Posted on 09/30/2014 2:22:14 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
And on the eighth day, God created decent lighting and production values.
After years of releasing shoddy products featuring has-beens like Kirk Cameron, the Christian film industry is upping its game in an attempt to win a crossover audience. Is faith-based cinema about to go truly mainstream?
The year certainly has been good to believers. “Heaven Is for Real” with Greg Kinnear, a story about a boy who said he experienced the afterlife during surgery, raked in more than $100 million worldwide. “God’s Not Dead,” about a college student who debates his professor on the existence of a higher power, brought in $62 million on a budget of less than $5 Million. The Jesus biopic “Son of God” made $67 million.
Those three films are among the top Christian earners in history, trailing only 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ,” which made a whopping $611 million.
Rick Santorum, former Republican presidential candidate and now head of Christian film studio EchoLight, tells The Post the success of 2014’s crop of godly films is due to better writing, production and marketing. “Faith-based movies traditionally haven’t been very well done,” he says.
Friday’s “Left Behind” just might be the most mainstream Christian flick yet. It’s based on a popular book series about the rapture, but you might not guess that at first glance.
The film stars marquee talent Nicolas Cage and was directed by Vic Armstrong, a legendary stunt man best known for the “Indiana Jones” series. Cage was persuaded to take the role by his brother, Marc — a DJ on New York City’s Q104.3 FM and, according to Cage, a pastor. Cage plays an airline pilot who must calm his passengers and land his plane after the world is thrown into chaos following the sudden disappearance of millions of people.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
The year certainly has been good to believers. “Heaven Is for Real” with Greg Kinnear, a story about a boy who said he experienced the afterlife during surgery, raked in more than $100 million worldwide. “God’s Not Dead,” about a college student who debates his professor on the existence of a higher power, brought in $62 million on a budget of less than $5 Million. The Jesus biopic “Son of God” made $67 million.
FWIW, I think Nicholas Cage counts as a "has-been".
Any bets they stick to the action, and gloss over most of the religious part?
Also, since this is a HOLLYWOOD movie, how many “Righteous” gays get raptured?
I pretty much refuse to fork over money to Hollywood in a theater, but I may have to check out the DVD when it hits the sale bin.
Nicolas Cage is unfortunately one of dozens of high profile celebrities who happen to be way better at acting or throwing a ball or boxing than they are at taking care of their personal finances.
After years of extravagant over-spending, not only did Nicolas find himself owing the IRS $13 million, but he also managed to blow through a $100 million fortune. How, the heck did this happen?
Here’s his problem: As his income went up so did his spending habits. Actually, to be fair, as his income increased Nick’s spending habits SKYROCKETED. Between 2000 and 2007 Nick went on a spending spree that would make the Sultan of Brunei blush
Fortunately, I think Nicolas Cage is still a bankable Hollywood star.
In 2013 alone Nick has starred in several big budget films. He also sold his prized Action Comics #1 for a record setting $2.16 million. Hopefully Nick can churn out a few decent movies, pay down his debts and move on with his life. He has MANY films already lined up for this year until well into 2015.
I don’t see how you can say that a movie about The Rapture “just might be the most mainstream Christian flick yet.”
Sure, quite a few people believe in The Rapture, but that story was a nineteenth-century invention, and is far from mainstream among Protestants, let alone all Christians.
Which is not to say you shouldn’t make a movie about it. But “mainstream” it is not.
That was his??!??
“Rick Santorum, former Republican presidential candidate and now head of Christian film studio EchoLight......”
We learn where Rick gets his income?
Woohoo, this is great news for people like me, whose faith waxes and wanes with the whims of Hollywood!
/sarc
“Tell that to “The Ten Commandments”, “Ben Hur”, “The Robe”, etc etc.....”
Dude, those are from, like, last millennium.
RE: That was his??!??
According to this report:
YES.
I hope this will be a vehicle used to preach the gospel to the non-Christians who act and produce it and those individuals will accept Jesus in their hearts as their Lord & Savior.
I believe it was stolen and missing for ten years.
I’m not sure an October release from a small indie distributor that’s only ever had one movie get more than 16 million bucks (admittedly earlier this year) is really what should be considered mainstream. This will be their biggest release but even as indie releases go it’s not that big.
Actors, producers, director, and other behind-camera people will not understand the meaning of the movie if they are not born again. It may be a successful production, but it won’t be a Christian movie.
The Rapture as a biblical occurrence, cannot be found in name in the scriptures, but there are several scriptures that reference the event.
However, the recent flavor of interpretation of the event I do not subscribe to.
In effect, if you read the relevant scriptures, it’s not clear WHEN it occurs.
Generally, a rapture before the tribulation is what’s spoken of, and it’s generally assumed the bodies of the believers will “disappear” leaving clothes and all.
However, what need will we have of our old corrupt, aged bodies when we get a new one?
IMHO, the Rapture occurs mid-tribulation, and our bodies remain here, and we will join the Lord Christ Jesus.
The inhabitants of the earth, rather than being struck by fear of the disappearance, will see our bodies and think “good riddance”.
Um, we’ve had faith based movies sine about forever. I do look forward to seeing this but this isn’t novel. It’s VERY simple ... if it’s done well, and makes money, they will come. The problem is that some amateur “faith based” filmmakers produce real drek.
Anyway ... hope this is good.
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