God's Not Dead
Freestyle Releasing | Release Date: March 21, 2014
3.4
USER SCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 406 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
122
Mixed:
25
Negative:
259
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User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
IgiveupMar 30, 2014
I give this movie a mixed (solid 5) review because it generally does nothing for either group: Christian theists or non-believers/skeptics.

To the Christians: Congratulations, you have a movie which is unapologetic in its views. TheI give this movie a mixed (solid 5) review because it generally does nothing for either group: Christian theists or non-believers/skeptics.

To the Christians: Congratulations, you have a movie which is unapologetic in its views. The problem is that anyone who is actually a fence sitter and does more than drool in a corner all day will move towards non-belief after a movie like this. The best way to change the minds of people involves something called "addressing their concerns". This movie does not do that. It basically presents non-believers as bitter, depressed people who have a priori an anti-God/Jesus/FSM agenda. So you may enjoy it to "rally the troops" but all it does is antagonize everyone else with a severe case of anti-intellectualism.

To atheists/skeptics/agnostics: Okay, so you know that the movie is basically like Blizzcon for WoW fans: an unabashed celebration of something they love without mercy to the competition. And you have yet another checkmark on the list of terrible Christian movies out there that preach to the choir. But this is nothing new: the only risk here is more indoctrination of Sally and Johnny (8 and 10 respectively) who come to school with more bravado than ever...literally more willing to fight because it feels more like a 3 on 1 curbstomping. It does nothing to advance the discussion: it reverses it and revives old-school "Why do you hate God so much???" proselytizing.… Expand
13 of 13 users found this helpful130
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4
mepittsApr 3, 2014
Well Rats. First, I need to say as a university faculty member and a Christian, I deeply believe in the overall MESSAGE of this movie: The God of Abraham and Paul and Mother Teresa and Pope Francis and MY God, and his son Jesus Christ areWell Rats. First, I need to say as a university faculty member and a Christian, I deeply believe in the overall MESSAGE of this movie: The God of Abraham and Paul and Mother Teresa and Pope Francis and MY God, and his son Jesus Christ are alive and instructing and blessing me daily. People do need to know about the resource and comfort and "rock" that God provides. For that the movie gets an "A." And I'd also say that although there are strident Christians who misuse the public square for hateful messages, there IS an attempt in the secular community, and certainly in the academy, to marginalize Christians. Faculty members do use their power in the classroom to try to silence opinions with which they disagree in a violation of BOTH sections of the first amendment.

That said, the movie itself was not very realistic. A professor giving a student twenty minutes in each of three classes to make the case for God and putting it to a class vote? Come on. I can see how a Christian kid who'd been abused in a secular professor's classroom would fantasize bout such a thing, but it ain't gonna happen.

The Pure Flix movies tend to follow this pattern--sincere but not especially well done. I like Sherwood Pictures (Fireproof, Courageous) better and will continue to support Christian movies as they evolve and get better. The Christian movie genre is still in its infancy and deserves an chance to improve.

So "A" for effort and overall message, but, with regret, "D" for everything else.… Expand
4 of 4 users found this helpful40
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5
3forngSep 21, 2014
It's amazing how many negative reviews this film has, all quite obviously from the same angry atheists who didn't watch the film at all. They all go on about the trailer. Regardless of this film's clear bias, the atheists have lived up to theIt's amazing how many negative reviews this film has, all quite obviously from the same angry atheists who didn't watch the film at all. They all go on about the trailer. Regardless of this film's clear bias, the atheists have lived up to the exact portrayal of the atheist professor by calling people who believe in God "brain washed" and "deluded" because they refuse to believe in the atheist's blind belief that the universe came from nothing. These internet atheists do indeed act like the professor in their film with their smug superiority complex and mistaken belief that religion is responsible for all the world's wars. It's not wonder this film set them off as they say the truth hurts!… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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5
aaronpaul121Aug 13, 2014
Technically it is a bit of a disaster I have to admit....but I'm willing to give bonus points for the overall feel of the movie....I just love the way I felt the positive ambiance of the movie.....I just wished it succeeded technically.....
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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5
CShore96Apr 10, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I thought it was a great movie. The casting was good, and the writing of the argument was good. Now my negative comments. I thought it had a very predictable ending and way too many characters with their own plot lines. The only surprising thing there was was the professor getting hit by the car of the girl's brother. I thought the ending was very weak. I feel it could have been a lot better and the writers just said "Im out!" or something like that. The casting was good for this type of movie. Because usually religious movies have very bad acting. I also found it funny that since they couldn't use Staples Center, they used the Hastings Center. So, in conclusion i feel the plot was decent & cast was good. Normally i would give it a 7, but with the weak ending and the so many plot lines, id have to give it a 5.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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5
TimTeamTebowOct 8, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a movie that failed so badly that it becomes good; a bit like "The Room".

The main protagonist, a philosophy teacher, asks every student to simply write "god is dead".
Through movie magic, the teacher isn't immediately fired and in the entire class there is only one christian.
Through...the power of jesus or something, this kid is able to win a debate against a 40 year old philosophy teacher...
Very realistic...

The movie is offensive to muslims, christians, atheists, and anyone with a brain.
The only muslim character is shown beating his daughter for being christian.
When the bad "atheist" , who turns out to be a christian that is angry at god, dies at the end, the other christians actually celebrate. He got hit by a car, a christian then converts him instead of giving him any medical attention, and then there is a huge celebration that hes in heaven now.
There isn't really an atheist in the movie, maybe the students were atheists but they were so easily converted. Basically just "god is real" and they clap.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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6
TyranianApr 9, 2019
This is a decent film about standing up for your beliefs. Has some good songs.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
Trev29Nov 15, 2014
There are too many flaws to count in this movie, but it really was not that bad. It could be entertaining if you are willing to go along with it. Shoving religious views down the throat of the audience is never a wise decision, but it did notThere are too many flaws to count in this movie, but it really was not that bad. It could be entertaining if you are willing to go along with it. Shoving religious views down the throat of the audience is never a wise decision, but it did not annoy me as much as I thought it would.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
DannondorfOct 23, 2015
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It certainly has performance problems: much of the acting isn't great, it's predictability (knowing every time whether the car would or would not start, knowing the professor would die) makes parts of the movie boring and hokey, and certain aspects (Josh is the only Christian or person in his class with a problem with his professor, the professor somehow isn't immediately fired for making students give the signed statement, the professor confronts Josh outside of class like a childhood bully, every single faculty member in the philosophy department looks down on theists) strain the viewer's ability to suspend disbelief.

Despite all that, "God's not Dead" is a great movie for Christian viewers. Its lessons elevated it above the shallow flick I thought it would be: being a real Christian like Josh and the professor's girlfriend versus a "fake Christian" like Josh's girlfriend (who seemed to think Christianity was more about God serving her with "I know God wants us to be together" than her serving God), God's thoughts being higher than our own, being a sweet fragrance for Jesus that entices others (the Muslim and Chinese man), going to the scripture for answers, God coming to us through other people (the priest being there for Josh and for the dying professor, Josh being there for the students in the philosophy class and the Muslim girl), maintaining faith through adversity and hardship (the old woman, Josh) and praising God even as the minor annoyances of life build up (the minister and his friend).

Unfortunately, it's the ultimate case of preaching to the choir. I doubt it has prompted or ever will prompt a single non-Christian to reconsider his/her views. One of the most common negative stereotypes that atheists cling to is that of the ignorant Christian who clings blindly to faith and ignores scientific evidence, and "God's not Dead" perpetuates that image by revealing that its Christian writers have no idea what the Existentialist phrase "God is dead" actually means and by basing its later logical arguments on a Stephen Hawking quote that is taken out of context. (Many will also think the movie is dumb for its endorsement of "Duck Dynasty".) Also, while Christians look at the sinners in this movie and see reflections of who they were before they accepted Christ (we tried to build ourselves up like they do and be our own god), non-Christians will see this movie as an act of hubris by Christians; every single non-believer is portrayed as rotten to the core with zero redeeming attributes. Breaking up with someone because they have cancer, refusing to see your sick mother, bullying students and repressing your girlfriend, beating your daughter and kicking her out of the house... Being told there is no good in them in such a clumsy, over-the-top way will not convert any viewers. It will just reinforce their belief that Christianity is for morons.

It's a good movie for me as a Christian viewer. I give it three out of five stars. But any non-religious person should give it a one, as it completely fails (and perhaps doesn't even try) to reach them.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
EpicLadySpongeApr 1, 2016
It's official, folks. Your actions does not impress God and your deemed soul will burn in hell. Even though this movie got to an extremely negative situation, it seems I'm only here because of the second movie that just got released toIt's official, folks. Your actions does not impress God and your deemed soul will burn in hell. Even though this movie got to an extremely negative situation, it seems I'm only here because of the second movie that just got released to theaters today.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
FuturedirectorMar 13, 2016
God's not dead tries to develope everybody's faith, but it fails on his not-talented interpretations, many plots at the same time and predictable stunts. For cinematographic aspects, this is a piece of rubbish. Sadly, for the audience, thisGod's not dead tries to develope everybody's faith, but it fails on his not-talented interpretations, many plots at the same time and predictable stunts. For cinematographic aspects, this is a piece of rubbish. Sadly, for the audience, this could be a boring film, bececuase of the stupid and I groans viewers who says God's dead (and of course, who never will say it).… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
Disnerd93Mar 15, 2019
I wanted to like this movie, but it's just an offensive, borderline nauseating mess! I loved the idea of a Christian school student standing up for his rights, given the fact that public "schools" nowadays are nothing more than indoctrinationI wanted to like this movie, but it's just an offensive, borderline nauseating mess! I loved the idea of a Christian school student standing up for his rights, given the fact that public "schools" nowadays are nothing more than indoctrination chambers run by atheists and Christian students are always being discriminated against simply for being who they are. I also really liked the story arc of the professor's Christian girlfriend, whom he verbally and emotionally abused. Being the only Christian in my family, I've been abused and mistreated by atheists on a regular basis, so that element of the movie really hit home for me. And I loved how the movie demonstrates how Lemaitre's "Big Bang Theory" is perfectly compatible with the Creation account in the book of Genesis, rather than promoting young earth creationism. Lastly, I enjoy the Newsboys song that this movie's based on.

That, however, is where my compliments for this movie end.

The Newsboys and "Duck Dynasty" cameos felt tacky, the atheist characters where slightly exaggerated, the Muslim characters where VERY exaggerated, too many stories are being told at once and most of them are either uninteresting or unnecessary, the debate scene was just one big strawman argument that went nowhere, the acting was hammy for the most part, the ending was sickening and contrived, and the "God's Not Dead" texting campaign was laughably corny and stupid.

This movie is made only for Christians, and most Christians (myself included) don't even like it!

Don't get me wrong, atheists: God's still alive, and facts STILL don't care about your feelings. This movie, however, is trash.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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