Five Fantastic Mormon Movies

A unique genre of movies has developed: the Mormon Movie. These films are characterized by the fact that the characters are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called Mormons. These movies are usually made separately from Hollywood and are generally made on small budgets by members of the church, often in or around Provo, Utah.

Although initially popular among Mormons, many of these films are very good. People of any religion (or none) can enjoy these movies. Here are the top five Mormon Movies.

“The Best Two Years”

“The Best Two Years” is about two LDS missionaries serving in Amsterdam. Yes, it’s about Mormon missionaries, but it is also a really good movie. The LDS church is an inescapable part of this movie, but you don’t have to be a member to appreciate the film. The characters are very human–flawed, but also generally good-hearted. There are moments that are very tender and touching, but there’s also a lot of humor. It’s not completely accurate, but it’s not a bad film to watch if you want to get an idea what life is like for the young men in suits serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I particularly like that it really was filmed in and around Amsterdam, and so shows a lot of the area there (and many of the extras are members of the church in Amsterdam).

“Pride and Prejudice”

Jane Austen’s classic novel “Pride and Prejudice” has been adapted into numerous movies. In this 2003 version of “Pride and Prejudice”, Elizabeth Bennet is a student at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. This is true to the original novel, but put in a contemporary setting with characters who happen to be members of the LDS church. If you’re a member, you’ll enjoy the little things that make it obvious that these are Mormons in Utah. If you’re not a member, you’ll still enjoy a fun adaptation of one of the most popular love stories of all time.

“Baptists At Our Barbecue”

This is a hilarious and politically incorrect movie. When a young man moves into a small town, he discovers that the town is evenly split between two groups: the Mormons and the Baptists. There are plenty of quirky characters in the town, and constant misunderstandings between the two groups. However, this new member of the town wants to reconcile the town, and plans a barbecue to include both groups. “Baptists At Our Barbecue” is a very funny and quirky film. It makes you laugh, but also makes you wonder what kind of assumptions you make about people.

“The Other Side of Heaven”

Based on a true story, “The Other Side of Heaven” is the story of a young LDS man in the 1950’s (John Groberg, played by Christopher Gorham–you may recognize him from his later roles in “Covert Affairs” and “Ugly Betty”). From a small farm town in Idaho, Groberg leaves to serve a mission for his church in Tonga. He leaves his family and girlfriend (played by Anne Hathaway) behind. In Tonga, he faces natural disasters, cultural differences and language barriers, and other challenges. He also develops a love for Tonga and its people, and strengthens his faith. This is a really well made film that I would recommend to anyone.

“Saints and Soldiers”

Saints and Soldiers” is a powerful World War II movie. A group of Allied soldiers finds themselves in enemy territory after the Malmedy Massacre. One of the soldiers is an LDS man who speaks German fluently as a result of having been a missionary in Germany before the war. This is a powerful war movie on a par with any WWII film that I have seen.