Christian Movies Aren’t Cheesy Anymore, and We Have Jon Erwin to Thank for That

For decades, Christian movies carried a reputation: well-intentioned but poorly made, a niche genre that often struggled to break into mainstream entertainment. The acting felt forced, the dialogue wooden, and the production quality never quite matched Hollywood standards. But in recent years, something changed. Faith-based films started drawing big audiences, earning critical praise, and—perhaps most impressively—not feeling embarrassing to recommend to friends. And if there’s one name behind this shift, it’s Jon Erwin.

The filmmaker, whose works include Jesus Revolution, I Can Only Imagine and today’s new release The Unbreakable Boy, has helped redefine faith-based storytelling, proving that Christian films can be both artistically compelling and commercially viable. His latest project, House of David, marks his first foray into television and, he hopes, another step forward for faith-driven entertainment.

“I’ve never worked so hard and for so long on something,” Erwin, who is also the founder and chief content officer at Wonder Project, tells RELEVANT. “This has always been the dream project.”

A Long Time in the Making

Erwin’s fascination with the story of David goes back to his teenage years.

“The first camera I ever owned, my dad bought me with money he didn’t have, and we went to Israel the next day,” he recalls. “We stayed in the old city of Jerusalem and visited King David’s tomb. You could just feel the energy and the history of the place.”

That spark of curiosity led to the first script he ever wrote, long before he made the films that put him on the map.

Each project since then—Woodlawn, I Can Only Imagine, Jesus Revolution—was, in some ways, training ground for this moment.

“Every film that I’ve had the privilege of making, it was really about developing the skills necessary and the box office credibility to be able to get the resources to do David’s story,” Erwin says. “I always figured somebody else would do it, and I’d just get to be a fan.”

But now, House of David is a reality, with a team that includes Jon Gunn, his brother Andy Erwin and a close collaborator in The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins. Yet, despite the excitement surrounding the series, Erwin isn’t content to stop here.

The Hero’s Journey at the Heart of It All

Erwin’s love for storytelling is rooted in a deep appreciation for the hero’s journey—a classic narrative arc that spans everything from The Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter to Star Wars.

“David is kind of the origin of the origin stories,” he says. “Even with people who have no idea what the biblical story is about, they know ‘David and Goliath.’ It’s synonymous with the underdog.”

That theme—the reluctant hero called to something greater—is a thread that runs through all of Erwin’s work.

“You’re making me rethink my whole career,” he laughs when asked if the hero’s journey is his signature storytelling device. “But yeah, whether it’s Woodlawn, American Underdog, Jesus Revolution or House of David, I think we all want to be capable of something greater. We all want to be part of a bigger story.”

His influences reflect that passion. Erwin cites Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces—a book that deeply informed Star Wars—as a major inspiration. “I’m fascinated by why we need these stories,” he says. “Maybe the reason is that we’re all wired to need a savior. We need a hero.”

The Renaissance of Faith-Based Content

Erwin doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the shortcomings of past Christian films. “I do feel like we’re in a bit of a faith-based content renaissance,” he says. And it’s largely because the audience demands better.

“The reason I’m able to tell House of David at this scope and scale—what you need to tell David’s story—is because audiences have made their voices heard,” he says. “These films have worked. They’ve made money. They’ve been successful in the industry. And when that happens, we get to level up each time, get more resources, and refine our craft.”

Part of this shift is the collaborative network of filmmakers who are pushing each other to create better content. “There’s this wonderful group of creatives, and we’re all really trying to will each other on to success,” Erwin says. “I’m calling Dallas [Jenkins] every day right now. We’re all constantly commenting on each other’s work, trying to raise the bar.”

It’s working. Jesus Revolution was one of 2023’s biggest faith-based hits, grossing over $50 million domestically. I Can Only Imagine made over $85 million, becoming the highest-grossing independent film of 2018. And the success of The Chosen—which shattered crowdfunding records and landed a partnership with Amazon Prime—has only opened more doors for biblical storytelling.

Faith, Hollywood, and What Comes Next

Making faith-based films in Hollywood is a delicate balancing act. Studios care about box office returns, while audiences care about authenticity. For Erwin, the key is creative control. “The reason we were able to do House of David the way we wanted is because being in creative control was a non-negotiable,” he says. “We made sure we had the ability to tell the story as believers.”

That approach has led to a new era where faith-driven content isn’t an afterthought or a low-budget niche—it’s serious storytelling with serious talent behind it. And Erwin hopes it’s only the beginning.

“We hope that there are filmmakers coming behind us who will far outshine and exceed our talents and abilities,” he says. “We’re just trying to pave the way.”

With House of David premiering on Amazon Prime and a growing slate of ambitious projects on the horizon, Erwin and his collaborators are proving that faith-based entertainment isn’t just viable—it’s thriving. And, most importantly, it’s no longer something Christians have to cringe about.

If the last decade of faith-based filmmaking has been about proving Christian movies can be good, Jon Erwin is ready for what comes next: making them great.