The movie centers on billionaire technology business owner, Miles Bron, who invites his friends to a murder mystery game on his private island. Bron’s friends are a group of “disruptors” in their subsequent fields—people who break norms and conventions. However, they are more than just Bron’s friends; they rely on him for their success. Thus, these people are not just a circle of friends, but a group of dependents. Meanwhile, Bron is a caricature of a modern billionaire, a man who foolishly squanders his money in the name of luxury and excess. He seeks to be as famous as the Mona Lisa, which he has borrowed from the Louvre Museum, by prematurely releasing a dangerous new energy source to the world.
Disrupting Life
Glass Onion is set in one of the most disruptive times in recent history: May 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first time we first see Benoit Blanc in the film, he is in his bathtub playing an online game with a group of celebrities, going crazy from the lack of a case to solve. He represents many of us who were stuck in lockdown: fearful, unsure of what the future would hold, and wondering if we would ever go back to normal. We also saw great cultural and social unrest in 2020, with activist groups seeking to disrupt the American status quo to bring about what they believed would be a more just and less oppressive society. It was truly the year of disruption.
Bron and his friends sought disruption for their own personal gain, fame, money, and success. The pandemic was an impersonal force that disrupted everyone’s lives. This doesn’t mean disruption is inherently evil, though—sometimes it is important for people to disrupt the status quo for righteous reasons. For example, Martin Luther saw corruption and false teachings in the Catholic Church, so he spearheaded the Protestant Reformation. America’s Founding Fathers desired freedom from a tyrannical government, so they launched the War for Independence. The Civil Rights movement aimed to disrupt an unjust American society and to end racial discrimination. But as influential as these events were upon their society and cultures, there is no person or event that has disrupted human history as much as Jesus of Nazareth. As J. Warner Wallace explains in Person of Interest, Jesus is the greatest “influencer” who has ever lived, serving as the inspiration for art and music, science and literature, widespread literacy and charity, etc. Even the dating of history between B.C. (“before Christ”) and A.D. (“Anno Domini”or in the year of our Lord) is divided based on the life of Jesus. If Bron truly wants to disrupt the status quo and influence the world, he should model his life after Jesus of Nazareth.
The Greatest Disruptor
Like Miles Bron, Jesus and his band of followers sought to disrupt the world, but that is where the similarities end. Bron and his disruptors are selfish, manipulating liars, seeking power and influence for their own personal gain. Bron uses his wealth and influence to maintain a lavish lifestyle, while Jesus (God in the Flesh) did not use his divine power for his own advantage, but instead became a humble servant (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus did not come to destroy the Old Testament religious system (the Law) but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). In doing so, he disrupted the status quo of the hypocritical Pharisees who had twisted God’s Law for their power and benefit (Matthew 23). Bron and his friends seek attention to bring them greater fame; Jesus avoided attracting unnecessary attention as not to be a spectacle (Matthew 16:20, Luke 5:14, 8:56). While Jesus called others to follow him, he wasn’t seeking fans like a modern social media influencer; he sought true disciples who would deny themselves for him (Luke 9:23). Bron kills to save his power and influence; Jesus died to save the world. Bron’s friends lie to protect him, but Jesus’s disciples boldly proclaimed the truth of his resurrection, even at the threat of persecution and martyrdom.
Miles Bron wants to use his power and influence to become so famous that he and the Mona Lisa would be mentioned in the same sentence. In the end, he gets what he wants, but not in the manner he intends. Bron’s entire fortune and reputation literally goes up in flames. It is like Jesus’s warning, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36). Bron’s narcissistic desire to be remembered forever becomes his self-destruction. Yet, as Jesus says, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25). This is the ultimate paradox: A humble, sacrificial life dedicated to Jesus, even unto death, is the key to everlasting life. If you want to make the greatest difference in this life, deny yourself and follow Jesus.
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