Oh, God! (film series)

Oh, God!
Official film series logo
Based on	Oh, God! by Avery Corman
Starring	George Burns Various actors (See details)
Production company	Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	1977-1984
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$87,104,323 (Total of 3 films)[1][2][3]

The Oh, God! film series consists of American comedy movies, which explore Christianity in a contemporary setting. The plot, which is based on the novel of the same name by Avery Corman, centers around various characters as they encounter God and are asked to share their experiences with society, only for their sanity to be questioned by society. The movies star George Burns in the recurring role of the Supreme Being, and feature a different supporting cast in each installment.

Upon the films' release, the series overall was met with mixed reception. The original received critical acknowledgement, with its box office performance making the movie a surprise hit.^[1] Its success overshadowed the performance of its sequel however, as the second movie was deemed by critics as inferior,^[4][5] while its financial gains were also lower than expected.^[2] The third installment, however, received warmer reception from critics who decided that though it wasn't as good as the first movie it was better than the second,^[6][7] which was also reflected in its monetary performance.^[3] Christian response to the premise of the series ranged between questioning the intentions of the product,^[8] to praising the overall message for its audiences through the lens of contemporary comedy.^{[9][10][11][12]}

The Oh, God! films were later released in a Blu-ray collection through Shout! Factory's Shout Select label.^[13]

The original novel, Oh, God! by Avery Corman, serves as the basic premise for the film series, and was originally published by Bantam Books on January 1, 1971. With a plot similar to the movies, the story follows a struggling journalist who receives an offer in the mail to interview God. Though he initially believes this invitation to be a hoax, he pursues his curiosity and is pleasantly surprised to find the opportunity legitimate. Through a series of comedic circumstances, the value of Christianity in the modern-world is discussed, while God reveals that through various forms he is always present in mankind's lives.^[14][15][16]

Jerry Landers works tirelessly as the assistant manager at a local supermarket. One day while he works, God appears to him in the form of an unsuspecting elderly man, and informs Jerry that after repeated attempts of contact the former has been chosen become a modern-day messenger in the vein of Moses from the Old Testament era of The Bible. Though initially reluctant, Jerry ultimately agrees to the assignment of telling the world about the visit from the Almighty Creator of all things. As Jerry begins to tell the people he comes into however, including his wife Bobbie, he discovers to his dismay that his sanity comes into question. Continuing to receive visits from God and asked to convey additional messages, Jerry continues to fulfill his calling as best as he can. After conducting an interview with a religious report for the Los Angeles Times, Jerry finds himself confronted with legal action and must prove himself in a court of law that he is innocent of the accusations from his accusers. Jerry prays earnestly that God will be with him throughout the trial.^[17][18]

One day while a child named Tracy Richards is at a restaurant with her parents, she meets God in the form of an elderly man. Excited by her encounter and deeply impressed by the interaction she had, Tracy determines to start an advertisement campaign with the slogan of "Think God" spread throughout her city. While her intentions are for all of society to focus on God and shift their daily focus towards spiritual influences of their religion, she is surprised to receive a negative response from adults around her who believe that as a child she is inexperienced and doesn't understand life as they do. Refusing to state that her experience was a figment of her imagination, her divorced parents Don and Paula become concerned for her mental state and take her to see a doctor. As a panel of medical experts led by the psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Newell gives their extreme diagnosis and her parents pray for her, divine intervention comes to her aid when God reenters her life.^[4][5]

Bobby Shelton is an amateur musician, who despite every effort of his own can't attain the professional success that he and his family needs. One day after a particularly discouraging performance, he offhandedly states that he would sell his soul to be in a better situation. Later while performing at a client's wedding, Shelton is approached with a proposition by a man who introduces himself as a producer named Harry O. Tophet. Tophet states that Bobby will have seven years of fame and stardom, if he will sign a contract which sells his eternal destiny. Desperate to make ends meet Shelton signs the document, but immediately realizes his mistake as his signature transforms into something different the man reveals that he is actually the devil Satan. The devil explains that through his demonic powers Bobby Shelton is now a world renown rockstar named Billy Wayne, a celebrity he is familiar with. As he initially enjoys the success he has attained Shelton is horrified to discover that he and Wayne have traded lives when his wife, and his children do not recognize him. Learning that prior to these events, Wendy had become pregnant with a baby, Shelton calls out to a higher power through a prayer. Immediately approached by God in the form of an elderly man, Shelton is initially hesitant to find a physical resemblance of this form and the previously presented Tophet. Learning through a parable that he must be weary of those around him that may be wolves in sheep's clothing, Shelton is relieved that God has come to save his soul. As the devil reappears to keep the contract intact however, God agrees to a climatic poker game where the deceived man's eternal destiny is at stake.^{[19][6][20][7]}