Easter might kick off with colorful eggs and chocolate-shaped bunnies, but it frequently ends in the living room. Luckily, there's no shortage of options if you want to continue your Easter celebration in front of the TV.
Halloween and Christmas loom large in the holiday movie space, but Easter movies exist across many genres, and the selection spans far beyond Easter movies for kids and families. Whether you're looking for lighthearted comedies or biblical epics, here are the 10 best Easter movies for adults to check out on HBO Max, Apple TV+, and more, listed in order of release date.
Easter Parade (1948)
Old Hollywood icons Judy Garland and Fred Astaire team up in the Easter-inspired musical Easter Parade. Neither strangers to dancing and singing, Garland plays an inexperienced chorus girl to Astaire's more seasoned Broadway star. Together, they navigate their new working relationship while slowly realizing their feelings for each other are more than professional.
As love stories go, Easter Parade is a longtime favorite. Fans of musicals will find no shortage of dazzling dances and zippy show tunes. If you like movies of yesteryear, Easter Parade is a charming slice of classic Hollywood.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Based on Roald Dahl's beloved children's book, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory sends Golden Ticket-winner Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) to the titular candymaker's factory, only for the other group members to fall off one by one.
Although not explicitly an Easter movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has enough candy and magical hijinks to make it feel like a holiday classic, but with more mass appeal than Easter Sunday. Gene Wilder gives one of his most iconic performances in a film that will appeal to kids and adults alike. However, those looking for a more modern retelling of Dahl's story can find that in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
Famed British comedy group Monty Python get in on the Easter movie action with Monty Python's Life of Brian. After being born on the same day as his next-door neighbor, Jesus Christ, Brian (Graham Chapman) spends his life being mistaken for the Messiah. His political interference only makes matters worse, and Brian (somehow) ends up with his own devoted following.
Now, a bona fide classic, not everyone was laughing in 1979. The film's edgy religious satire caused quite a bit of controversy upon release. Despite its initial pushback, Monty Python's Life of Brian prevailed, becoming one of the best comedies of all time. Fans of Monty Python's absurd satire and cheeky wordplay, perhaps most memorably on display in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), will find a new favorite here. If that type of humor grates on your nerves or religious jokes make you uncomfortable, consider another entry on this list.
Critters 2: The Main Course (1988)
Looking for something silly to watch this Easter? Critters 2: The Main Course has you covered. The sequel kicks off with those Crite eggs spotted in the final moments of Critters (1986) getting repurposed as colorfully painted Easter eggs. That, of course, doesn't go quite as planned, and the rest of the film features the hellish battle against the town's inhabitants and the titular man-eating aliens.
Critters 2 is funny, gory, and just plain stupid at times. This isn't a crowd-pleasing classic like Wily Wonka; this one is for horror fans and B-movie aficionados looking for a good time. When it comes to holiday horror, it is one of the best Easter horror movies out there. And the good news is that you don't have to be a Critters connoisseur to enjoy the sequel; it works just fine as a standalone viewing.
Chocolat (2000)
Chocolat is a romance novel turned movie with a historical flair. Set in 1959, a mother and daughter duo open a chocolate shop in a quaint but strict Catholic town on the precipice of Lent.
Not only does Chocolat have a star-studded cast, comprised of names like Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, and Johnny Depp, but it also offers an examination of tradition and how it can conflict with personal expression. All that considered, it's no wonder the movie walked away with five Academy Award nominations. If you like your films award-worthy, Chocolat is one of the few Easter-set movies to hold that title.
Miss Potter (2006)
Miss Potter is a lesser-known biopic about Beatrix Potter, the acclaimed author behind the Easter favorite, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Renée Zellweger stars as the author in her adult years as she navigates the publishing world and her parents' disapproval of her romance with a novice publisher (Ewan McGregor).
Those who know nothing of Beatrix Potter's personal life will walk away with a new perspective. It's an inspiring story about a kind woman who sidestepped chauvinism to achieve her dream of writing and illustration. Even if biopics aren't your thing, Miss Potter possesses enough dramatic flair to keep most viewers entertained.
Hank and Mike (2008)
Anyone thinking that holidays have become overcommercialized will find a similar vein of thought in Hank and Mike. The fantasy-comedy takes place in an alternate universe where a single mega-corporation owns holidays. After deciding to make cutbacks, the titular Easter bunnies (Thomas Michael and Paolo Mancini) end up without work, out of luck, and faced with an existential crisis.
The result is a film that feels like the Bad Santa (2003) of Easter movies. Similar to the absurd dark humor in Critters 2, Hank and Mike is an off-beat pick that won't be for everyone. But it's a solid option for those who don't mind a crude, dry comedy littered with dark humor.
Pieces of Easter (2013)
Anyone craving a good Easter-inspired rom-com will find that in Pieces of Easter. The film leans into the "from different worlds" trope when a city-slicker executive (Christina Karis) meets a no-nonsense farmer (Jefferson Moore) who agrees to help her get home in time for her family's Easter celebration.
Although a bit underrated as far as romantic comedies go, Pieces of Easter is equally cute and funny, with some touching human moments between its two leads. Feel-good movie enthusiasts have an easy pick right here. Easter Parade and Chocolat also make good choices for romance fans, but Pieces of Easter has them both beat with comedy.
Risen (2016)
Risen follows Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a senior officer of the Roman Empire tasked with tracking down Jesus after rumors of his resurrection swirl. Although considered a biblical epic, you won't find much of Risen's story in the Bible. Instead, it's a unique slice of historical fiction that feels akin to Gladiator (2000), just without as much violence or gore.
While Risen is very much aimed at Christian audiences, it has a unique enough premise for those outside the faith to consider checking out. However, if you'd prefer something less religious or more family-friendly, consider looking elsewhere for your Easter thrills. Willy Wonka is right there!
Easter Sunday (2022)
Stand-up comedian Jo Koy stars in Easter Sunday. The film follows Koy's Joe Valencia, a down-on-his-luck comedian and actor who returns home to celebrate Easter after failing to secure a role on a new sitcom.
At its core, Easter Sunday is a comedy about family dysfunction. While the film takes a strange turn into mob thriller territory later, the majority of it features laughs and misunderstandings among Joe's multi-generational Filipino American family. Although a bit divisive among fans and critics, Easter Sunday is a good choice for Jo Koy fans or anyone looking for something more lighthearted this holiday season.
