| The Chosen | |
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| Genre | Historical drama |
| Created by | Dallas Jenkins |
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| Directed by | Dallas Jenkins |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 42(list of episodes) |
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| Running time | 20–100 minutes |
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| Network | VidAngel |
| Release | December 24, 2017 (2017-12-24) – present |
The Chosen is an AmericanChristian historical drama television series, created, directed, and co-written by filmmakerDallas Jenkins. It is the first multi-season series about thelife andministry ofJesus of Nazareth, primarily set inJudaea andGalilee in the first century. The series depicts Jesus's life through the eyes of the people who interacted with him, including theapostles and disciples of Jesus, Jewish religious leaders, Roman government and military officials, and ordinary people. The series starsJonathan Roumie as Jesus alongsideShahar Isaac,Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, andGeorge H. Xanthis, among a large cast of others. Five seasons have been released, with seven planned.
The series is free to watch and has used a variety of different business models and distribution methods. The first season was financed throughcrowdfunding, becoming the most successful crowd-funded TV series in history.[2] Season 1 was released in 2019 on theVidAngel platform with a subscription required, but the producers temporarily made it free to watch in response to the early days of theCOVID-19 pandemic when millions of people were staying home—and revenue actually went up. They eventually decided to make all seasons free to watch, though there would be exclusivity windows. Seasons 3 and 4 premiered in movie theaters before being released to various streaming platforms, includingAmazon Prime Video,Netflix,Facebook, andYouTube. In 2025, Jenkins announced a deal withAmazon MGM Studios to premiere episodes of Seasons 5, 6, and 7 in theaters, followed by a 90-day exclusivity window on Amazon Prime Video, before being made available for free.[3] As of May 2025,The Chosen grossed over US$120 million in its theatrical releases.
The show has been watched by an estimated 280 million people worldwide, a third of whom are not religious.[4][5] The response has been generally positive among Christians, though there have been various controversies over aspects of the show. It has won threeGospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards, threeK-Love Fan Awards, oneEpiphany Prize fromMovieguide and a Pillar Award from theMuseum of the Bible.
The series is internationally distributed byLionsgate, and translation into other languages is funded by the non-profit Come and See Foundation.[6] The show has been adapted into a series of novels by Jenkins's fatherJerry B. Jenkins, a series ofgraphic novels by Corvus Comics, and companion Bible study materials published byDavid C. Cook. The success of the series led to the creation of 5&2 Studios which has developed two spin-off series, animated TV seriesThe Chosen Adventures andThe Chosen in the Wild WithBear Grylls.[7]
Set in1st century Galilee, the first season chroniclesJesus starting to build a group of disciples andhis ministry,[8] inviting people with different backgrounds to study under him. As he performs his firstmiracles, includingturning water into wine inCana, Jesus calls the formerdemoniacMary Magdalene; the stonemasonThaddeus; the choir memberLittle James; the fishermenSimon,Andrew,Big James, andJohn; the catererThomas; the vintner Ramah; and thetax collectorMatthew to follow him. Following Jesus's meeting with thePhariseeNicodemus, the season culminates with the group traveling throughSamaria, where Jesus launches his public ministry after revealing himself toPhotina, aSamaritan woman.
Beginning in Samaria, the second season moves into nearby regions such asSyria andJudea, where Jesus continues to build his group of students. As he continues to perform miracles, includinghealing the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda, while preparing for a significant sermon, Jesus additionally callsJohn the Baptizer's disciplePhilip, the architectNathanael, and theZealotSimon Z. As the word of Jesus spreads throughout the region,[8] he encounters both opportunities and difficulties.[9] The season ends on the preparations for Jesus'sSermon on the Mount with the help of the business apprenticeJudas Iscariot.
Returning toCapernaum, the third season portrays the increasing popularity of Jesus, which troubles different societal and political groups, including the Romans and the Pharisees.[10] Following the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus sends histwelve apostles,two by two, to preach and perform miracles without him—their biggest challenge yet. Jesus then returns to his hometown,Nazareth, which results in a shift to his ministry in the year of his greatest popularity. After multiple miraculous occurrences, the season closes in theDecapolis and at theSea of Galilee, where Jesusfeeds thousands with loaves and fishes and thenwalks on the water.
Starting with thedeath of John the Baptizer, the fourth season unfolds the last year of the ministry of Jesus as Jesus bears the weight of his mission alone as his adversaries converge on him while his disciples struggle to keep pace with him.[11][12] As Jesus performs his last miracles, such ashealing a man born blind, and transforms his followers, such as changing Simon's name to Peter, the group leaves Capernaum and journeys to Judea andPerea, where they face violent opposition to Jesus's message, including the death of Ramah. When the Jewish religious leaders side with the Roman authorities following Jesus's last sign of raisingLazarus from the dead, the season concludes with Jesusmaking his way to Jerusalem.
As Jesus anticipates his imminent fate, the fifth season depicts the first part ofHoly Week, starting with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus prepares his final public statements, as Jewish and Roman leaders contemplate how to control the crowds and eliminate the perceived threat Jesus poses to their authority. Jesuscleanses the Temple, prompting the Jewish leaders toquestion his authority. Jesus's followers struggle with this, as well as his subsequent shift in demeanor, including thecursing of the fig tree. Judas grows disillusioned, meeting withCaiaphas to betray Jesus. At thePassover Seder, Jesus shares hisLast Supper with his disciples and imparts them with his final words, including predictionsof his own betrayaland death. They go topray at the Garden of Gethsemane, and the temple guard arrive to arrest Jesus, signaled by thekiss of Judas.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| Pilot | December 24, 2017 (2017-12-24) | |||
| 1 | 8 | April 21, 2019 (2019-04-21) | November 26, 2019 (2019-11-26) | |
| 2 | 8 | April 4, 2021 (2021-04-04) | July 11, 2021 (2021-07-11) | |
| Christmas Special | December 1, 2021 (2021-12-01) | |||
| 3 | 8 | December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)[SO 1] | February 7, 2023 (2023-02-07)[SO 2] | |
| 4 | 8 | June 2, 2024 (2024-06-02)[SO 3] | June 30, 2024 (2024-06-30) | |
| 5 | 8 | June 15, 2025 (2025-06-15)[SO 4] | June 29, 2025 (2025-06-29) | |
In 2017, working through his production company,Vertical Church Films, Dallas Jenkins released a feature-length film,The Resurrection of Gavin Stone; the film did not perform to the studio's expectations at the box office.[17][18] While working to determine his next project, Jenkins beganbinge-watching different television shows and realized there had never been a multi-season show about Jesus that could be watched in the same way.[19]
Jenkins returned to a script for a short film calledThe Shepherd. Filmed on a friend's farm inMarengo, Illinois, Jenkins wrote the screenplay and intended the film be shown during a Christmas Eve service at his church,Harvest Bible Chapel inElgin, Illinois.[20] Expanding on that idea, he came up with the concept forThe Chosen as a multi-season story arc about the life of Jesus that could build a backstory based on cultural and historical context.[19] This allowed him to focus more on the people who encountered and followed Jesus, viewing him through their eyes and thus presenting Jesus in a way that was more "personal, intimate, [and] immediate".[20]
Faith-based video streaming serviceVidAngel became aware ofThe Shepherd and showed interest in expanding on the concept of a Jesus-based series.[19] At the time, VidAngel was involved in a lawsuit with major Hollywood studios and thus seeking original content to distribute.[21] They suggested putting the short film on Facebook as a series pilot to see if interest would be generated for a multi-season show.[22] Jenkins expressed that he was not totally on board with the potential of crowdfunding, but decided to give the platform a try.[23] The short film received over 15 million views around the world.[24]
VidAngel, along with Jenkins and video marketing strategistDerral Eves, turned to thecrowdfunding business model to produceThe Chosen. A provision in theJOBS Act that went into effect in 2016 allowed them to offer shares of ownership and profits from the production rather than the arbitrary perks offered by regular crowdfunding.[24] The first fundraising round raised $11 million from more than 16,000 investors for the project, each of whom received equity in the project.[25] This surpassedMystery Science Theater 3000 as the top crowdfunded TV series project.[22] Their equity stake allows them to share in profits not only from the show itself but also from other revenue sources, such as merchandise, books, and Bible-study materials.[2] Majority shareholders will not receive a share of the profits until the original investors earn 120% of their investments.[2]
After funding the first season by selling equity, the show has utilized traditional crowdfunding for subsequent seasons, along with a model that offers more traditional crowdfunding perks, such as appearing as an extra in the film.[2] Season 2 fundraising had raised over $6 million from more than 300,000 contributors as of July 1, 2020.[26] As with previous seasons, the producers continue to use thepay-it-forward model developed byAngel Studios to help fund the development of the show's future seasons.[27] Through 2021, the average contribution through crowdfunding efforts was $65.[2]
In October 2022, the creators partnered with a new nonprofit, the Come and See Foundation, which was created to manage the show's funding.[6] The nonprofit status allows contributors to receive a tax deduction for their donations.[28] In March 2024, Jenkins announced a delay in the streaming release of season 4 for legal reasons stemming from a dispute between The Chosen, LLC and Angel Studios, noting that the production costs of the series were proving the previous method of crowdfunding to be unsustainable.[29]
The show also raises revenue through licensing to other streaming platforms and TV networks, video and merchandise sales, and limited premiere runs in movie theaters.
Seven seasons of the series are planned.[5][30] In 2023, formerDreamWorks executive Mark Sourian was hired to lead development of an entertainment universe with future films and shows based on the original series.[31]
In contrast with typical Bible-focused productions, Jenkins has given more depth to his scripts by adding backstories to various characters from the gospels without contradicting material that is present.[20] This is noted in the opening credits of the first episode, which include the following:
The Chosen is based on the true stories of thegospels of Jesus Christ. Some locations and timelines have been combined or condensed. Backstories and some characters or dialogue have been added. However, all biblical and historical context and any artistic imagination are designed to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures. Viewers are encouraged to read the gospels. The original names, locations and phrases have been translated into English for anything spoken.[32]
Although the show has anevangelical tendency,[33] there are consultants from three Christian faith traditions providing input. Acting as consultants areMessianicrabbi Jason Sobel from Fusion Global Ministries; Catholic priest and national director ofFamily Theater Productions Father David Guffey; and professor of New Testament atBiola University Dr. Doug Huffman. They review scripts and provide facts or context on the biblical, cultural, andsocio-political history of the storyline.[34] Orthodox Jewish theologianDavid Nekrutman was appointed as adviser for the show's fourth season.[35]
Jenkins said he draws creative inspiration from shows likeFriday Night Lights andThe Wire,[2] and writers Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson listThe Wire,Game of Thrones,Battlestar Galactica, andStar Trek as their influences.[5]
The show features many people of color as actors, which is not often the case in television shows and films based on the Bible.[25][20] Jenkins avoided "big stars" and "white people", trying instead to re-create a picture of first-century Capernaum—which, being on a trade route, would have reflected a diversity of ethnicities and backgrounds.[20]
Various members of the cast have described a deep connection to the show, the story, and their character. Elizabeth Tabish, who was considering leaving her acting career, described it as a "dream role".[36] Jonathan Roumie said he always aims to "empty out as much of himself as possible" to allow theHoly Spirit to work in him through both the script and his performance onscreen. In describing his preparation for the role, Roumie said that he does "a good bit of reading and rereading the source material" but that most of the preparation is "in the spiritual department".[36]
Season 1 was filmed over 60 days mostly aroundPooleville andWeatherford, Texas, supplemented by asound stage andvisual effects in aDallas studio. After searching online for suitable locations, the producers settled on the existing Capernaum Village in Pooleville, a venue that offers both film set rental and live experiences for tourists.[37]
Season 2 moved filming toUtah County, Utah, to a replica Jerusalem movie set built byThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The set was originally built to authentically replicate most of the primary locations of the ancient city in order to film scenes for the LDS Church'sBible andBook of Mormon videos.[38] As part of theLDS Motion Picture Studios South Campus, the set's use byThe Chosen marks the first time a production not affiliated with the LDS Church has been allowed to film there. Filming occurred during October and November 2020. Commenting on how much the Utah desert resembles the Holy Land, Dallas Jenkins said that they could not re-create it anywhere else—"you can't even get this in Israel".[39]
Being filmed during theCOVID-19 pandemic created challenges for the production of season 2. Two thousand extras were used in filming the Sermon on the Mount scene, all of whom were required to obtain a negativePCR test result prior to filming.[40] Safety precautions such as multiple testing and properpersonal protective equipment (PPE) kits for the cast and crew members were also applied. Following COVID-19 protocols increased the production costs by $750,000.[41] Anyone arriving on set had to be tested in advance and upon arrival, longer meal breaks were required, and all hair and makeup stations had to be sanitized regularly.[39] Jenkins indicated that the production experienced fewer than five positive COVID-19 cases during filming.[39][40]
Production of season 3 moved filming back to Texas, to a site inMidlothian, selected for its similarities with the Middle East in both topography and weather.[42] There,The Chosen partnered with theNational Christian Foundation and the Impact Foundation to construct a $20 million production complex on the site ofthe Salvation Army's Camp Hoblitzelle. When completed, the complex will include a soundstage, set workshops, and a replica of Capernaum.The Chosen will lease the facility, which will ultimately be used for other film and television projects.[2] Beginning in April 2022, filming for season 3 included a four-day shoot for the scene of thefeeding of the 5,000, using nearly 12,000 extras from 36 countries. Most of the extras came at their own expense and made their own costumes.[42]
Season 4 production began in March 2023 in Midlothian.[43][44] When the series had to stop filming at the beginning of the2023 Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike on July 14, 2023, fans started a prayer campaign through social media.[45] The series was granted a waiver to continue filming on July 16, 2023.[46][47] Under the terms of the waiver, the show's producers agreed to be bound to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement retroactively.[48]
Filming of season 5 began on April 11, 2024, in Utah with production completing at the show's facility in Midlothian, Texas.[49]
Jenkins announced that season 6 began filming on April 14, 2025.[50] The season included filming inGoshen, Utah.[51] Thecrucifixion scenes were shot inMatera, Italy.[52] Filming concluded in September 2025.[53] The sixth season will premiere in 2027, and the seventh and final season will premiere in 2028.[54]
To compose the music for the series, creator Dallas Jenkins called on a longtime friend,Jars of Clay vocalist and songwriterDan Haseltine. Haseltine had worked on projects with Jenkins in the past, composing the music forHometown Legend. Initially, Haseltine was not interested, believing that there were plenty of similar projects and that the world didn't need another "cheesy Jesus story". After Jenkins convinced him thatThe Chosen would be different, Haseltine brought in fellow Jars of Clay multi-instrumentalist Matthew S. Nelson to assist with composition. Haseltine has noted that musical influences include Middle Eastern, Indiandrone,Delta blues, and "slave spirituals".[55]
Executive producer Dallas Jenkins wanted to produce a multi-season series about Jesus that viewers could binge watch.[20] Hoping to distinguish the series from previous portrayals of Jesus, Jenkins wanted to "encounter Jesus through the eyes of those who actually met Him",[22] presenting a story that would be more "personal, intimate, [and] immediate."[20]
The show gives backstories to both the characters and the settings. For instance, there are storylines that explorevice,addiction,autism, andphysical disability.[2] InThe New York Times, Ruth Graham points out that themes within the storylines include "complex relationships, suspense, political intrigue, and charged emotional moments".[5] Other themes, described by Chris DeVille inThe Atlantic, include marital conflict and financial struggles.[30] Writing forVox, Aja Romano points out there is an underlying theme of racial tension as shown in the relationship between Jews andSamaritans of the time.[56]
Actor Jordan Walker Ross, who plays Little James, hasscoliosis and minorcerebral palsy, causing him to walk with a limp, a disability that he was asked to hide in previous acting jobs. Rather than hide it, Jenkins has used Ross's physical disability to explore story themes in which Jesus heals some people but not others.[57]
Jenkins also highlights that there were key moments in which women were intentionally chosen by Jesus to be a vital part of his ministry.[58]
The show used a variety of different release and distribution models as viewership has grown. The first season was originally released on VidAngel's subscription service and was also available for DVD purchase. Initially, viewership was sluggish.[2] Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April 2020, the first season was made freely available throughThe Chosenapp,[20][22] and viewership spiked.[2] Jenkins stated that revenue actually went up after they made it free to watch, attributing it to "God's impossible math".[59] The producers have since made the free-to-watch model permanent, and generate revenue through a variety of channels including theatrical releases, streaming platform and television network deals, merchandise and media sales, andpay-it-forward viewer contributions.[2]
Seasons 1-4 were primarily distributed via The Chosen's app and website before being released to other platforms.[2] New episodes were typically premiered via livestream on YouTube and Facebook, and then released on the app and website. The app includes bonus content, such as Bible round-tables and exclusive "after-show" content, as well as an opportunity for viewers to make tax-deductible contributions to fund production.[28] Beginning with Season 5, new seasons will be initially exclusive to Amazon Prime Video before being made available for free.
By early 2021, the show was made available to view onAmazon Prime Video,Trinity Broadcasting Network,Peacock, andUPtv.[2][60][61] In 2022, season 1 was released onNetflix.
Season 2 was first released in 2021 on The Chosen app and the Angel Studios app and expanded to various other free and paid streaming platforms.[62]
The producers partnered withFathom Events for a Christmas special titledChristmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, which opened in 1,700 theaters on December 1, 2021.[63][64] The special also featured performances fromContemporary Christian music artists includingPhil Wickham,Maverick City Music,For King and Country, andBrandon Lake.[65] It grossed $13.5 million with one million tickets sold, exceeding previous records for Fathom Events.[5][66] The effort was to satisfy demand from fans as well as an attempt to drive people back to movie theaters.[63]
After the success in theaters of the Christmas special, the producers announced the first two episodes of Season 3 would be shown in theaters before being released for free on various platforms. Season 3's first two episodes were released in theaters prior to streaming. It screened in more than 2,000 theaters throughout the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.[67]
Jenkins indicated an interest to theatrically release the third season's penultimate and finale episodes as well, noting that the scene of thefeeding of the 5,000 is more suited to the big screen.[68] When Jenkins announced ticket sales during a livestream, the resulting demand initially crashed the Fathom Events website.[69] The finale opened in theaters on February 2, 2023.
In June 2023,The CW acquired the first three seasons ofThe Chosen for linear broadcast in the United States.[70] The CW premiere broadcast was watched by 520,000 viewers.[71]
Another theatrical Christmas special,Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night, opened in theaters on December 12, 2023. Combining scenes fromThe Shepherd andThe Messengers, the film featured seven musical performances from the previous special. A new performance included in the special was done byAndrea Bocelli and his son,Matteo Bocelli, singing "O Holy Night" in French.[72] The special also featured monologues by Dallas Jenkins's wife, Amanda Jenkins, and co-writer ofThe Chosen, Tyler Thompson.[73]
The entirety of the fourth season ofThe Chosen began its release in domestic theaters the first week of February 2024, with episodes 1–3 playing for two weeks, and episodes 4–6 for two weeks, episodes 7–8 playing for one week.[74]
Following the February 2024 theatrical release of episodes 7 and 8 of season 4, Dallas Jenkins announced via a video statement in March that the streaming release would be delayed due to "legal matters". According to Jenkins, the delay was the result of a breach of contract dispute between Angel Studios and The Chosen, LLC.[75] Jenkins later announced via video livestream on YouTube that legal arbitration had concluded and the first episode of season four would be released through the show's app on June 2, 2024. Jenkins further stated two episodes per week would be released on the app through the month of June on every Sunday and Thursday.[76][77] Season 4 episodes were later released to other platforms.
In June 2024, The CW picked up the show for its fourth season.[78]
In February 2025, Jenkins announced a deal withAmazon MGM Studios to distribute theatrical releases of season 5, brandedThe Chosen: Last Supper, beginning in March 2025. As part of the deal, Amazon acquired exclusive rights to stream season 5 on Amazon Prime Video for 90 days, after which the show will be made available for free.[79] Season 5 would be released on Amazon Prime on June 15, 2025.[80][81]
The Season 5 trailer soared to No. 1 on YouTube's trending list and amassed more than 1 million views in less than 24 hours.[82] The film grossed $11.49M on its opening weekend, surpassing the third season's theatrical release, where it grossed $8.77M during its opening weekend in November 2022.[83][84] After the release of Part 3 of the fifth season, the entire theatrical run ofThe Chosen series grossed over $120 million.[85] The three parts ofLast Supper became the highest-grossing film released by Fathom Events,[86] with the first part alone grossing nearly $20.2 million domestically.[87]
The producers have stated a desire forThe Chosen to be seen by over one billion people and broadcast in every country in the world.[88] In October 2022, the Come and See Foundation was formed as a nonprofit to help fund the translation and global distribution of the series. With no budget, the foundation began by operating on funding from an anonymous donor.[6] The foundation's goal is dubbing the show in 100 languages and subtitling it in 600 languages.[89][90] As of January 2024, the series has been dubbed in nearly 50 languages.[91]
In May 2023,Lionsgate Television acquired worldwide distribution rights to the series under a sub-license. Under the agreement, the series remained an Angel Studios original and Angel retains exclusive launch windows and licensing rights to the show.[92][93]
The series has expanded to international platforms, such asCanal+ in France.[94] The first season was broadcast on theCroatian Radio Television during the last week of Advent in 2022.[95] As of 2023, the series had also launched into the Netherlands onNPO, Spain onMovistar, and Poland onTVP.[96][93] In the summer of 2023,The Chosen became the first television show to be translated intoMalagasy.[97] The first three seasons ofThe Chosen were first aired in the Philippines onGMA, during Holy Week in 2025,[98] and have been re-aired on its subsidiaryGTV every Sunday evening since August 3, 2025.[99]
| Film | U.S. release date | Box office gross |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers | December 1, 2021 | $13,728,000[100] |
| The Chosen Season 3: Episodes 1 & 2 | November 18, 2022 | $14,679,613[101] |
| The Chosen Season 3 Finale[BO 1] | February 2, 2023 | $5,589,142[102] |
| Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night[BO 2] | December 15, 2023 | $4,676,000[103] |
| The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 1–3 | February 1, 2024 | $14,873,918[104] |
| The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 4–6 | February 15, 2024 | $9,482,744[105] |
| The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 7–8 | February 29, 2024 | $7,768,191[106] |
| The Chosen Last Supper: Part 1[BO 3] | March 27, 2025 | $24,990,137[87] |
| The Chosen Last Supper: Part 2[BO 4] | April 4, 2025 | $12,536,179[107] |
| The Chosen Last Supper: Part 3[BO 5] | April 11, 2025 | $12,456,592[108] |
| Total | $120,780,516 | |
The show's popularity began largely as an underground phenomenon, going unnoticed and unreviewed by major publications. Until it was added to Peacock in 2021,The Chosen was not available on any major cable network or streaming service,[30] yet it was still able to achieve more than 312 million streaming views in that time.[2] In November 2022, an independent consultant hired by the producers estimated that over 108 million people globally had watched at least part of one episode ofThe Chosen.[5] According to theAtlanta Journal-Constitution, the show had 200 million viewers and 770 million episode views as of January 2024.[91] As of 2025, producers estimated it has been seen by 280 million people worldwide, a third of whom are not religious.[4]
The Chosen has performed strongly on streaming platforms. OnPrime Video, the show reached the no. 1 position in the US following the season 5 debut and has remained in the platform's top 10 rankings through 2025.[109][110] The show has also found success onNetflix, where it appeared in the top 10 rankings in several countries includingBrazil,Honduras, andParaguay.[111]
The show has received positive reviews for its acting, direction, speculative storytelling beyond typical Bible stories,[30][112] and authenticity.[56] Covering the release of season 4 for theAtlanta Journal-Constitution, Patricia Holbrook wrote that the authenticity of the series "has made [her] realize how little [she] ever thought about the humanity of Jesus" and that "the series expands on known struggles that the disciples and other characters had, making us realize the impact of Jesus' presence and teaching on those who followed him".[91] Other Christian commentators have also praised the series for its production value, noting that it raises the bar for other faith-based productions.[5]The Atlantic's Chris DeVille noted that its success so far has arrived "not in spite of its insularity, but because of it", concluding that "for the most part, the series seems to be finding its fans among the converted".[30] However,Texas Monthly suggested that the show has the most mainstream crossover potential sinceTouched by an Angel.[113]
Not all reception has been positive. The creators have received an array of criticisms, including the production's association with theLDS Church[114] and accusations of injectingMormon theology into the scripts.[115] Dallas Jenkins has refuted the claims in interviews and livestreams, stating thatThe Chosen has no Mormon influence in its writing, scripts, or theology and insists the show is "conservative evangelical".[116] Other criticism has been from pastors and viewers who believe the writers have taken artistic liberty too far with what is and is not written in the Bible,[117][118] as well as those who say the show violatesthe second of theTen Commandments aboutcreating images of God.[119]
| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Movieguide Awards | Epiphany Prize (season 1 episode 8) | Nominated | [120] |
| Grace Prize (Jonathan Roumie) | Won | [121] | ||
| 2021 | K-Love Fan Awards | Film & Television Impact | Won | [122] |
| 2022 | GMA Dove Awards | Inspirational Film of the Year | Won | [123][124] |
| Movieguide Awards | Epiphany Prize: Movie (Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers) | Nominated | [125] | |
| Epiphany Prize: Television (season 2, episode 8) | Nominated | [125] | ||
| Grace Prize (Jonathan Roumie) | Nominated | [125] | ||
| Museum of the Bible | Pillar Award | Won | [126] | |
| 2023 | K-Love Fan Awards | Film & Television Impact | Won | [127] |
| GMA Dove Awards | Television Series of the Year | Won | [128] | |
| Movieguide Awards | Epiphany Prize (season 3, episode 1 & 2) | Won | [129] | |
| Grace Prize (Jonathan Roumie) | Nominated | [130] | ||
| Best Television for Families | Nominated | [130] | ||
| 2025 | K-Love Fan Awards | Film Impact | Won | [131] |
| GMA Dove Awards | Television Series of the Year | Won | [132] |
Jenkins and VidAngel initially focused on social media to promote their idea for the show by releasing the short filmThe Shepherd on Facebook.[22] After the first season of the show was released, they began to utilize their pay-it-forward model to assist with promotion. In addition, Jenkins has built a large following of fans by regularly hosting livestream events and "viewing parties". The production company employs a dedicated social media staff as well as a dedicated video team for "behind-the-scenes" coverage that is used in social media promotion. According to Jenkins, their success is based on direct communication with viewers.[2]
Promotional trailers are also developed to appeal to specific denominations.[30]
In 2022, as part of the producers' Easter marketing campaign, 48 of the 70 billboards for the show nationwide were changed to appear as though they had been defaced or vandalized with phrases like "The Chosen is boring" and "Chosensux.com". The URL directed users to a website called "The Chosen Is Not Good", which depicted Satan as a character trying to get people not to watch the show. As a result of the campaign, many fans of the show were concerned that the defacement was real and, in April, Dallas Jenkins issued an apology to fans for having not mentioned anything about the campaign.[133]
To complement its crowd-sourced fundraising model,The Chosen generates revenue through merchandise sales including T-shirts, hats, books, and DVDs. In addition to offering general merchandise,The Chosen has partnered with Christian publishers such asDavid C. Cook and Broadstreet Publishing to produce companion study guides, devotionals, and Bible study materials.[6][134][135] The show is also being adapted into a series of graphic novels by Corvus Comics.[136]
Soundtracks for seasons 1, 2 and 3 have been released. Songwriter Dan Haseltine believes there will be additional projects by other artists influenced and inspired by the series.[55]
To complement the show's content, Dallas Jenkins, his wife Amanda, and Douglas Huffman have released companion Bible studies that follow the show.[137] Huffman, a professor of New Testament at Biola University, also serves as a consultant to the show.[138] The first study, from David C. Cook publishers, was released January 21, 2021.[137] In addition to a book, the study includes digital resources, video clips, teacher guides, and promotional materials.[137]
Dallas Jenkins's father,Left Behind authorJerry B. Jenkins, has contributed anovelization of each of the show's first two seasons.[139][140] An additional third novel is planned.[141] Jenkins has collaborated in the past with his father onHometown Legend andMidnight Clear, a full-length feature film based on one of his father's short stories.[141]
The elder Jenkins notes that this is atypical: though it is common for TV shows or movies to be based on novels, in this case it is the other way around, with the novel being based on the show in what he refers to as "a backward deconstruction".[140] He notes that the biggest challenge in this approach is adding detail to the story that is not part of the Biblical account.[140]
ChosenCon (officially The Chosen Insiders Conference) is afan convention dedicated to the show. The first ChosenCon was held inDallas, Texas, in 2023 and gathered around 3,500 attendees. The 2024 edition took place inOrlando, Florida, and reportedly drew more than 5,000 fans.[142] The event featured announcements of spinoffs within the franchise.[143] The next convention is scheduled for February 2026 inCharlotte, North Carolina.[144]
The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins launched 5&2 Studios to produce other Bible-inspired stories. The first is an animated TV series calledThe Chosen Adventures.[145] Cast members fromThe Chosen reprise their roles in the voice cast, including Jonathan Roumie as Jesus.[146] The series was released on Amazon Prime Video on October 17, 2025[147] and Christian streaming serviceMinno on October 31st, 2025.[148]
Another companion series in development will feature adventurerBear Grylls in six unscripted episodes takingThe Chosen cast members on physical journeys through the wilderness as they share their personal stories.[149]
Series based on theActs of the Apostles and the lives ofJoseph andMoses are also in development.[4]
Although The Chosen has been successful to date, its producers have had to deal with long-standing distrust from evangelical Christians who tend to look down on any kind of poetic license with the Scriptures.
