Who doesn’t love the original 1971 classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”. You may be surprised to learn the hidden Christian themes in this movie. Willy Wonka’s issues with his estranged father are similar to the Parable of the Prodigal son seen in Luke 15:11-32. The children in the film are also guilty of several of the deadly sins.
The Lion King
This Disney classic is filled with many Christian themes. Simba, the protagonist of the animated feature is like Moses or Elijah coming out of the wilderness to defeat evil and free his people. Some also say Simba is supposed to be a representation of Jesus resurrected from death to give His people a new hope and to please His father in heaven. Remember, the strong voice of Mufasa guiding Simba in the sky?
Star Wars
There are a number of Christian themes present in Star Wars, particularly in the first trilogy. The trilogy deals with the war that rages on between the forces of good and evil. The central protagonist in the film, Luke Skywalker is constantly tested to turn to the dark side of the force, similar to the way Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Despite being in the midst of chaos, Luke remains strong and helps the rebellion overtake the Emperor and his empire.
The Book of Eli
While the content of this post-apocalyptic tale may not be for everyone, its story and message are noteworthy. Denzel Washington who plays the movie’s star character finds himself protecting the last copy of a very important book: The Bible. The bigger message? The Word of God is more powerful than any weapon, even when the world appears to be over.
Lord of the Rings
Lord of the Rings is another epic film riddled with Christian themes. The important thing to pay attention to is the ring and its power. The ring in the Lord of the Rings trilogy represents sin. We watch the effects of “sin” when Frodo and Sam journey to destroy the ring. Similar to the role of sin in our lives, the longer that someone holds onto the ring, the more they want to keep it. We too have a daily choice to sin or not sin.
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
If you are a fan of C.S. Lewis’ work, it may come as no surprise that The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is filled with Christian themes. Aslan the lion represents Christ and Jadis, the wicked witch, represents Satan. The movie displays the resurrection of Christ and the fall of Satan. This is surely a timeless classic with a great message.
