Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Related: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

This movie should be avoided because it is filled with profanity (at least 28 instances) and blasphemy (God's name is taken in vain at least 13 times) and involves and/or promotes sorcery, false gods, disdain for authority, immodesty, sexual immorality, 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.

• T'Challa (the Black Panther) introduces the audience to his culture's view of death and the afterlife, claiming that after death, the false gods Bast and Sekhmet "lead you into the green veldt, where you can run forever."
• Sorcery: Scarlet Witch is depicted with magical power to levitate and cause other people and objects to levitate. "You guys know I can move things with my mind, right?" she says. All throughout the movie she is shown using her magical power to protect her allies from gas, explosions, and falling debris, and causing her enemies to levitate and be thrown great distances and slammed against walls and into the ground.
• At least 3 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).

• Tony takes God's name in vain at least 4 times
• Steve, Scott, Rhodes, Natasha, and Scarlet Witch each take God's name in vain at least once
• Peter and Bucky each take God's name in vain at least twice
• Profane references: hell (9), damn (4), holy (1) among others

Disdain for Authority

This movie promotes violations of the Fifth Commandment. Those who disobey parents are worthy of death according to the judgment of God (Rom. 1:30-32); those who despise government, to whom God has given the sword, are likened to brute beasts who will be condemned (2Pe. 2:10-12; Jude 1:8-10).

• Vigilantism: This movie follows Captain America leading a band of superheroes who operate outside the boundaries of any legal authority.
  • A news reporter correctly notes that the Avengers "are operating outside and above the international law."
  • Another reporter raises the legitimate question, "What legal authority does an enhanced individual like Wanda Maximoff have to operate in Nigeria?"
  • Secretary of State Ross correctly labels the Avengers as "vigilantes" who "routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose" and who operate "with unlimited power and no supervision"
  • Natasha is described as one who openly defies the government
  • Steve is shown fighting the police, hijacking a police car after throwing out the driver, and slamming that car into other police cars, after which he is sarcastically congratulated by Rhodes for becoming a "criminal" while being arrested.
  • Tony calls Peter a "crime-fighting spider" who seeks to subdue criminals without any legal authority
  • Steve acknowledges his vigilantism, admitting, "We're outside the law on this one," as he recruits Scott, warning him that he will become a "wanted man."
  • At the end of the film, Steve breaks his allies out of prison
• Tony speaks derisively of his father
• Peter lies to his aunt May's face and deliberately goes behind her back to keep his identity as Spider-Man a secret
• Feminism: Natasha is shown repeatedly fighting men, along with Sharon and Scarlet Witch

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 Sharon (Emily VanCamp, unmarried) are shown kissing, after which Sam nods in approval
• Scarlet Witch is shown immodestly dressed, showing breast cleavage

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 recruit Peter to his cause, Tony lies to Peter's aunt May about Peter applying for a grant, them having email correspondence, and Tony approving the grant. Peter takes the hint after Tony winks at him, and goes along with the ruse. Later when they are behind closed doors, Peter admits, "I definitely did not apply for your grant."
• Peter, true to his character in every Spider-Man film, tries to lie to Tony in order to hide his identity as Spider-Man, which he also keeps a secret from his aunt May. At the end of the film, Peter acts like he's hurt in order to hide contraband from May.
• Tony lies to Ross's face when asked if he gained any information about Steve.

Sinful Content in Captain America: Civil War

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