famously said she wanted the focus to be on Jesus, not a "look-alike" devil. This changed the pacing of the story significantly. Without the temptation in the desert, the film leans much harder into the "greatest hits" of the New Testament—the walking on water, the feeding of the five thousand, and the raising of Lazarus.
The sound of the Son of God movie
You can’t talk about this film without mentioning the music. Hans Zimmer worked on the score. Yes, the same Hans Zimmer who did Inception and The Dark Knight. He teamed up with Lorne Balfe and the hauntingly beautiful voice of Lisa Gerrard.
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The music is massive. It’s "thundering," as some reviewers put it.
It does a lot of the heavy lifting emotionally. In scenes where the budget might show its seams—like some of the CGI shots of ancient Jerusalem—the score steps in to make everything feel epic and high-stakes. It’s the kind of music that makes a simple walk across a field feel like a world-changing event.
Real criticism from the inside
Not everyone in the Christian community was sold on it, though. While organizations like Liberty University bought out entire theaters, some theologians were skeptical.
The main gripe? It was "Jesus-lite."
Answers in Genesis, for example, pointed out that the film skipped over a lot of the "why." Why did Jesus have to die? What was the deeper theological message? To some, the Son of God movie felt more like a highlight reel than a deep dive into the Gospel. They felt it focused too much on the miracles and not enough on the "repent and believe" part of the message.
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There were also some historical and scriptural tweaks that rubbed people the wrong way:
- The calling of Peter happens in a way that’s a bit different from the Synoptic Gospels.
- Mary Magdalene is shown as being almost the 13th apostle, which is a common cinematic choice but one that always sparks debate among traditionalists.
- The resurrection scene has a bit of a "ghostly" vibe where Jesus vanishes, rather than the more physical depictions found in other films.
Why it still matters today
Even with the mixed reviews—sitting at around a 21% on Rotten Tomatoes—the movie was a massive commercial success. It pulled in over $60 million domestically. That is a huge win for a film that was essentially a "re-mix" of a TV show.
It proved there was a massive, hungry audience for faith-based content that wasn't just "preachy," but felt like a real cinematic experience.
If you're planning to watch it, don't expect a gritty, historical reconstruction. This isn't a documentary. It’s a devotional piece of art. It’s designed to make you feel something, and for millions of people, it did exactly that.
Next steps for your viewing:
If you want the full experience, watch the The Bible miniseries first to see the context of the scenes that didn't make the theatrical cut. Then, compare the Son of God movie to The Passion of the Christ to see how two different directors handle the exact same source material—one focusing on the suffering, the other on the hope and the miracles. Finally, check out the soundtrack on its own; it's some of Zimmer's most underrated work.