The Last Temptation of Christ
Movie, 1988, The '80s, Set in Judea
The Last Temptation of Christ is #11 of 26 in release order and #11 of 26 in chronological order in the Martin Scorsese.
The story
Jesus, a humble Judean carpenter beginning to see that he is the son of God, is drawn into revolutionary action against the Roman occupiers by Judas -- despite his protestations that love, not violence, is the path to salvation. The burden of being the savior of mankind torments Jesus throughout his life, leading him to doubt.
The Last Temptation of Christ recap
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) follows Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter torn between human desire and his sense that God has chosen him to die. Martin Scorsese directs from Paul Schrader's adaptation of the 1955 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, which opens with a disclaimer that it is not based on the Gospels. Willem Dafoe plays Jesus, Harvey Keitel plays Judas Iscariot, Barbara Hershey plays Mary Magdalene, and David Bowie appears as Pontius Pilate. At first Jesus makes crosses for the Romans, and Judas, a Zealot, is sent to kill him for collaborating. Instead Judas follows him, pressing him to lead a revolt. Jesus saves Mary Magdalene from stoning, gathers disciples, is baptized by John the Baptist, and resists Satan in the desert. He raises Lazarus, drives the money changers from the Temple, and sees that he must die on the cross; he asks Judas to betray him. Christian groups protested the film heavily. It is the eleventh film in this list, following The Color of Money and preceding Goodfellas.
The Last Temptation of Christ ending explained
The Last Temptation of Christ ends on the cross. A young girl claiming to be his guardian angel tells Jesus he is not the Messiah and leads him down to live an ordinary life: he marries Mary Magdalene, and after she dies, has a family with Mary and Martha of Bethany. Old and dying as Jerusalem burns, he is confronted by Judas, who reveals the angel is Satan. Jesus crawls back to Golgotha and begs God to let him finish, then finds himself back on the cross, cries "It is accomplished!" and dies.
Post-credits scenes
No. The Last Temptation of Christ has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Last Temptation of Christ
The Last Temptation of Christ isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 82%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Color of Money, before Goodfellas.
- Chronological order: after The Color of Money, before Goodfellas.
Cast
- Willem Dafoe as Jesus
- Harvey Keitel as Judas
- Paul Greco as Zealot
- Steve Shill as Centurian
- David Bowie as Pontius Pilatus
- Verna Bloom as Mary, Mother of Jesus
- Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene
- Roberts Blossom as Aged Master
- Barry Miller as Jeroboam
- Gary Basaraba as Andrew, Apostle
- Irvin Kershner as Zebedee
- Victor Argo as Peter, Apostle
Directed by Martin Scorsese.