Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar has built a devoted audience in Australia on BINGE and Foxtel Now, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video among viewers who want their drama to earn its emotional beats. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 621 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Ted Neeley — one of the stronger performances out there right now. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on BINGE.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Jesus Christ Superstar earns its spot. Jesus Christ Superstar takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. As played out by a theatre troupe, the last days of Jesus Christ are depicted from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, his betrayer. As Jesus' following increases, Judas begins to worry that Jesus is falling for his own hype, forgetting the principles of his teachings and growing too close to the prostitute Mary Magdalene. Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1973. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Jesus Christ Superstar. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Ted Neeley carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.