The mysterious world of the clergy makes for a great setting in unsettling horror flicks as well as action-packed movies. Some movies are light-hearted and funny, while others chill the viewers to the bone. Nuns have made for compelling characters ever since the 1950s. They appear in comedies, westerns, action movies, and thrillers.
The most recent nun-related TV show, Netflix's Warrior Nun, reminds the world yet again of how compelling movies and TV shows featuring nuns and the Catholic Church can be. Throw in some action, suspense, or horror, and the end result is some premium entertainment.
While this article will prioritize movies and shows with action, some other genres will also be included.
Warrior Nun
Netflix's Warrior Nun was released just recently, in July 2020. Season 1 follows Ava, a young orphaned woman who dies and wakes up resurrected as a Halo-bearer. She is torn between enjoying her freedom and joining The Order of the Cruciform Sword, a highly secretive sect within the Catholic Church that helps the Halo-bearer fight demons from hell.
The series explores the dualities of personal freedom versus duty and science versus religion, topped with action-packed scenes and a little bit of romance.
Nun Of That
The 2008 movie Nun of That shares a few similarities with Warrior Nun. Here too, the protagonist dies and becomes a vigilante warrior as she is resurrected. When she dies, Sister Kelly goes to heaven and trains under the tutelage of figures, such as Moses, Gandhi, and Jesus. Upon returning back to life, she joins other supernatural nuns in the Order of the Black Habit.
Nun of That is not just an action movie, it's also a comedy. The humor ranges from slapstick to really clever comebacks.
Sister Act
One of the most famous movies featuring nuns is definitely 1992's Sister Act starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith. After Deloris witnesses a crime and realizes her lover Vince is a mobster, she is given witness protection and put in a convent. Vince is on a lookout for her and wants her dead before she can testify.
The movie mostly revolves around Deloris's assimilation to the convent life, but there's also some gangster action involved. An endearing, light-hearted movie that is one of the ultimate classics from the '90s. Currently, Disney is working on Sister Act 3.
Nuns On The Run
Another nun-themed movie from the '90s, Nuns on the Run is a story about two criminals hiding from their gangster boss. They infiltrate a convent and fool all the sisters into believing they are women themselves. Brian and Charlie are in a lot of trouble: There's a murderous boss gunning for them and, naturally, they also struggle to keep up their ruse.
Nuns on the Run is an action-comedy, built around the trope of cross-dressing. Filled with memorable lines, this British gem is perfect for a lazy afternoon.
Agnes Of God
Agnes of God is more of a mysterious thriller rather than an action movie. A young, naive nun/mother Agnes is the prime suspect of an infanticide. The court sends an atheistic psychiatrist, portrayed by Jane Fonda, to get to the bottom of this horrendous crime.
The plot thickens when it turns out that Agnes has no idea how she got pregnant or where babies even come from. Rather than being a no-brainer like the above-mentioned nun-themed comedies, Agnes of God demands a little bit more focus.
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison
Back in 1957, Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr starred in Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison. It is an adventure movie about an unlikely friendship between an Irish nun and an American marine who are stuck on a Pacific island during WW2. It's one of John Huston's lesser-known works.
Tensions escalate when the Japanese troops land on their island and the pair has to hide in a cave and wait for the storm to pass. This overlooked classic explores themes of religion, the nature of friendship between a man and a woman, as well as the tragedy of war.
Two Mules For Sister Sara
Another oldie, but goldie; Two Mules for Sister Sara is a 1970 Western starring young Clint Eastwood and Shirley MacLaine. Set in the Mexican desert, a godless man Hogan rescues Sister Sara and her two mules from a group of men.
The two spend considerable time together, and Hogan slowly starts to question Sara's identity. After all, she acts nothing like a nun as she smokes, drinks, and swears.
The Purge
The Purge is a franchise that includes a TV show on top of the movies. The series was first released in 2018. Despite having a huge fan base among the lovers of the horror genre, the show was canceled before season 3. Nuns appear quite frequently in the show, especially during season 1.
The show offers insight into how the killings influence society at large rather than just focusing on morbid murders.
The Nun
Released in 2018, The Nun is set in 1952 Romania and it revolves around a mysterious death of a young nun who was killed by a malevolent nun. It's scary and suspenseful, making it an ideal movie for fans of The Conjuring.
It's intense, scary, and mysterious. It revolves around an ancient dark force, making the source of evil just as unsettling as the unknown demons from hell in Warrior Nun.
Trinity Blood
An animated TV show, Trinity Blood is set in the future and it's about an ongoing fight between humans and vampires. Enter the role of the church: The story revolves around a priest, Peter Abel Nightroad, who represents the Vatican in this situation. He is secretly also a member of "Ax," Cardinal Catherina's secret group.
This anime combines supernatural forces, a powerful institution, and the fate of countless humans. It's the perfect binge material.