Heaven Is for Real
Heaven Is for Real (2014) is a Christian drama film based on the New York Times best-selling book by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent. The movie follows the true story of Colton Burpo, a four-year-old boy who claims to have visited Heaven during an emergency surgery. The narrative centers on Colton's vivid recollections of meeting Jesus, deceased family members, and angels, and the subsequent struggle of his pastor father, Todd, to reconcile these extraordinary claims with his own faith and the skepticism of their small community. The film is designed to be a faith-affirming and inspirational experience for families. Rated PG, the movie explores themes of faith, doubt, and the afterlife. While generally considered family-friendly, it contains emotionally intense scenes related to Colton's life-threatening illness and surgical procedures, which may be unsettling for very young or highly sensitive viewers. The film maintains a clean content profile regarding profanity, substance use, and sexual content, focusing instead on its spiritual narrative.
Concerns
Violence
MediumThe film includes mild, non-graphic depictions of physical injury and intense medical situations rather than overt violent acts. The most impactful elements are related to a child's life-threatening illness and a couple of minor physical incidents.
Todd Burpo suffers a severely broken leg during a church softball game, with a 'sickening crunch' audible, requiring medical attention. Colton's sister, Cassie, punches two boys who are teasing her about Colton's claims of visiting Heaven.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic and sexual content is minimal, limited to affectionate gestures between the married couple, Todd and Sonja. There is no nudity or explicit sexual activity, though some suggestive elements are present.
Sonja Burpo whispers a 'sexually suggestive' comment into Todd's ear to convince him to take a vacation, though the specific content is inaudible to the audience. Sonja is occasionally shown in 'clingy outfits with low-cut necklines' and 'camisole's spaghetti straps' in her home.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe movie features intense medical situations surrounding a child's critical illness and near-death experience, which can be emotionally impactful and potentially frightening for younger viewers. Scenes of adult emotional distress related to these events are also present.
Colton Burpo undergoes emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix, and his poor prognosis causes significant fear and distress for his parents, Todd and Sonja. Todd Burpo expresses intense emotional anguish and desperation in a prayer to God during Colton's critical surgery, yelling 'Don't you take my son!'
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowThe film Heaven Is for Real (2014) contains no explicit or implicit LGBTQ+ content, characters, or themes within its narrative. Extensive searches confirm the absence of such material.
No instances of LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or discussions of gender identity are present in the film. Searches combining 'Heaven Is for Real' with terms such as 'lgbtq,' 'gay,' 'lesbian,' 'transgender,' 'queer representation,' and 'LGBTQ characters,' as well as similar searches for the director Randall Wallace and author Todd Burpo, yielded no relevant findings pertaining to LGBTQ+ content within the film's narrative or associated materials.
Profanity
LowThe film contains very light and infrequent profanity, consisting of only a few mild exclamations that do not contribute to an offensive tone.
The movie includes one use of the word 'heck.' Another mild exclamation noted is 'oh my gosh.'
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe film is entirely focused on Christian theological themes of Heaven, angels, and Jesus, consistent with a Christian drama. There are no depictions or mentions of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, or spells.
The narrative centers on Colton Burpo's alleged visit to a Christian Heaven, where he encounters Jesus Christ and angels. The film's spiritual elements are exclusively within a Christian framework, without any references to non-Christian magical or occult practices.
Substance Use
LowThe film contains no depictions or mentions of alcohol consumption, drug use, or smoking. The Burpo family and community are portrayed as abstinent in these regards.
Multiple sources confirm the complete absence of alcohol use, smoking, or drug use in the movie, stating 'no alcohol use; no smoking or no drug use.' The Burpo family is depicted without any involvement in substance use.
Disrespect & Rebellion
LowThe film generally portrays a respectful family and community dynamic. An isolated incident of a child reacting physically to teasing is present but does not indicate a broader theme of disrespect or rebellion.
Colton's sister, Cassie, punches two boys who are teasing her about Colton's claims of having visited Heaven. While this is a physical altercation, it is a defensive reaction to bullying rather than a pattern of disrespectful or rebellious behavior.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe film is a faith-affirming Christian drama that strongly promotes a positive Christian worldview. While it explores themes of doubt, these are ultimately resolved within the context of strengthening faith and reinforcing Christian beliefs.
Colton recounts meeting Jesus Christ in Heaven, explicitly describing 'markers' (crucifixion scars) on Jesus' hands and feet, which affirms central tenets of Christian belief. Pastor Todd Burpo experiences a significant crisis of faith when confronted with Colton's extraordinary claims, but his journey ultimately leads to a renewed and strengthened belief in God's love and the reality of Heaven.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 8 and up. The movie is rated PG for thematic material including some medical situations. While it presents a faith-based and family-friendly narrative, the intense medical emergency involving a young child and discussions of death and the afterlife may be frightening or confusing for children younger than 8, requiring parental guidance to discuss these mature themes.
Additional Notes
The film is based on a book that has received some theological criticism from various Christian perspectives regarding its interpretation of heaven and biblical accuracy. Parents may wish to discuss these theological nuances with their children, comparing the film's depiction with scriptural teachings. The film's ending reinforces the family's and community's renewed faith.
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