The 7 Highest-Grossing Religious Movies at the U.S. Box Office, Adjusted for Inflation

      Here are the 7 highest-grossing religious films at the U.S. box office, adjusted for inflation.

      When we refer to “religious films,” we don't mean solely family-friendly options. Instead, we're discussing films that convey a religious message or reinforce certain beliefs. The films listed below reflect a Judeo-Christian perspective, as these types of religious films have proven to be the most successful among U.S. audiences based on box office sales.

      Let’s dive in.

      Before We Begin

      Monica Bellucci in a promotional image for an upcoming film we will discuss shortly. Newmarket Films

      All data provided comes from Box Office Mojo, an excellent resource we recommend. The adjusted numbers are based on estimated ticket sales, which allows for straightforward comparisons regardless of when the movie was released. This method helps compare a film from 1939 with one from 2026.

      We'll use ticket prices from 2022, as it's the most recent year for which we have data. We confirmed that no films released after 2022 would alter the information about to be presented.

      Now, here are the top 10 religious films ever at the U.S. domestic box office, adjusted for inflation.

      The Passion of the Christ (2004)

      Credit: Newmarket Films

      Anyone who lived through 2004 remembers the remarkable success of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, which highlighted the box office potential for religious films.

      Featuring Jim Caviezel as Jesus and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, the film depicts Jesus’ torture and crucifixion in graphic detail. It grossed $370,782,930 at the box office, which equates to $546,199,412 when adjusted for inflation, reflecting approximately 59,704,800 tickets sold.

      Gibson is making a return to Biblical epics with the upcoming The Resurrection of the Christ, which a publicist recently described to us as “a follow-up” and “not a sequel” to The Passion of the Christ.

      The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)

      RKO Radio Pictures

      Starring Bing Crosby as Father Chuck O’Malley and Ingrid Bergman as Sister Mary Benedict, The Bells of St. Mary’s provides a distinctly Catholic perspective, refraining from explicitly endorsing the existence of God or the belief that Jesus is humanity's savior. Instead, it promotes Christlike values within a Catholic context.

      The story centers on a priest and a nun who engage in a friendly rivalry while trying to save their parochial school. Crosby reprises the O’Malley character from the 1944 film Going My Way, which won him an Oscar.

      The film grossed $21,333,333, or $574,013,094 adjusted for inflation, representing around 62,745,100 tickets sold.

      While it may not be included in our list of Ingrid Bergman films that remain enjoyable to watch, it may deserve a spot.

      The Robe (1953)

      20th Century Fox

      One of several Biblical epics from the 1950s, director Henry Koster’s The Robe follows Roman military tribune Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton), tasked with overseeing Jesus' crucifixion. He ultimately experiences a dramatic transformation symbolized by the titular garment.

      The film grossed $36,000,000 at the box office, which is $598,799,584 adjusted and corresponds to approximately 65,454,500 tickets sold.

      Notably, it was the first film released using the widescreen process CineScope, indicating its ambitious scope.

      Raiders of the Lost Ark (1980)

      Credit: Paramount

      We understand you might be doubtful about considering Raiders of the Lost Ark a religious film, but hear us out.

      At its core, it focuses on the search for the Ark of the Covenant, which housed the Ten Commandments (mentioned again later). More significantly, the film culminates in an extraordinary Deus ex machina (God in the machine) moment, where a supernatural force—likely representing God—punishes Nazis for their detrimental act of opening the ark.

      It earned $248,159,971 at the box office, or $810,024,538 adjusted, reflecting 88,543,400 tickets sold, including those we purchased with our parents at a drive-in. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

      Of course, it remains the best Indiana Jones film.

      Ben-Hur (1959)

      Warner Bros/MGM

      This iconic religious film, adapted from Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, has been dubbed "the most influential Christian book from the nineteenth century."

      The plot follows a Jewish prince, Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), on a spiritual journey of faith, forgiveness, and redemption that parallels Jesus’ life and crucifixion.

      It grossed $74,432,704, which equates to $896,965,723 when adjusted for inflation