Deep Dive: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008)
Film Lens
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is a 2008 film directed by Nathan Frankowski and featuring Ben Stein. The film argues that academia suppresses individuals who advocate for intelligent design, framing the scientific theory of evolution as linked to various political ideologies and historical atrocities, including communism and the Holocaust. It presents intelligent design as a legitimate scientific theory, despite its classification as pseudoscience, without providing a clear scientific explanation or definition.
The film includes interviews with intelligent design proponents and evolutionary scientists, portraying the latter as atheists. It employs vintage film clips, such as those of the Berlin Wall, to symbolize barriers against the acceptance of intelligent design. The film also discusses the concept of irreducible complexity and features claims from figures like Richard Weikart, who connects Darwinism to Nazi ideology.
Why Watch
- •Meet Ben Stein as he interviews intelligent design advocates.
- •See how the film connects evolution to historical atrocities.
- •Find out why conservative Christian groups praised the film.
Did You Know
•The film grossed over $2,900,000 in its first weekend.
•It earned $7.7 million total, ranking as the 33rd highest-grossing documentary in the U.S. as of 2018.
•Premise Media Holdings, the production company, filed for bankruptcy on December 29, 2009.
•The film opened in 1,052 theaters, setting a record for documentaries at that time.
Perfect For
Intelligent design debatesDocumentary film enthusiastsCritics of evolution