Faith on Screen: Christian Drama Shatters Guinness World Record

by

The Chosen, the popular Christian drama series focusing on the life of Jesus, has achieved a remarkable feat. The show, created and directed by Dallas Jenkins, has been officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most translated season of any streaming series in history.

I’m so thrilled to share that the fifth season is now accessible in an incredible 50 languages! It’s a major accomplishment and really demonstrates how far this project has come in terms of its global reach. It’s amazing to see it connect with so many people around the world, and I’m really excited for what’s next. You can find more information here.

Since its debut in 2019, the series has quickly become a major cultural hit. Instead of being a typical, one-season retelling of biblical stories, The Chosen is planned as a multi-season narrative focusing on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, taking place in first-century Judaea and Galilee.

Jonathan Roumie stars as Jesus, alongside Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, and George H. Xanthis. What sets this series apart is its storytelling approach: the narrative unfolds from the perspectives of those who encountered and followed Jesus-including his disciples, religious authorities, Roman leaders, and everyday people.

The way the show was released was as unique as the stories it told. The first season was paid for completely through crowdfunding, making it the most successful TV series ever funded this way.

Originally, it was available on the VidAngel platform. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, the creators decided to offer it for free. Surprisingly, this decision actually increased their earnings, and after that, The Chosen consistently provided free access while also exploring options like movie theaters and other streaming services.

Seasons 3 and 4 actually had a theatrical release – they were shown in cinemas – before becoming available on streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, and Facebook.

The big news about translations for the fifth season came in 2025, shortly after it became available on The Chosen App. Although Prime Video provides only a limited number of language choices, the app boasts all 36 languages that have been dubbed, and 50 different sets of subtitles. These range from popular languages like Hindi and Italian, to less common ones such as Greek, Albanian, and Thai.

The Come and See Foundation, a key supporter of this translation project, believes this success is just the first step. They view it as only the beginning of what can be accomplished. This achievement is seen as a launching point for future endeavors.

Mike Kennedy, the foundation’s vice president of marketing, was excited to share the news, stating, “It’s wonderful to reach these achievements as we work towards a very ambitious, impactful goal… At Come and See, we aim to help people around the world connect with the real Jesus through The Chosen. Being able to do that is a significant step for us, and we couldn’t be happier.”

Kennedy clarified that their ambition extends far beyond just 50 languages. Their ultimate goal is to support 600 languages, which would allow 95 percent of people worldwide to access the series.

From the very beginning, the concept of authenticity has been a core focus of this project. As Dallas Jenkins has explained, “Back in 2017, I met with my two co-writers to brainstorm ideas for the show. I wrote a single word, in large letters, on a large piece of white paper: AUTHENTIC. We weren’t interested in fame or strategies that might lead to greater ‘success.’ Our primary goal was to accurately portray the character and message of Jesus, as presented in the Gospels, and to create the most genuine show possible. That was all that mattered.”

With over 280 million views globally, The Chosen has reached a wide audience. Interestingly, roughly one-third of those watching do not identify with any particular religion. This suggests the series appeals to people from all walks of life.

The series has received numerous accolades, sparked the creation of graphic novels, study materials, and related projects, and earned over 120 million dollars in box office revenue. Now, having achieved a Guinness World Record, the series has demonstrated its ability to connect with viewers globally, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers – a feat few shows accomplish.

Read More

2025-10-02 00:21