As winter approached and the Oscar campaign got in full swing, gala evenings and preview screenings in Los Angeles came and went. On December 2, at the Netflix-owned Tudum Theater, the screening of DJ Caruso's Mary had a little something extra: A few nuns in their vestments were in the audience.

The costume drama, which draws inspiration from the Bible to imagine Mary's life before the birth of Jesus, was co-produced by pastor and televangelist Joel Osteen and Mary Aloe, who told the online newspaper The Christian Post in October that "as a woman, a person of faith and a producer, Mary's story is very important to me." Headlining this feature film, available since December 6 on Netflix, Anthony Hopkins plays King Herod, while 22-year-old Israeli actress and model Noa Cohen plays the Virgin Mary.

That evening, religious proselytizing was welcomed into the heart of Hollywood. This temple of cinema is no longer an inaccessible bastion for creators promoting their faith. Viewed more than 25 million times worldwide in the first 14 days following its release, according to figures released by Netflix – a far cry from the platform's biggest hits, but a fine performance nonetheless – Mary joins the growing number of films highlighting Christian themes and conservative values.

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