History YMMV / JesusChristSuperstar

* The bizarre facial expressions made by Simon during [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3bZqqe_s84 "Simon Zealotes"]]. The portrayal doesn't so much say "violent, rebel agitator" so much as "stoned, dancing hippie." Made even better by Judas' reaction of "What is this I don't even..."

*** In the 2000 version of "Heaven on Thier Minds", Judas pleads to Jesus while they are alone together, with lots of Judas getting into Jesus's personal space, and hesitant, delicate touches to Jesus's bare skin. Compare the 1973 version of "Heaven on Their Minds" which has Judas overlooking the group from a distance and talking to himself.

** The stage version includes a sequence so traumatizing that it's the visual/musical equivalent of swallowing an ice cube too fast. Immediately after performing the first half of "The Temple and Lepers," Jesus is accosted by a whole horde of lepers, cripples, and various other blighted folk. Pretty heart-rending in itself. But did I mention that they are covered in SPIDER WEBS? That they're so wrapped in rags that you can't see their faces? And that they graphically describe all their injuries and infirmities IN SONG? True, it's not Music/MichaelJackson's ''Music/{{Thriller}}'', but it's pretty grotesque in itself. You can hardly blame Jesus when, in a WhatTheHellHero moment, he screams: "HEAL YOURSELVES!!!"

*** In the 2000 version, it's just Judas pleading to Jesus while they are alone together, with lots of Judas getting into Jesus's personal space and hesitant, delicate touches to Jesus's bare skin. Compare the 1973 version of "Heaven on Their Minds" has Judas overlooking the group from a distance and talking to himself.

* TearJerker:
** "Gethsemane"
** "Judas's Death"
** "Could We Start Again Please?" if the production includes it.

* AlasPoorVillain: ''So long, Judas. Poor ol' Judas''

* {{Narm}}: In the original album, during ''Temple Before Pilate'' when a roman soldier says "Someone chrois', king of da jeeewwwsss" in the cockney accent.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Both the movie and the musical were quite big in 1980's USSR. [[RealityIsUnrealistic Yeah, you heard that right]].

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: The Crucifixion and preceding torture in the 1973 version.
** The stage version includes a sequence so traumatizing that it's the visual/musical equivalent of swallowing an ice cube too fast. Immediately after performing the first half of "The Temple and Lepers," Jesus is accosted by a whole horde of lepers, cripples, and various other blighted folk. Pretty heart-rending in itself. But did I mention that they are covered in SPIDER WEBS? That they're so wrapped in rags that you can't see their faces? And that they graphically describe all their injuries and infirmities IN SONG? True, it's not Music/MichaelJackson's ''Music/{{Thriller}}'', but it's pretty grotesque in itself. You can hardly blame Jesus when, in a WhatTheHellHero moment, he screams: "HEAL YOURSELVES!!!"
*** Not forgetting that the song they're singing? It's the same tune as [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g77AcTbjFo the merchants']], only... [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VGRwsYDAbY different]]. And in 7/8 time, one of the most unsettling time signatures.

** The stage version includes a sequence so traumatizing that it's the visual/musical equivalent of swallowing an ice cube too fast. Immediately after performing the first half of "The Temple and Lepers," Jesus is accosted by a whole horde of lepers, cripples, and various other blighted folk. Pretty heart-rending in itself. But did I mention that they are covered in SPIDER WEBS? That they're so wrapped in rags that you can't see their faces? And that they graphically describe all their injuries and infirmities IN SONG? True, it's not MichaelJackson's ''Music/{{Thriller}}'', but it's pretty grotesque in itself. You can hardly blame Jesus when, in a WhatTheHellHero moment, he screams: "HEAL YOURSELVES!!!"
*** Not forgetting that the song they're singing? It's the same tune as [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g77AcTbjFo the merchants']], only... [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VGRwsYDAbY different]]. And in 7/8 time, one of the most unsettling time signatures.

** Pontius Pilate was also given some different perspective. In the musical he ''does not want'' to execute Jesus, thinking he is just another nut case who doesn't deserve death, and it utterly baffled why the mob wants him killed. He only goes through with the execution because he was given no other choice.

* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Inverted. The key individuals responsible for Jesus's death (Judas, Caiaphas, Pilate) are given much more sympathetic depictions than almost anywhere else. Herod's still a jerk, though.
** YourMileageMayVary on Caiaphas since he seemed like a bit of a prick, too.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: You ''are'' supposed to sympathize with Judas.

** WordOfGod from Tim Rice says that his aim as far as presenting Judas' character was more to with showing what he might have done in the same situation rather than making him [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation interesting]].

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: It's not really a funny show, but "Herod's Song" is hilarious.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The soundtrack topped the charts ''before'' the play came out.
** "Heaven On Their Minds"
** "Superstar"
** "This Jesus Must Die"
** "Gethsemane"
** "The Last Supper"
** "Damned For All Time"
* FirstInstallmentWins: Fans of the original LP concept album point out that it set the standard for all subsequent versions.
** Literally, in the case of the vocal score, which in many places merely transcribes what was performed on the original album.

** The stage version includes a sequence so traumatizing that it's the visual/musical equivalent of swallowing an ice cube too fast. Immediately after performing the first half of "The Temple and Lepers," Jesus is accosted by a whole horde of lepers, cripples, and various other blighted folk. Pretty heart-rending in itself. But did I mention that they are covered in SPIDER WEBS? That they're so wrapped in rags that you can't see their faces? And that they graphically describe all their injuries and infirmities IN SONG? True, it's not Michael Jackson's Thriller, but it's pretty grotesque in itself. You can hardly blame Jesus when, in a WhatTheHellHero moment, he screams: "HEAL YOURSELVES!!!"

* {{Narm}}: The 2000 version. Most of it, though a contender for the most Narmy scene is their version of "The 39 Lashes" and Pilate's mounting hysterics.
** The 1973 version of [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZNj4UGjvSU Judas' death]] is so [[NarmCharm narmtastic]] it's hard to tell if it's supposed to be funny or not.

** As well as Murray Head vs. Carl Anderson. [[FandomHeresy And no, the acceptable answer is not "Jerome Pradon"]].

** 'Course, if you are a Christian, you may regard the whole project as a vile mockery. (or not.)
*** Actually some parents show the musical to their kids to tell the story of Jesus with cool songs.

** The stage version includes a sequence so traumatizing that it's the visual/musical equivalent of swallowing an ice cube too fast. Immediately after performing "Poor Jerusalem," Jesus is accosted by a whole horde of lepers, cripples, and various other blighted folk. Pretty heart-rending in itself. But did I mention that they are covered in SPIDER WEBS? That they're so wrapped in rags that you can't see their faces? And that they graphically describe all their injuries and infirmities IN SONG? True, it's not Michael Jackson's Thriller, but it's pretty grotesque in itself. You can hardly blame Jesus when, in a WhatTheHellHero moment, he screams: "HEAL YOURSELVES!!!"