Thou shalt not kill.

Exodus 20:13 (KJV)

NOTE: This is a spoiler-free post. I will not detail any specific plot points in this blog.

I try not to spend too much of my time telling you one way or the other what culture you should consume. Humans are pretty good at that already in 2025. I’m also not from a tradition that prescribes some movies or music as “Godly” over other “secular” music or movies. I think we can find God and God’s will for us in lots of places. Sometimes it’s in hymns, or a children’s message, or even (gasp!) a sermon.

But every so often a film will come around and I’ll put the word out, for a very specific reason: I think there’s something relevant to our Christian faith.

Or, in the case of the new Superman movie, several things.

I don’t have time to go into it all here, so this will certainly be a focus in my message this week at church. But I will say this: Superman has a real consistent ethic of the preciousness of life in this film, and I think it’s striking.

Superman doesn’t kill. He just doesn’t.

He’s strong enough. He can shoot lasers out of his eyes. He could murder by simple omission, just allowing mayhem to happen and not stopping it, several times a day. But again and again, Superman saves. Sound familiar?

No, I’m not equating Superman with Jesus. No comparison.

But I am saying that Superman represents something that Jesus also represents: Hope. The symbol on his chest, often mistaken for a letter S, is actually either the crest of his house back on Planet Krypton, or the symbol in their language for hope.

Hope. And when you have hope, you can hope that those who are trying to do you harm could learn another way. They could have a change of heart. They could be rehabilitated. So Superman is not here to judge. He’s here to save everyone, even those trying to hurt him. And then he hopes for a better tomorrow for all of us.

In a cynical age, that’s a message Christians can get behind. I recommend this film to you, both as a heroic piece of escapism and as a light philosophical film that asks many important questions.

But is it right for you and yours?

Now, if you’ve got younger kids and are trying to decide whether this film is right for them and you, please use Common Sense Media and make your own decisions. There are depictions of mayhem and death in this film (caused by characters who aren’t Superman). There is some product placement. There’s a little romance. If you want to ask me for more specifics, contact me directly.

I hope you’re having a great summer, and I look forward to seeing you soon!