The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board has issued an X rating to the biblical horror film 'The Carpenter’s Son,' prohibiting its public screening in the Philippines. Directed by Lotfy Nathan and starring Nicolas Cage, the movie reimagines Jesus Christ's childhood in a non-canonical, horror style, which the board deemed blasphemous and offensive to Christian beliefs. A revised version was also rejected after review.
On Friday, November 28, 2025, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in Manila disapproved public viewing of 'The Carpenter’s Son' following two review screenings. The film, directed by Lotfy Nathan and featuring Nicolas Cage, depicts a carpenter and his young family encountering spiritual phenomena in a quiet Egyptian village. It draws from a Gnostic text, portraying a young Jesus as rebellious, malicious, or under demonic influence, elements that clash with core Christian doctrines.
The MTRCB cited violations of the 2004 implementing rules of Presidential Decree No. 1986, Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, and Presidential Decree No. 960. These laws prohibit content grossly offensive to religion, public morals, and Filipino cultural values. The board highlighted the film's use of sacred icons and imagery in violent, sexual, or degrading contexts, presenting holy figures in a contemptuous manner rather than artistically.
Distributor submitted a revised cut, but a different review committee upheld the X rating. For comparison, the MTRCB previously issued two X ratings to the film 'Dreamboi' before approving a third version with an R-18 classification.
In its advisory, the MTRCB stressed that the decision does not limit artistic freedom but fulfills its duty to protect standards of morality, decency, and respect for religious beliefs, especially in a predominantly Christian nation. The ruling aims to prevent content that could unsettle religious audiences.