Frank Turek - Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God

Hollywood Heroes is the book I wish I had written! Its fun, insightful, and timely. Frank and Zach convincingly show that the story lines of some of the biggest superheroes today such as Iron Man and Batman point to our desire for an ultimate hero, which is best exemplified in the Christian worldview. If you want to think more deeply about the intersection of culture and faith (or if you just want an interesting read!), this book is for you.

SEAN M C DOWELL, P H D, apologetics professor at Biola University; author or coauthor of more than eighteen books, including Chasing Love

What a delightful book! Hollywood Heroes is the perfect primer for teens, tweens, or really anyone who might not normally be interested in spiritual conversations. I foresee a whole series of family movie nights and dinner conversations sprouting from this book.

HILLARY MORGAN FERRER, founder and author of Mama Bear Apologetics books and ministry

I love this book because it shows what many Christians have been saying for years: Hollywood is making faith-based films but doesnt really know it! Frank and Zach Turek have written an exegesis of the superheroes we all know and love, helping us understand that beneath the costumes and superpowers or even super weaknesses, as is the case of hobbits these heroes represent the only Superhero who truly saves... Jesus. And whats more, this book sheds light on the foundational desire of every human heart. You see, just like they talk about in the book, the hero gig didnt come naturally to Tony Stark (aka Iron Man); it doesnt come naturally to us fallen sinners either. But what does come naturally to us is the need to be saved by someone more powerful and virtuous than we are. Our hearts crave it, yearn for it. Hollywood Heroes is your ticket to seeing how good-overcoming-evil is the grand narrative that sells out seats because it points to the Hero in the greatest story ever told, the gospel.

LAUREN GREEN, Fox News channels chief religion correspondent; author of Lighthouse Faith; host of Lighthouse Faith podcast

In Hollywood Heroes, Frank and Zach Turek remind us that the greatest story ever told has been told and retold countless times. Surprisingly, its been told and retold within the framework of some of your favorite movies!

ANDY STANLEY, founder & senior pastor of North Point Ministries (where 10.5 million watch or listen every month)

Dont think for a minute that this book is only for superhero-movie fans or even for movie fans in general. I had only seen one of the movies Frank and Zach discuss and yet was enthralled by the unique worldview connections they made and the powerful insights they brought to light. I love that Hollywood Heroes captures the readers imagination by showing and not simply telling a rare achievement in apologetics. Its a creative, engaging, and fresh work that I highly recommend to movie buffs and nonmovie buffs alike!

NATASHA CRAIN, host of The Natasha Crain Podcast; author of four books, including Faithfully Different

Heres a unique, creative, and compelling treatment of a phenomenon that is especially relevant in our culture today. Youll be both entertained and enlightened by the provocative insights in these pages. Enjoy the journey and apply the lessons to your life!

LEE STROBEL, New York Times bestselling author; founder of the Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University

Hollywood heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, and even my friend the Greatest American Hero have, for generations, told us stories of truth and justice in service of the greater good. And now, thanks to Frank and Zachs brilliant work, we see how these Hollywood heroes reveal the Greatest Story Ever Told.

CONNIE SELLECCA, movie and TV actress in over thirty-five films and shows, including The Greatest American Hero

In this book, Frank and Zach Turek reveal an exciting and unique superhero allegory that produces a powerful weapon for sharing our faith!

JOHN TESH, Emmy-winning TV host; radio personality; Gold Album recording artist

Neil Gaiman, paraphrasing G. K. Chesterton, wrote, Fairy tales are more than true not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten. Here Frank and Zach Turek give us a valuable resource to help us meet the Author of all stories as we explore the movies and stories that capture our imaginations.

MAX M C LEAN, artistic director of Fellowship for Performing Arts; star of the movie Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C. S. Lewis

Nearly half of the worlds top-grossing movies of all time involve superheroes of one kind or another. Think about that for a moment. Whats behind our international, universal obsession with these fictional characters, and what does this fascination tell us about our shared longings and expectations? In Hollywood Heroes, Frank and Zach Turek open your eyes to whats been hidden in plain sight. Dont watch another superhero movie until youve read this book. Hollywood Heroes will help you leverage pop culture for the glory of God and turn Hollywood storytelling into an opportunity to share the gospel.

J. WARNER WALLACE, Dateline-featured cold-case detective; author of Person of Interest and Cold-Case Christianity

As a mom, I understand the concern many Christian parents have about the religious themes found in movies like Harry Potter and Star Wars. But as our kids mature and are exposed to culture, what if we could use those stories to teach discernment and initiate meaningful conversations about gospel truth? Hollywood Heroes will help you find on-ramps to sharing the gospel not only with your children but also with other people who might be resistant to religious language yet are enchanted by well-produced superhero films. My kids love the Marvel franchise, and Ill be using this book as a guide to help them understand why they are so drawn to those movies and how their favorite heroes point to the Ultimate Hero, Jesus Christ.

ALISA CHILDERS, Dove-winning recording artist; author of Another Gospel: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity

Anyone who invests time in absorbing pop-cultural entertainment, whether academic or casual, knows that media creators regularly draw on each others work. Such borrowing is so frequent that complaints about a creativity drain in Hollywood are common. And yet the impulse and propensity of Hollywoods content creators to borrow, emulate, and at times subvert the greatest story ever told the story of the gospel somehow gets overlooked by the masses. Hollywood Heroes addresses this oversight with readable insights and memorable illustrations and, in the process, guides readers into discerning truth from error from unexpected sources. Just as God used J. R. R. Tolkien to awaken the heart and mind of C. S. Lewis to the fact that the biblical story was the myth that was true, so Frank and Zach Turek are His instruments to awaken the massive fanbases of todays Hollywood megahits. The similarities are not contrived. Good storytelling maps to good storytelling. And under the providence of God, the most popular stories of modern pop culture cant help but mime the Ultimate Story and its Hero, Jesus.

DR. MICHAEL S. HEISER, executive director and professor at AWKNG School of Theology; host of