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we're tempted

Praise him: 10 times the movies turned biblical figures into sex symbols

By Editors April 9, 2023 at 10:00am · Updated on September 11, 2023
Man Dragging a Wooden Cross
Image Credit: Getty Images

Forgive us, father, for we have sinned.

Every year, Christians celebrate Easter Sunday, the day commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s a day that, for many, serves as a reminder of their faith in God, and for others…. We’ll say it: For some of us it’s a reminder that Jesus was kinda hot.

But why do we think that? Well, because time and time again—dating back to classic Renaissance paintings—media has depicted Jesus as being pretty toned, no? In other words, the body of Christ compels us.

Which had us thinking: It’s not just Jesus. No, over the years, various attempts have been made to bring biblical stories to the big screen, and in the process, actors have played the figures from these stories as total hunks. Moses, Samson, Joseph and that amazing technicolor dreamcoat—even Adam, the Original Twink—all of them could get it (that is, if their cinematic portrayals are actually historically accurate).

This Holy Week, we present to you an unholy list of 10 times that movies depicted a biblical character as so hot that they had us doing penance. Pray for us.

Charlton Heston as Moses in The Ten Commandments (1956) and Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur (1959)

Charltomn Heston in "The Ten Commandments' and 'Ben-Hur'
Image Credits: (left) ‘The Ten Commandments,’ Paramount | (right) ‘Ben-Hur,’ MGM

First off, a double-whammy and a shrewd moment of separating the art from the artist. We certainly don’t want to be singing the praises of a gun-loving former NRA president, but g*dd*mn (forgive us) did Heston look bangin’ in these two back-to-back biblical epics. His broad-chested Moses kept our attention throughout the deliriously long Ten Commandments, and his take on the heroic Ben-Hur sure set our chariots a’fire.

Jeffrey Hunter as Jesus in King Of Kings (1961)

Jeffrey Hunter as Jesus in 'King Of Kings' and shirtless ioutside in a black-and-white image
Image Credits: (left) ‘King Of Kings,’ Warner Home Video | (right) Getty Images

Years after cementing James Dean’s legacy as a generation-defining heartthrob, filmmaker Nicholas Ray took the same approach for this re-telling of the story of Jesus Of Nazareth. And by that we mean: He chose a total dreamboat for the lead role, Jeffrey Hunter. Ray even admitted he cast the actor specifically for those gorgeous baby blues, gifting us with a Jesus who had the power to make you blush with just a simple glance. *swoon*

Jorge Rivero as Adam in The Sin Of Adam And Eve (1969)

Jorge Rivero is El pecado de Adán y Eva
Image Credits: ‘El pecado de Adán y Eva,’ New World Pictures

Known as “El Pecado de Adán y Eva” in Mexico, this Spanish-language film was part of a wave of biblical epics that got away with (at the time) obscene amounts of nudity and sexuality simply because they were adapting stories from The Bible—go figure! Modesty leaves can barely cover the bulging bounty of bodybuilder-turned-actor Jorge Rivero, playing “First Man” Adam/Adán opposite the buxom Candice “Candy” Wilson as Eve/Eva.

Richard Gere as David in King David (1985)

Richard Gere in King David
Image Credits: ‘King David,’ Warner Home Video

By the mid-’60s, the traditional “biblical epic” had fallen out of fashion, but filmmaker Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) attempted to bring them back in a big way in the ’80s with this story of David, the king of Israel. It’s said Gere wasn’t his first choice—already known as a silver-screen sex symbol thanks to films like American Gigolo and Breathless—but the actor sure did his best to make this Old Testament story feel new again.

Donny Osmond as Joseph in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat (1999)

Donny Osmond in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Image Credit: ‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ Universal Home Entertainment

The Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical had been around since the late ’60s, but certain generations will forever associate it with this ’99 production. Donny Osmond—again, separating art (and muscles) from artist here—makes for a ridiculously pretty Joseph, with those flowing locks and that taut bod, surely inspiring more than a few sexual awakenings. (Though, for our money, out cutie David Archuleta is much better in the role.)

Jim Caviezel as Jesus in The Passion Of The Christ (2004)

Jim Caviezel as Jesus iN The PassioN Of The Christ
Image Credit: “The Passion of The Christ,’ Samuel Goldwyn Films

Taking a page from the book of Nicholas Ray, Mel Gibson cast another twinkling-eye beauty as Jesus in this ambitious re-telling of his final years. Caviezel already had some success in mainstream movies, but he couldn’t resist the temptation of (playing) Jesus. It’s surprising Passion made so much money considering how unflinchingly brutal it is, but maybe folks were just eager for two hours of this hunk on the big screen.

Oscar Isaac as Joseph in The Nativity Story (2006)

Oscar Isaac in The Nativity Story and on a red carpet
Image Credits: (left) ‘The Nativity Story,’ New Line Story | (right) Getty Images

Now one of the internet’s preeminent Daddies, Oscar Isaac’s film career started in earnest playing Joseph, the father of Jesus, in The Nativity Story. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, Twilight), the film plays things straight, but even still Isaac’s innate magnetism and good looks are striking, making Joseph stand out. He would’ve been in his late 20s at the time, but what can we say? The man has simply never not been Daddy™.

John Legend as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (2018)

John Legend sings with his arms wide open
Image Credit: ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert,’ NBC

Webber and Rice’s other major musical adapted from stories in the Bible is this rock opera which turned Jesus into a crooner for the ages. There have been many productions over the years, but we’d like to single out NBC’s live television concert, which put singer-songwriter John Legend—who would be named People‘s Sexiest Man Alive the following year—in the titular role. Mr. Chrissy Teigen’s pecs were poppin’ that Easter Sunday, 2018.

Taylor James as Samson in Samson (2018)

Taylor James in Samson
Image Credits: PureFlix

The story of Samson has always been one of the Bible’s more far-flung fables, so it’s kind of funny (and not entirely source-inaccurate) that this little-seen bomb fashions the eponymous figure into an ancient superhero, of sorts. We wholeheartedly do not recommend, but actor Taylor James (Mamma Mia!, Vikings: Valhalla) is a sight for sore eyes as Samson, his massive muscles shimmering with sweat in almost every frame.

Jay Ellis as Jesus in The History Of The World, Part II (2023)

Jay Ellis in History of The World Part II and Insecure
Image Credits: (left) ‘History Of The World, Part II,’ Hulu | (right) ‘Insecure,’ HBO

In this decades-later sequel series to the Mel Brooks classic, plenty of today’s hottest stars show up to spoof history’s most famous stories. So, yes, it’s part of the joke that an incredibly handsome, fit actor like Jay Ellis (Insecure, Top Gun: Maverick) would play Jesus Christ, depicting the prophet as a smooth operator/carpenter who spits big game at Mary Magdalene. And, honestly? it works on us, too. Jesus, Ellis is hot!

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43 Comments*

  • FreddieW

    I have to say that Charleton Heston was always attractive to me. He was my favorite actor for many years.

    • abfab

      Oh yes, the NRA freak.

    • FreddieW

      Don’t care that he was in the NRA. In the Roman galley in Ben Hur or in Planet of the Apes or in El Cid, he was hot, hot, hot. His voice was sexy, too.

      Stephen Boyd also did it for me in Ben Hur.

    • abfab

      A very bad man. And confused.

      ”I simply cannot stand by and watch a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States come under attack from those who either can’t understand it, don’t like the sound of it, or find themselves too philosophically squeamish to see why it remains the first among equals: Because it is the right we turn to when all else fails. That’s why the Second Amendment is America’s first freedom.”

    • FreddieW

      I don’t believe he was a very bad man. He was a very conservative man.

    • abfab

      Then you’re just as twisted as he was. You and he are one and the same. The NRA Twins!

      Tomorrow is Monday in America. Another week of mass shootings comin’ up!

    • FreddieW

      abfab, you’re very judgmental. I’m sorry you feel the need to denigrate me. Since I know nothing about you except what you’ve displayed here, I’m trying not to respond in kind. But really, I could be spending my time better. Bye.

    • bachy

      @FreddieW: abfab’s main approach to commenting is in criticizing the opinions of others. He rarely posts convincing arguments of his own.

    • abfab

      Queerty rarely gives us anything worth arguing about but when I read a comment that is so utterly stupid and uniformed (republican/bigoted talking points) or thinking Charleton Heston is cool…………sorry BACHY, but you’re going to have to expect pushback.

      I do not have the need to post CONVINCING ARGUEMENTS. I’ll let you handle that.

    • ScottOnEarth

      abfab, in case you didn’t notice, FreddieW was engaging as an adult and expressing his thoughts. Apparently, you’re too immature and limited to simply understand that not everyone shares your opinions, so you had to call him names. I don’t understand people like you who feel that the earth has to revolve on your axis and you have a tantrum when that doesn’t happen. You might want to follow FreddieW’s example of how adults have conversations.

    • abfab

      I’ll make a note of that, Scott.

    • abfab

      Monday in America. Another mass shooting with the blessed assistance of creeps like Charleton Heston and other NRA freeks, including Bobert and MTG, and ostensibly, FreddieW.

      But not trying to convince you of anything. It’s useless.

    • FreddieW

      Chuck is dead, abfab. I’m not an NRA member, either. It would be interesting to sort out the tangled mess of illogic that led you from my expressing appreciation for his movies and youthful masculinity to your assumption that I’m in the NRA. Interesting, but a waste of time. I think the answer is just that you’re a porcupine, to put it nicely. They can be cute creatures.

    • abfab

      Who said your were an NRA member? But if you want to celebrate and remember how Charlton Heston got (gets) you off, be my guest.

      I will not forget or ignore this man’s words. In fact, I’m glad he’s dead……..but there are millions of Heston’s out there today. He was a bastard and a neo con. A toxic male. A macho asshole. Take your pick.

    • abfab

      And do me one small favor. If you also jerked off to Ronald Reagan in his Hollywood Heyday please keep that to yourself.

    • FreddieW

      Haven’t seen many Reagan flicks. He was a B-grade movie star.

      Do you want to hear how attractive I find the young John Wayne in “Stagecoach”? Or how I’ve lusted after his son Patrick over the years?

    • FreddieW

      Oh, and then there’s Clint Eastwood. He was quite attractive in his youth.

    • abfab

      Go for it. You’ve already failed your critical thinking course and we all could use a good laugh.

    • FreddieW

      I don’t know how many people would laugh. The politically correct libido hadn’t been invented yet when God made me gay. I suspect it’s true of most homosexual males.

  • Max

    bearded and tanned John Derek as Joshua did it for me.

    • averageguy40

      I was always on team Pharaoh. Yul Bryner was total eye candy in that show. But John Derek was everything too. Those beautiful eyes!

  • averageguy40

    Don’t judge me, but Donny Osmond as Joseph was heavenly!

    • DuMaurier

      No judgment! He looks good, obviously put some work in that paid off.

      But I saw Michael Damien in the role in L.A. around (yikes) 30 years ago and if anything he was more stunning

  • BrokebackBob

    Oscar Isaac for the win!

  • eeebee333

    I’ve always believed that if there really is a Jesus, that he looks like Jeffrey Hunter.

    • Kangol2

      There was a Jesus but he would have looked like an actual Middle Easterner (cf. Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, etc.).

      Because of Hollywood, the entire world’s perception of Biblical figures has been warped. And thanks to people like Mel Gibson, Jim Caviezel, etc. it’s still happening.

    • smittoons

      @Kangol2 – It’s hardly just Hollywood, of course. The Byzantines, the Holy Roman Empire, and every Western church since has perpetuated the idea that Jesus looked like he was in a hippie band from Scandinavia. Hollywood should be bold and work to course correct that, but toeing a line that was started well over a millennia ago is a little understandable.

    • abfab

      “In the climactic scene, Kirk had a fistfight with an alien who had assumed the image of Jesus Christ,” Star Trek author and screenwriter Michael Jan Friedman said. “So Kirk was slugging it out on the bridge. With Jesus.”

      Friedman was hired to turn the unmade screenplay into a novel but struggled with disjointed material that included “some mildly erotic, midlife-crisis stuff”.

      Discuss.

    • abfab

      Oh sorry. Taken from The Guardian July 2016

      Benjamin Lee
      Wed 6 Jul 2016 06.43 EDT

      An early version of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) would have culminated in Captain Kirk fighting an alien disguised as Jesus, according to a new unauthorised oral history of the series.

      The Fifty Year Mission by Edward Gross and Mark A Altman revealed that the show’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, worked on a number of concepts, including a time-travel adventure in which the crew attempts to stop the Kennedy assassination. But the most offbeat idea featured a shapeshifting alien that could manifest as biblical figures.

  • Tad

    OMG, Jeffrey Hunter playing Jesus in King of Kings made me crazy as a young kid. Of course, I was still a church going good little doctor’s son at the time, but for weeks after seeing that film I had these odd, pre-pubescent feeling about Jeffrey Hunter I couldn’t describe. I thought that maybe I was being touched by the spirit of Jesus or something involving faith, but in retrospect, it was budding homosexuality sparking to alert awaiting full flame not that many years later. Hunter was as stunning as any of the lookers of that era, including Tab Hunter (no relation), Rock Hudson, Warren Beatty, Troy Donahue, et al. Sadly, he was also a straight boy and a big time drunk who died too young, dissipated and broke after a disappointing career.

    • bachy

      @Tad: Fascinating perceptions! Thanks for sharing them.

  • abfab

    Hey have you guys heard about the new low-fat low-carb Communion Wafer they have for us for Sunday Mass? No? Oh yeah………………

    It’s called I Can’t Believe It’s Not Jesus! groan

  • SUPREME

    Jeffery Hunter in King Of Kings had me hypnotized.

  • Karlis

    It is also true that the Book of Samuel in the Old Testament contains this passage:

    Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.

    Christians and “Christians” bend themselves into pretzels trying to explain this passage as anything other than what it is — the first gay love story recorded on papyrus, or whatever it was the author of Samuel was using 2,000 years ago.

  • gregg2010

    Least we forget Enrique Irazoqui in (gay) director Pasolini’s “The Gospel According to St. Matthew.” Queerty really missed the boat on not mentioning this masterpiece.

  • abfab

    All of you sound like Priests….hungry and thirsty. Horny and deprived.

    • Ronbo

      First they disparage.
      Then they demean.
      Then they lay a lame joke.
      Then they insult (commenters and priests)

      Four comments, four failures. Your absence will only make thing better. Let’s hope it gets better.

    • abfab

      Wow, you’ve risen from the dead! NIce try, Jesus.

    • Ronbo

      I can only try to minimize the hate, division, and negativity that you, abfab, use to poison THIS community. I am not alone; Others see that you are broken, in pain and spreading dissent.

      You can be much, Much, MUCH more than a hater. But it has to be you… others can’t fix your broken and bitter personality.

      Was it Susan Powter who screamed “Release the grease”? You appear clogged and in pain, abfab. Release your grease to join humanity. Acting like a greased tRump chasing attention is not helping anyone – especially you.

      A timeout might help clear your head.

    • abfab

      Bite me oh holy one.

    • Ronbo

      Doubling-down on division and hate? Try it again, only this time… change your attitude into gratitude.

      We can’t fix your problems, it’s up to you to try.

  • ScottOnEarth

    Such gorgeous men…..but Jorge Rivero is just too hot for words.

  • Oranos

    Charlton Heston was – in case it has been forgotten, a vocal – and visible – supporter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s.

    Whatever he later became, his head was in the right place on THAT matter. (A right far distance from John Wayne, who was a bigot of the first degree.)

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