Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Related: Superman Returns (2006), Man of Steel (2013)

This movie perverts its audience's perception of true justice and righteousness by upholding 3 morally bankrupt candidates as the chief protectors of earth. Superman, who lives with Lois as an unmarried couple, is repeatedly referred to not only as a god, but as God, himself. Together with Batman—a sexually immoral habitual liar, blasphemer, thief, and lawless vigilante—and Wonder Woman, who claims to be an immortal goddess, this team is paraded as champions for good; yet in God's sight, they embody nothing but what is wicked and evil.

This movie should be avoided because it is filled with horrible blasphemy, including at least 25 instances of God's name taken in vain, and involves and/or promotes profanity (at least 19 instances), defiance against God, disdain for authority, violence, vigilantism, sexual immorality, immodesty, theft, and deceit. 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.

• This film makes mention of the false gods of the Greek pantheon, including Zeus and Prometheus
• Necromancy: this film esteems the idea of conversing with the consciousness of those who have died. There is a scene in which Superman goes into exile, climbs a mountain, and at its peak meets with his late human father Jonathan, who converses with him, and tells him, "I miss you, son."
• This film esteems the Roman Catholic Church, which officially condemns the Protestant faith. Father Leone, a Catholic priest, officiates at Superman's funeral, and reads Isaiah 26:19. A military officer is shown making the sign of the cross.
• This film denies the biblical doctrine of total depravity (e.g., Rom. 3:10-18). At the end of the film, Batman concludes, "Men are still good. We fight. We kill. We betray one another. But we can rebuild. We can do better. We will. We have to."
• The film repeatedly presents Superman as a substitute Christ
  • Wallace spray paints "False God" on large statue of Superman
  • After Superman rescues a girl in the midst of a crowd celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead, the people surround him, with arms extended, trying to touch him. At this time Vikram Gandhi is being interviewed on TV, speaking of Superman: "We, as a population on this planet, have been looking for a savior. 90% of people believe in a higher power, and every religion believes in some sort of messianic figure."
  • He is repeatedly referred to as God
  • He is depicted as rising from the dead. Though he is killed by Doomsday, has a funeral, and is buried, the dirt on his coffin begins to levitate at the end of the film.
• Senator Finch asks the question, "How do we determine what's good?" and instead of acknowledging God, says, "In a democracy, 'good' is a conversation, not a unilateral decision."
• This film contradicts a biblical worldview in that the Kryptonian archive is said to contain knowledge from "100,000 different worlds"
• Lex Luther is portrayed creating life, using the Kryptonian Genesis Chamber
• Diana (Wonder Woman) is portrayed as being immortal, where she claims that she walked away from mankind "100 years ago."
• Evolution is referenced
• At least 4 appeals to luck

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).

• Lex Luthor repeatedly speaks horrible blasphemies, including profane references to God, the Bible, the devil, demons, sin and sinners, witches, and, worst of all, a reference to Superman as God, Jehovah, and the Almighty. He also refers to Doomsday as the devil.
• Batman takes God's name in vain at least twice, including a vain utterance of "Jesus"
• Kahina claims Superman answers to no one, including God
• Perry and Wallace each take God's name in vain at least twice
• A police officer profanely utters "Jesus Christ" and "Christ"
• Lois, the actor portraying the US president, a military leader, a reporter, and some woman each take God's name in vain at least once
• Hostage girls refer to Batman as a devil
• Profane references: hell (3), damn (5), devil (4), among others

Disdain for Authority

This movie promotes violations of the Fifth Commandment. Those who despise government are likened to brute beasts who will be condemned (2Pe. 2:10-12; Jude 1:8-10).

• Vigilantism: as a self-appointed masked vigilante, Batman defies civil authority and ignores the laws imposed by duly appointed authorities
  • He admits to Alfred that they are criminals and always have been
  • Superman observes that as a vigilante, Batman "thinks he's above the law."
  • Batman is shown repeatedly branding criminals in their flesh with his "Bat-Brand," which amounts to a death sentence, and at least one branded criminal is shown being murdered in prison
• Superman, as Clark, is shown repeatedly and shamelessly defying his boss:
  • Talks back to him
  • Refuses to take on his assignments
  • Defiantly reports on Gotham even after specifically being told not to
  • Abandons his post, causing his boss to look for him
• Feminism: Wonder Woman is shown saving Batman, fighting Doomsday, and claiming that she has "killed things from other worlds before."

Abuse, Violence, and Murder

This movie violates/promotes violations of the Sixth Commandment. God hates those who love violence (Ps. 11:5). The Bible says those who hate are murderers, and no murderer has eternal life (1Jo. 3:15).

• After having received the "Bat-Brand," Santos is shown in prison being murdered by another prisoner. The whole city, including the police and criminals, are aware that the "Bat-Brand" amounts to a death sentence. Aware of this, Batman brands criminals he deems worthy of death.
• Lex Luther orders Superman to murder Batman, or else his mother will be killed. Superman tells Lois that Batman will either be convinced to help him, or "he has to die." He then tells her, "No one stays good in this world."
• Bruce is shown following an elaborate scheme in stealing Lex Luthor's kryptonite in order to murder Superman. In the ensuing fight, Batman:
  • Pummels Superman mercilessly after incapacitating him with kryptonite
  • Smashes a sink over his head, knocking him unconscious
  • Throws him down multiple stories, causing him to cry out in pain upon landing on his back
  • Retrieves a prepared spear tipped with kryptonite to finish him off, with which he slices his face, but is stopped short only because Superman cries out for his mother

Immodesty and Sexual Immorality

This movie violates 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).

• Superman (Henry Cavill, unmarried) and Lois (Amy Adams, married) are shown kissing. There is also a scene in which he walks in on Lois taking a bath and proceeds to take off his shirt, get in the bathtub on top of her, and they proceed embracing and kissing.
• Bruce is shown in bed with a woman with whom he is not married
• Lois is shown naked, taking a bath, and though much of her body remains underwater, her legs, chest, the side of her breast is shown. Throughout the movie she is repeatedly shown immodestly dressed, showing breast cleavage. She also barges into the men's restroom in order to speak with Secretary Swanwick.
• Bruce is repeatedly shown shirtless, including a minute-long scene of him exercising. He is also shown totally naked (from behind), with buttocks exposed, in a shower scene.
• Though depicted as a dead body, General Zod is shown completely naked on a few occasions, one in which his mid region is blocked by Lex's position
• Diana is repeatedly shown immodestly dressed, wearing backless dresses with vertical slits in the front, exposing her chest, breast cleavage, and stomach. Her Wonder Woman costume is basically a miniskirt, exposing her legs all the way up to her crotch in some scenes
• Several women are shown immodestly dressed, some wearing minidresses with exposed legs, others showing breast cleavage, or wearing backless dresses
• Several men are shown shirtless, including Superman, Cesar, Aquaman, and others

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).

• Bruce appeals to his need for his Batman costume in order to commit burglary by breaking into Lex's house and stealing the kryptonite he acquired. He ironically chides Diana for stealing his spying device, saying, "Stealing's not polite."
• Diana admits that she and Bruce are thieves, yet justifies her theft: "Is it stealing if you steal from another thief?"
• Bruce covertly clones Anatoli's device, stealing his personal data

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).

• After getting caught sneaking around in Lex's house, Bruce tries to cover it up with a lie, acting like he's looking for the bathroom
• Alfred attests that Bruce is habitually deceptive: "Master Wayne, since the age of seven you have been to the art of deception as Mozart to the harpsichord. But you've never been too hot at lying to me."

Sinful Content in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Warning! The following table contains direct quotations from the film, which include instances of blasphemy, profanity, and other vices.