Risen (2016 film)

Plot

Clavius, a Roman Tribune from Legio X Fretensis, first puts down a rebellion of zealots led by Barabbas. He then oversees the crucifixion of Yeshua and stations guards at the tomb. When the body vanishes, the soldiers claim Yeshua’s followers stole it to fake a resurrection. Worried about unrest in Jerusalem before the emperor’s arrival, Pontius Pilate orders Clavius to recover the corpse.

With his aide Lucius, Clavius interviews people who say they saw Yeshua alive after his death. The stories they gather become increasingly miraculous and hard to accept. Followers like Mary Magdalene and Bartholomew speak in riddles and refuse to betray others. Clavius’s aggressive investigation unsettles both Romans and Jews, and Pilate, pressured from all sides and afraid of Caesar, pulls back his support.

Out of leads, Clavius returns to a disgraced Roman soldier who had guarded the tomb, now a drunk. He shakes the man until he admits his earlier story was a lie. The soldier then describes a fantastic event: on the morning Yeshua disappeared, a blinding flash destroyed the stone and ropes sealing the tomb, and a figure emerged with a booming voice that terrified him and his companion into fleeing. Clavius dismisses this tale.

During a raid in a Jewish quarter, Clavius stumbles upon a resurrected Yeshua with his apostles in a secluded house. Shocked, he halts the search, ordering Lucius and his men away. He enters the house and locks eyes with Yeshua, unable to believe what he sees, having witnessed the crucifixion.

That night, Lucius and Pilate lead another raid on the same building, but find it empty except for a note from Clavius, who has chosen to follow Yeshua and the disciples. Abandoning Roman gods like Mars, Clavius initially distrusts the group but soon travels with Yeshua and his followers to test the reality of Yeshua’s return to life. Along the way, he speaks with and befriends both Yeshua and the apostle Peter.

Reception

Risen brought in $36.9 million domestically and $9.2 million internationally, adding up to a worldwide haul of $46.1 million against a $20 million budget. In its first weekend in the U.S. and Canada, projections had it earning between $7 and $12 million from 2,915 screens, competing with Race and The Witch. It made $4 million on opening day and $11.8 million over the full weekend, landing in third place behind Deadpool ($56.5 million) and Kung Fu Panda 3 ($12.5 million).

Critics were split. On Rotten Tomatoes, 53% of 132 reviews were positive, with an average rating of 5.60 out of 10. The site’s consensus noted that the film benefits from a lighter feel than many faith-based movies, a fresh angle on the biblical story, and a strong performance by Joseph Fiennes. Metacritic gave it a score of 51 out of 100 based on 28 critics, signaling mixed or average reviews. Audiences, however, were more enthusiastic, giving it an “A−” on CinemaScore.

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded two out of four stars, appreciating the unique storytelling and supporting cast but finding Fiennes’ performance too stoic. Megan Basham of World praised it as one of the better faith-based films in years, with acting, writing, and production values on par with mainstream releases. Michael Foust of The Christian Examiner gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it an inspiring and moving detective-style story that aligns well with the Gospel, despite being historical fiction.

A notable quirk: Roman and Judean characters speak with British accents, despite the first-century setting. Critics pointed out the use of the King’s English and Oxford-style accents for both groups, with some seeing it as a standard Hollywood convention for portraying Roman authority figures.

Did You Know?

• The film was shot in Malta and Spain between August and November 2015.
• It held its world premiere on February 15, 2016, at the Highland Park Village Theatre in Dallas, Texas.
• Risen debuted in second place on home video sales charts behind Deadpool for the week ending May 29, 2016.