19 Secular Movies With Surprisingly Christian Themes
Christian movies have recently become box office hits, but many secular movies have been incorporating biblical teachings for decades. Here are 19 films with faith, including a few examples that might surprise you!
Gladiator
This historical drama is set in ancient Rome and focuses on Maximus, a soldier-turned-slave who is fighting his way through the gladiator arena to avenge his loved ones’ murders.
The main theme of this film is the value of personal sacrifice and how Maximus is willing to die for those he loved, just as Christians believe Jesus died to save all of mankind from its sins.
Star Wars
In the original Star Wars trilogy, Luke is constantly tested and tempted to turn to the dark side of the Force, much like the biblical story in which Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness.
Like Jesus, Luke stays committed to his beliefs and overcomes evil.
The Lion King
Many people are aware of the parallels between The Lion King and Hamlet, but this popular Disney movie also echoes biblical stories.
Mufasa represents God, who watches over Simba from above, and Simba is similar to Moses when he emerges from the wilderness to to defeat Scar and lead the rest of the lions from captivity to a better life.
Superman: The Movie
The first movie of this popular superhero franchise tells the tale of how Superman came to Earth, depicting his childhood in Smallville.
The Christian parallels in this movie are pretty clear: Superman is sent from another planet to Earth in an effort to save mankind. Superman’s relationship with his father also parallels the religious concept of the Holy Trinity, in which God has multiple distinct personas.
Frozen
This extraordinarily popular Disney movie is based on the fairytale The Snow Queen, but some viewers have noticed that the story also has several Christian themes.
For example, Elsa’s distance from her family represents the fall of Lucifer, and her icy storm represents Hell. Her sister, Anna, represents a Christ-like redeemer who sacrifices herself for her sister and is then resurrected.
A Clockwork Orange
This dystopian crime film tells the tale of Alex, a sociopath who enjoys both Beethoven and gruesome “ultra-violence.” Although the storyline satirizes the idea of Christianity for the majority of the movie, the last scene sings a different tune.
In this scene, a chaplain stands up for the men who are condemned and defends their right to choose between right and wrong, even if they don’t choose what’s right. This scene subtly reflects the Christian concept of free will, in which God cannot force people to do anything against their will.
Alien 3
This science fiction/horror film follows Ellen Ripley, whose spaceship crashes on a prison-run planet, killing everyone onboard except her and a stowaway alien organism.
The alien begins killing the prisoners on the planet, and Ellen becomes a savior who is initially rejected by the prisoners, much like the biblical account of Jesus prior to his crucifixion.
Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo is the heartwarming tale about a father who travels the ocean far and wide in search of his lost son. This story is a lighthearted retelling of the prodigal son, a Christian parable about a father who longs to be reunited with his child.
Additionally, the unconditional love and selflessness shown in the film also reflect Christian morals.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
This film has been widely criticized by conservative Christians because it features the use of magic, but the plot actually features distinctly religious themes.
Harry serves as a Christ-like figure who is willing to sacrifice his own life in order to save the world from Voldemort. He is then “resurrected” due to his selfless act, serving as a symbol of love and justice for the wizarding world.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
On the surface, this historical drama follows the relationship between Jesse James and Robert Ford and the fatal outcome suggested by the film’s title.
Yet, when you dig a little deeper, it becomes clear that this movie is a modern retelling of the Christian narrative of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. Ford practically worships James, but once James starts to deviate from Ford’s vision of him, things take a dark turn.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Everyone knows the children’s story of how Charlie received a golden ticket and was able to visit Willy Wonka’s spectacular candy factory, but not everyone realizes that this popular film has several Christian themes.
This movie touches on the pitfalls of materialism and gluttony, and the reconciliation between Willy Wonka and his dentist father essentially retells the story of the prodigal son.
I Am Legend
I Am Legend is a horror/action film that follows the life of Robert Neville, a survivor of a zombie outbreak who lives in New York City. As you can see throughout the film, the world is desolate and appears to be beyond repair, but even in that dark time, hope prevails when Robert discovers the cure for the virus and sacrifices himself to keep it safe.
This story bears a striking reseblance to the biblical narrative of Jesus bringing hope to a broken world.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical horror comedy that focuses on a young, engaged couple whose car breaks down near a castle that is home to a host of eccentric characters.
Innuendos and provocative scenes aside, Brad and Janet’s eventual emergence from the castle reflects the biblical narrative of Adam and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden and venturing into the unknown, trying to comprehend everything they experienced inside.
War of the Worlds
H.G. Wells’ famous science fiction novel The War of the Worlds was one of the first pieces to describe a conflict between the people of Earth and an extraterrestrial race.
The 2005 movie adaption has a conclusion that echoes Old Testament stories in which God appears to people and explains the tribulations they have experienced.
Beauty and the Beast
This Disney movie that features the sweet, somewhat-nerdy Belle and the Beast with a heart of gold offers many good lessons, and one of the most important ones also happens to be a popular faith-based teaching.
This movie shows that it doesn’t matter how one appears on the outside, because it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Total Recall
This thriller/action movie follows the story of construction worker Douglas Quaid, who starts having strange dreams about Mars and visions of a woman there.
He eventually makes his way to the planet and liberates the lowest class of Martians, a plot that references the biblical story of Moses liberating his people in Egypt.
The Lorax
This adorable movie, which is based on a Dr. Seuss book, tells the tale of the Lorax and his fight to defend trees from an axe-happy tycoon.
At the heart of this movie is the idea that people are responsible for maintaining Earth’s beauty, a concept that can be found in the biblical book of Genesis.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is set in one of the most intricate fictional worlds to ever be written about, but what is possibly most interesting about this trilogy is the ring itself, which drains the life out of the person carrying it and slowly overcomes him with evil.
The ring can be reinterpreted as sin, something Christians believe can have the same detrimental effects on mankind.
Eyes Wide Shut
Eyes Wide Shut is an erotic drama, so it’s probably the last movie you’d expect to have an underlying Christian message. This film follows the lives of Dr. Bill Harford and his wife Alice, who undergo a intimate awakening of sorts.
Some viewers of the film claim that this film’s plot could be set directly after Adam and Eve’s banishment from Eden, with Adam (Bill) and Eve (Alice) attempting to fight through the darkness and sin to find one another.
