AMAZING GRACE
Beautiful in look and spiritual content, with faith put into action.
Should You Watch It?
If you want a beautiful, deeply Christian film about faithfulness in public life, this is worth your time. AMAZING GRACE presents William Wilberforce’s fight against slavery as a calling from God, surrounded by Christians who work year after year for justice. Its moral vision points toward freeing captives, feeding the hungry, caring for the needy, and putting faith into action.
The film also shows pain, sickness, laudanum use, fierce political opposition, and the ill-treatment of slaves. Its historical focus sometimes makes the storyline less tight, but the acting, directing, and production values are superb. Frequent renditions of “Amazing Grace” deepen the film’s spiritual force.
See it with your family if your older children can engage with slavery’s history and the film’s mature themes. For a Christian story that is both captivating and soul-stirring, choose AMAZING GRACE.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn 18th-century England, William Wilberforce leaves behind a young life of debauchery and comes to Christ at 25. Believing God has called him to stop the slave trade and reform morals in England, he joins a group of Christians inspired by former slave trader John Newton.
Wilberforce takes the cause of abolition into Parliament, where he faces chronic pain, personal struggles, and fierce opposition. Along the way, his marriage brings joy and happiness into his life.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a superbly made and deeply inspiring film. Ioan Gruffudd gives a wonderful performance as Wilberforce, while the directing and acting are superb. The movie is gorgeous and captivating, with strong production values and a compelling Christian testimony.
Its main weakness is structural. Because the plot follows history so closely, the film sometimes struggles to fit in the dramatic points needed for a tighter storyline. Two anachronistic lines also appear, including Wilberforce saying that his pet hare is a million years old.
Even with those flaws, AMAZING GRACE is a great movie and an inspiration to those who see it.
The Worldview
AMAZING GRACE presents a very strong Christian worldview. It speaks openly about human sinfulness, the salvation of Jesus Christ, and the divinity of Jesus Christ. William Wilberforce understands his work against slavery and for moral reform as a calling from God, and the film is deeply concerned with faithfulness.
The film exalts compassion expressed through action: freeing captives, feeding the hungry, caring for the needy, and confronting the evil of slavery. It also shows Christians working patiently and tirelessly for justice. Its references to sedition and overthrowing tradition raise questions about government, but most of these actions are not carried out.
The movie’s Christian testimony is practical rather than merely personal. It connects belief with public responsibility, moral reform, and care for suffering people. Its central longing for a faith that acts aligns with Jesus’ declaration “to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Luke 4:18).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian worldview with very strong moral content about stopping slavery, feeding the hungry, taking care of the needy, and a practical, deep Christianity that involves faith in action and some references to sedition and overthrowing tradition to achieve a goal, but most are not carried out and depend upon your view of government; three light obscenities and three light profanities; man wrestles with physical pain and sickness and descriptions of the ill-treatment of slaves, dreams of overcoming the licentious actions of the royalty, people beat a horse; no sex; no nudity but female cleavage; alcohol use; smoking and man uses opium for his pains; and, bad guys are on the side of slavery and the monarchy.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Wilberforce believes God has called him to fight slavery. What might faithfulness look like when doing what is right takes years?
Galatians 6:9 · Hebrews 10:36The film emphasizes freeing captives, feeding the hungry, and caring for the needy. How can your family put faith into action this week?
Isaiah 58:6–7 · James 2:14–17Wilberforce faces chronic pain and sickness while continuing his work. How can suffering shape perseverance without becoming the center of our lives?
Romans 5:3–5 · 2 Corinthians 4:16–18The movie presents slavery and moral corruption as evils that must be confronted. How should Christians respond when laws or customs protect injustice?
Micah 6:8 · Acts 5:29The Final Word
AMAZING GRACE is a gorgeous, captivating film about Christian faithfulness, moral courage, and action on behalf of suffering people. Its historical structure is not perfect, but its testimony is powerful and its craft is superb. For older children through adults, the answer is clear: WORTH THE TRIP.
