First Reformed

Year: 2018

Runtime: 113 min

Language: English

Budget: $3.5M

DramaThriller

A reserved Dutch Reformed pastor, Reverend Ernst Toller, experiences a profound crisis of faith when a young parishioner and her family confide in him. Struggling with his own painful past and the looming threat of environmental disaster, he grapples with increasingly troubling questions about his faith and purpose. As he investigates the family's concerns, the reverend's internal turmoil intensifies, leading him down a path of moral questioning and a shocking confrontation.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen First Reformed yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – First Reformed (2018)

Explore the full timeline and setting of First Reformed (2018). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:05

Main Characters – First Reformed (2018)

Meet the key characters of First Reformed (2018), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:05

Major Themes – First Reformed (2018)

Explore the central themes of First Reformed (2018), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:05

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about clergy in crisis like First Reformed

Stories of religious figures grappling with profound doubt and moral collapse.If you were fascinated by the spiritual despair in First Reformed, explore more movies about clergy in crisis. These dramas feature pastors, priests, and religious figures whose faith is tested by personal tragedy, moral dilemmas, and existential dread, leading to heavy, introspective stories.

sombermeditativedespairingmorally ambiguousintrospectiveheavyspiritual

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a religious protagonist whose stable worldview is shattered by an internal or external event. The narrative unfolds as a slow-burning internal conflict, often portrayed through journaling, prayer, and dialogue, building towards a climactic moment of moral choice or spiritual reckoning.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a clergy protagonist undergoing a severe test of faith. They share a somber, meditative tone, high emotional weight, and a preoccupation with themes like grief, doubt, and the search for meaning in a seemingly godless world.

Slow-burn eco-dread thrillers similar to First Reformed

Slow-burn thrillers where existential environmental threats fuel personal despair.For viewers who appreciated the environmental despair in First Reformed, this section highlights movies with a similar vibe of eco-dread. These are often slow-burning, psychologically intense films where characters confront the existential weight of environmental collapse, leading to heavy moral questions and a bleak atmosphere.

anxiousdespairingslow burnclaustrophobicexistentialsomberunsettling

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist becoming acutely aware of an unstoppable environmental disaster. This knowledge acts as a slow poison, corroding their mental state and motivating extreme actions. The plot is less about solving the problem and more about the psychological toll of facing an apocalyptic future.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the central theme of environmental activism or awareness leading to radical despair. They share a dark tone, slow pacing, and high intensity, blending the thriller genre with profound philosophical questions about purpose and nihilism in the face of planetary doom.

Unlock the Full Story of First Reformed

Don't stop at just watching — explore First Reformed in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what First Reformed is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

First Reformed Summary

Read a complete plot summary of First Reformed, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

First Reformed Timeline

Track the full timeline of First Reformed with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

First Reformed Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of First Reformed that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About First Reformed

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about First Reformed: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to First Reformed

Discover movies like First Reformed that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.