Five years after its release, the independent film 40: The Temptation of Christ has unexpectedly risen to #3 on Amazon Prime’s top movies chart in the U.S.
The 99-minute film, initially released in April 2020 amid the pandemic, was largely overlooked at first. Created to prepare the faithful 40 days before Easter, it offers a meditative experience. Ideal for group viewings or best enjoyed alone in the quiet of your home, the film is prayerful, introspective, and designed to be slow and reflective in nature.
Without any financial marketing investment, the film has organically found a new audience on the streaming platform, where it currently holds a 4-out-of-5 star rating. The film portrays Jesus Christ’s journey into the desert where he faces three temptations following his baptism.
While taking some creative approaches to the narrative, filmmaker Douglas James Vail of Los Angeles, California stays true to the core themes: Christ’s commitment to faith, his steadfast devotion to scripture, and his rejection of temptation as preparation for his ministry. The film has been praised for its authentic, intimate storytelling style that eschews Hollywood polish in favor of a more genuine approach to the subject matter.
“This was always a labor of love,” says Douglas Vail, the filmmaker. “We didn’t have independent funding. I funded the film myself out of my own pocket. I put my life savings on the line to make this story happen.”
Vail notes that the distribution process was challenging, with no financial return on his investment. “I can’t look at the bank account anymore. That’s not the way this movie shook out. But to see it now resurface on its own after relative obscurity and find its way into this sphere—it’s just a beautiful moment and a testament to our faith. To be like the mustard seed. This is exactly what it is. This is a perfect example of that.”
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