The new Christian film “Jesus Revolution” has smashed box office projections in the two weeks since its release. To date, the film has earned over $31 million domestically, significantly more than many Best Picture nominees for the year. In fact, it earned more than four of them combined. Breitbart reported:
What makes this accomplishment even more satisfying is that Jesus Revolution has accomplished this after just two weeks in theaters. Every one of the Best Picture nominees listed below has already completed or is at the end of its theatrical run…
The American Tribune recently reported on the film’s theatrical success, where it had initially doubled forecasted expectations on the opening weekend:
Specifically, the faith-based film was forecasted to earn around $6 or $7 million in ticket sales. However, audience support for the Christian film meant that it managed to more than double that and bring in a stellar $15 million. According to Box Office Mojo, the film earned a stellar $6, 272 per theater. That put in third place for the box office this weekend, which is pretty good for a faith-based film.
The movie was another example of wildly differing audience and critical reviews. For example, “Jesus Revolution” received an A+ CinemaScore and a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score from the general audience. The film’s critical reception, however, was mixed.
“Jesus Revolution” is just one example of a seeming Christian revival that is making its presence in national headlines. Several weeks ago, the Asbury Christian revival occurred for nearly two weeks straight without stopping. In total, the event drew roughly fifty-thousand Christians from all around the nation to worship and praise Jesus. The co-director of “Jesus Revolution,” Joe Erwin, says it is no coincidence that the film and the Asbury revival occurred so close together. Grammar implied there is a “divine hand” in orchestrating a surge in Christianity in this country.
Erwin said, “For years, we’ve been working on this story. We almost got it made, and then COVID got it shut down. I just think there’s a divine hand on the timing of the film. And the reason we made it was … the thing that we’ve said for years is, if it happened then, it can happen now. If it happened once, it can happen again.” Furthermore, Pastor Greg Laurie, on which the film is based, said the state of affairs in this country and globally has ignited a hunger for Jesus. Laurie said, “I think we are finally desperate enough right now. We have crime out of control, drug overdoses, self-harm and suicide at an all-time high. The threat of nuclear war looms large. People are getting scared. The year 2023 is so similar to the late ‘60s and early ’70s when this story in “Jesus Revolution” happened. There is no other time in history that more closely parallels the present.”
It is encouraging to see such momentum behind Christianity at a time when our culture seems to reject the teaching of the Bible vehemently.
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