Showdown

Keeping the Faith

Best religious characters in film

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Which rebel hearts do you think of in the little hours? Which sister’s act do you love the most? Who is your man for all seasons? This Showdown is a roundup of your ten best badass priests, naughty novitiates, saints with secrets, racy rabbis, mysterious ministers, vicious vicars, magical monks, Nazi-busting nuns. Whether you’re Team Brian or Team Benedetta, break the seventh seal and throw the spotlight on religious characters who go well beyond the job description to keep the keys of the kingdom. (No deities, gods or kami—we want earth-bound characters, real or fictional.)

Most mentioned

  • First Reformed
  • The Exorcist
  • Silence
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Life of Brian
  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • The Seventh Seal
  • Sister Act
  • Doubt
  • The Prince of Egypt
  • The Devils
  • Calvary
  • Black Narcissus
  • Ida
  • Dogma
  • The Sound of Music
  • The Blues Brothers
  • Winter Light
  • The Two Popes

Lists

Sort by
  • Fiddler on the Roof
  • New York, I Love You
  • This Is Where I Leave You
  • Felix and Meira
  • A Most Violent Year
Tova

Tova 73 films

  • A Hidden Life
  • A Man for All Seasons
  • A Matter of Life and Death
  • A Quiet Passion
  • A Serious Man
Clearance Chowder

Clearance Chowder 147 films

  • The Exorcist
  • Rosemary's Baby
  • The Omen
  • Good Omens
  • Saint Maud
olivia

olivia 30 films

  • The Haunted Castle
  • The Haunted Castle
  • Faust: Appearance of Mephistopheles
  • Faust and Marguerite
  • The Devil's Laboratory
John

John 15 films

  • It's a Wonderful Life
  • Meet John Doe
  • A Matter of Life and Death
  • Ordet
  • Babette's Feast
Bryant Tyler

Bryant Tyler 95 films

  • Benedetta
  • An Act of Confession
  • Agnes
  • Agnes of God
  • Alucarda
David Haddon

David Haddon 217 films

  • The Cannonball Run
  • Paddington 2
  • Caddyshack
  • Black Narcissus
  • The Princess Bride
Kyle

Kyle 22 films

  • The Boondock Saints
  • The Prince of Egypt
  • The Scarlet and the Black
  • Signs
  • TRIGUN
Flicks With Friends

Flicks With Friends 11 films

  • The Crime of Padre Amaro
  • Love Exposure
  • Corpus Christi
  • First Reformed
  • Ida
okrc (J.Arturo)

okrc (J.Arturo) 10 films

  • Constantine
  • Stigmata
  • Schindler's List
  • Priest
  • Life of Brian
Llewellyn

Llewellyn 21 films

  • Braindead
  • The Exorcist
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • The Devil Rides Out
  • Dracula
Robert Berlin

Robert Berlin 9 films

  • Life Is Beautiful
  • mother!
  • Nacho Libre
  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  • Minari
Robert Speewack Bojorquez

Robert Speewack Bojorquez 10 films

  • The Exorcist
  • Priest
  • The Devils
  • Dead Man Walking
  • The Poseidon Adventure
mooveefan

mooveefan 10 films

  • Corpus Christi
  • The Man from Earth
  • The Prophecy
  • The Wicker Man
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi
DonJohn80

DonJohn80 10 films

  • Braindead
  • The Day of the Beast
  • The Devils
  • The Blood on Satan's Claw
  • Hell Baby
Paul

Paul 16 films

  • The Exorcist
  • Sister Act
  • Doubt
  • Footloose
  • There Will Be Blood
PF4Eva

PF4Eva 15 films

  • The Holy Mountain
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Corpus Christi
  • Fanny and Alexander
  • The Quiet Man
6822222

6822222 10 films

  • The Seventh Seal
  • The Exorcist
  • Sister Act
  • Face/Off
  • The Two Popes
hessli

hessli 9 films

  • The Ballad of Cable Hogue
  • Prince of Darkness
  • Fanny and Alexander
  • Sleepers
  • The Grapes of Wrath
Zayne

Zayne 10 films

  • First Reformed
  • The Thin Red Line
  • There Will Be Blood
  • The Seventh Seal
  • A Hidden Life
Gavin Moore

Gavin Moore 12 films

  • The Name of the Rose
  • Dogma
  • The Sound of Music
  • From Dusk Till Dawn
  • The Young Pope
🧀 Almer

🧀 Almer 10 films

  • Corpus Christi
  • The Two Popes
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Life of Brian
  • Au Revoir les Enfants
Alyn Shao

Alyn Shao 6 films

  • The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
  • Noah
  • Exodus: Gods and Kings
  • The Passion of the Christ
  • Kingdom of Heaven
Nick FW

Nick FW 10 films

  • The Flowers of St. Francis
  • Black Narcissus
  • Ordet
  • The Name of the Rose
  • The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Josias Troyer

Josias Troyer 10 films

  • Dogma
  • A Man for All Seasons
  • The Last Temptation of Christ
  • Doubt
  • The Gospel According to St. Matthew
Nick Moffitt

Nick Moffitt 12 films

  • Frailty
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • Carrie
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • Silver Bullet
The_Ghoul

The_Ghoul 10 films

  • Pulp Fiction
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Se7en
  • The Master
  • A Serious Man
Paul Dilger

Paul Dilger 10 films

  • Benedetta
  • First Reformed
  • Dark Waters
  • Sebastiane
  • To the Devil a Daughter
Torposopla

Torposopla 10 films

  • The Exorcist
  • The Exorcist III
  • The Mission
  • Dogma
  • The Blues Brothers
Jamie Myslicki

Jamie Myslicki 112 films

  • Signs
  • The Blues Brothers
  • From Dusk Till Dawn
  • The Cannonball Run
  • The Exorcist
John Quinn

John Quinn 11 films

  • Paradise: Faith
  • Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
  • The Mission
  • The Man from Earth
  • The Passion of the Christ
G a y a n

G a y a n 20 films

  • The Devils
  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • Constantine
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • The Wicker Man
neon__noodle

neon__noodle 7 films

  • Thirst
  • Andrei Rublev
  • Ida
  • Constantine
  • Wild Strawberries
Zolidus

Zolidus 10 films

  • Upsidedown Cross
  • Midnight Mass
  • Crimes of Passion
  • The Sinful Nuns of Saint Valentine
  • Def by Temptation
Undead_Nihilist

Undead_Nihilist 10 films

  • The Night of the Hunter
  • Deliver Us from Evil
  • Doubt
  • Jesus Camp
  • Dogma
ElizCorey

ElizCorey 10 films

  • First Reformed
  • Signs
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Amadeus
  • Midnight Mass
Philip Abernethy

Philip Abernethy 18 films

  • Braindead
  • The Exorcist
  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • Contact
  • The Prince of Egypt
Chris Coke

Chris Coke 10 films

  • Dune
  • The Witch
  • Corpus Christi
  • Rocky II
  • Midsommar
Damian Gęgotek

Damian Gęgotek 10 films

  • The Big Lebowski
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Corpus Christi
  • The Last Temptation of Christ
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Rysio

Rysio 10 films

  • Calvary
  • The Master
  • The Night of the Iguana
  • Hunger
  • I Confess
Kabir

Kabir 13 films

  • The Exorcist
  • Silence
  • Bruce Almighty
  • First Reformed
  • The Club
Jeff Estrada

Jeff Estrada 15 films

  • The Seventh Seal
  • The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
  • The Nun
  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • Diary of a Country Priest
srdas

srdas 7 films

  • Doubt
  • First Reformed
  • Dune
  • Calvary
  • Silence
Sam

Sam 9 films

  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  • Constantine
  • The Sound of Music
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • Dead Man Walking
nathan

nathan 10 films

  • The Day of the Beast
  • The Devils
  • Rosemary's Baby
  • Corpus Christi
  • The Witch
Irphen

Irphen 10 films

  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • Minari
  • Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
  • The Seventh Seal
  • The Given Word
satch_dog

satch_dog 13 films

  • Diary of a Country Priest
  • My Night at Maud's
  • Léon Morin, Priest
  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • A Hidden Life
Bork

Bork 10 films

  • First Reformed
  • Saved!
  • Angels with Dirty Faces
  • On the Waterfront
  • The Sound of Music
Will Tyer

Will Tyer 7 films

  • The Devils
  • Hot Fuzz
  • From Dusk Till Dawn
  • Lady Bird
  • First Reformed
Andrew Franklin

Andrew Franklin 10 films

  • Unorthodox
  • Higher Ground
  • Spotlight
  • Babette's Feast
  • The Magdalene Sisters
openroad

openroad 10 films

  • Life of Brian
  • Calvary
  • The Exorcist
  • There Will Be Blood
  • The Blues Brothers
TB14

TB14 10 films

  • The VelociPastor
  • Brimstone
  • Ida
  • Mark of the Devil
  • The Night of the Hunter
Matthias_S

Matthias_S 10 films

  • A Man for All Seasons
  • Calvary
  • The Pianist
  • Becket
  • Fiddler on the Roof
Zach Thomas

Zach Thomas 6 films

  • Star Wars
  • Amadeus
  • Midnight Mass
  • Dogma
  • Pulp Fiction
John Chadwick

John Chadwick 10 films

  • Doubt
  • The Exorcist
  • First Reformed
  • The Wicker Man
  • Silence
Kyle

Kyle 6 films

  • Léon Morin, Priest
  • First Reformed
  • Saint Maud
  • Calvary
  • Sister Act
Wynand Olivier

Wynand Olivier 10 films

  • Angels with Dirty Faces
  • Black Narcissus
  • First Reformed
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • There Will Be Blood
franktjmagnolia

franktjmagnolia 7 films

  • The Night of the Hunter
  • Carrie
  • The Exorcist
  • The Blood on Satan's Claw
  • Witchfinder General
Superdorkmark

Superdorkmark 10 films

  • First Reformed
  • Brimstone
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Sin City
  • Silence
Haukay

Haukay 10 films

  • First Reformed
  • The Exorcist
  • The Exorcist III
  • The Bishop's Wife
  • The Bells of St. Mary's
Clarence Diggles

Clarence Diggles 5 films

  • Life of Brian
  • The Prince of Egypt
  • The Seventh Seal
  • The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
  • Inherit the Wind
Kendoval

Kendoval 10 films

  • The Omen
  • Rosemary's Baby
  • The African Queen
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • Two Mules for Sister Sara
Kent Graham

Kent Graham 10 films

  • Black Robe
  • Carrie
  • The Devils
  • Elmer Gantry
  • The Exorcist
Kenneth_C

Kenneth_C 10 films

  • Midsommar
  • Saint Maud
  • Carrie
  • First Reformed
  • The Exorcist
Jack

Jack 10 films

  • The Barchester Chronicles
  • Black Narcissus
  • Wise Blood
  • A Serious Man
  • The Exorcist
BaronofHam

BaronofHam 54 films

  • Calvary
  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall
  • The Little Hours
  • The Sessions
  • There Will Be Blood
Seth Montpelier

Seth Montpelier 10 films

  • Silence
  • Hacksaw Ridge
  • mother!
  • Calvary
  • The Two Popes
Tom!! 🚀

Tom!! 🚀 11 films

  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • Day of Wrath
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • The Nun's Story
  • Nasty Habits
elvisisking

elvisisking 10 films

  • Gerbert: The Gift of Giving
  • Babette's Feast
  • Psalty's Salvation Celebration
  • Saved!
  • The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
Jeff Staib

Jeff Staib 10 films

  • There Will Be Blood
  • First Reformed
  • Rosemary's Baby
  • Def by Temptation
  • The Reckoning
Vinny Thornburg

Vinny Thornburg 10 films

  • Kingdom of Heaven
  • Braindead
  • Adam's Apples
  • Silence
  • The Blob
Calum

Calum 10 films

  • The Two Popes
  • First Reformed
  • Silence
  • Minari
  • There Will Be Blood
Luke Robertson

Luke Robertson 9 films

  • Life of Brian
  • Dogma
  • Keeping the Faith
  • Svaha: The Sixth Finger
  • Legion
Franzi

Franzi 5 films

  • The Exorcist
  • The Wicker Man
  • Life of Brian
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Silence
Robert Parker

Robert Parker 9 films

  • The Exorcist
  • Dogma
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • TRIGUN
  • The Seventh Seal
Josh

Josh 10 films

  • First Reformed
  • Calvary
  • Prince of Darkness
  • The Sound of Music
  • The Night of the Iguana
RichLV

RichLV 17 films

  • Winter Light
  • Silence
  • The Young Pope
  • The New Pope
  • Fanny and Alexander
ericdornoff

ericdornoff 11 films

  • The Day of the Beast
  • Braindead
  • First Reformed
  • Prince of Darkness
  • The Exorcist
Dr Schlock

Dr Schlock 10 films

  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi
  • Hot Fuzz
  • The Shawshank Redemption
  • The Exorcist
  • Pulp Fiction
Niall Hassett

Niall Hassett 10 films

  • The Seventh Seal
  • Se7en
  • The Master
  • First Reformed
  • Life of Brian
Sindre Haram

Sindre Haram 10 films

  • The Devils
  • The Crime of Padre Amaro
  • The Milky Way
  • The Matrix
  • Life of Brian
sequielo

sequielo 25 films

  • First Reformed
  • There Will Be Blood
  • The Sound of Music
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • mother!
bas2804

bas2804 11 films

  • Se7en
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • There Will Be Blood
  • The Shawshank Redemption
  • The Seventh Seal
Kaladinlirin

Kaladinlirin 6 films

  • First Reformed
  • Calvary
  • Silence
  • Diary of a Country Priest
  • The Green Knight
Ben Allee

Ben Allee 26 films

  • There Will Be Blood
  • Saint Maud
  • The Wicker Man
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • Pulp Fiction
Andrew Hans

Andrew Hans 7 films

  • The Night of the Hunter
  • There Will Be Blood
  • A Serious Man
  • First Reformed
  • Calvary
Sarah

Sarah 10 films

  • The Prince of Egypt
  • First Reformed
  • Hacksaw Ridge
  • Signs
  • The Others
89liam_is_fine

89liam_is_fine 7 films

  • Benedetta
  • Black Narcissus
  • The Little Hours
  • Viridiana
  • The Nun's Story
Angelo Cordeiro

Angelo Cordeiro 10 films

  • The Exorcist
  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • The Night of the Hunter
  • The Witch
  • Black Narcissus
Mariana Simas

Mariana Simas 20 films

  • Going My Way
  • The Bishop's Wife
  • Black Narcissus
  • Winter Light
  • Becket
Orion Anderson

Orion Anderson 10 films

Still from Monsignor (1982)