Is It a Wonderful Religious Film?

It’s a Wonderful Life is an archetypal classic Christmas film. And I didn’t need to tell you this because YOU ALL KNOW THIS! Even if you didn’t knew it, I guarantee you that you have seen many of its lines in popular culture (tell me you haven’t heard “Every time a bell rings, and angel gets it’s wings.”), or at lease parodied. If you haven’t seen it, one, you should, and two, the premise is that our main character, George Bailey (played by Hitchcock favorite Jimmy Stewart) who isn’t having a good day on Christmas Eve as his life is practically falling apart and wishes he had never been born. Well an angel grants him his wish and it turns out that if he was never born, everyone’s life he has touched would end up rather crummy. That’s because before it, the movie played us his life before he made his wish as it showed how he meet his wife and how he got his job and his position. He then regrets this and wished his life was back to normal, it does, and he realized that his life is, indeed, a wonderful life.

So this doesn’t seem symbolic of Jesus now does it? Well…it kinda is. Let me explain. This movie has some symbolism with the Bible, particularly with the New Testament. Is it really a Christian movie? I would say no since there isn’t that strong of an element and it could be partially coincidental. I mean yeah it does take place in Christmas and it does have angels, but honestly I don’t find those that strong to be labels as one. But again that’s just me. But if it those symbolic elements are considered a Christian movie, I wouldn’t deny it. Three strong elements are when George is wooing his future wife, Mary (LOL GET IT), it does have a part where he throws a rock in their future house and makes a wish and tells her that he wants to explore the world, something which is a motif, I guess, of his. She does as well, but she won’t tell him. Then he tells her that he’ll lasso the moon and give it to her, then she’ll eat it and the moon’s rays will shine upon her. This could be a reference to many pictures of the Virgin Mary with a heavenly glow around her head.

TOO BIG!

There is also the scene where George and Mary is helping a poor family moving into a bigger house, giving the salt, bread, and wine. I don't think I need to explain that one. And finally, there is the scene where the movie's main antagonist, Mr. Potter, tempts George to be partners with him, with a large sum of money for him too. George accepts at first but then declines, knowing that it isn't the right thing to do. Could this be a reference to making a deal with the devil? Or Judas?

Again, this could be entirely coincidental, but I don't think it is that far of line to suggest. Normally I would be against any form of media that hammers down the word of God (just look at a movie released earlier this year that gotten some foothold, God's Not Dead) since many of it's purpose is to say that God is good for people that already knew this and does nothing to challenge it, but I can give this a pass. But I will stand that it's not.

Also if I may recommend something, check out's Arcade Fire's Neon Bible if you want to listen to something that does challange your beliefs. It's amazing. It's no Funeral but it's close.