Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel" debuted on Thursday night, making $21 million in box office sales and garnering attention for reportedly making several references to Jesus and Christianity. 

The high grosses were a combination of $12 million in special Walmart screenings and $9 million in midnight runs, with Warners Bros. having projected an $80 million debut in domestic markets, according to the Hollywood Reporter. And though the opening numbers are extremely pleasing, the film's affinity for appealing to Christians is a topic up for discussion, too.

The story of Superman painted him as a martyr, the second coming to save the world. But the character did not start out as being liken to Jesus Christ.

According to Fox News, the tale, created by two Jewish men, positioned the hero as a "metaphor for Jewish immigrants in 1930's America." As a baby, he had "Moses-like origins" and had a "golem-esque invincibility" as an adult, coupled with an "outcast status" and "ultimate struggle to assimilate to a new land."

Somewhere down the line, the character became a beacon of Christianity, which Synder reportedly explored in full in the blockbuster flick.

One example of that is when Jor-El, played by Russell Crowe, tells his son, Kal-El, the future Superman played by Henry Cavill that he is the first "natural" birth in centuries. Other Krypton children are genetically engineered for specific purposes.

There is also a "blaring symbol" during a fierce battle scene, where the caped crusader jumps from Michael Shannon-played General Zod's ship and floats in the sky with outstretched arms like Jesus Christ on the crucifix.

The movie also references "33," the same age of Jesus Christ upon being crucified.

Couple that with Jonathan Kent, played by Kevin Costner, as a tradesman just like that of the biblical character and Jesus Christ's Earth father, Joseph and some more comparisons, the film showcased Superman as a God-like figure over the world.

In fact, the opening message is that Jor-El sent his son with incredible powers to Earth to save people.

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