Posted on 01/02/2018 1:52:41 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Faith-based films continue to maintain their momentum at the box office and 2017's list of top-grossing inspirational movies produced by Christians includes films about loss, the journey to faith, and even the first religious animation film in nearly 20 years.
Here is a list of the seven highest-grossing Christian films of 2017 in order of top-earnings.
1. "The Shack" grossed $57,386,418 (Lionsgate)
"The Shack" is based on The New York Times best-selling novel of the same name. The film was released on 2,888 silver screens on March 3 and as the film's synopsis says, the cinematic journey takes viewers on a father's uplifting spiritual journey.
"After suffering a family tragedy, Mack Phillips (Sam Worthington) spirals into a deep depression causing him to question his innermost beliefs. Facing a crisis of faith, he receives a mysterious letter urging him to go to an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Despite his doubts, Mack journeys to the shack and encounters an enigmatic trio of strangers led by a woman named Papa (Octavia Spencer). Through this meeting, Mack finds important truths that will transform his understanding of his tragedy and change his life forever."
Some evangelicals have come out against the book and the film for its "heretical" portrayal of the Holy Trinity.
2. "The Star" grossed $38,641,925 (Sony Pictures Animation)
"The Star" hit 2,976 theaters on Nov. 17 as the first faith-based animated film since 1998's "Prince of Egypt." It tells the story of the first Christmas through the perspective of the animals that traveled with Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and witnessed Jesus' birth.
"The Star" features voice-overs from Steven Yeun ("The Walking Dead") as Bo the donkey; singer Kelly Clarkson as Leah the horse; Anthony Anderson as Zach the goat; comedian Gabriel Iglesias as Rufus the dog; Kris Kristofferson as the Old Donkey; Zac Levi playing Joseph; Gina Rodriguez as Mary (mother of Jesus); Oprah Winfrey as Deborah; Tyler Perry as Cyrus and Tracy Morgan as Felix.
3. "The Case for Christ" grossed $14,682,684 (Pure Flix and Triple Horse Studios)
"The Case for Christ," based on Lee Strobel's best-selling book of the same name, explores Strobel's journey as an unwavering atheist who used his skills as an award-winning investigative journalist to try and disprove Christianity. His findings, however, led him to become a believer in Christ.
According to the film's synopsis, the movie "draws on the true story of Lee and Leslie Strobel, whose marriage struggled mightily as her growing faith collided with his determined atheism. The dramatic retelling of their journey offers heart and a human touch on the in-depth research Lee Strobel conducted."
The film stars Mike Vogel ("The Help"), Erika Christensen ("Parenthood"), Academy Award-winner Faye Dunaway (Bonnie and Clyde"), Academy Award nominee Robert Forster ("Jackie Brown"), L. Scott Caldwell ("Lost") and Frankie Faison ("The Wire").
4. "Let There Be Light" grossed $7,203,808 (Atlas Distribution)
Actors Kevin and Sam Sorbo and Fox News political commentator Sean Hannity released the faith-based film "Let There Be Light" on Oct. 27 in 774 theaters nationwide.
The "God's Not Dead" star directed and starred in "Let There Be Light" along with his wife, who plays the leading female role. The script was originally written by Sam, who told The Christian Post that her inspiration behind the movie came from "God."
"Let There Be Light" follows the story of Dr. Sol Harkens (Kevin Sorbo "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys") who has never known faith. "After suffering the traumatic loss of his youngest son to cancer, he heads down a path of darkness. Distancing himself from his ex-wife Katy (Sam Sorbo of "Twenty Dollars"), and their two remaining sons, Sol turns to alcohol to numb his pain. Soon his bad habits catch up to him and Sol is involved in a serious car accident that leaves him dead for 4 minutes before he is resuscitated. What Sol experiences during this time changes his outlook on life and brings him closer to his family and faith."
"Let There Be Light," had the second highest per screen average of all wide releases in 2017.
5. "Same Kind of Different as Me" grossed $6,360,709 (Pure Flix)
Hollywood actress Renee Zellweger is the lead star of the Oct. 20 release "Same Kind of Different as Me." Shown in 1,362 theaters, the movie follows the true story of a wife who salvages her marriage and transforms her adulterous husband's life by getting him involved in her work at a homeless shelter.
The film, which is based on the best-selling book of the same name, also features Jon Voight, Djimon Hounsou, Greg Kinnear and Olivia Holt.
"After admitting to his wife about his extramarital affair, international art dealer Ron Hall (Greg Kinnear) wants to heal his marriage to his wife Debbie (Renée Zellweger). In return, Debbie asks him to volunteer at the homeless shelter with her. After having a mysterious dream, she asks Ron to befriend an angry homeless man [named Denver] with a brutal past (Djimon Hounsou). One random act of kindness leads the three of them on the most remarkable journey of their lives," the movie description explains.
7. "A Question of Faith" grossed $2,587,072 (Pure Flix)
"A Question of Faith" was released in 661 theaters on Sept. 29 and features a star-studded cast in a movie about people from three very different cultures who come together in faith after a texting and driving tragedy.
Pegged the "first of its kind," "A Question of Faith" is comprised of a well-known cast, including Renee O'Connor ("Xena"), Richard T. Jones (Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married"), Kim Fields ("Facts of Life"), C. Thomas Howell ("The Amazing Spider Man"), Gregory Alan Williams ("Greenleaf"), Jaci Velasquez ("I'm Not Ashamed," platinum Christian recording artist), and T.C. Stallings ("War Room").
The film follows the lives of three families whose paths "collide when two tragedies strike back to back. All three families find themselves at a crossroads, questioning their faith and the higher power that guides our destinies. Chance encounters with one another lead to a chain of events imminently bringing the families' worlds closer together, until a moment of truth. But when the connection is revealed, will the consequences of the aftermath bring them together or tear their faith apart?"
Bump. Thanks!
Thanks for this thread
The Shack is not Christian, it’s New Age.
Pretty good.
Agreed. “The Shack” is heresy.
The Gospel according to Luke.
Yup. The Shack is NOT Christian.
Thank you. Beat me.
“Christian” colleges and seminaries today are pretty much all Frankfurt School heresy factories.
“Yup. The Shack is NOT Christian.”
I saw the movie and found it very entertaining and to have a christian message. Sure, the story is fiction and they did not use 16th century old English?
Hi fishtank,
You must have seen a different movie. My synopsis: the movie includes pain from sin, forgiveness, trusting God, why God allows bad things to happen to good people, blaming God, how depression affects family members, healing, and repairing relationships among others and more important, repairing your relationship with God. It tries to present a friendly, kind interpretation for the temperament of God rather than the one most people are accustom too. I was not pleased with the portrayal of Jesus who seemed more like a “cool dude to hang out with.” However, the family at the center of the story feels very real, and the movie was at times both charming and funny. It does recognize the Trinity (although incorrectly personified by human actors) and the atonement for sin. Yes, it has other shortcomings as well. The Shack has the potential to serve as a conversation starter about Christianity with those unfamiliar with the faith, or to get someone asking the right theological questions of Christian friends and pastors. It does a great job of presenting why tragedy occurs to good people, and how one should recover from undeserving events. Its not intended to be a summary of all the complex theological dogma that makes up Christianity today.
Is the movie flawed? Yes. Is it Heresy? Not in my opinion. Go enjoy the movie, then explore your understanding of God by researching the Bible and achieving a better understanding of God’s word. Its certainly better than watching the latest episode of Star Wars, or for that matter, almost anything else that comes out of Hollywood.
It’s new age, which draws from multiple beliefs so it’s not surprising there are Christian messages, mixed with others, within.
http://www.ltw.org/read/articles/2017/03/six-major-problems-with-the-shack
https://baptistcourier.com/2017/04/the-shack-is-not-an-accurate-view-of-god/
http://www.equip.org/article/christian-think-shack/
http://www.equip.org/article/shack-movie-heretical-healing/
http://mobile.wnd.com/2017/02/the-shack-attack-jesus-has-no-desire-to-make-them-christian/
Thank-you, God Bless, and second it.
It is a starter in the Christian faith type of movie.
Isn’t God a black woman in the movie?
We saw “The Case For Christ” on Netflix. The movie was good. We did some research later, and Strobel is active in some new-age mega church now.
“Let There Be Light”: Very well done. We liked it a lot.
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