“The Blind Side” is a 2009 biographical sports drama based on the Michael Lewis 2006 book of the same name. The film tells the story of Michael Oher, a homeless Black teenager who the wealthy White Tuohy family takes in. Oher eventually becomes an All-American football player. The lead cast includes Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, and Quinton Aaron (as Oher).
Recent allegations from Michael Oher about the Tuohy family have sparked interest in the old movie. It has jumped more than 500 spots in popularity on the Internet Movie Database. And based on data from Google, people have recently been searching for information about the 2009 film. The renewed interest in “The Blind Side” primarily focuses on whether the sports drama is a Christian movie.
Why ‘The Blind Side’ Is a Christian Movie
Many unfamiliar with the movie question if “The Blind Side” is a Christian movie. That is a fair question since the movie was not explicitly marketed to the general public as a “Christian movie.”
But there are a few reasons “The Blind Side” is viewed as a Christian movie.
First, the film’s central message centers on redemption. Second, the film’s themes of faith and hope are pretty evident — especially when it comes to prayer. Finally, the film also focuses on love and acceptance, regardless of one’s background. It would be fair to say that, in general, these are Christian themes.
Most notably, there was a behind-the-scenes faith-based campaign that helped make the movie popular among Christians.
Ad Age reported at the time of the movie’s release: “In the case of ‘The Blind Side,’ more than 20,000 churches have downloaded clips…. Couple those downloads with an average congregation size of 400 people, and Warner Bros. and Alcon got exposure to 8 million of the people most likely to see their movie.”
Christian Responses to the Movie
Christians had mixed reactions to “The Blind Side” movie. Some Christians praised the film for its positive portrayal of faith and redemption. They saw the film as an inspiring story about how God can change lives. Others were more critical of the film.
Specifically, “The Blind Side” was criticized for its portrayal of Oher and his family, as well as its depiction of race and class. Some critics argued that the film whitewashes Oher’s story. Oher also criticized the film. The former NFL player has said the movie made him appear more passive and less intelligent than he actually is.
Other critics claimed that the film is a “white savior” story. They argued that the film focuses on the Tuohy family’s journey of redemption rather than Oher’s own journey. They also argued that the movie reinforces the stereotype that White people are the only ones who can help Black people succeed.
How to Watch ‘The Blind Side’
Despite its controversial plot, the movie maintains an overall positive rating among general audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
Interested readers can watch the movie on Prime Video and buy the book it is based on via Amazon. The DVD is also available.
