I have been browsing through the IMDB this morning and ended up reading about the character of Jesus from the The Passion of the Christ. See HERE. It made me laugh. At the top of the page it says: “Warning! This character biography may contain plot spoilers,” and indeed, at the bottom of the page the last paragraph is blocked with a mouseover text that says “spoiler.” Of course, the ending of all the Jesus movies (there are a lot of them!) is always a total shocker. 

I remember I read once somewhere that Jesus is the most popular film character, followed by Hitler in a second place. IMDB shows a list of 349 Jesuses and 332 Hitlers. Who do you think would get the bronze medal?

Hmm, I found Napoleon in 334 movies. Looks like he’s beating Hitler. I also tried Lincoln: his character has been in 292 movies. Can you think of anybody else?

Robin Hood?  Lucifer?  Dracula?

The devil gets all the best lines. (Though he goes by different names ...)

mid atlantic - 26 January 2012 08:14 AM

Robin Hood?  Lucifer?  Dracula?

Yeah, I know. But I meant real people, not fictional characters. I should also add that the numbers I listed above include TV episodes as well. Anyway, I got Caesar in the fifth place for now, in 122 films and TV episodes. Einstein seems to be next (103 films and TV episodes).

Stalin with 130! Churchill gets the same as Einstein: 103.

I’ll just make a list and keep updating it:

1. Jesus
2. Napoleon
3. Hitler
4. Lincoln
5. Stalin
6. Caesar
7. Einstein, Churchill

Okay, I got what I think is the “Top Ten,” so I’ll stop now:

1. Jesus
2. Napoleon
3. Hitler
4. Lincoln
5. Stalin
6. Caesar
7. Cleopatra
8. Einstein, Churchill
9. Queen Elizabeth I
10. Marie Antoinette

George - 26 January 2012 08:23 AM

...I know. But I meant real people, not fictional characters.

Then shouldn’t you take Jesus off the list?

DarronS - 26 January 2012 08:09 PM

George - 26 January 2012 08:23 AM

...I know. But I meant real people, not fictional characters.

Then shouldn’t you take Jesus off the list?

I see you got the “Mriana bug.” 

George - 26 January 2012 08:20 PM

I see you got the “Mriana bug.” 

I’ve had that bug since I left seminary three-plus decades ago.

DarronS - 26 January 2012 08:09 PM

George - 26 January 2012 08:23 AM

...I know. But I meant real people, not fictional characters.

Then shouldn’t you take Jesus off the list?

That’s what I was thinking!

Since an agreement is not going to be reached, might I suggest an asterisk? 

You may suggest it but it’s my thread and I will not allow it.  I have never bothered to look into it myself, but Doug has repeatedly said that that the consensus among the scholars is that Jesus did exist.

Strange, but the man who virtually invented christianity, Paul doesn’t get top billing. He’s somewhere down in the cast list just above Judas. Maybe, since the new book came out Mel can produce a new movie, The last passion of judas. 

Cap’t Jack

Thevillageatheist - 27 January 2012 06:50 PM

Strange, but the man who virtually invented christianity, Paul doesn’t get top billing.

Strange but true ...