Crossmap's Top Ten Entertainment Features of 2025
'The Chosen' Director Dallas Jenkins. Photo image courtesy 5&2 Studios
It’s that time of year again! Amidst all the baubles, beads, and good cheer being dispensed as we close out 2025, it is also a good time to reflect on the year in faith-based entertainment that may or may not have caught your eye.
For the Crossmap editorial team, once again, the year was dominated by stories centered around more watershed moments involving The Chosen streaming series, a program that continues to gain in popularity due to new projects like The Chosen Adventures and The Chosen in the Wild.
Scattered in between the release of The Chosen’s Season 5 and the anticipation of the forthcoming Season 6, were some highly worthy new movies, music releases, and inspiring books that truly made an indelible impact on our readers this year.
So, without further ado, grab your favorite festive coffee mug, fill it with hot cocoa (or eggnog if you prefer), and sit down beside your warm, cozy fireplace. And above all, give yourself a few minutes to enjoy the top ten Crossmap feature articles of 2025. Enjoy!
'The Chosen's' Dallas Jenkins Strives to Show Jesus 'Like Never Before' in Season 5
We recently sat down with The Chosen series creator Dallas Jenkins at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas, to discuss why he believes we will “see Jesus like never before” in Season 5 and why he is continually amazed at how this program consistently reaches people from every corner of the globe.
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'The Chosen's' Dallas Jenkins Strives to Show Jesus 'Like Never Before' in Season 5
Animated Film 'The King of Kings' Provides Different Look at the Life of Jesus
With so many Bible-themed film projects making a splash this spring (think The Chosen, House of David, The Last Supper), it seems that yet another production highlighting the life of Jesus might get lost in the cinematic shuffle.
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Animated Film 'The King of Kings' Provides Different Look at the Life of Jesus
Bear Grylls Retraces Jesus' Footsteps in the Holy Land in New TV Series
Don't miss Bear Grylls embark on a powerful journey through Jerusalem, retracing Jesus' final days. I had the opportunity to ask Grylls about his new television series Jesus: Refugee, Renegade Redeemer recently, why the topic of Jesus is so intriguing to him, and how filming the series gave him a fresh perspective on the transformational figure that Jesus Christ is.
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Bear Grylls Retraces Jesus' Footsteps in the Holy Land in New TV Series
Neal McDonough's 'The Last Rodeo' a Wild Ride to Put Family First
I recently sat down with McDonough, who also executive produced The Last Rodeo with his wife Ruve, to discuss the divine intervention that led them to make this movie, why he chose rodeo as the story’s backdrop, and how the greatest sacrifice a person can make is for the good of their family.
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Neal McDonough's 'The Last Rodeo' a Wild Ride to Put Family First
Karen Kingsbury's 'Someone Like You' Movie Shows Transformative Power of a Great Story
I recently sat down with Kingsbury to discuss where she finds inspiration for her stories, the challenges of starting and running a film production company, and why she was determined to make ‘Someone Like You’ her first independent movie project.
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Karen Kingsbury's 'Someone Like You' Movie Shows Transformative Power of a Great Story
Biblical Epic 'House of David' Series a Passion Project for Creator Jon Erwin, Lead Actor Michael Iskander
Erwin’s latest passion project is a new 8-episode limited series currently airing on Amazon Prime called House of David. Stemming from a vivid memory he had visiting Israel with his father at age 16, Erwin thought that one day he could make a sweeping, visually spectacular recreation on the life of King David from the Old Testament.
For Steve Taylor, 'Sketch' Movie Brings Imagination to Life
With more than 40 years in faith-based media and the arts, Steve Taylor has forged a diversified career as a musical recording artist, record producer, movie director, and screenwriter. His latest project, Sketch, opened in theaters during the summer. Starring Emmy Award-winning actor Tony Hale, the film is a family-friendly exploration into a child’s imagination and creativity as the hastily drawn characters in a 10 year old girl’s sketchbook come to life.
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For Steve Taylor, 'Sketch' Movie Brings Imagination to Life
Before 'The Chosen' There Was 'What If ...', a Movie That Launched Dallas Jenkins' Career
Long before The Chosen captured worldwide audiences with an immersive series about the life of Jesus Christ, Dallas Jenkins was a young, aspiring filmmaker trying to establish himself in Hollywood. In 2010, with just one full-length feature film to his credit, Jenkins released a movie that won the hearts of all who saw it.
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Before 'The Chosen' There Was 'What If ...', a Movie That Launched Dallas Jenkins' Career
Bethel Music's 'We Must Respond' Live Worship Album a Clarion Call to Glorify God
For the last 25 years, Jenn Johnson and Bethel Music have sought to bring music to the masses that invites listeners to take hold of their true identity and pursue intimacy with God above everything else.
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Bethel Music's 'We Must Respond' Live Worship Album a Clarion Call to Glorify God
Jennie Allen on How to Break Free from Our 'Whirly, Swirly' Thoughts
Using wisdom from the Bible, popular Bible teacher and speaker Jennie Allen's new children’s book, What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts is a fantastic resource to help your son or daughter feel safe in knowing that God has given them power over their thoughts in this great big world.
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Jennie Allen on How to Break Free from Our 'Whirly, Swirly' Thoughts
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For more features and articles by Crossmap Managing Editor Chris Carpenter, please visit his author page:
