HARRIET
An inspiring true story of Christian faith, courage, and freedom.
Should You Watch It?
Yes. Harriet is an exceptionally powerful, entertaining true story about a woman whose Christian faith gives shape to her courage. Cynthia Erivo gives a powerful performance as Harriet Tubman, showing her as courageous and charismatic while the film presents her prayers and dependence on God.
The movie also has intense scenes, violence, and harsh language. Those concerns matter, especially for younger children, but they do not erase the film’s strong moral center or its moving portrayal of faith in action.
If your family includes teenagers who can handle the content, Harriet is worth seeing for its stirring story of courage, sacrifice, and freedom.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESBefore the Civil War, “Minty” is enslaved in the South and married to a free man. When a cruel new plantation owner tells her she is only property, Minty decides to flee, leaving everything behind.
Her dangerous journey leads her toward freedom in Philadelphia. There, she takes the name Harriet Tubman and faces a difficult choice: enjoy the freedom she has found or risk returning for her family and others still enslaved.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means Harriet is exceptionally powerful, well-made, moving, and impactful. Cynthia Erivo does a powerful job portraying Harriet Tubman as courageous and charismatic.
The film is also entertaining and filled with jeopardy. Some elements of Tubman’s story were left out because of time constraints, but the finished movie remains one of the best films of 2019.
The Worldview
Harriet presents a strong Christian and moral worldview. Harriet prays to God, receives guidance, and trusts Him through adversity. The film clearly presents Jesus as one who performs miracles, gets people through hard times, and fights for them when needed. It shows Harriet’s motivation as her Christian faith and her personal relationship with God through Jesus.
The film also includes a sermon from a pastor who preaches in support of slavery, though it ultimately shows that he does not truly believe what he is preaching. The story exalts courage, sacrifice, freedom, and faithfulness to others.
Harriet’s longing for freedom points toward a deeper Christian truth: “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Very strong Christian, moral worldview with title looking to God for answers, praying, getting direction from the Holy Spirit, positive references to Jesus, trusting in God, references to miracles, character gives the credit to the Lord, a sermon, pastor preaches in support of slavery but ultimately shows he doesn’t believe that, and male character changes clothes with female character to hide from the villains
Foul Language
20 obscenities (including one anachronistic “f” word which was not even invented at the time of the movie), one GD profanity and a character urinates
Violence
Man dies after prayer said, man hit by other man, woman slapped, man hit woman in the face, woman dies from beating, intense jeopardy
Sex
No sex
Nudity
Woman in bathtub but nothing is revealed
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drug use;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Lying and deception by villain.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Harriet’s faith gives her courage in the midst of danger. When have you needed courage to do what is right?
Joshua 1:9 · 2 Timothy 1:7Harriet risks her freedom to help others. What does Christian love ask us to sacrifice for someone else?
John 15:13 · Philippians 2:3–4Harriet prays for guidance. How can you seek God’s direction when you do not know what to do?
James 1:5 · Psalm 32:8The film shows slavery defended through religious language. How can we recognize when people misuse faith to excuse wrongdoing?
Isaiah 5:20 · Matthew 7:15–20The Final Word
Harriet is a moving, exceptionally well-made story of Christian faith and courageous action. Its intense content and foul language make discernment important for younger viewers, but teenagers and adults can find much to admire. WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP.
