The Gospel of John (2003 film)
A word-for-word adaptation of the Gospel of John.
Last updated
Released in 2003, The Gospel of John is an epic biblical drama that presents Jesus’ life exactly as told in the Gospel of John. It uses only the American Bible Society’s Good News Bible, sticking to that text word for word without adding or skipping any passages. Henry Ian Cusick plays Jesus, Stuart Bunce portrays John, and Christopher Plummer provides the narration.
Production
A collaborative effort involving Canadian and UK artists, along with international academic and theological advisors, brought this film to life. Its cast drew heavily from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Soulpepper Theatre Company, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Royal National Theatre. Jeff Danna composed the score, incorporating elements inspired by Biblical-era music. Production occurred in Toronto, Ontario, and in Almeria and Andalucia, Spain.
Reception
Critical consensus described the film as reverent but not brought to life, with Metacritic assigning a score of 52 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews. IMDB rates the film 7.8/10. Audience opinion is very positive, with Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter rating it 89%, praising its faithful rendering and performances. Rhonda Handlon of Plugged In noted that the inclusion of Mary Magdalene at the Last Supper has no direct Biblical citation, which might concern viewers preferring direct scriptural references.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed The Gospel of John (2003 film)?
The Gospel of John was directed by Philip Saville.
When was The Gospel of John (2003 film) released?
The Gospel of John was released on 26 September 2003.
Who wrote The Gospel of John (2003 film)?
The Gospel of John was written by John Goldsmith.
How long is The Gospel of John (2003 film)?
The Gospel of John has a running time of 180 minutes.
Ranked in
More in Film Portrayals of Jesus' Death and Resurrection
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: The Gospel of John (2003 film) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced