The Chosen (2019-Present) (2019)

Plugged In: Asay describes the series as something genuinely different from typical Christian entertainment, calling it a show that targets “a gritty, grimy, problematic Palestine filled with the unwashed and impure, giving the production a flavor of authenticity.” He notes the show functions as “more show than sermon,” and calls it one of the most compelling biblical adaptations he has encountered — one that may “scratch an itch viewers never even knew they had.”

Christianity Today (Season 5 Review): Kate Lucky praises Season 5 for its visual richness and structural inventiveness, noting that the production is “historically sensitive and structurally inventive.” Amid broader debates about creative liberties and ecumenical associations, the reviewer concludes that The Chosen is “an earnest show, created out of love for the gospel and a desire to share it with others.”

The Gospel Coalition: McCracken describes his initial skepticism — citing the notoriously poor artistic track record of biblical TV and film — before acknowledging his surprise: the show, he found, is “actually good. Quite good.” He argues its success stems from a genuine creative philosophy, not simply evangelical goodwill.

Crosswalk.com:

Reviewing the Season 3 theatrical release, Foust writes that, “The Chosen is the gospel-infused tonic our polarized, hate-filled, name-calling culture needs. Love, grace and mercy fill every inch of the plot.”He goes on to highlight the disciples’ pattern of conflict and quick reconciliation as an early, imperfect mirror of what the church should look like.

Dove.org: Dove recommends the series for audiences 12 and older, noting the Gospel retelling “will draw you into the inspiring story,” with particular praise for the authentic historical costumes, scenery, and the way Jesus’ transformative encounters are dramatized.

Rotten Tomatoes: Season 1 holds a 100% Tomatometer score from nine critics and a 99% audience score. The series’ overall audience score sits at 97%. Seasons 2–4 do not have aggregated critic scores — a common phenomenon for faith-based programming underrepresented in mainstream press outlets — but each holds audience scores between 94–98%.

IMDb: The series holds a 9.1/10 rating, placing it among the highest-rated dramas on the platform.

The Hollywood Reporter: THR profiled Jenkins extensively, acknowledging the show’s unprecedented crowdfunding model and its growing mainstream cultural footprint, framing him as a director who went from a “flailing Hollywood career” to staging what may become “the most devastating crucifixion in Hollywood history.

Texas Monthly: Sean O’Neil described the show as “Christian TV that even heretics can get behind,” noting its naturalistic storytelling instincts and deliberate debt to secular prestige dramas. The review also offered a fair critique: that The Chosen “inevitably boils down to some teachable moment” in a way that may test secular patience, and that at seven planned seasons, it risks feeling slow and repetitive at stretches.