After five riveting seasons of The Chosen, I found myself wondering, “What do I watch now? I mean, how many shows like The Chosen are really out there?”
Sure, there are lots of TV shows about Jesus and tons of religious movies. But something about this series felt different. Shows like The Chosen are rare — and I think there are reasons for that.
Why People Like The Chosen
For me, what stood out most was how the series placed Jesus firmly within the world he actually lived in — Jewish Israel. It’s easy to focus only on his divinity, but he is also Jesus of Nazareth: a son, raised in a family and shaped by a Jewish culture and community. Seeing him move through daily life in that place and time made his story feel more grounded and, in a quiet way, more personal.
The same is true for the people around him. They aren’t just background scenery. They are part of the character-driven story line and live recognizably Jewish lives. For example, we hear them use Hebrew words like “Eema” (mother) and “Abba” (father). We see them celebrate religious festivals. The series shows us their individual personalities, such as Simon Peter, the hot-headed fisherman, and Matthew, the tax collector, who is portrayed as being on the Spectrum.
The Characters & The Setting
We share in scenes where the disciples are just hanging out, cooking or relaxing, making fun of each other. In short, just being regular people. We see their struggles and can relate to their frustration with the culture and government of the time. It all adds texture, and it makes their journeys feel closer to our own.
And for me, having toured Israel, that connection goes even deeper. Whenever a scene unfolded in a place I’ve actually visited, I couldn’t help but smile and think, “I’ve been there.”
I’ve heard some people say that The Chosen takes too much creative license by adding stories that aren’t directly found in the Bible. I understand the concern, but I see it differently. For me, those added moments help round out this multi-season retelling of the life and ministry of Jesus. They give space for relationships, emotions and everyday details to breathe. That’s a big part of what makes it feel so human and relatable.
And honestly, it also makes the series genuinely enjoyable to watch. (I watched it on Netflix … and yes, I may have done a little binge watching.)
Awards & Accolades
It was not surprising for me to learn that this Jesus TV show was watched by 280 million viewers across 175 countries. Or that it was one of the largest crowdfunded media projects in history. Or even that The Chosen was recognized twice by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “most translated season for a streaming series in history” (the first time for 86 languages, the second for 125).
After all that, which religious TV shows (or movies) could compare? Fortunately, I found a few.
Top 5 Quick Guide
| Title | Best if you're looking for ... |
|---|---|
| House of David | A modern, character-driven biblical drama |
| Jesus Revolution | A relatable faith-based true story |
| The Story of God | History and travel rooted in the Bible |
| The Bible | The big picture of Scripture |
| The Miracle Maker | Something emotional and accessible |
10 Best Shows Related to The Chosen
1. House of David (2025-)
This modern series explores the life of King David, shepherd turned king. It highlights David’s calling, failures and faith journey, with a focus on the often-tense relationship between David and King Saul. It presents biblical history through a deeply human, character-driven lens, much like The Chosen.
Why You’ll Like It: Like The Chosen, it focuses on flawed, relatable people shaped by God’s purpose.
2. The Jesus Film (1979)
A classic oldie but goodie from 1979, this widely distributed movie presents the life of Christ based on the Gospel of Luke. It aims for clarity and accessibility. All in all, it’s a solid adaptation of the Jesus story.
Why You’ll Like It: Simple, sincere and focused — it’s a foundational retelling many viewers connect with.
3. Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
Franco Zeffirelli directed this classic Jesus TV show, which features an all-star cast. The 6-hour miniseries has an epic feel like The Chosen. Similarly, it gives a deeply human portrayal of Jesus’ life, covering his birth, ministry and resurrection with careful attention to Scripture and historical detail.
Why You’ll Like It: It offers depth and seriousness, while still focusing on relationships and character journeys.
4. Jesus Revolution (2023)
Set in the 1970s, this true story follows a spiritual awakening among young people searching for meaning. It’s based on the book by pastor/author Greg Laurie (Harvest Christian Fellowship) and bestselling author/biographer Ellen Vaughn. Plus, it stars Jonathan Roumie!
Why You’ll Like It: It mirrors The Chosen’s theme of outsiders finding hope and purpose. (And also stars The Chosen’s Jesus: Jonathan Roumie.)
5. The Bible (2013)
This 10-part History Channel miniseries is a sweeping retelling of the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. It blends major biblical moments into a fast-paced narrative.
Why You’ll Like It: If you enjoy the scope of Jesus’ story, this gives you the bigger picture behind it.
6. The Gospel of John (2014)
A word-for-word adaptation of the Gospel of John. While there is a realistic depiction of day-to-day life, this film is not too “creative” and stays closely aligned with Scripture while visually dramatizing Jesus’ ministry and teachings.
Why You’ll Like It: If you appreciate biblical accuracy alongside storytelling, this show is a strong match.
7. The Promised Land (2024-)
Looking for a series about Moses? This one takes a human-first approach to his life. We see Moses’ insecurities and leadership challenges in a way that feels modern and relatable. Like The Chosen, it was crowdfunded through Angel Studio’s model. So it carries a similar fan-driven energy and character-driven narrative.
Why You’ll Like It: It shares The Chosen’s commitment to grounding biblical events in lived, emotional experience, including scenes where the characters are just hanging out being people.
8. The Miracle Maker (1999)
This one is a beautifully crafted stop-motion and animated retelling of Jesus’ life, as seen through the eyes of a sick child. Don’t let the animation fool you; many feel that this is one of the most accurate and emotionally moving Jesus films ever made. It captures his miracles, teachings and relationships with emotional warmth.
Why You’ll Like It: It highlights Jesus’ compassion and humanity in a gentle, accessible way.
9. The Story of God (2016)
Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman visits nearly 20 cities in seven countries to immerse himself in religious experiences and rituals. As host and narrator, his goal is to explore faith across cultures, asking big questions about God, suffering and purpose. “In some places I found answers, and others led to more questions. The constant through it all is that we’re all looking to be part of something bigger than us,” Freeman says.
Why You’ll Like It: It connects faith to real-life questions, perfect if you are a reflective, curious viewer.
10. The Two Thieves (2014)
Before he co-wrote and directed The Chosen, Dallas Jenkins made this short film. (Yes, Jonathan Roumie is included in the cast.) The story is set 2,000 years ago. It’s about two Jewish prisoners in a Jerusalem jail. Scheduled to be put to death, one prisoner accepts his fate. The other does not. As their history is revealed, they have a life-changing encounter with a mysterious man. You can watch this one on YouTube.
Why You’ll Like It: It’s like a prequel of The Chosen, so you can see how far Jenkins has come as a filmmaker.
Where to Watch?
Free and for purchase options depend on your location. Often, your local stations will offer religious TV shows. The following sources are also good places to check for religious and spiritual programming:
• Amazon Prime
• Angel Studios
• Apple TV
• Kendrick Brothers Productions
• Netflix
• Pure Flix
• Roku
• The History Channel Vault
Before I go, all this talk of faith-based products has me remembering one of my favorite religious movies of all time (perhaps faith-based is more accurate). Full transparency: it’s not one of the shows like The Chosen, but we can all relate to the story in one way or another, and the main actor is a firecracker! Plus, since it’s a film not a series, you only need a couple of hours.
The movie is War Room (2015), a Kendrick Brothers Production. I’ve watched it several times (so far). I also showed it to my 17- and 18-year-old students when I was teaching English at a faith-based high school. Highly recommended!
