Superman as Jesus and other Christ figures in film
Last weekend I went out and saw Superman Returns. It was an enjoyable film made in a way that honored the traditional characters, orginal films, and updated them both. My wife made a comment that Superman is kind of a boring character. I have to agree with her, birthed out of 50’s America, Superman is not a particularly real person, he is too plastic. But the movie was fun.
One of the overwhelming things that struck about the film, however, was the strong Christ imagery in Superman. Superman is set up as a savior for the people of earth. His father says that he has sent Superman to be a light for the people of earth. Superman takes Lois up in the clouds and tells her that he hears all the cries of help from all the people and that they need him to be their savior. Superman is unquestionably set up as a Christ figure, the savior, the son sent by the Father to save the earth.
There are a number of movies that have Christ figures in them, saviors, redeemers, those who are downtrodden and rise up to lead them people around them into a better life. Just thinking for a minute some of the movies with Christ figures I can come up with are Mel Gibson in Braveheart, The Mission, Neo in the Matrix, V is for Vendetta, The 5th Element, The Green Mile, K-Pax, Starman, Terminator 2 and even Saving Private Ryan.
What is the best Christ figure in a film? Or what is your favorite Christ figure in film? I have to say that my favorite is probably Neo in the Matrix because the parallels to the Gospel are so direct. You have Morpheus as John the Baptist preparing the way of the one to come. You have prophecies about his coming. You have him submitting to the choice of whether or not to take on this mantle as his takes the red pill. Later in the trilogy he even dies to bring salvation to the people of Zion. I am not that huge of a Matrix fan, it got a little overhyped, but always like the Christ imagery.
So now it is your turn. What Christ figures from films do you like? What about some obscure or harder to identify figures?
You are a dreamer, a visionary, and a straight up idea person. You are very creative.
No heroes or superheroes have anything to do with the Great Lion of Judah or the lamb of God. Jesus purpose was to bring us closer to God and for us to become immortal, just like him. Jesus saves us and teaches us how to not be weak. Superman is the very image of the anti-Christ, the son of Satan. The very purpose for all these movies about Superman and Batman is to show the anti-christ and its prophet, which is mentioned in Revelation Chapter 13. People easily let themselves be fooled by Satan and the demons. Don’t let Satan trick you into worshiping him without you realizing it.
Joe,
Glad you stopped by. I am not sure I understand your comment. Maybe you could unpack it a little bit for me. These superheroes are anti-Christ figures? How do they parallel the anti-Christ? Don’t anti-Christs, there are more than one mentioned in scripture, all try to imitate Christ? Equating Batman and Superman with Revelation 13 is a big stretch that probably violates several basic principles of hermeneutics.
I do agree that Satan is actively working against the Kingdom of God and looking to deceive all he can. But, nowhere is it suggested that considering parallels between these figures and Christ is an act of worship or should lead to an act of worship. I think the point is actually that while they may point us to Christ, they fall far short of being Christ.
I appreciate your input and hope you stop by again.
Blessings-
Greg
I thought the Iron Giant from “The Iron Giant” was a great one. He crashes on earth, meets a boy who wants to be his friend, has abilities that are extremely powerful, but only uses them for good, tries to evade forces of harm-which causes people to fear him into starting a war that backfires resulting in an atom bomb being dropped on a homeland town, to which the Iron Giant flies up head first and crashes into it in the sky… even with a smile on his face. I cry just thinking about Christ having the same obedient attitude on the cross, knowing he was accomplishing God’s will. At the end of the movie, you find out what happens afterwards. I won’t spoil it, just in case you havent seen.
-Luke
Sounds crazy. I want to improve my succulent headquarters A joke for you peoples! Samantha: Doctor, my son thinks that he is a TV channel changer. What are the odds that you can save him? Doctor: Remote!!
My favourite film Christ figure is definitely Albus Dumbledore from HAryy Potter. He is always saying wise things a bout love, friendship, trust etc
I would have to say the overall best christ figure is Simon from Lord of the Flies. He sacrificed himself for a littlun and has deep knowledge for his age which would lead me to say this. I highly recommend you read this book if you have no clue as to what I’m talking about.
For some very obvious Christ Figure paralles in film, watch…
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Sling Blade (1996)
The Green Mile (1999)
It has been said in many places, but Neo in “The Matrix” is a very powerful(and obvious)Chirst Figure.
His “real” name is Thomas Anderson. Thomas–doubting Thomas–fits him because at first he completely doubts the reality of the matrix and the idea that he himself is “The One.” However, Neo is the new man, the ONE who can overcome the evil of the matrix. (Neo and One are anagrams, and Neo is Latin for NEW.)
Anderson literally means “Son of Man,” and Jesus called Himself that.
The guy who comes to Neo’s door looking for (I believe) illegal computer programs says to Neo, “You’re my own personal Jesus Christ.” We Christians might cringe a bit inwardly at this apparent taking of the Lord’s name in vain, but symbollically and thematically, it fits in the movie.
Jesus Himself says in the Bible that if we believe and do not doubt, all things will be possible for us. This happens for Neo. In the final sequence (of the first movie–forget the others, though he still appears as a Christ figure in the last movie, also) Morpheus says, “He’s beginning to believe.” At that point, Neo stands and fights Agent Smith.
Speaking of Morpheus–some more name symbolism that ties in with the Christ figure: Morpheus is the name of a Greek god, the god of sleep. (We get the word morphine from his name.) Therefore, Morpheus is the GOD figure–ironically, in the movie he does not bring sleep to the people; instead, he brings people OUT of their sleep. He awakens them to see what IS real, much as Elijah’s servant is suddenly able to see the host of the Lord–was that Elijah or Elisha? Sorry–no Bible here at the moment.
Furthermore, there is Trinity. She fulfills the Holy Spirit part of the triune godhead. Jesus was ressurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit. Neo is resurrected by Trinty’s kiss, he expression of love for him–which is also a nice reversal of the old Sleeping Beauty story.
And finally, when Neo wakes up, he is far more powerful than he had been before his death, a death which was registered in both the matrix worls AND the real world. Earlier in the movie, when Morpheus is training Neo, Neo asks, “Are you saying I can dodge bullets?”
Morpheus replies, “No, Neo. I’m saying that when the time comes, you won’t have to.” (I hope I have the quotes right.)
At the end of the movie, Neo does not need to dodge bullets. He speaks the word, as Jesus did to the storm, and the bullets stop in mid-air. Then he literally fights Agent Smith with one hand tied behind his back. At the last scene, Neo rises into the air, more like Superman than Christ, but the connection is still there.
There are more details, but that’s the main idea!
Cheers!
Mike
It has been said in many places, but Neo in “The Matrix” is a very powerful(and obvious)Christ Figure.
His “real” name is Thomas Anderson. Thomas–-doubting Thomas-–fits him because at first he completely doubts the reality of the matrix and the idea that he himself is “The One.” However, Neo is the new man, the ONE who can overcome the evil of the matrix. (”Neo” and “One” are anagrams, and Neo is Latin for “new.”)
Anderson literally means “Son of Man,” and Jesus calls Himself that in the Bible.
The guy who comes to Neo’s door looking for (I believe) illegal computer programs says to Neo, “You’re my own personal Jesus Christ.” We Christians might cringe a bit inwardly at this apparent taking of the Lord’s name in vain, but symbollically and thematically, it fits in the movie.
When Neo is late for work, his boss says, “You believe that the rules don’t apply to you.” By the end of the movie, this is literally true. One is quickly reminded of Jesus, to Whom rules also do not seem to apply: He walks on water, calms storms with a word, heals the sick, raises people from the dead! Neo stops bullets in mid-air, destroys indestrcutible agents, and flies like Superman.
Jesus Himself says in the Bible that if we believe and do not doubt, all things will be possible for us. This happens for Neo. In the final sequence (of the first movie–-forget the others, though he does still appear as a Christ figure in the last movie) Morpheus says, “He’s beginning to believe.” At that point, Neo stands and fights Agent Smith. He beats Smith for the first time. No one had ever been able to do this before.
Speaking of Morpheus, here’s some more name symbolism that ties in with the Christ figure: Morpheus is the name of a Greek god, the god of sleep. (We get the word morphine from his name.) Therefore, Morpheus is the GOD figure–-ironically, in the movie he does not bring sleep to the people; instead, he brings people OUT of their sleep. He awakens them to see what IS real, much as Elijah’s servant is suddenly able to see the host of the Lord–-was that Elijah or Elisha? Sorry–no Bible here at the moment. Morpheus (the Father figure)tells Neo that where others have failed, Neo will succeed. This prophecy is fulfilled in the end.
Furthermore, there is Trinity. She fulfills the Holy Spirit part of the triune godhead. Jesus was ressurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit. Neo is resurrected by Trinty’s kiss, her expression of love for him–which is also a nice reversal of the old Sleeping Beauty story.
And finally, when Neo wakes up, he is far more powerful than he had been before his death, a death which was registered in both the matrix world AND the real world. Earlier in the movie, when Morpheus is training Neo, Neo asks, “Are you saying I can dodge bullets?”
Morpheus replies, “No, Neo. I’m saying that when the time comes, you won’t have to.” (I hope I have the quotes right.)
At the end of the movie, Neo does not need to dodge bullets. He speaks the word,”No,” much as Jesus speaks to the storm, and the bullets stop in mid-air. Then Neo fights Agent Smith literally with one hand behind his back. At the last scene, Neo rises into the air, more like Superman than Christ, but the connection is still there.
There are more details, but that’s the main idea!
Cheers!
Mike
(PS: I had to revise– there were too many typos in my first submission!)
Mike,
Thanks for all the effor to give such a detailed response. There is a lot of theology embedded into the Matrix. I have used the imagery in Matrix in several sermons.