IMDb 6.7 2011 HD

Machine Gun Preacher

Machine Gun Preacher

2011
Action Crime Thriller
129 min R USA
6.73 / 10
6.7 IMDB

The true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing biker who finds God and became a crusader for hundreds of Sudanese children who've been kidnapped and pressed into…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Marc Forster
Starring
Gerard Butler / Michelle Monaghan / Kathy Baker / Richard Goteri / Peter Carey / Barbara Coven / Michael Shannon / Ryann Campos

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

powerful raw intense inspiring challenging gritty emotional redemptive dramatic harrowing committed urgent

Reviews

P
Penelope Clarke
Apr 27, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

'Machine Gun Preacher' presents a compelling, if at times challenging, true story driven by Gerard Butler's robust performance as Sam Childers. The film navigates the dramatic arc of a man shedding his past as a biker and drug…

A
Arthur Pendelton
Apr 27, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Gerard Butler delivers a career-defining performance as Sam Childers in 'Machine Gun Preacher', a film that unflinchingly chronicles a man’s radical transformation and his subsequent fight for Sudanese children. The movie’s strength lies in its raw honesty, depicting…

I
Isobel Davies
Apr 27, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The true story of Sam Childers is undoubtedly powerful, and Gerard Butler's portrayal in 'Machine Gun Preacher' attempts to capture its dramatic scope. The film shifts from a gritty portrayal of a reformed criminal to a fervent humanitarian,…

M
Marcus Thorne
Apr 27, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Machine Gun Preacher' is a visceral and often harrowing account of Sam Childers' journey, brought to life by a committed performance from Gerard Butler. The film doesn't flinch from the brutality of its subject matter, depicting the abduction…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 27, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Gerard Butler throws himself into the role of Sam Childers with a raw intensity that is often compelling in 'Machine Gun Preacher'. The film charts a remarkable true story of redemption, moving from a biker's rough edges to…

FAQs

Absolutely. While 'Machine Gun Preacher' unflinchingly portrays the horrific realities of child soldiery and the violence in Sudan, its core message is one of profound hope and resilience. The film highlights the power of faith and individual action to bring about change, showcasing how one person's dedication can ignite a movement and offer a lifeline to those in dire straits.