Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Related: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Captain America: Civil War (2016)
This movie should be avoided because it involves and/or promotes profanity (at least 17 instances), blasphemy (God's name is taken in vain at least once), necromancy, immodesty, sexual immorality, theft, deceit, and feminism. Since its heroes practice sin, this movie conditions viewers to substitute evil for good and good for evil (Isa. 5:20) by praising evildoers who ought to be despised (Ps. 15:4; Pro. 28:4).
Violations of God's Law
Defiance against God
This movie violates the First Commandment.
- Necromancy: this film mentions a deceased villain named Arnim Zola. He is able to communicate with Steve and Natasha, however, because while his body died, his mind survived, as he explains: "I have never been more alive. In 1972, I received a terminal diagnosis. Science could not save my body. My mind, however, that was worth saving, on 200,000 feet of databanks. You are standing in my brain."
- Sorcery: a mid-credits scene features a character named Scarlet Witch known for using magic and sorcery, who is shown causing blocks to levitate
Blasphemy and Profanity
This movie violates the Third Commandment. God has warned that he will not hold guiltless those who take his name in vain (Ex. 20:7).
- One of the antagonists takes God's name in vain at least 1 time
- Profane references: hell (6), damn (6), among others
Disdain for Authority
This movie promotes violations of the Fifth Commandment.
- Feminism: Natasha shown repeatedly fighting men
Immodesty and Sexual Immorality
This movie violates and promotes violations of the Seventh Commandment. The Bible warns that those who do not repent of sexual immorality will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co. 6:9-10), but will be judged by God (Heb. 13:4). We are commanded to "flee fornication" (1Co. 6:18).
- Steve (Chris Evans, unmarried) and Natasha (Scarlett Johansson, unmarried) are shown kissing, after which Natasha jokes about Steve needing practice, "Everybody needs practice," she says.
- Steve, Nick Fury, and Bucky are shown shirtless
- Natasha shows breast cleavage, also pulls up her shirt, exposing her abdomen, in order to reveal a scar, to which she says, "Bye-bye bikinis."
Theft
This movie promotes violations of the Eighth Commandment. The Bible warns that unrepentant thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co. 6:9-10). The heroes of this film readily take part in theft.
- There is a scene in which Steve and Natasha steal a vehicle in order to escape from their enemies. "Where did Captain America learn how to steal a car?" she asks him.
Deceit
This movie promotes violations of the Ninth Commandment. The Bible warns that all liars, whom God hates (Pro. 6:16-19; 12:22), shall have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).
- In order to conceal their identities, Steve and Natasha lie about researching honeymoon destinations. "We're getting married," Steve lies.
- When talking about it being difficult to find someone with shared life experiences, Natasha counsels Steve that it is appropriate to "just make something up"
- Natasha's advice and justification for lying to people: "The truth is a matter of circumstance. It's not all things to all people, all the time. Neither am I."
Sinful Content in Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Warning! The following table contains direct quotations from the film, which include instances of blasphemy, profanity, and other vices.
| Timestamp | Classification | Character | Quote/Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:08:10 | Feminism | Natasha | Fighting men |
| 00:12:42 | Profanity | Steve | "What the hell are you doing here?" |
| 00:13:22 | Profanity | Steve | "You're damn right." |
| 00:17:45 | Profanity | Nick Fury | "It's getting damn near past time for you to get with that program, Cap." |
| 00:18:26 | Hypocrisy | Narrator | "A symbol to the nation. A hero to the world. The story of Captain America is one of honor, bravery and sacrifice." |
| 00:18:48 | Immodesty | Steve | Picture of Steve shirtless |
| 00:21:08 | Peggy | "Look, you saved the world." (referring to Steve) | |
| 00:23:30 | Profanity | Rockwell | "How the hell did a French pirate manage to hijack a covert S.H.I.E.L.D. vessel in broad daylight?" |
| 00:24:56 | Profanity | Nick Fury | "we'll both be damn glad those helicarriers aren't in the air." |
| 00:26:17 | Profanity | Sam | "an RPG knocked Riley's dumb ass out of the sky." |
| 00:26:40 | Profanity | Sam | "hell yeah" |
| 00:28:26 | Profanity | Nick Fury | "Then reboot, damn it!" |
| 00:38:35 | Immodesty | Nick Fury | Shirtless, on operating table in hospital |
| 00:52:57 | Immodesty | Natasha | Pulls up shirt, exposes abdomen to reveal a scar. "Bye-bye bikinis" she says. |
| 00:55:20 | Deceit | Natasha | Lies about her and Steve researching honeymoon destinations |
| 00:55:20 | Deceit | Steve | "We're getting married." |
| 00:56:35 | Sexual Immorality | Natasha | "Kiss me." (speaking to Steve, in order to hide from agents) |
| 00:56:40 | Sexual Immorality | Natasha, Steve | Kissing |
| 00:57:03 | Theft | Steve | Natasha asks, "Where did Captain America learn how to steal a car?" |
| 00:57:22 | Sexual Immorality | Natasha | "Was that your first kiss since 1945? ... I just wondered how much practice you've had." Steve: "You don't need practice." Natasha: "Everybody needs practice." |
| 00:57:45 | Deceit | Natasha | "Well, it's alright, you just make something up." (responding to Steve, who said, "...it's hard to find someone with shared life experience.") |
| 00:57:48 | Deceit | Natasha | "The truth is a matter of circumstance. It's not all things to all people, all the time. Neither am I." Steve responds, "That's a tough way to live." Natasha: "It's a good way not to die, though." |
| 00:58:00 | Steve | "You know, it's kind of hard to trust someone, when you don't know who that someone really is." | |
| 01:03:10 | Necromancy | Steve | "Arnim Zola was a German scientist who worked for the Red Skull. He's been dead for years." |
| 01:03:16 | Necromancy | Zola | "First correction: I am Swiss. Second, look around you. I have never been more alive. In 1972, I received a terminal diagnosis. Science could not save my body. My mind, however, that was worth saving, on 200,000 feet of databanks. You are standing in my brain." |
| 01:10:00 | Immodesty | Steve, Natasha | Alone together, both in form-fitting tank-tops |
| 01:10:59 | Hypocrisy | Steve | "I'm always honest." |
| 01:12:55 | Lust | Senator Stern | "23, kind of hot. Real hot, you know? Wants to be a reporter, I think. I don't know, who listens by that point?" |
| 01:15:50 | Profanity | Jasper Sitwell | "your damn SAT scores" |
| 01:16:05 | Blasphemy | Jasper Sitwell | "Oh, my God, Pierce is going to kill me." |
| 01:17:20 | Profanity | Sam | "Shit!" |
| 01:23:36 | Profanity | Bucky | "Who the hell is Bucky?" |
| 01:26:28 | Profanity | Nick Fury | "About damn time." |
| 01:26:39 | Profanity | Nick Fury | "and one hell of a headache." |
| 01:26:40 | Immodesty | Natasha | Showing cleavage |
| 01:27:18 | Immodesty | Bucky | Shirtless |
| 01:37:05 | Profanity | Rockwell | "You smug son of a bitch." |
| 01:41:08 | Feminism | Natasha | Fighting men |
| 01:42:05 | Profanity | Sam | "Oh, shit." |
| 01:52:24 | Profanity | Sam | "Man, shut the hell up." |
| 01:57:25 | Profanity | Soldier | "Son of a bitch!" |
| 02:05:14 | Immodesty | Natasha | Showing cleavage |
| 02:09:07 | Baron Strucker | "The dead will be buried so deep their own ghosts won't be able to find them." | |
| 02:09:27 | Baron Strucker | "It's not a world of spies anymore, not even a world of heroes. This is the age of miracles, Doctor. There's nothing more horrifying than a miracle." (says this as he observes Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, who causes blocks to levitate) |