Posted on 03/20/2018 11:33:49 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
When the Dennis Quaid starring movie I CAN ONLY IMAGINE released last weekend, few thought that it would gross $17 million in its opening weekend, with a per-screen average of $10,400. Considering the movie had a production budget of $7 million, this is an outstanding return no matter how you slice it. In comparison, 21st Century Foxs LGBT teen romance movie which opened in 800 more theaters than I CAN ONLY IMAGINE grossed only $11 million with a per-screen average of $4,700. It also beat out Disneys A WRINKLE IN TIME in its second weekend, which only brought in $16 million.
Initial estimates from major entertainment publications estimated an opening of $2 million-$4 million for the faith-based drama, but as word of mouth spread, the estimates grew and grew. Receiving a stellar A+ from CinemaScore patrons, the movie is a crowd pleaser and the distributor Roadside Attractions is planning to open the movie in more than 2,000 theaters next weekend.
The church-going audience has surprised Hollywood before with indie hits like GODS NOT DEAD, and a couple major studios frequently release faith-based movies every year that are well received by Christians. However, while theres been a rise in quality faith-based movies, there has also been a rise in poorly conceived and terribly executed movies targeting the Christian moviegoers, from both inside of Hollywood and inside the church.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE avoided the pitfalls of others because first, it was a great story well told and second, it courted church-going individuals with a compelling and genuine marketing campaign. Directors Jon and Andrew Erwin were hands-on promoting the movie to churches and schools and stars Dennis Quaid and Trace Adkins did not shy away from the faith content of their movie. In fact, Dennis Quaid opened himself to the media, vulnerably talking about his own faith and even releasing a song hed been writing for his mother for decades called On My Way to Heaven. Along with the Christian band, MercyMe actively promoting the movie, all of these elements together created a perfect combination for the success of the movie.
In the weeks ahead, two other faith-based movies will be vying for similar success. PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST releases March 23rd from Sony Pictures, the same studio that released WAR ROOM and RISEN, and on March 30th, Pure Flix Entertainment will release the third movie in the GODS NOT DEAD series titled GODS NOT DEAD: A LIGHT IN DARKNESS.
To find out more about movies with transformational messages like I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, tune into the special TV program Movieguide®s Transformational Movies airing April 1st, at 4 PM Eastern Time, only on the ReelzChannel.
I don’t see how its a shock. Pretty common phenomenon.
I haven’t yet seen this movie, but am really looking forward to it.
Have you ever watched “Gold Rush” on the History channel? Todd Hoffmann from Gold Rush sings “I Can Only Imagine” for the movie trailer. It is a beautiful rendition and his talent blew me away. His voice is Gold!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vazVL230Dk
bkmk
Interesting how religious films always do good and pseudo ones don’t like that latest Oprah film.
Movies are a great tool and can be used for good or bad. It’s a shame that the religious people have generally shied away from making movies and let the rest of the world have the field to itself.
That is encouraging!
In many ways, making movies is an form of art. That is nothing new. What art is supposed to do is to uplift, to inspire, to reflect the sublime. That is what people hunger for. That is what people what.
Instead, Hollywood give sewage. It perverts. It ruins. It sullies life. How much more do will people endure to watch Hollywood depict life as perverse, dark, and only suited for propagandizing the latest humanistic hedonism?
Hollywood would rather lose money on a film that allows them to pat themselves on the back for rubbing our noses in their perverted values than to produce a genuinely entertaining film that scores at the box office.
Makes you wonder how one would invest in such movies. This one sure beats the stock market returns lately!
Remember who owns Hollywood...
I just got back from a 1:30 (afternoon) showing of “I Can Only Imagine”. The theater was FULL. We had to sit on first row.
The movie was awesome ... I don’t use that word lightly. Dennis Quaid really played his part as an abusive father, mean yet vulnerable. He was a man who wanted to love his son, but didn’t know how to show it. It was a tense drama, but there was some comedic relief, especially when the producer for the band Mercy Me, shows up.
Music ... great. (By the way, do not expect to hear the title song all the way through the whole movie.)
Acting ... well done.
Story Line ... well done and compelling.
Do not hesitate to see this movie, if you can get a seat.
Just got back from the movie.
It was GOOD!
We’re generally not movie goers because of the dearth of any really decent movie with actual story lines, but these next few films look interesting and it looks like we’ll be hitting the theater more often these days.
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