Top 10 Best Movies About the Life of Jesus Christ

This is Hollywood at its biggest and most bombastic. Max von Sydow plays Jesus in a film that originally ran more than four hours, aiming to bring every page of the Bible to life with maximum grandeur. What makes it especially memorable (and sometimes a little laughable) is the bizarre parade of cameos: suddenly there's John Wayne as a Roman centurion. A spectacle they don't make anymore.

Forget the sandals and preachy tone; here Jesus (Ted Neeley) arrives in the desert on a bus full of hippies. This adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera views the story through the eyes of a frustrated Judas. It's a perfect 1970s time capsule full of funk, rock and psychedelic imagery, and Carl Anderson steals the show as Judas.

For many, this is the definitive version. With his piercing, unnaturally blue eyes, Robert Powell created a Jesus who was both mystical and approachable. Director Franco Zeffirelli had Powell barely ever blink, adding to his divine aura. Technically a miniseries, it feels like epic cinema, with an incredible cast including Laurence Olivier and Christopher Plummer.

'He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!' Monty Python delivered perhaps their masterpiece with this film. Officially it's not about Jesus but Brian, who has the bad luck of being born in the stable next door. It's a razor-sharp satire of religious fanaticism and blind followers that caused huge protests and bans at the time. And admit it: you can't watch the ending without whistling along.

Probably the most-watched film you've never heard of. Based on the Gospel of Luke, it takes a documentary-like approach: no frills, just the text. Its power lies in its reach: it has been translated into more than 1,000 languages and is used worldwide for evangelism. Not a cinematic high point, but unbeatable in cultural impact.

Martin Scorsese dared to show Jesus (Willem Dafoe) not as a god but as a man: one who doubts, is afraid and even fantasizes about a normal life with a wife and children instead of dying on the cross. The film was condemned by religious groups and banned in many countries. Yet it's one of the most spiritual films ever made. And yes, David Bowie plays Pontius Pilate.

Mel Gibson didn't make a film but a physical experience. Jim Caviezel undergoes an ordeal depicted so explicitly and bloodily that it almost becomes a horror movie. Spoken entirely in Aramaic and Latin, it's controversial for its extreme violence, but cinematically it's a tour de force that hits like a bomb.

A completely unique, modern retelling. Michael Sheen returned to his hometown of Port Talbot in Wales for a three-day passion play that was filmed, with the town's industry as the backdrop. It's theater, film and social commentary in one, with Sheen playing Jesus (here called 'The Teacher') with intense energy.

History is usually written by the victors, but this French film flips the perspective. What if Judas wasn't the traitor but the best friend who did what he was asked? It's an interesting take that tries to bring humanity back to the caricature of the villain, portraying Jesus as a quiet revolutionary.

A kind of CSI: Jerusalem. We follow the story through the eyes of Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a skeptical Roman officer who must investigate the disappearance of Jesus' body to prevent an uprising. By approaching it as a detective story, the film avoids the usual preachy tone. Cliff Curtis plays a warm, human Jesus.

For years, Mary Magdalene was dismissed as a prostitute, but this film sets the record straight. Rooney Mara plays her as a spiritual equal of Jesus, someone who perhaps understood his message better than the male disciples. Joaquin Phoenix is an intense, unpredictable Jesus. Slow and meditative, but it offers an important female perspective.