Hawzah News Agency - Belief in a savior is among the agreed-upon concepts across both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic religions. Overwhelming crises and tribulations that have threatened human existence, which humans on their own have lacked the capacity to confront, are the most significant factor that shaped the idea of a savior in religions. The intrinsic correlation between the advent of a savior and hallmarks such as the spread of justice, combating oppression, and so on, has led people of every faith to constantly long for the rise of their savior. Evidently, the extent of interest for the savior’s rise depends on various causes. Among these, the media stands as one of the most influential factors, playing a significant role in fostering this enthusiasm. Media represents one of the most impactful tools in today’s world; beyond their direct impact on individuals, they can also shape culture, norms, and standards upon which audiences base their behavioral principles.
Since 1990, Hollywood has made a slow but perceptible shift, increasingly centering its narratives on messianic and apocalyptic themes.
Hollywood and Creating a Sense of Urgency for a Savior (1)
Cultivating an urgent longing for a savior is a central theme in many Hollywood apocalyptic films. In The Creator (2023), which portrays the conflict between humanity and artificial intelligence, this dynamic extends beyond human beings—depicting AI as equally in need of, and yearning for, a savior of its own.
Hollywood and Creating a Sense of Urgency for a Savior (2)
Filmmakers rely on several key storytelling techniques to instill this sense of urgency in viewers. Chief among them is stark moral polarization—a sharp division between good and evil. In these stories, the villainous forces are made so ridiculously overpowered that overcoming them through ordinary means seems impossible. By pushing the stakes to the absolute limit, the film convinces the viewer that an extraordinary savior is the only viable way out.
The 2013 blockbuster World War Z is a textbook example. The zombie horde overruns the planet so rapidly that regular hope of survival is wiped out, making the emergence of a heroic savior feel essential. By constantly exposing audiences to this formula, cinema subtly leads viewers to feel that real-world crises also require a singular savior to fix them.
Hollywood and Creating a Sense of Urgency for a Savior (3)
Another powerful technique filmmakers rely on is spotlighting the radical, self-sacrificing nature of their protagonists. Directors deliberately stage intense, emotionally charged moments that emphasize a hero’s willingness to endure immense personal suffering for the greater good of humanity. Repeatedly witnessing these larger-than-life figures captivates audiences, planting a quiet, subconscious yearning for a real-world protector of the same caliber.
Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi masterpiece Interstellar (2014) illustrates this dynamic perfectly. The protagonist bears the heartbreaking weight of leaving his children behind—surrendering his own happiness and missing his daughter’s life entirely—all to secure the survival of the human race.
The Functional Roles of Hollywood’s Apocalyptic Cinema
1. Normalizing Apocalyptic Chaos as an Inevitable Process
Christian scripture describes severe tribulations and disasters preceding the Second Coming of Jesus (pbuh). Hollywood leans into this by framing catastrophic events not as random accidents, but as a systematic, unavoidable phase of human history that humanity must pass through on the path to a golden era.
2. Sounding the Alarm on Humanity’s Trajectory
A close look at Hollywood’s apocalyptic catalog reveals strong social critique. Often, the terrifying events on screen are man-made disasters resulting directly from human choices and lifestyles. In some series like The Terminator or films like The Creator (2023), artificial intelligence created by human hands turns into an existential threat that dismantles human civilization.
3. Using Humor to Soften Apocalyptic Dread
Apocalyptic comedies have surged in popularity in recent years. Films like This Is the End and The World’s End (2013) tackle the end of the world through a humorous lens. Blending global catastrophe with comedy helps take the edge off public anxiety, gradually normalizing these terrifying scenarios and making them feel less intimidating.
Prototyping an “Islamic Savior”
The 2020 Netflix series Messiah stands out as one of the most controversial screen productions in recent years.
Belgian-Muslim actor Mehdi Dehbi plays the main character as the saviour. While the writers present “Al-Masih” as a universal messianic figure—leaving his true identity up to the viewer—the character’s imagery and background lean heavily into Islamic motifs.
Throughout the show, while his divine authenticity is constantly questioned, he never refuses the sacred titles bestowed upon him by various followers—such as Al-Masih, Prophet, Imam, God the Son, and Jesus. In this series, the character is introduced as a smart political science graduate from a university in Massachusetts. He uses his intelligence to stay one step ahead of the authorities and push his dishonest plans forward. Even though the show never directly calls him an Islamic savior, the story makes that hidden message very clear.
Science as Humanity’s Ultimate Savior
Hollywood frequently explores different types of saviors and redemption narratives.
Netflix’s 2024 series 3 Body Problem is a prime example of modern sci-fi framing an apocalyptic crisis through a purely scientific lens. Combining complex physics with high-stakes global politics, the story revolves around an alien threat set to wipe out humanity in 400 years.
While some humans begin worshipping these aliens as divine beings, the main characters take the opposite approach. They work tirelessly to prevent the catastrophe relying entirely on human intellect and advanced technology—deliberately leaving out any role for divine guidance or supernatural intervention. This reflects a dominant trend in modern Western media which is replacing spiritual faith and divine saviour with empirical science as humanity’s ultimate savior.
This discussion continues…
Produced by the Specialized Center for Mahdism Studies at the Qom Seminary (West and Mahdism Group) – with slight modifications.
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