SOLOMON
An engaging biblical drama that demands caution for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
Solomon is a strong, constantly engaging biblical drama that brings unusual humanity to a famous king. It presents Solomon as wise and blessed by God, yet also prideful and increasingly willing to deceive himself. The story takes seriously his building of the temple and his later drift toward false worship.
That merit comes with a cost. The nearly three-hour film includes steamy bedroom scenes, brief nudity, references to Solomon’s many wives and concubines, pagan worship, and some violence. It also adds an unbiblical romance with the Queen of Sheba and other changes to Scripture.
If you are a discerning adult who can engage those elements thoughtfully, this has enough value to warrant a viewing. It is not appropriate for children or young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAs King David nears death, his son Solomon faces a struggle for Israel’s throne. With Bathsheba advising him, Solomon must navigate rivalries, treachery, marriage, and the demands of ruling a kingdom.
God gives Solomon wisdom, and Israel flourishes as he builds a great temple. But the king’s growing confidence leads him toward foreign influences and false worship, testing whether he will remain faithful to God.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a worthwhile but imperfect biblical drama. Though the movie looks somewhat aged and could use an intermission at nearly three hours, it maintains a constant flow of intrigue and remains engaging throughout.
Ben Cross is very good as the wise but prideful king. The film also takes an interesting approach to biblical characters, “humanizing” them by showing both their good and bad sides. It generally follows the Old Testament account, though its changes keep it from being an exact adaptation.
The Worldview
The film presents Solomon as a complex ruler who receives wisdom as a special gift from God, builds a temple for worship, and then gradually moves away from righteous worship. Solomon defends learning about other gods as a way of studying the world, but the movie shows this reasoning leading him further from truth. His pride and self-deception have consequences for him and his heirs.
The movie’s biblical account is generally faithful, but it adds a romance between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba that is not substantiated by Scripture. It also portrays pagan worship, false idols, and philosophizing about God. The characters seek to honor the Lord while also acting according to their flesh, presenting a nuanced picture of human weakness.
Solomon’s story becomes a tragedy of wisdom without lasting obedience. Scripture says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Biblical account and worldview of King Solomon’s life and reign in Ancient Israel, also portraying pagan worship briefly in a few scenes, with some jaded philosophizing about God, and a leader goes his own way against God, and a wise advisor and God punishes him and his heirs, but movie notes at the end that the temple Solomon built for God remained a place of worship for 360 years; no obscenities or profanities, but some ungodly (philosophical) statements; light and strong violence includes battle scenes (one mildly bloody), men race chariots irresponsibly, man falls and is injured, sword held up to man’s neck threateningly (but he is released), man on horse shoves people ruthlessly and assaults man, man is stoned and stabbed to death; two brief steamy bedroom scenes include a slow scene of a man kissing a woman’s body, references to “lust,” “groin” and “buying” a woman mentioned in separate scenes, Solomon has many wives and “concubines,” polygamy, some scantily-clad young dancing women are given as a gift to a man, and another visual innuendo regarding sex; partial upper female nudity in one bedroom scene, images of a woman’s naked back, upper male nudity, scantily clad women, and rear male nudity during bathing scene; drinks poured for royalty may be implied as alcoholic; no smoking or drugs; and, woman manipulates kingdom and says she has authority, men discuss and devise treacherous plans against God, government and/or family members, leader and others worship false gods, prideful leader goes against God in word and deed but God punishes him and his heirs, some of whom also stray.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Solomon receives wisdom from God but later follows deceptive reasoning. What is the difference between being wise and obeying God?
Proverbs 9:10 · James 1:5Solomon’s foreign marriages and worship of false gods pull him away from faithful worship. What influences are shaping your own loves and loyalties?
Deuteronomy 6:14–15 · 1 Corinthians 10:14The film shows biblical leaders acting according to both faith and human weakness. How should we respond when respected people fail?
Romans 3:23 · Hebrews 12:1–2Solomon’s temple remained a place of worship despite his sins. What does this story teach about God’s holiness, judgment, and mercy?
1 Kings 8:27–30 · Psalm 103:8–14The Final Word
Solomon is an engaging, thoughtful biblical drama, but its sensual material, nudity, polygamy, and pagan elements make it unsuitable for children and young teens. Discerning adults may find value in its portrait of wisdom, pride, and spiritual decline. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a family-friendly alternative, see.
