The Last Supper (Christian Movie Review) – The Collision

Verdict: A decent but unexceptional adaptation of the greatest story ever told; while The Last Supper isn’t groundbreaking, it should still satisfy audiences looking for a new cinematic way to meditate on the familiar gospel story this Easter season.

About the Film 

Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ (2004) was a monumental cinematic event. Two decades later, Jesus is thriving in Hollywood. With the mega-hit series The Chosen, Angel Studios’ upcoming animated feature King of Kings, and various other adaptations, there’s a “Jesus movie” for everyone these days. In a now-crowded genre, The Last Supper struggles to distinguish itself in any memorable way beyond simply offering “more Jesus” (not that many Christians are likely to bemoan having “too much Jesus” in their entertainment). The Last Supper offers a decent but unexceptional adaptation of the greatest story ever told; the film isn’t groundbreaking, but it should satisfy audiences looking for a new cinematic way to meditate on the familiar gospel story this Easter season.

Movies about Christ should never get a free pass on quality. Yet in several fundamental ways, they are not really like any other movies. More than offering mere popcorn-munching entertainment, The Last Supper serves a more sacred and worshipful function. (For more on the purpose of the film, you can check out my interview with Chris Tomlin and Michael Scott, CEO of Pure Flix and Pinnacle Peak Pictures).

From a purely cinematic perspective, The Last Supper forgoes many of the pillars of moviemaking (three-act plot, character development, etc.). The film presupposes that the audience already has an emotional attachment to the story and the characters. Despite some end credits title cards offering a gospel pitch, I’m not sure the film really works as an evangelistic experience. Instead, The Last Supper is primarily geared toward audiences who are looking for a fresh perspective on a narrative they know well.

The film tells the story from the point of view of the disciples, not Jesus. Judas Iscariot is present in all gospel retellings, but he has rarely (if ever) been given a central role. The Last Supper juxtaposes Judas with Peter, fleshing out their storylines to demonstrate their parallel (but ultimately diverging) paths. The film attempts to “humanize” the characters and explores Judas as a friend and member of the disciples, not merely as the man destined to betray Jesus.

Most Jesus films focus on the crucifixion and the resurrection, but this one dwells on the Last Supper and explores the religious roots of the Passover feast. For Christians who regularly partake in communion, there is value in meditating on its historical context. At times, the film is a bit clunky in how it handles this exploration, such as when a character explains the function of the blood painted over the door for Passover, exposition clearly included for the audience’s sake since Jewish characters would presumably already know the backstory.

For the most part, the film doesn’t alter the biblical narrative. It simply expands the story around the edges and fills in the gaps. As far as I could tell, most (if not all) of Jesus’ dialogue was taken directly from the Bible (which I appreciated, as I’m uncomfortable with filmmakers attributing their own words to Christ). 

In other areas, the film goes beyond recorded Scripture. The relationship dynamic between Peter and Judas is interesting, but it is original to the film, as is much of the dramatization of Judas being tormented and tempted by Satan. One of the most glaring additions is that rather than having Peter strike a servant with a sword and cut off his ear (John 18:10), a mini battle ensues between the disciples and the soldiers. The scene offers another unfortunate example of filmmakers including unnecessary Hollywood action rather than elevating the compelling dramatic tension already present in the biblical text (see also Netflix’s Mary). 

While not always the focal character, Jesus remains the story’s pivotal figure. Depicting the hypostatic union (Christ as both “fully God” and “fully man”) is cinematically impossible, and adaptations usually emphasize one aspect over the other. In some ways, The Last Supper offers a more reverent—at times, even “distant”—adaptation of Jesus than the more human version portrayed in shows like The Chosen. Though there are moments when Jesus appears surprisingly earthly and vulnerable in ways I didn’t always appreciate. For example, the “cleansing of the temple” (Mark 11:15-18) narrative is depicted more as Jesus losing control and throwing a tantrum rather than as a righteous, purposeful anger.  

While Hollywood mainstays like Star Wars and Marvel are faltering, biblical adaptations are on the rise. A byproduct of faith-based entertainment’s newfound success is that Christian viewers have plenty of options. The Last Supper doesn’t feel like an essential contribution to the genre, but that’s not to say that it is without merit. Familiarity can breed apathy, and there is power in approaching the gospel from subtly difference perspectives. At a time when films like Anora are celebrated as the best Hollywood has to offer, having a little more Jesus sprinkled into our entertainment isn’t a bad thing.    

On the Surface

For Consideration

Beneath The Surface

Engage The Film

Grace and Forgiveness

As an adaptation of the gospel, the film’s themes largely align with those of the biblical narrative itself—Jesus’ love, grace, and salvation. More specifically, the film attempts to unpack the similar experiences of Peter and Judas. Despite having spent years as followers of Jesus, arguably both characters’ most famous deed was denying their Lord. The film depicts both characters under the torment of Satan, who preys on their fear and guilt. Whereas Judas ultimately succumbs, Peter finds forgiveness and is restored.

Another theme the film’s producers specifically highlighted in my interview with them is the importance of the table. As many Christians partake in communion at church, the significance of the table has been somewhat forgotten. But there is power in being reminded that Jesus instituted the ritual while sitting around a table in intimate fellowship with friends. The Last Supper reminds audiences that the ultimate purpose of communion is not just to remember that Jesus died on the cross on our behalf but to dwell on the beautiful truth that he sacrificed himself to bring us back into a deep, loving fellowship with him.