Before Pope Leo XIV sits down with a group of Hollywood actors and directors on Nov. 15, the Vatican dropped a small but telling teaser: the American-born pontiff's four favorite films. It's a short list with a big heart - the kind that says a lot about what moves him.
Note: Four trailers are available for these titles. The videos will be added automatically after this article.
For folks who cover movies, there's a clear throughline here: dignity, family, sacrifice, hope. Two comfort classics. Two heavier hitters. All of them stories that meet people where they live.
The list at a glance
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - a crisis, an angel, and a hard reset on what a life is worth.
- Life Is Beautiful (1998) - a father's audacious love in the face of the Holocaust.
- Ordinary People (1980) - grief, guilt, and a family trying to keep it together.
- The Sound of Music (1965) - music, vocation, and courage under rising tyranny.
"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)
Frank Capra's small-town fable still hits like a warm hand on your shoulder. George Bailey stares into the void; an angel shows him what the world looks like without his choices, his sacrifices, his stubborn goodness.
It's sentimental, sure. But it's also blunt about despair and money panic - which is why that final swell of community lands. OSV News classification: A-II (adults and adolescents). Motion Picture Association: not rated.
"Life Is Beautiful" (1998)
Roberto Benigni blends clowning with catastrophe, then dares you not to cry. A Jewish father reframes a concentration camp as a "game" so his son can survive another day without breaking.
Yes, it's controversial for some. But at its core, it's a study in paternal imagination as a shield against terror. OSV News classification: A-II (adults and adolescents). MPA rating: PG-13 - parents strongly cautioned.
"Ordinary People" (1980)
Robert Redford's debut is quiet, chilly, and devastating. A suburban family loses a son; the other barely claws back from a suicide attempt. Love's there, but it's misfiring - especially between mother and child.
The film doesn't preach. It watches - therapy sessions, awkward dinners, the way grief warps a room. OSV News classification: A-III (adults). MPA rating: R - under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
"The Sound of Music" (1965)
On paper, it's a singing nun and seven kids. On screen, it's a widescreen argument for joy and conscience. Maria brings music back to a guarded household; the family then faces a harder choice as the political noose tightens.
Decades later, the craft still gleams: Andrews, Plummer, Wise's pacing, and songs that won't leave your head. OSV News classification: A-I (general patronage). MPA rating: G - all ages admitted.
Why this mix matters
Here's what this could mean: Pope Leo's taste leans toward stories that affirm life without ducking pain. Community over isolation. Parents who fight for their kids. Humor as a lifeline when things get bleak.
For studios and publicists heading into the Nov. 15 sit-down, these picks signal open ground for faith-and-film conversations that are honest, human, and very audience-friendly. Think repertory tie-ins, panel hooks, and press angles that speak to conscience as much as craft.
Ratings note
If you need a refresher on how MPA labels work, the association's overview is here: MPA Film Ratings.
