OVERCOMER
Put God first so you can overcome.
Should You Watch It?
Yes. Overcomer is a heartwarming, poignant sports drama with humor, strong acting, wonderful cinematography, and a powerful Christian message. Its central question is whether Hannah and John will become overcomers in Christ, and the film answers by pointing them toward Jesus.
Hannah’s transformation is especially powerful. The Gospel is proclaimed more than once, and the story strongly emphasizes putting God first and finding your identity in the Lord.
If you want a well-produced movie that can encourage your whole family, Overcomer is worth the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESHannah lives with her grandmother in Franklin, Georgia, and decides to try out for the high school cross-country team. Basketball coach John Harrison reluctantly becomes her coach after losing most of his players when families leave town for work.
As John learns how to coach cross-country, he meets Thomas, a blind diabetic and former runner, during a hospital visit. Hannah and John each face obstacles that challenge where they find their identity and hope.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a superior family film. Overcomer is very well-produced and wonderfully paced, with strong storytelling, acting, and cinematography.
Some actors deliver their lines more poignantly than others, but everyone contributes to the movie’s sweet, inspiring, and often funny tone. Hannah’s character transformation is particularly powerful, and the film is filled with touching, poignant moments.
The Worldview
Overcomer features a very strong Christian worldview. It presents church members visiting hospital patients, Bible reading, prayer, Christian education, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ being proclaimed more than once. A character gives her life to Christ, while another recounts a radical conversion story.
The film emphasizes making God one’s first priority and finding one’s identity in Him. It also presents drug use and abuse as something to be rebuked, rather than celebrated. Stealing is rebuked, and brief marital discord is resolved.
The film’s central longing is to overcome life’s obstacles by finding identity in the Lord. Jesus teaches, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Very strong Christian, moral worldview includes parts where a pastor and church member visit hospital to comfort patients, Bible reading depicted, the Gospel is proclaimed more than once, character gives her life to Christ, a character recounts a radical conversion story, a strong emphasis on making God one’s first priority and finding your identity in Him, children go to a Christian school, and prayer depicted
Foul Language
No foul language
Violence
No violence
Sex
No sex, but there’s a mention of having a child out of wedlock
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
No alcohol
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Mention of drug use and abuse, but nothing’s depicted, and it’s rebuked
Miscellaneous Immorality
Brief marital discord, and stealing but rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
What does it mean to put God first in your life, especially when circumstances change?
Matthew 6:33 · Proverbs 3:5–6Where do people often look for their identity, and what does it mean to find your identity in the Lord?
Galatians 2:20 · Ephesians 2:10How can a difficult experience become an opportunity to encourage someone else?
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 · Galatians 6:2What does it look like to respond when you have done something wrong?
Proverbs 28:13 · 1 John 1:9The Final Word
With its excellent craftsmanship, touching moments, humor, and clear Gospel message, Overcomer is an encouraging choice for the whole family. WORTH THE TRIP.
