‘Jimmy’ Is The Biopic Young Men Need Right Now

In moments of desperation, great men always rise to meet the occasion. The new biopic “Jimmy,” detailing the life of Hollywood icon Jimmy Stewart, gives audiences a glimpse of what greatness actually looks like.

“Jimmy” focuses on the pivotal moment in Stewart’s career in which he left his golden age of Hollywood lifestyle behind to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. The film follows his harrowing experiences serving as a B-24 Liberator bomber pilot on the European front. After making the difficult decision to abandon the safety of stardom, he fearlessly throws himself into the war, flying 20 missions and earning the rank of colonel. Stewart, played by K.J. Apa, clings to his earnestness and bravery, revealing the humanity that lay at the heart of Stewart.

Throughout the course of the movie, audiences see how the brutality of war grinds the actor down. He ignores his self-doubt in order to serve his country and lead his men. “We’re not here because it’s easy; we’re here because our country needs us,” Stewart tells his men, inspiring them to embark on a dangerous mission. However, after his unit suffers casualties, partially due to the difficult decisions he had to make as a leader, he struggles to find closure. Steeped in trauma, he wrestles with the question: “Am I a good man?”

While Jimmy Stewart might have asked the question, George Bailey had the answer. Around the conclusion of the war, Stewart is approached to star in a film directed and produced by Frank Capra, whom Stewart had worked with prior to his time in the Army. Capra convinces him to take on the role of George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The character of George Bailey wrestles with the meaning of life, contemplating suicide after giving up his personal ambitions to serve his family and friends. Stewart, who was facing similar struggles, used the role to work through his trauma and eventually find peace. “It’s a Wonderful Life” becomes Stewart’s artistic lifeline and ultimately rebuilds his faith in himself, mankind, and God.

At the heart of “Jimmy,” there is a deep reverence for Christ that we rarely find, especially in biopics. The movie shows us that Jimmy Stewart left the legacy he did because of his faith, not in spite of it. Many of the most revered biopics, ranging from “Oppenheimer” to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” have portrayed their subjects as inherently prodigious. In contrast, “Jimmy” shows us that Stewart isn’t sufficient by his own strength, despite his humility and charm. The glamour of Hollywood pales in comparison to the glory of God. 

Before Stewart leaves for the Army, his father gives him a pocket-sized collection of Psalms, which he says helped him during his own years of military service. While he is stationed overseas, Stewart steps inside of a church, sits in an empty pew, and reads Psalm 91 aloud from the collection his father gave him. In a moment of turmoil, he says he isn’t much of a praying man, then proceeds to ask God for help. 

Perhaps the most profound display of faith comes while filming “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Capra tells Stewart that he needs to speak from the heart if he’s going to make George Bailey’s story feel poignant. While shooting the scene in which George Bailey desperately prays to God at a bar, Stewart’s mind returns to the fellow servicemen he lost during the war. His script melds with his soul as he asks, “Dear Father in Heaven, I’m not a praying man, but if you’re up there and you can hear me, show me the way. I’m at the end of my rope.” The prayer shows how Christ alone gives respite to both George Bailey and Jimmy Stewart.

Right now, many Americans feel like they are at the end of their rope. The blue tsunami, the war in Iran, and the climbing prices of gas and housing feel insurmountable. Young men in particular have been alienated, resulting in them shifting a whopping 36 points toward the Democratic Party during the 2026 midterms. Further, young men reportedly have the highest rates of loneliness, and men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women.

“Jimmy” gives its audience hope. While Jimmy Stewart is an American hero who bravely risked his life in duty to his nation, he was also imperfect. What makes Stewart a hero is not his own strength, but his faith in God. Young men don’t have to be Jimmy Stewart; they don’t have to win Oscars, date movie stars, or win world wars. They simply need to trust God. 

In this moment of desperation, inflation, and congressional minorities, there are great men rising to the occasion. “Jimmy” is a reminder that every young man can achieve excellence, no matter what his mission is.

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Brooke Brandtjen is a writer and journalist from Wisconsin who focuses primarily on culture, politics, and religion. She is a senior contributor at New Guard Press, a publication she joined while attending Hillsdale College.

This article is part of Upstream, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.

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