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Why Religion?

2026Movie1 h 20 min

Documentary
–
Not rated yetGoodWatch score

A philosophical, hopeful documentary movie about faith and meaning and a real life story.

Good for family movie night · friends night · teens

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Not for laughs, adrenaline or scares.

Movies with

Story

"Why Religion?" is a feature-length documentary film exploring the extraordinary work and personal journey of renowned scholar Elaine Pagels. Celebrated for her groundbreaking research on the Gnostic Gospels, Pagels challenges conventional religious narratives and invites us to rethink how early western religions approached divinity, enlightenment, and the human experience. The film offers intimate access to her life and work, revealing how her research of ancient texts shaped her own path of spirituality and self-discovery.

Feels like

  • Intellectual Biography
  • Religious History
  • Gnostic Studies
  • Philosophical Inquiry
  • Academic Documentary
  • Spiritual Exploration
  • Scholarly Insight
  • Personal Journey
  • Educational Film

Crew

Directed by
Jenny Mackenzie
Produced by
Carly Besser, Jenny Mackenzie, Yennie Lee

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 30, 2026 · 1 h 20 min · Documentary

Released
August 30, 2026
Runtime
1 h 20 min
Genres
Documentary
Original language
English
Made in
United States

Q&A

3 questions, like "Is Why Religion? okay for kids?"

Questions about Why Religion?

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Why Religion? okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will I feel good after watching Why Religion??

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 7 of 10 for hopefulness and 4 for wholesome.

Is Why Religion? plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and dialogue centrality (8 of 10) more than on its plot.