The Arts & Faith Top 100 — 2004 List

The first iteration of the Top 100 Spiritually Significant Films has been preserved for posterity. Examining the list offers interesting insights on how the group has evolved through the years. At the time, the list was released with a statement that read: “The Top 100 list draws upon decades of cinema and includes U.S. and foreign movies. Popular, “blockbuster” films are balanced with art films. The list offers readers the best, most spiritually significant films ever made, listed alphabetically.”

This first list had the unique feature that films were unranked. Instead, the list presented simply in alphabetical order. In addition, the group thought of films in a series as part of a package deal. ‘Jean de Florette’ and ‘Manon des Sources’ counted together; both ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Three Colors’ refer to all three films in their respective trilogies. This may have been an attempt to allow more films to exist on the list and demonstrate that the community thought of these titles as one overall film, rather than separate chapters.

One thing remains consistent: Although developed from a Christian perspective, the focus of the list is the spiritual depth or focus of the films involved rather than moral or commercial value. Some films will appeal to everyone, but there are also films that will challenge many viewers. — Lindsey C. Dunn (2025)