Critical reception of contemporary biblical film adaptations

Abstract

In this thesis, the reception of biblical adaptations is analyzed. By using reception studies, critical discourse analysis and close reading methods; The Passion of the Christ (2004), Mary Magdalene (2018), Noah (2014), Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014), A Serious Man (2009) and mother! (2017) are analyzed with how the biblical stories are adapted into cinema and what kind of reception they have received from the reviewers. These reviews gathered from American Christian websites and professional film reviews published on popular media, most of which are American, are analyzed and found whether the fidelity criticism is still existing among the film viewers. In this regard, this thesis argues that the Christian members of the audience members expect to see textual fidelity in the biblical adaptations and the lack of it causes films to receive harsh criticism whereas the professional critics are more invested in analyzing the films for their cinematic qualities.