It’s not every day that you come across a pro-life movie. Or is it? Sometimes, on purpose or not, movies—yes, even those from the most woke writers and directors—have pro-life messages. Maybe it isn’t the primary theme, but if you look close enough, you can see how the story uses unexpected pregnancies, and less-than-ideal live scenarios to show how precious human life really is. To celebrate June being the Month for Life, we wanted to share 8 unexpectedly pro-life movies with you to enjoy and see that there’s a little spark of hope in this crazy world. 

Note: These movies are not all appropriate for children or the best for family movie nights. Please do your own research and use your discretion.  

Juno

This quirky teen comedy is meant to spoof the high school and coming-of-age teen drama genre. A bit of a cult classic, Juno follows the story of Juno, a young girl who has a one night stand with Paulie, her friend/high school crush. The two have a somewhat complicated relationship that gets even more complicated when Juno finds out she is pregnant.

The pro-life aspect of this movie comes in when Juno heads to Planned Parenthood but encounters a young woman protesting outside the building. The young woman informs Juno that her baby, even at the very early stages of development, has hands, fingernails, and a heartbeat. Juno thinks twice and leaves.

Through the rest of the film, Juno wrestles with the pregnancy and her relationship with Paulie as the two kids figure out how to live life with this new development. The overall message is hopeful, with sweet, innocent undertones, and a surprising pro-life message.

Love, Rosie

Love, Rosie is based on the book by the same name and tells the story of Rosie and Alex. The two grew up together and have an amazing friendship that seems to be blossoming into more but they just can’t seem to get the timing right. As a result, Rosie ends up going to the debs (British prom) with another guy. After their one night together, Rosie finds out that she is pregnant—just before she is meant to leave for college in Boston with Alex. She ultimately chooses to hide the pregnancy from Alex, encouraging him to go to college without her. 

While abortion isn’t really discussed, it is alluded to and Rosie decides to see the pregnancy through and then give the baby up for adoption. However, in the course of the pregnancy, Rosie builds a natural attachment to the baby and finds, after she’s given birth, that she just can’t give the baby away. 

As time progresses Rosie and Alex’s lives continue on into adulthood, with Rosie’s daughter playing a major role in her life and being a huge support, inspiration, and saving grace on Rosie’s rougher days. In addition, Rosie’s daughter keeps Rosie and Alex connected in some strange way.

Up

We’ve talked about Up before as a surprisingly pro-life movie. In the course of the first few minutes, main characters Carl and Ellie wish for children as they come together and share their lives and adventures.

Unfortunately, they experience a miscarriage and mourn the loss of their child. Not only does this movie strike us as pro-life based on their desire for children and sadness at the loss—ultimately acknowledging the value and humanity of their unborn child—but also because of Carl’s later adventures where he embraces life and everything it has to offer.

Waitress

We love Waitress as an example of pro-life messaging because it involves a very common scenario used by abortion activists to justify abortion: abusive relationships. The main character, Jenna, is stuck in a job that doesn’t pay much, but she is a whiz with pie baking and is scrounging every penny to be able to eventually enter a contest that would give her enough prize money to afford a divorce from her abusive husband.

Relying on the love and support of her amazing co-workers, Jenna wrestles with the news of her pregnancy and what that means for her future and dreams. She can’t stay with her husband, but she doesn’t have much of a choice. Until she has another life to think about. 

In fact, it is her child who gives her the strength to fight for a better life and make the changes needed to get out of the abusive relationship.

Peanut Butter Falcon

This incredibly sweet story about Zak, a young man with Down Syndrome, who runs away from his nursing home proves, in its own fun way, that all life has value and should be preserved, lifted up, and embraced. 

Going on an adventure of a lifetime, Zak encounters Tyler, a grieving fisherman on the wrong side of the law, who is trying to outrun his past and just get by. The two become like brothers as Zak pursues his dream of becoming a wrestler and embrace their messy lives. 

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place is another one of those films that accidentally tells a strong pro-life story and argues against a common pro-abortion position. Often, we’ll hear abortion activists argue that abortion is justified because of the crazy, dangerous, unpredictable world we live in. They say abortion—a.k.a. death—is better than struggling in the world the baby is born into. 

In A Quiet Place, the mother of the family surviving the apocalyptic, alien-infested world is pregnant. In this new and terrifying world, any sound—like, say, those made while giving birth or made by a crying baby—could get a whole family killed really easily. Bringing a baby into that world is a risk to everyone.

It’s never addressed, but the woman had open access to all of the abandoned pharmacies and every medication at her disposal—including, I’m sure, abortion pills. However, she chooses to keep the baby and to bring them into the world. Perhaps it’s just used as a way to build tension and create an impossible situation, but in our eyes, this is a beautiful way to show that every life is inherently valuable and shouldn’t be disposed of just because the world, timing, etc. is inconvenient. 

The Hunt for Wilderpeople

One common pro-abortion argument asserts that it is better not to have been born than to suffer anything in life. The Hunt for Wilderpeople turns that on its head in an unexpected way. Telling the story of Ricky Baker and his adoptive father, Hec, the movie addresses the difficulties pre-teens face in the adoption system and how unfair and unpredictable their lives can be. 

Over the course of the movie, Hec and Ricky don’t really mesh, but when Ricky runs away, Hec must go after his adoptive son in the New Zealand wilderness. The two work together, form new bonds, and realize that life is actually kind of wonderful, despite however difficult and complicated it is. 

This beautiful and fun story is rated PG-13 but is pretty family-friendly!

It’s a Wonderful Life

Perhaps the most classic pro-life movie ever, It’s A Wonderful Life tells the story of George Bailey. George has made major sacrifices for his family, putting off his own dreams and aspirations to keep the family business going, raise his family, support his brother, and ensure his mother wants for nothing. It’s not at all what George wanted, and he feels as though he has wasted his life in the small town where he grew up. 

As you probably know, George then wishes he’d never been born and learns an incredibly valuable lesson: no matter how small and insignificant your life seems, you make a huge difference in the lives of those around you. Your influence spreads further than you think and no life is worthless. 

In the end, there can be some pretty powerful pro-life lessons and stories told through film, even if the writers themselves don’t even know it.

Happy watching!