If you’ve been hearing about The Chosen from friends, family, or seemingly every corner of the internet and you’re wondering where to start, you’re in exactly the right place. This is the complete, spoiler-free guide to watching The Chosen in order, covering every season, the pilot, the Christmas special, and everything you need to know before you press play.
Fair warning: once you start, you may find it very difficult to stop. The Chosen has been watched by an estimated 280 million people worldwide, making it the most-watched independent series in television history. It’s also the most successful crowdfunded media project ever made, raising over $10 million from fans for its first season alone. There’s a reason people talk about this show the way they do.
What Is The Chosen?
The Chosen is a historical drama series created by filmmaker Dallas Jenkins that tells the story of Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples. But here’s what makes it different from every other biblical adaptation you’ve seen: it focuses on the people around Jesus just as much as Jesus himself. You get to know Simon Peter as a man drowning in debt, Mary Magdalene as someone fighting her own internal battles, and Matthew as a tax collector who processes the world differently from everyone else around him.
The result is a show that feels genuinely human. These aren’t stained-glass figures frozen in reverence. They’re complicated, funny, frustrated, hopeful people living through one of the most extraordinary moments in human history, and they have no idea how big it’s all going to get.
The series is planned as a seven-season arc. As of 2025, five seasons have been released, with Season 6 scheduled for November 2026 and Season 7 currently in production. So yes, there’s still more to come, and yes, it’s worth starting now.
The Chosen Watch Order: The Complete Guide
The good news is that The Chosen watch order is straightforward. The series is designed to be watched sequentially, and the story builds on itself in meaningful ways. Here’s the full order, including where the special episodes fit in.
Step 1: The Shepherd (Pilot, 2017)
What it is: A standalone short film originally created for a Christmas Eve church service. It depicts the night of Jesus’s birth from the perspective of local shepherds.
Why watch it first: The pilot sets the tone for the entire series. It’s quiet, intimate, and beautifully shot. It also introduces you to the show’s visual style and emotional register before the main narrative kicks off. You’ll find it listed within the app under Season 1, and it runs about 30 minutes.
Do you have to watch it? Technically no, but you’ll be glad you did. It’s a lovely piece of filmmaking on its own, and it gives you a sense of what the show is going for before you commit to eight episodes of Season 1.
Step 2: Season 1 (2019, 8 Episodes)
Season 1 is where the main story begins. Set in 1st-century Galilee, this season introduces Jesus’s early ministry and the people who will become his closest followers. You’ll meet Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, Matthew the tax collector, and several others whose lives are changed by their encounters with Jesus.
The season does something clever: it spends real time with these characters before Jesus even appears prominently. You understand who they are, what they’re struggling with, and what they stand to lose or gain. By the time the group starts forming, you’re genuinely invested.
Episode list:
- I Have Called You by Name
- Shabbat
- Jesus Loves the Little Children
- The Rock on Which It Is Built
- The Wedding Gift
- Indescribable Compassion
- Invitations
- I Am He
Step 3: Season 2 (2021, 8 Episodes)
Season 2 picks up with Jesus expanding his circle and traveling through new regions, including Syria and Judea. The group dynamic deepens considerably here. You start to see the tensions, the misunderstandings, and the moments of genuine joy that come with a group of very different people trying to follow someone they’re still figuring out.
The writing gets sharper in Season 2, and the production quality takes a noticeable step up. Several fan-favorite moments from the Gospels appear here, handled with care and creativity.
Episode list:
- Thunder
- I Saw You
- Matthew 4:24
- The Perfect Opportunity
- Spirit
- Unlawful
- Reckoning
- Beyond Mountains
Step 4: The Messengers (Christmas Special, December 2021)
What it is: A holiday special released between Seasons 2 and 3. It’s separate from the main narrative but connects to the series in meaningful ways.
When to watch it: After Season 2 and before Season 3. Some viewers skip it on a first watch and come back to it later, which is also fine. If you’ve already read the Gospels, you’ll likely get more out of it, as it’s crafted with a Christian audience in mind.
Note: You may also encounter something called Christmas with the Chosen, which combines “The Shepherd” and “The Messengers” into a single presentation. If you’ve already watched the pilot separately, just watch “The Messengers” on its own.
Step 5: Season 3 (2022-2023, 8 Episodes)
Season 3 follows the events after the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most famous passages in the Gospels. The apostles are sent out to preach and perform miracles on their own, which goes about as smoothly as you’d expect for a group of fishermen, tax collectors, and former zealots who are still figuring things out.
This season also takes the group to Nazareth and the Decapolis, and it handles some genuinely difficult moments with real emotional weight. The character arcs that started in Season 1 start paying off in significant ways here.
Episode list:
- Homecoming
- Two by Two
- Physician, Heal Yourself
- Clean, Part 1
- Clean, Part 2
- Intensity in Tent City
- Ears to Hear
- Sustenance
Step 6: Season 4 (2024, 8 Episodes)
Season 4 covers the final year of Jesus’s ministry, and the tone shifts noticeably. The opposition from religious and Roman authorities becomes more organized and more dangerous. The death of John the Baptizer looms large over the season, and the group’s journey toward Jerusalem begins in earnest.
This is where the show starts to feel like it’s building toward something inevitable, and the performances across the board are exceptional. Several episodes in this season rank among the best the show has produced.
Episode list:
- Promises
- Confessions
- Moon to Blood
- Calm Before
- Sitting, Serving, Scheming
- Dedication
- The Last Sign
- Humble
Step 7: Season 5: Last Supper (2025, 8 Episodes)
Season 5, officially titled The Chosen: Last Supper, covers a compressed five-day window from Palm Sunday to Holy Thursday. The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the Temple, the mounting conspiracy against Jesus, and the Last Supper itself all unfold across these eight episodes.
What’s particularly interesting about the structure here is that each episode opens with a “cold open” from the Last Supper discourse, drawing heavily from the Gospel of John. The effect is that you’re watching the events of Holy Week while simultaneously hearing Jesus’s words to his disciples at the table, which gives the whole season a layered, almost meditative quality.
Season 5 premiered in theaters in early 2025, then moved to Amazon Prime Video in June 2025, and became available free on The Chosen app in September 2025.
Coming Soon: Seasons 6 and 7
Season 6 is scheduled to premiere on November 15, 2026. Season 7 is currently in production and will serve as the final chapter of the series. The seven-season arc was planned from the beginning, so the show has always known where it’s going.
Where to Watch The Chosen
One of the best things about The Chosen is that it’s genuinely free to watch through official channels. Here’s where to find it:
- The Chosen App: Available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. This is the primary home of the series and includes bonus content, behind-the-scenes material, and Bible Roundtables.
- The Chosen Website: You can stream directly at watch.thechosen.tv without downloading anything.
- BYUtv: All available seasons are free to stream here as well.
- Amazon Prime Video: New seasons premiere here first, with a 90-day exclusivity window before moving to the free platforms. If you have Prime, this is a great option for catching up on the latest season quickly.
Seasons 1 through 5 are all currently available for free on The Chosen app and website. There’s no subscription required, no paywall, and no catch. The show is funded by fan contributions and crowdfunding, which is part of what makes the whole project so remarkable.
Do You Need to Know the Bible to Watch The Chosen?
Not at all. The show is designed to be accessible to viewers with no prior knowledge of the Gospels. In fact, many people who came to The Chosen with little or no religious background have found it to be a compelling entry point into the biblical narrative.
That said, if you do know the Gospels, you’ll catch additional layers of meaning throughout. The show is careful to distinguish between what’s directly from scripture and what’s been dramatized or imagined for context. Creator Dallas Jenkins is transparent about this, and the show’s community actively encourages viewers to compare what they see on screen with the original Gospel accounts.
Is The Chosen Historically Accurate?
The Chosen is a dramatized retelling, not a documentary. It includes fictionalized backstories, invented dialogue, and creative interpretations of events that the Gospels describe briefly or not at all. The show is upfront about this. It aims for historical and cultural authenticity in its setting, costumes, and social dynamics, while taking creative liberties with character development and narrative structure.
Think of it the way you’d think of any historical drama: it’s inspired by real events and real people, and it takes those seriously, but it’s also a work of storytelling that fills in gaps and imagines what things might have felt like from the inside.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of The Chosen
Don’t rush it. The show rewards patience. Some viewers binge it quickly and enjoy it, but many fans recommend watching an episode or two at a time and sitting with what you’ve seen before moving on. The themes are rich enough to warrant some reflection.
Watch the pilot. “The Shepherd” is only about 30 minutes long and it sets the emotional tone beautifully. Don’t skip it.
Don’t skip the Christmas special. “The Messengers” is easy to overlook because it’s not part of the main season numbering, but it fits naturally between Seasons 2 and 3 and adds to the overall experience.
Check out the bonus content. The Chosen app includes behind-the-scenes material, cast check-ins, and educational content that adds context to what you’re watching. If you find yourself wanting more after each episode, it’s worth exploring.
Read the Gospels alongside it. Many fans find that watching the show motivates them to go back to the source material. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all short enough to read in a sitting or two, and comparing them to what you see on screen is genuinely interesting.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Chosen Watch Order
Do I need to watch The Shepherd pilot before Season 1?
It’s strongly recommended but not strictly required. The pilot is a standalone short film that introduces the show’s tone and visual style. It’s about 30 minutes long and well worth your time. You’ll find it listed in the app under Season 1.
Where does the Christmas special fit in the watch order?
“The Messengers” is best watched after Season 2 and before Season 3. It’s not essential to the main narrative, but it connects to the series in meaningful ways and is a lovely piece of holiday viewing on its own.
Can I start with Season 2 or 3 if I’ve already seen some episodes?
The show is designed to be watched from the beginning. Character development is cumulative, and many moments in later seasons only land properly if you’ve seen what came before. If you’ve seen a few episodes out of order, it’s worth going back to the start.
How many seasons of The Chosen are there?
Five seasons have been released as of 2025, plus the pilot and one Christmas special. Season 6 is scheduled for November 2026, and Season 7 is in production. The series is planned as a complete seven-season arc.
Is The Chosen free to watch?
Yes. Seasons 1 through 5 are all available for free on The Chosen app (iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV) and at watch.thechosen.tv. New seasons premiere on Amazon Prime Video first, with a 90-day window before moving to the free platforms.
Do I need to be religious to enjoy The Chosen?
No. The show has attracted a wide audience that includes people of many faiths and no faith at all. It’s a well-made historical drama with strong character work, and it stands on those merits regardless of your background. That said, it does take the biblical narrative seriously and treats it with reverence, so you should know what you’re getting into.
Is The Chosen appropriate for kids?
Generally yes, though some episodes deal with themes of suffering, loss, and spiritual struggle that younger children may find heavy. Most families find it suitable for older kids and teenagers. The show contains no graphic violence or adult content.
How long does it take to watch all of The Chosen?
Each episode runs roughly 45 to 60 minutes. With the pilot, five seasons of eight episodes each, and the Christmas special, you’re looking at approximately 45 to 50 hours of content in total. That’s a significant commitment, but most viewers find it goes by faster than expected.
Will there be a Season 6 of The Chosen?
Yes. Season 6 is scheduled to premiere on November 15, 2026. Season 7 is currently in production and will be the final season of the series.
Why The Chosen Is Worth Your Time
The Chosen is a genuinely unusual piece of television. It was made outside the traditional studio system, funded by millions of individual contributors, distributed for free, and built a global audience of 280 million viewers without a single major network behind it. That story alone is remarkable.
But the reason people keep watching, and keep recommending it to everyone they know, is simpler than any of that: it’s a good show. The characters feel real. The writing is sharp and occasionally funny. The production quality is high. And it takes its subject matter seriously without being preachy or heavy-handed about it.
Whether you’re approaching it as a person of faith looking for a thoughtful dramatization of the Gospels, or as someone who’s simply curious about what all the fuss is about, The Chosen is worth your time. Start with the pilot, work through the seasons in order, and see where it takes you.
If you’ve already watched some or all of The Chosen, we’d love to hear about it in the comments. Which season is your favorite? Which episode hit you hardest? And if you’re just starting out, come back and let us know what you think after you’ve finished Season 1. The conversation is always open.