6. The Profit (April 1, 2001)
Peter N. Alexander’s The Profit is a parody of Scientology that centers around L. Conrad Powers, the leader of the “Church of Scientific Spiritualism.” The film mocks several different aspects of Scientology, such as the e-meter (a tool used during “auditing,” a form of counseling,) the organization’s clashes with the IRS, and their use of prominent celebrities as a means to gain support. However, the film’s thinly-veiled parodies were a little too thinly-veiled, and didn’t go unnoticed by Scientology. The Church successfully filed a lawsuit, which prohibited the film from being distributed within the United States.
5. The Bridge (September 10, 2006)
Much like The Profit, this entry doesn’t have a happy ending. Unlike it however, Brett Hanover’s The Bridge did not bother with parody or satire. Instead, it directly confronted the Church, telling the story of Ronnie Miscavige, a disillusioned member of Sea Org (a section of the Church of Scientology composed of its most committed members.) The film was made with the help of former Scientologists and was extremely critical of the Church. However, after the film was released Hanover removed it from the Internet and withdrew his support of it. MSNBC journalist Mark Bunker said that it appears that Scientology had managed to “coerce” Hanover into silence.
4. Until Nothing Remains (March 31, 2010)
Niki Stein’s Until Nothing Remains is a German film about a couple who get recruited into Scientology, get brain-washed and become financially devastated. Apparently based on the real-life experiences of a German convert, the film was a major hit on German television, pulling in well over 8 million viewers on the day it debuted. Naturally, the film was opposed by the Church, who managed to broadcast a 40-minute rebuttal the day after the film debuted.
3. The Master (September 1, 2012)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master examines a young World War II veteran named Freddie Quell who falls in with a religious movement referred to as “The Cause.” The movement’s teachings are a dead ringer for L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology, naturally. Anderson himself confirmed this by stating “this flamboyant character — a self-described author, sea captain, physicist, and philosopher — was inspired by L. Ron Hubbard.” Additionally, Phoenix gives one of the performances of his career in this fascinating film that examines just how movements like Scientology can grow from crude movements to worldwide organizations.
2. Oblivion (April 10, 2013)
One of Hollywood’s most prominent Scientologists is none other than Tom Cruise. In Joseph Kosinski’s Oblivion, he plays Tech 49 Jack Harper, a repairman who works to maintain fusion power generators in a post-apocalyptic Earth ravaged by an alien invasion. However, it turns out that he is the brainwashed clone of an Earth astronaut, and the generators that he repairs are actually controlled by a massive, alien artificial intelligence that has enslaved most of mankind.
The idea of an brainwashed humanity enslaved by aliens is, of course, one of Scientology’s main features. The original transcript by L. Ron Hubbard explaining the OT III stage of Scientology included this anecdote: “[Xenu] caused people to be brought to Teegeeack (Earth) and put an H Bomb on the principal volcanoes (Incident 2) and then the Pacific area ones were taken in boxes to Hawaii and the Atlantic Area ones to Las Palmas and there “packaged”…Various misleading data by means of circuits etc. was placed in the implants.”
1. After Earth (May 31, 2013)
Based on a story by lead actor Will Smith, After Earth follows a father and son tandem who crash-land on Earth, a thousand years after humanity was forced to flee from the planet. When Smith is badly injured in the crash, his son must find the missing emergency beacon so they can be rescued. However, in the thousand years since humanity left Earth, every living thing on the planet has evolved into monstrous killing machines, which tends to muddle up plans significantly.
Many have argued that the film demonstrates teachings and imagery associated with Scientology. As The Sun’s Grant Rollings explains, “The film’s tag ‘Danger is real, fear is a choice’… may be a first clue to the Scientology subplot. For bottling up fear and emotion is something that former Scientology admit they were encouraged to do.” Claims that the film may be influenced by Scientology could have some veracity, considering Smith’s ties to the organization.
4 Comments
You say “teaches that humans are immortal creatures who have been brainwashed by the souls of alien creatures known as “thetans.” but this is incorrect. It’s not even close.
You never stepped inside an Org or mission have you. Or read a Dianetics or Scientology book. This is easily cleared up.
You said founder LRH flat out admits that this whole thing was concocted to make money, and this has been proven false. He said no such thing. did you hear him say it? Because nobody else did.
What you are doing here is basically ignoring facts and just making fun of a religion. I mean lets call a spade a spade.
http://www.thebridgemovie.net
Steve Martin…. not Steve Allen. Both comics, but not the one you were looking for.
Dear David, If you are interested in this topic, you may also want to check out the article at http://www.crackedhistory.com/february-18-1954-church-of-scientology-founded-by-sci-fi-writer/ for a general background on Scientology. Thanks! Dr. Zarzeczny