Get an intimate look into the lives of saints with these 9 movies available online for free
I’ve been binge-watching “Severance” and “The White Lotus” these past few weeks. And while the two series are hard to look away from, critically acclaimed, and filled with biting, thought-provoking commentary, they always leave me a bit perturbed. So, in the spirit of something more grounding, I’ve turned to Holy Week movies—specifically, free saint films that have been making the rounds on the tita Viber circuit.
The films are all easily accessible and free on YouTube. This is likely because the distribution rights have lapsed and entered the public domain, which tends to happen with older films.
READ: Channel ‘The White Lotus’ fashion for your ultimate summer wardrobe
While some of them bear the aesthetic of a different era, often with a grainy film or in black and white, the films tell powerful stories that are reverent in tone, which can be surprisingly transformative.
From luminous Oscar-winning films to light movies for the family, these Holy Week movies offer a kind of moral clarity that’s hard to come by these days.
1. “Joan of Arc” (1999)
Some may remember Leelee Sobieski in “Eyes Wide Shut.” For this 1999 film, she takes a totally different, virtuous turn, donning chainmail as the reverent St. Joan of Arc.
An undoubtedly epic film brimming with scenes of war, visions, trial, and eventual martyrdom, St. Joan of Arc was a French peasant girl who led the French army to victory against the English during the Hundred Years’ War. Despite this, St. Joan was captured and burned at the stake.
The moving epic might appeal to those who are fans of “Game of Thrones” in your household.
2. “The Reluctant Saint” (1962)
A personal favorite, “The Reluctant Saint” follows the life of St. Joseph (Giuseppe, as he is called in his Italian name) of Cupertino. Those familiar with the Cupertino Center for Special Children in Quezon City, a school for children with special needs, may be familiar with him.
Oscar-winner Maximilian Schell plays the simple-minded friar. Schell charms with his portrayal of complete innocence and a pure, gentle heart. Audiences will smile as the saint is thrust into the priesthood by divine intervention, when he only wants to stay in the stables to take care of the lambs.
Spoiler: The saint was also said to have levitated and flown about 70 times in his lifetime. As the patron saint of aviation, the mentally disabled, and test-takers, the movie watches with much heart, humor, and lessons of humility, showing how divine grace can work to bless the underdogs that society often looks down on.
3. “St. Paul” (2000)
Fans of the book of Corinthians can learn more about the life of Saint Paul the Apostle—once a fierce persecutor of Christians, struck blind on the road to Damascus, only to undergo a revelatory transformation, as he become one of history’s most tireless missionaries and a writer of Scripture that changed the world.
How many have been moved by his writings, particularly, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
At three hours long, this portrayal of Saint Paul is apt for patient devotees looking for an immersive biblical epic as their Holy Week movie.
READ: Family dynamics and Philippine politics
4. “The Song of Bernadette” (1943)
A luminous black-and-white classic, Jennifer Jones plays Bernadette with such sweet, gentle conviction that even the skeptics in your household might fall quiet.
This Oscar-winning film tells the story of young Bernadette Soubirous and her visions of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, France. Jones delivers a radiant performance that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Its emotional depth and cinematic beauty make it one of the greatest Catholic films of all time.
It’s poetic and reverent without being saccharine, setting the gold standard for films on the saint—a must-see for your Holy Week movie watchlist.
5. “The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima” (1952)
A staple for many Catholic households, I remember watching this Holy Week movie as a child many years ago, and being blown away by the Miracle of the Sun.
Set in early 20th century Portugal, the classic recounts the story of Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco and the Marian apparitions they witnessed. In the apparitions shown to the three children, the Virgin Mary promised a miracle. This culminated in the Miracle of the Sun, which was witnessed by a previously unbelieving crowd of 70,000 people. The solar phenomenon was mythical and out of this world, as the sun appeared to dance, shift positions in the sky, and become all manners of colors, making the unbelievers believe.
6. “Miracle of St. Thérèse” (1952)
One of my favorite saints is the sweet St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Known as the Saint of the Little Ways, she was known for doing little things in life with wholehearted love, humility, and simplicity, as a means to holiness.
Many miracles such as cures to fatal diseases were attributed to the saint, and after her death, there are testimonies that roses began to rain from the sky. Thus her nickname was “The Little Flower.”
While the black and white copy of the movie is a little shaky, the film itself can feel like flipping the pages of a well-worn prayer book—a little hard to read but filled with a sincere and comforting energy.
7. “Molokai: The Story of Father Damien” (1999)
Everyone loves a beach movie. And while not exactly a carefree beach film, this Holy Week movie follows the inspiring story of Saint Damien of Molokai, a Belgian priest who selflessly cared for people living with leprosy in the Kalaupapa colony in Hawaii.
The film is actually quite heartbreaking, as it doesn’t shy away from the brutality of suffering yet somehow leaves you feeling uplifted.
We see the lepers who Saint Damien served, which eventually led to his own martyrdom. The film is deeply human, and moving with its beautiful acting and rich visuals of Hawaii.
READ: Likha by PHINMA Properties: Building Filipino communities rooted in culture, designed for tomorrow
8. “Father Rupert Mayer” (2014)
War movies are not for me, but for those who do like war films, “Father Rupert Mayer” is one powerful choice that’s appropriate for the Holy Week. The German Jesuit priest is known for his fearless opposition to the Nazi regime during World War II.
A former soldier and later priest, we see that despite being Christian, he spoke out vehemently against the persecution of the Jews, and all that Nazi ideology entailed.
The film also portrays his sufferings in the Dachau concentration camp. It’s a film that documents a symbol of hope and light during one of the darkest times in modern history.
9. “The Miracle of Marcelino” (1955)
This movie is lovely. Its main character is the little orphan boy Marcelino, and is one of those films that quietly tugs at your heartstrings in the best way. We see the innocent, earnest, and absolutely adorable Marcelino, who’s taken in by a group of monks in a Spanish monastery.
The curious, kind-hearted boy embodies childlike faith. And we see the miracles unfold in a way that feels like a hug that will warm your heart and make you croon “Awww,” over and over again.
**
I was never really a religious person, at least, not in a way that felt deeply personal, until I watched “The Chosen,” a free Christian series on YouTube. For the first time, I felt like I could truly grasp the life of Jesus and the teachings of Christianity because they were made more tangible and easy to visualize through the television.
So if seeing is believing, an audiovisual representation is a great way to strengthen those beliefs. As Holy Week approaches, these movies are an engaging way to strengthen faith, whether you’re introducing young family members to the lives of the saints or hoping to deepen your own spiritual reflection.