Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Documentary

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel (2019): Cast & Ratings

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel (2019) movie poster

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel is a 2019 documentary directed by Jeanine Isabel Butler, starring Robert Jones, Bernard Brandon Scott and Carlton Pearson. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
100%
Echo Score
62
Metascore
65
Loading streaming availability…
American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 25m (85 min)
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel About?

The premise of American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Within the Bible Belt, a group in Oklahoma challenges traditional, fundamentalist Christian beliefs. They are labeled "heretics" for advocating an unconventional faith centered on social justice. This movement seeks to counter nationalism and discrimination by promoting compassion and equality, redefining the role of faith in their community and sparking a quiet revolution.

Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel Cast

Robert Jones leads the cast, with Bernard Brandon Scott and Carlton Pearson. Directed by Jeanine Isabel Butler; 8 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel

· 4 more
Ratings

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 62/100, strongest in story & flow (64) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).

62 /100

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, American Heretics presents a thoughtful examination of the intersection of religion and politics but lacks cinematic innovation. The film assembles a range of personal narratives and historical documents to illustrate its arguments, yielding eye-opening moments without dramatic stylistic flair. While critics praise its informative approach and clear structure, some viewers find the secondary threads distracting and the pacing uneven. The result is a moderately engaging documentary that informs without fully satisfying its deeper conceptual ambitions.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 62

    In terms of art and craft, the film offers serviceable cinematography but does not innovate in framing or composition. The inclusion of animated collages and archival imagery adds visual interest, though editing choices sometimes disrupt narrative flow. Conventional shot selection and minimal stylistic risk keep the overall craft competent but unremarkable.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to character and emotion, the documentary’s focus on personal testimonies creates moments of empathy, yet the depth of individual narratives is uneven. Some interviews resonate with sincerity, while peripheral stories distract from core emotional arcs. The overall emotional connection is present but lacks consistent depth.

  • Story & Flow 64

    Story and flow are characterized by clear thematic organization, with historical context leading into contemporary examples. The pacing is measured but occasionally sluggish as side threads divert attention. While the documentary engages through informative analysis of church-state relationships, the compromise between breadth and focus leaves the narrative feeling uneven. Overall coherence remains moderate.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    In terms of sensory experience, the soundtrack supports the content without drawing attention, and sound design remains functional but unremarkable. The visual style relies on an understated palette and archival footage, supplemented by animated elements. Although these components inform the subject matter, they do not create a distinctive audio-visual identity.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    When considering rewatch factor, the documentary offers useful historical insights that may reward a second viewing for newcomers, but its focus on similar thematic strands limits replay interest. The measured pacing and repeatable segments provide reference value, yet overall the film’s appeal diminishes after an initial engagement, making revisits less compelling.

Plot

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel Plot Summary

What happens in American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

At no other time in our history has the intersection of church and state become so complicated and divisive. We are now in an era where the power of negative partisanship has placed us into distinct camps defined by race and religion. According to Dr. Robert Jones, the leader of the Public Religion Research Institute, this results in a scenario where “the two parties have exploited race and religion, two of the most visceral things you can think of in terms of the human experience, and they’ve locked them in partisan identities.”

Full summary

The whole story of American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the primary theme of 'American Heretics'?

Seen American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel?

FAQ

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel, each answered in a sentence.

How long is American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel?

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).

When was American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel released?

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel was released on July 12, 2019.

Who directed American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel?

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel was directed by Jeanine Isabel Butler.

Who is in the cast of American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel?

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel stars Robert Jones, Bernard Brandon Scott and Carlton Pearson, among 8 credited actors.

How is American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel rated?

American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic and 80% on TMDB.

Does American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel have a post-credit scene?

No. American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app