Movies That Use Storylines Straight From The Bible

The "Harry Potter" series, both in print and on screen, has been frequently criticized in conservative Christian circles for depictions of witchcraft and magic. Catholic and Evangelical organizations, according to Forbes, have even banned the series. But according to Premier Christianity, author J.K. Rowling relied on the Gospels to help craft her wizarding narrative. The final installment of the series draws themes directly from the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The concept of resurrection appears in the first "Deathly Hallows" movie. According to the University of Pittsburgh, while Harry and Hermione stand in front of Harry's parents' grave in Godric's Hollow, one can make out 1 Corinthians 15:26, which reads that "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Christians believe that by dying on the cross, Jesus destroyed death, and this idea appears in Harry Potter, wherein the main character becomes a Christ figure that destroys the embodiment of evil, the dark wizard Voldemort.

In the "Deathly Hallows," Harry realizes that he is the final Horcrux, a vessel containing part of Voldemort's soul that must be destroyed for the dark wizard to die permanently. To destroy this part of Voldemort and save the wizarding world, Harry must sacrifice himself. Despite Voldemort's mockery, Neville Longbottom notes that Harry's death was not in vain. It was for everyone. Harry then springs forth from the dead in a Christ-like resurrection. In the ensuing battle, Voldemort is defeated, since Harry's death destroyed the piece of his soul that allowed him to stay alive. In this regard, Harry Potter is a reimagination of Christ's life, as noted by Presbyterian minister John Killinger (via UPitt).

The musical version of Victor Hugo's classic 1862 novel follows the original in placing Christian themes front and center. In the 2012 movie, Jean Valjean is a poor man struggling to feed his family. After stealing a loaf of bread, he is sentenced to prison and continues with a life of crime after his release, stealing silver candlesticks from a bishop who had the kindness to take him in. According to the Universal Life Church, at this point, the parable of the Good Samaritan makes its appearance.

The bishop is portrayed as the Good Samaritan. He fed and clothed the destitute Valjean and even saved him from prison after Valjean stole from his host. All the bishop expects in return is that Valjean follows Jesus' instructions to "do likewise." The ex-convict Valjean then becomes an honest and charitable businessman, even adopting the destitute Cosette from her sex worker mother.

According to Think Christian, the New Testament Parable of the Unmerciful Servant also plays a role in the movie. Inspector Javert is the foil to Jean Valjean. Born in prison, this zealous executor of the law refuses Jean Valjean any mercy for his crimes. Think Christian notes that Javert's refusal is a reminder that Christians must forgive their transgressors. In the movie, Valjean forgives Javert for his treatment and even saves him from execution. But a confused Javert cannot understand the work of God's grace in Valjean. To him, Valjean will always be a criminal and should be treated as such. Javert cannot return mercy to his former prisoner, just as the unmerciful servant refused mercy to others, despite it having been shown to him.

Unlike many other movies on this list, "The Lion King" draws its parallels from the Old Testament — namely, the Book of Exodus. According to Oprah Daily, the producers of "The Lion King" explicitly said that the movie draws inspiration from the story of Moses, who comes out of the desert to save his people from oppression and slavery. Jewish magazine Kveller notes that both Simba and Moses lived outside of their respective societies, in a way becoming people they were not. Simba lives as a layabout in the middle of the jungle with no worries, abandoning his responsibilities. Moses ceases to be a Hebrew, instead becoming a prince of Egypt and part of the family that had killed many of his countrymen.

The story of "The Lion King" does not end with Simba's exile. Simba eventually returns to claim his kingdom somewhat reluctantly after several characters remind him of who he is. Much in the same way, God reminds Moses of his destiny to lead the Hebrews out of Egyptian slavery and into the Promised Land. Simba reclaims his identity as a lion and a king, while Moses reclaims his identity as a Hebrew and a Jew, both realizing their purposes on earth and continuing the circle of life.

David Lynch's "Dune" does not immediately appear to have any biblical references outside of shared vocabulary. The introductory monologue of Princess Irulan, the narrator of the movie, mentions that the Fremen, the inhabitants of the desert planet Arrakis, await a "messiah" to bring "true freedom." This compares to the biblical narrative favorably, at least so far. As the Rome Sentinel notes, Jesus brought freedom from sin and an oppressive world through eternal life. "Dune," however, inverts the Christ-figure trope into something thoroughly antithetical to the Christ narrative.

Paul Atreides is the movie's Christ figure. But Mockingbird Magazine notes that he bears little resemblance to the messiah mentioned in the Gospel of Luke that would "proclaim good news to the poor." Escapist Magazine notes that Paul more closely resembles the "messiah" of Leni Riefenstahl's 1938 German propaganda film Triumph of the Will, and in this scene, it is easy to see why. Instead of sacrificing himself as Jesus did, Paul unleashes an army of cult-like followers, who kill their way across the planet of Arrakis. This devotion evokes images of an almost-religious devotion to Riefenstahl's messiah, Adolf Hitler, who presented himself as Germany's savior after its defeat in World War I. Paul wields his messiahship as a political-religious weapon to crush his enemies in vengeance against his father's killers. He is the harbinger of divine justice. The world of "Dune" believes in God, and Paul is his hand. "One cannot go against the word of God," and on Dune, Paul's word and God's word appear synonymous. Instead of bringing the Gospel to all the nations, Paul would bring peace where there was war and love where there was hatred, regardless of how much blood had to be spilled to accomplish it.

This classic of Disney animation is the most overtly religious Disney movie. The Catholic faith plays a central role, which, according to the Catholic Register, reminds viewers of the biblical parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (also known as the Publican). Antagonist Judge Claude Frollo is compared to the Pharisee. Frollo's prayer "Hellfire," begs the Virgin Mary to help him catch the Roma, Esmeralda. His justification? He is more virtuous and devout than the lowly commoners and thanks God that he is not like them. Yet he has no problem killing innocents and engaging in general unsavory behavior, making his piety nothing more than a mask. This parallels the Pharisee in the Bible, who thanks God for not making him like the commoners and sinners.

Frollo's foil is the beautiful Esmeralda, whom the Ursuline Sisters compare to the tax collector of the biblical parable. Esmeralda is poor and makes a living as a dancer. Being Roma, she is an outcast in French society. In her prayer "God Help the Outcasts," Esmeralda's fellow parishioners at Notre Dame Cathedral, like Frollo, pray for their personal desires. But Esmeralda acknowledges her lowly status before the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, even though she considers herself unworthy to ask anything of God. Yet, she has the faith to pray for God's mercy for society's outcasts, such as herself. In this regard, she is comparable to the tax collector, who asks for God's mercy for his sins. Ultimately, Jesus' words ring true. Due to his pride, Frollo is humbled, while lowly Esmeralda and the hunchback Quasimodo become exalted heroes through their righteousness, humility, and courage.

The "Star Wars" franchise has been mined for biblical references, and none is more controversial than the (anti)Christ role of Darth Vader. However, Harvard professor Cass Sunstein has made a strong argument for why Darth Vader, despite being evil, is in some ways a Christ figure, albeit an inverted one. According to Catholic Exchange, Darth Vader is the series' antichrist to the devil himself, Emperor Palpatine.

Sunstein (via Business World Magazine) argues that Darth Vader is "an imaginative reconstruction of Jesus's life." The Washington Post views it as a subversion of Christianity, a what-if story if Jesus had caved to the devil's temptation. Both make valid arguments. Vader, like Christ, was born to a virgin without an earthly father. As Obi-Wan Kenobi noted in "Revenge of the Sith," Vader (as Anakin Skywalker) was the Chosen One that would bring balance to the Force. But unlike Christ, Anakin gives in to satanic figure Palpatine's temptations and offers of power and immortality.

Although Vader embraces an antichrist role, even he can find redemption and become the Christ figure. In "Return of the Jedi," Vader eventually turns on Palpatine and kills him to save his son Luke from death. But Palpatine's Force lightning kills him, too, turning Vader's act into a heroic sacrifice for his son that puts an end to Palpatine's reign of terror. Thus, Palpatine's agent of evil who murdered innocent children redeems himself of his previous heinous acts and saves the galaxy.