PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

Yes. Pilgrim’s Progress turns John Bunyan’s powerful, episodic allegory into an entertaining and very well-made Christian movie. Its central journey connects with the real trials Christians face, including the burden of sin, the call to leave those burdens at the Cross, and the dangers of legalism and libertinism.

The movie’s production values are very good, especially its sound, and the lead performances are believable. The episodic structure sometimes causes the jeopardy to lapse and interest to flag, but the film remains highly commendable viewing with an excellent Christian worldview.

If you want a clean, faith-centered film for the whole family, this is worth watching.

Christian is burdened by the sins he has committed. After reading the Bible, he becomes increasingly aware of that burden and meets Evangelist, who tells him to flee the City of Destruction.

Christian sets out for the Gates of Heaven. Along the way, he encounters fellow pilgrims, angels, demons, powers, principalities, and situations that test whether he will remain on the right path.

Three stars means this is a good, commendable film with noticeable limitations. The production values are very good, especially the sound, which is important in a low-budget movie. The leads receive good direction and give believable performances.

The filmmakers also deserve credit for adapting an episodic book into an entertaining and interesting movie. Still, the sequential nature of the journey sometimes weakens the jeopardy and allows interest to flag. Some lesser actors occasionally lose their focus, but the film remains very well made overall.

The film presents a strongly Christian, biblical worldview. Christian represents every believer who perseveres in faith until entering the kingdom of heaven. His journey takes seriously the burden of sin, the Bible’s exposure of that sin, the call to leave burdens at the Cross, and the free gift of grace.

It also warns against two opposite errors: legalism and libertinism. Christian meets forces and situations that attempt to pull him from the right path, while angels and fellow pilgrims help him continue. The story’s trials connect directly to the tribulations Christians face in everyday life.

The adaptation places Bunyan’s story in contemporary settings. Evangelist is presented as a well-dressed African American preacher, helping bring the allegory into a recognizable modern world.

At its center, the film celebrates perseverance in faith and the hope of heaven. Scripture says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight” (Hebrews 12:1).

Pilgrim’s Progress is a well-made, highly commendable Christian film for all ages. Its episodic structure has occasional weaknesses, but its message of sin, grace, perseverance, and heaven is clear and encouraging. For family viewing, WORTH THE TRIP.