In a world where faith and spirituality gain new forms of expression every year, documentaries continue to be a powerful bridge between human experience and the sacred. And in 2025, this format has gained even more strength, with productions that move, inform and question - all with great respect and depth.

If you like themes that touch the soul, deal with religion sensitively and feature real-life narratives, this post is for you.

Below you can see the top religious documentaries released in 2025 - works that attracted attention because of their stories, messages and relevance.

1# Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality

One of the most anticipated documentaries of the year, "Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality" was launched just as the young Italian was being canonized.

Known as the "saint of the internet"Carlo conquered the world with his simple faith, love of the Eucharist and ability to use technology to evangelize.

The documentary mixes it up:

  • Testimonials from family and friends
  • Images from Carlo's childhood
  • Scenes from the pilgrimages made by young people to his tomb
  • Smooth animations that recreate key moments in his life

The idea is not to idolize, but to inspire. To show that, even in modern times, holiness is possible - and it can happen in a teenager's bedroom, between a video game and a prayer.

It's one of those movies that touches the heart and makes us reflect on how we are using our time, our faith and our connection with others.

2# The Flame of Charisma

More discreet, but full of meaning, the documentary "The Flame of Charisma" premiered on YouTube on February 23, 2025. It presents the mission and daily life of the RIC Institute (Religious of the Charism Institute), showing a reality that many people have never seen up close.

The documentary features:

  • Interviews with women religious living in the community
  • Reports of late vocations
  • Moments of silence, manual labor and prayer

It's a work that shows that consecrated life is not "out of time". It continues to be a current call, with challenges, renunciations and a surrender that inspires.

The pace is calmer, but that's precisely what holds you: the feeling of entering a world where everything makes more sense and is less rushed.

3# Against Hate, Axé! We are Fruits of Resistance

Among the most important releases of 2025 is the documentary "Against Hate, Axé! We are Fruits of Resistance."

Unlike the others on this list, it focuses on African religions and takes a necessary look at the religious racism and the intolerance experienced by the people of Terreiro.

The production is strong, sensitive and courageous. It shows:

  • Testimonials from mothers and fathers of saints
  • Real cases of persecution and violence
  • Resistance and cultural preservation initiatives
  • The beauty of rituals, music and ancestry

More than a documentary, it's a call to awareness. And to peaceful coexistence between different expressions of faith.

It's a reminder that, in the middle of 2025, we still need to talk about respect.

4# Faith in Transit (scheduled for release in the second half of the year)

Although it hasn't been released yet, the documentary "Faith in Transit is already being eagerly awaited.

The production follows the stories of Brazilians who live out their faith in the streets, on the buses, in the subways, on our daily walks.

The focus is on:

  • Evangelicals who evangelize on the sidewalks
  • Catholics praying the rosary in wagons
  • Spiritists who do silent social work
  • People who discovered faith outside the temple

The idea is to show that God is out there too, on the paths of everyday life. That spirituality is not confined to four walls, but pulsates in the stories that cross our path every day.

5# The Word in Motion

Another documentary that deserves attention is "The Word in Motion"launched by an independent Christian collective.

The film shows the journey of people who decided to live the Bible intensely - not just as a reading, but as a daily practice.

Among the reports are:

  • Young people who sell everything to live on mission
  • Families raising children based on radical biblical principles
  • Experiences of true forgiveness in extreme contexts
  • People who faced illness and bereavement with living faith

The documentary is moving because it is real. It shows that faith, when authentic, transforms. Not as a formula, but as a way of life.

What do these documentaries reveal about faith in 2025?

Despite advances in technology, the hustle and bustle of the world and cultural changes, one thing remains strong: the search for meaning.

These documentaries show that faith:

  • It's not a thing of the past
  • It's not limited to one religion
  • You don't need the spotlight to be real
  • It doesn't disappear - it reinvents itself

And that's beautiful to see. In different voices, with different aesthetics, these productions remind us that human beings are still searching for the transcendent. Who keeps trying to understand the invisible, the divine, the eternal.

Where to watch?

Most of the documentaries mentioned are available at:

  • YouTube (free)
  • Christian platforms such as Lumine and Catholic Telehealth
  • Institutional websites of the religious movements involved
  • Special sessions in churches, cultural centers and schools

It's worth searching for titles or visiting the producers' websites. Many of them also provide extra material, such as debates, discussion guides and testimonials.

See also: Why does the Church keep Sunday and not Saturday?

April 13th, 2025