SELMA
An excellent, Christian-minded civil-rights drama for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
SELMA is a powerful, very well-done drama about Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, for voting rights for African Americans. The acting is excellent, especially David Oyelowo as King and Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King. The film also presents prayer, church life, gospel music, Scripture, and Christian clergy and church members as forces for positive social change.
The cost is real. The movie is very serious and intense, without much lighter material to relieve the tension. Its violence includes state troopers beating and killing people, while its language is significant. It also portrays King’s illicit affairs, showing that they damage his marriage and have other negative consequences, though nothing sexual is shown.
If you are a discerning adult who can handle those elements, see SELMA for its moral seriousness and Christian worldview; for children and young teens, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn January 1965, Annie Lee Cooper is denied the right to register to vote in Selma, Alabama, and is arrested after striking the sheriff who poked her with his club.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. believes voting rights must become the civil-rights movement’s next battle. He urges leaders and activists to press harder, then helps organize a march from Selma to the state capitol in Montgomery. The marchers face fierce opposition, while King also struggles with pressure on his marriage and his relationship with President Lyndon Johnson.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means SELMA is an excellent movie, and the source review’s praise is clear. The film is powerful and very well done. The acting is excellent, with David Oyelowo doing a good job as Martin Luther King Jr. and Carmen Ejogo giving a wonderful performance as Coretta Scott King.
The film’s seriousness is also its main limitation. It is intense throughout and offers no lighter elements to let the audience breathe. Still, its forceful performances and strong moral purpose make it a compelling drama.
The Worldview
SELMA presents a strong Christian and moral worldview. Prayer, church scenes, gospel songs, Scripture, and Christian clergy are central to the story. Clergy and church members are shown taking action to create positive social change regarding the right to vote.
The film stresses that God created all people equally in His image. It also shows racism and police brutality being rebuked rather than celebrated. The movie portrays Martin Luther King Jr.’s adulterous behavior with different women while he was married with children. The affairs are shown to have negative effects on his relationship with his wife and other consequences, although nothing is shown sexually.
The film’s central conviction about human equality aligns with Scripture: “So God created man in his own image” (Genesis 1:27). Its call to pursue justice also reflects the biblical command to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Christian, moral worldview about the right to vote with scripture, prayer, church scenes, gospel songs sung, a positive representation of clergy, cross, clergy talking about the works of the Holy Spirit, with some light pagan elements where illicit affairs are mentioned but repercussions shown; 19 obscenities (including one “f” word), two strong profanities using Jesus and four light profanities; strong violence includes men whip people, beating, men shoot and kill other men, people beaten down, man beaten and killed, child killed by bombing, women hits man, man hits main character; implied sexual affair, with sounds heard but not seen, middle finger; light drinking; no smoking or drug use; and, police brutality and racism but rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film argues that every person is created equal in God’s image. How should that truth shape the way we treat people who are different from us?
Genesis 1:27 · James 2:1–9The marchers pursue voting rights despite violence and opposition. What does faithful courage look like when doing what is right becomes costly?
Micah 6:8 · Galatians 6:9The film shows that adultery damages a marriage and brings painful consequences. Why does Scripture treat faithfulness as essential to marriage?
Exodus 20:14 · Hebrews 13:4Christian clergy and church members help pursue positive social change. What responsibilities do Christians have when injustice harms their neighbors?
Proverbs 31:8–9 · Matthew 22:37–40The Final Word
SELMA is an excellent, powerful drama with overt Christian and moral content. Its intense violence, significant foul language, and difficult treatment of adultery make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For family viewing, consider.
