Why We Love Superhero Movies

I know a guy who loves superhero movies. LOVES them. With the release of The Avengers he regularly posted articles with spoilers and behind-the-scenes info. When the Man of Steel trailer came out, he actually changed his Facebook profile picture to show Superman's insignia, and he saw The Dark Knight Rises three times in a 24-hour span. He spent more than a third of his day with Batman.

I'm not that kind of superhero movie fan, but I like them. I can spend an enjoyable Saturday morning watching Iron Man and not think anything of it. My wife doesn't feel the same way. Every time she sees a poster for The Avengers (or any of the five million such movies Hollywood produces every year) she rolls her eyes and bemoans the immaturity of the world's men, who waste their time watching such frivolous nonsense. (I did score a minor victory in getting her to see—and like—Nolan's Dark Knight films.) This has been an amusing disagreement between us that always goes something like this:

"Wanna watch Thor?"

"I'd rather have the baby gum me to death."

"Come on, it's fun."

"Mopping would be a better use of your time."

She has a point. But I'm still not ready to concede, not totally. Keep in mind, I'm not talking about the constant watchers, the man-boys who spend several hours a day playing video games or watching action flicks. But I know very mature, very responsible men who still enjoy the thrills of the occasional superhero movie, without that damaging their maturity or responsibility. 

Guys, why do we like this? Why are we drawn to superheroes?

1) Because we're waiting to become more than we are.

I think Paul gives us a clue in Romans 8.22-23: "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

The Bible tells us that God has worked into the very DNA of all creation the idea that this is not the end. That things aren't as they should be. That things will one day get better. That one day everything will change. And while we wait for it, creation groans, impatient to see it happen.

And we groan too. We humans know inherently that we should be more and better than this. That's why some people build rockets to the moon, while others attempt extraordinary feats in weightlifting and base jumping and extreme sports. And that's why the rest of us watch superhero movies. They give us the chance to see a normal human being becoming something more. 

1 John 3.2 says, "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." Our souls long to be made into what we were made for. We were created to be like him, to see our bodies renewed and restored and glorified.

2) Because Christ is our superhero, His story resonates with us.

This is an oversimplified sentiment, perhaps, but I believe it's true. Superheroes have something normal people don't. They have resources we don't have. They are able to save us from things we can't save ourselves from. 

We needed to be perfect. Jesus was perfect for us. We were unable to atone for our sin. Jesus atoned for our sin, in our place. We needed to be righteous to appear before God. Jesus gave us His perfect righteousness so that, when we appear before the Father, the Father will see not our sin, but His son's righteousness covering us (2 Corinthians 5.21).

A superhero's story resonates with us because we were made to behold the ultimate hero—the glorious God-man who was the only one able to let God punish sin without punishing the sinner. We were created for the bigger story, which is why the little stories call out to us, pointing us up: This is a shadow, a foretaste, like the smell of a wonderful meal when you stand just outside the kitchen door. Look higher; look to the REAL object of awe and excitement, of wonder and delight. Enjoy it, but not too much—save your real enjoyment for what is really enjoyable. Save yourself for ME. 

Watching Batman save Gotham City is good. Watching Jesus save the world is far better.