Fans Praise 'The Chosen' for Humanizing Jesus on Screen

Biblical drama series amasses over 250 million viewers worldwide since 2019 debut

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Fans of the hit biblical drama series 'The Chosen' gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina last week for the third 'ChosenCon' fan convention. Attendees praised the show's portrayal of Jesus as a relatable, emotional, and human character, in contrast to past depictions. The series' success is part of a larger surge in faith-based media, with fans noting a growing distrust of traditional Hollywood productions among religious audiences.

Why it matters

As the first-ever multi-season TV show based on the life of Jesus, 'The Chosen' has resonated with a massive global audience, challenging traditional Hollywood portrayals of religious figures. The show's success highlights a shift in audience preferences towards more authentic, values-driven entertainment.

The details

Originally a crowd-funded project, all five seasons of 'The Chosen' are now streaming on Amazon Prime and available for free on the show's dedicated app. Fans praised actor Jonathan Roumie's portrayal of Jesus, noting his ability to convey the character's vulnerability and humanity. Attendees also highlighted the show's emotional depth, with one fan saying he has 'wept so many times' while watching. Some fans warned against the commercialization of faith, urging Hollywood to remain focused on the source material rather than celebrity status.

  • The third 'ChosenCon' fan convention took place last week in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • 'The Chosen' debuted in 2019 and has since amassed over 250 million viewers worldwide.

The players

Jonathan Roumie

The actor who portrays Jesus in 'The Chosen' series.

Melissa

An attendee of the 'ChosenCon' convention who praised the show's portrayal of Jesus as a more relatable and human character.

Joanna

An attendee who came dressed as her favorite character and noted that 'The Chosen' shows Jesus as a human, which helps viewers connect with him better.

Mike

An attendee who said he and his wife often avoid the theater unless they know the creators share their values, but found 'The Chosen' to be a 'refreshing' experience.

Kristiana

An extra who served on the 'The Chosen' production and believes the show's success is part of a larger surge in faith-based media.

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What they’re saying

“What 'The Chosen' does that's so great is that it humanizes [Jesus]. I think past portrayals of Jesus... there just wasn't that additional personality. 'The Chosen' has him laughing, crying with his friends, [and] enjoying life, whereas other depictions... were just more blank and blasé.”

— Melissa, Attendee (Fox News Digital)

“'The Chosen' shows him as a human, and that connects with a lot more people. Just like me, he gets hungry, he gets cold, he gets thirsty... they see a different side of him, so they can connect to him better than [they] can with all these old shows.”

— Joanna, Attendee (Fox News Digital)

“Honestly, I love the way he's portrayed. It's funny to see him do the miracles... it's unlike anything that's ever been shown before. I've wept so many times, it's not even funny.”

— Mike, Attendee (Fox News Digital)

“When Hollywood sees that this is the real thing, this is not make-believe, this is some human being making up some story. And they will see, where are all these thousands of people coming from that believe this? There must be something to it.”

— Martha, Attendee (Fox News Digital)

“Hopefully Hollywood takes the time to just put more thought into who Jesus was and who he is as our Lord and Savior.”

— Melissa, Attendee (Fox News Digital)

What’s next

Fans will have to wait until the fall for the highly anticipated sixth season of 'The Chosen'.

The takeaway

The success of 'The Chosen' highlights a growing demand among faith-based audiences for more authentic and values-driven entertainment that humanizes religious figures. This shift could force a reckoning in the traditional Hollywood industry, pushing them to re-evaluate how they approach and portray stories of faith.