Easter is on the horizon, and that means it is time to paint the eggs and put on the Sunday best. Easter is an interesting holiday in terms of celebration. Holidays like Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, and others are fun as a child and also as an adult, as their meaning of them can evolve into different levels of enjoyment. Some holidays like New Year's Eve can become even more fun as an adult, but Easter is different.

It means one thing as a child filled with baskets of gifts and candy and Easter egg hunts, but changes drastically as an adult. For those with a religious background, it can be a spiritual day full of meaning, but to the non-religious, it may seem like a Sunday with nothing huge to offer. However, Easter is a holiday that has many meanings to many people. As a symbol of rebirth and renewal, either in relation to Christianity or to Spring. Life blossoms and the cold winters give way to beautiful spring that can be spent with loved ones. One activity to do is enjoy a movie with friends, families, or even solo.

Updated March 27th, 2024: This article has been updated to reflect more movie options to watch this Easter.

Hollywood knows the value of the holiday, as Easter weekend is prime real estate for big theatrical releases. The biggest Easter release for 2023 is The Super Mario Bros. Movie, looking to capture the family audience. Adult viewers also have Amazon's Air for their Easter weekend viewing. Yet, if you are looking for something else, be it a film with an overtly religious tone, a secular vibe, or something enjoyable for the whole family, check out these movies to watch on Easter.

16 Hop

Hop is a family-friendly offering that dives deep into modern notions of Easter, namely the Easter Bunny. While plenty of films explore the lore and mythology of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny has a lot of potential. This 2011 film is about a young rabbit named E.B. (Russell Brand) who runs away from his home on Easter Island to follow his dreams to be a drummer instead of succeeding his father as the Easter Bunny and ends up finding a human named Fred (James Marsden) to take on the mantle instead.

The Iconography of Easter in CGI and Live-Action

The movie is Illumination Entertainment's only film to feature CGI and live-action elements and has a lot of fun playing with various Easter iconography, like rabbits, chicks, and Easter eggs. Hop is playful, quick fun for the whole family.

15 Easter Sunday

A movie named after the holiday is always a safe bet, just ask John Carpenter's Halloween, which is practically mandatory viewing for the month of October. Easter Sunday is loosely based on stand-up comedian Jo Koy's life growing up in a Filipino household.

A Filipino Family Easter

Easter Sunday is the most recent addition to the list, and in an odd move, Universal Pictures decided not to release the movie around Easter but picked a late summer release date. While the movie was a box office bomb, it can find new life on home video and streaming as film audiences return to Easter season for a good laugh.

14 Rise of the Guardians

Billed as The Avengers of children's icons, Rise of the Guardians focuses on a team of childhood legends: Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), and the Sandman, as they recruit Jack Frost (Chris Pine) to battle Pitch Black (Jude Law) from engulfing the world in darkness by destroying children's belief in them.

An Easter Bunny of Hope

Though it was released in November to cash in on the holiday season and has a winter aesthetic, the film takes place near Easter. The Easter Bunny is the film's guardian of hope, and his explanation that Easter is about new beginnings and new life is a perfect explanation of the holiday.

13 Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971)

Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a stop-motion Easter special from Rankin/Bass Productions. Based on the novel, The Easter Bunny That Overslept, the story revolves around Peter Cottontail, who lives in Easter Valley, where all the bunnies help prepare for the eponymous holiday. Peter is expected to become the new Chief Easter Bunny, but an evil rabbit, January Q. Irontail is determined to take his place and ruin the holiday once and for all. Thanks to Irontail, Peter oversleeps on Easter, but a time machine gives him a chance to set things right.

An Easter Bunny For All Seasons

The special animated in Rankin/Bass' famous Animagic style, is especially famous for its voice cast, which include Casey Kasem as Peter, Danny Kaye as the narrator, and Vincent Price, who voices the villainous Irontail. Just as Rankin/Bass based many of their famous Christmas specials on popular holiday carols, Here Comes Peter Cottontail was based on the song of the same name from Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins, who were also behind "Frosty the Snowman."

12 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

For kids, Easter is a holiday commonly associated with candy, second only behind Halloween. For that reason, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a delightful pick for an Easter viewing. Released in 1971, the movie was a box office disappointment but went on to become an instant classic thanks to its repeated screenings on television.

Whimsy and Candy

Not only does the movie feature plenty of sweet treats, but aesthetically the film features a warm glow associated with spring. The film's score makes for a perfect Easter soundtrack, with the right amount of whimsy to make one's heart take flight and believe in a world of pure imagination.

11 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Based on the highly popular book of the same name, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe follows the Pevensie children as they are transported to a magical land called Narnia through an entrance in a wardrobe, and get drawn into a conflict against the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton). The four children, known to the residents of Narnia as two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve, must join forces with the mysterious and powerful Aslan (Liam Neeson) to end the eternal winter that has covered the land and return the sun.

A Christian Allegory That's Perfect for Easter

Like a few other films on the list, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe can be considered both a Christmas and Easter movie (so much so that its theatrical release was in December, but hit DVD just in time for Easter). The film's central backdrop sees winter making way for spring to bloom, and Aslan sacrificing himself and being reborn. Author C.S. Lewis' religious faith was a major part of his work and his life, and he created a modern Christian allegory that could be enjoyed by those of faith and non-faith alike.

10 Superman Returns

Superman Returns acts as a sequel to Superman: The Movie and Superman II and sees Superman (Brandon Routh) return to Earth after five years away, and now must find a place in a world that has moved on from him. Aside from the renewal of the Superman franchise at the time, the film draws heavily from religious symbolism. Superman's origin story is comparable to that of Moses, but for years various writers have imagined the figure as a Christ-like savior; throughout the film, people reference Superman as a savior.

A Christ-Like Sacrifice

In Superman's fight with Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey), he stabs the man of steel with a shard of Kryptonite in the side (referencing the crucifixion), and Superman sacrifices his life to save the people of Earth. The film finds a familial bond, with Superman discovering he has a son with Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) named Jason, who seems to have inherited his powers. Superman recounts the lesson his father Jor-El (Marlon Brando) imparted to him when he discovers Jason's lineage, that "the son becomes the father, and the father the son," a very Christian sentence. Superman Returns is an Easter movie down to its thematic DNA.

Related: Every Actor Who Played Superman, Ranked

9 Hank & Mike

Hank and Mike is a holiday-themed comedy that skews older than most movies about Easter bunnies. The titular Hank and Mike are two blue-collar Easter bunnies who seem like perfect opposites. Mike is insecure and straight-laced while Hank is deadpan and obnoxious, effectively the "Odd Couple" in bunny suits. After the two get downsized in favor of other holidays, they'll take on a variety of odd jobs as their lives start to unravel. Things take a dark turn when Hank ends up pawning Golden Egg award.

Being an Easter Bunny Isn't an Easy Job

The story takes place in a world where being an Easter bunny is a job someone can have and, like many jobs, lose. Much of the humor comes from the fact the two leads, among other characters, are wearing bunny costumes. The characters of Hank and Mike originated in the sketch-comedy YB Normal. The two also appeared in a short film in 2000, which served as the basis for the film.

8 The Matrix

Released on the Easter weekend of 1999, Warner Bros. knew there was something thematically present in The Matrix. The story is about Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves), a computer hacker going by the name Neo, who discovers his world is a simulation in a computer created by machines who have conquered humanity. Neo is prophesied to be The One, the individual who will free humanity from the Matrix with the help of Trinity.

The Matrix Is a Spiritual Film

The One and the name Trinity have religious connections behind them. The Matrix is filled with symbolism and references (many of them religious), so much so that people's various readings of it were critiqued in The Matrix Resurrections (which itself has an obvious Easter-type title). As it stands, The Matrix serves as a great alternative for audiences looking for something spiritual while also providing some mind-bending action that still manages to amaze them after all these years.

7 The Sound of Music

One of the most successful movies of all time, The Sound of Music is the story of Maria (Julie Andrews), a young Austrian postulant in 1938 Salzburg, Austria, who is sent to the villa of a retired naval officer and widower, Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plumber) to be governess to his seven children.

The Sound of Music Was Syndicated Into Easter History

After changing the family's life, she marries Captain Von Trapp, and the two, along with the children, find a way to survive the loss of their homeland to the Nazis. The film is often considered an unofficial Christmas movie due to years of television broadcast, yet some networks have taken to running it at Easter (likely for the religious themes), and the film's vast green canvas makes it a perfect springtime treat.

6 Peter Rabbit

Peter Rabbit is a live-action film filled with CGI versions of Beatrix Potter's characters. An adult Peter Rabbit lives with cousin Benjamin Bunny and his sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail, spending their days picking on the elderly Mr. McGregor while being watched over by the motherly Bea. When McGregor dies and his uptight great-nephew Thomas moves in, Peter tries to scare him off, especially as Bea starts falling in love with the newcomer.

Beatrix Potter Meets Her Classic Characters

The film doesn't adhere too closely to the classic books, focusing more on comedy. Fans of the original books, however, may enjoy seeing appearances from a variety of Beatrix Potter's characters, from Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle to Pigling Bland. There's also something heartwarming seeing an avatar of Potter herself, Bea, interact with her famous characters. The film was followed by the sequel, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, which features Bea using her rabbit friends as the basis of a children's book.

5 Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene is a biblical drama revolving around the figure of the same name. The film sees Mary become a follower of Jesus, even after her family tries to interfere. The story follows her as she witnesses the Crucifixion and Resurrection, serving as one of Jesus' most devoted followers and supporters.

A Woman's Perspective of Jesus Christ Informs the Easter Holiday

The film depicts the Biblical story through the perspective of Mary Magdalene, a figure who served as a firsthand witness. Through it all, the story reflects the theme of outcasts and the rejected finding hope of a new world and an end to oppression.

Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara memorably play Jesus Christ and the titular saint, respectively. The film also features many scenes involving water, representing spirituality in the story. Mary is often seen immersed in water to showcase her devotion. These scenes play at the end, albeit with others joining in, represent new followers.

4 Christopher Robin

The Winnie the Pooh property has always had a natural spring aesthetic, and while there are plenty of animated adventures of the character to choose from, something about Disney's live-action take on the story in Christopher Robin seems tailor-made for Easter.

The film acts as a sequel to the original The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and shows a grown-up Christopher Robin (a wonderful Ewan McGregor) who has lost his sense of imagination. He is reunited with his old friend Winnie the Pooh (Jim Cummings) and must return to 100 Acre Wood to find his friends and discover how to be both a better father and husband, but also to not forget who he is.

Remembering the Wonder and Joy of Easter

While the film's gray London aesthetic doesn't immediately strike the image of Easter, its sense of childlike wonder and outdoor adventure captures a kind of childlike innocence. Christopher Robin teaches audiences a lesson that can tie back to Easter as a holiday: simply being an adult does not mean one has to let go of the joy of exploration and excitement that life brings. Some elements of childhood are worth holding onto. So, sit down with the whole family and enjoy Pooh Bear, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and the rest of the gang in a heartwarming tale.

3 The Passion of the Christ

The Passion of the Christ is a biblical drama detailing the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life. The film starts with the "Agony in the Garden," where Jesus prays with his disciples. Taunted by Satan and betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus is arrested and soon will be put to death.

The Story of Christ's 12 Last Hours on Earth

The film takes influence from the gospels, devotionals, and visions of Catholic saint, Anne Catherine Emmerich. Satan, played by Rosalinda Celentano, notably appears as a recurring antagonist throughout the film, taunting Christ and scheming about the destruction of humanity throughout, ultimately screaming in defeat within Hell itself. As per Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary, memorably played by Maia Morgenstern, is given a prominent role. The film's dialogue also notably uses Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin and was mostly shot in Italy.

2 Easter Parade

Easter Parade is a musical film set in the 1910s, starting with Broadway star Don Hewes getting Easter presents for his dancing partner, and love of his life, Nadine Hale. However, Nadine has already signed a contract to appear solo in a new show, all the while in love with Don's friend Johnny. A heartbroken Don claims he can make any girl the next big star and decides to prove it with chorus girl Hannah Brown.

A Classic Hollywood Musical That Feels Like Spring

The trials and rivalries of both love and show business play out. Hannah's in love with Don, who still pines for Nadine, who herself wants to marry Johnny, who is in love with Hannah. Of course, everything ends happily with Hannah sending Don a few Easter goodies, complete with an Easter parade.

Easter Parade is famous for its cast, notably with Judy Garland as Hannah and Fred Astaire as Don. The musical also features a variety of Irving Berlin songs, like "Steppin' Out with My Baby", and "We're a Couple of Swells," as well as the title song, "Easter Parade."

1 The Last Temptation of Christ

Jesus has been the subject of many movies, and narrowing down one pick is always hard. Yet it is difficult to go wrong with legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese, and in 1988 the director helmed an adaptation of the controversial book, The Last Temptation of Christ. The movie follows the life of Jesus (Willem Dafoe) and his struggle with various forms of temptation, including doubt, depression, and lust.

The Gospel of Martin Scorsese

Despite a disclaimer at the beginning of the film that says it is not based on any gospel and is a fictional telling, the movie generated a great deal of infamy after its release; Scorsese received death threats for the film, and there was a massive protest of the film's release. While it may not be for everyone, even for secular audiences the film is a compelling tale looking at a figure through the lens of one of cinema's greatest living filmmakers (who also happens to be distinctly interested in Christianity).

Related: Best Martin Scorsese Films, Ranked