American Gospel: Christ Alone (2018)

American Gospel: Christ Alone is a bracing, clear-eyed documentary that treats its central question—what Christianity actually promises—with the seriousness it deserves, cutting through the fog of American celebrity culture and spiritual consumerism. With confident pacing and polished production, it builds its case with conviction, letting interviews and careful argumentation do the heavy lifting rather than cheap theatrics. The tone is sober, urgent, and surprisingly gripping for a theological deep-dive, especially as it confronts prosperity theology’s glittering assurances of health and wealth and asks what’s true beneath them. It won’t be for viewers who want a neutral, both-sides survey, but if you’re open to a forthright critique and a documentary that aims for clarity over comfort, it’s hard to look away.

American Gospel: Christ Alone is trying to be a back-to-basics corrective, arguing for a clear, Reformation-leaning definition of the gospel while taking direct aim at prosperity theology and the Word of Faith movement. When it sticks to critiquing money-and-miracles Christianity, it can feel focused, well-sourced, and genuinely concerned about spiritual harm. The problem is the film’s tone and scope: it often comes off narrow and combative, and some viewers will find its approach more prosecutorial than illuminating, with accusations that it misrepresents traditions like Catholicism rather than engaging them fairly. If you want a balanced, ecumenical overview of Christian belief, this likely isn’t it—but if you already share its theological lane and want a hard-hitting polemic, it may land exactly as intended.