Chris Lange, FISM News
Americans are responding in a big way to Bible-themed films, evidenced most recently by the success of Angel Studios’ “His Only Son.”
The modest-budget ($250,000) independent film grossed an estimated $3.25 million over Easter weekend. It debuted the weekend before at the number three box office spot, behind “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” As of April 9, the film’s estimated total gross stood at $11.04 million.
His Only Son grossed an estimated $3.25M this weekend (from 1,930 locations). Estimated total domestic gross stands at $11.04M.#HisOnlySon #BoxOffice @AngelStudiosInc
— BoxOfficeReport.com (@BORReport) April 9, 2023
“His Only Son” is produced, edited, written, and directed by David Helling. The biblical drama tells the story of the faith of Abraham (Nicolas Mouawad) whom the Lord commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac (Edann Moskowitz). God spared Isaac’s life by providing a ram to take his place, foretelling God’s sacrifice of His only Son to redeem the world from sin.
“His Only Son is the ‘little indie that could’— a film made on a tiny budget by a director who went to film school on the G.I. bill,” Jared Geesey, Senior VP of Global Distribution at Angel Studios said in response to the success of the film he said was “based on a story people have wrestled with for untold centuries.”
Angel Studios partnered with a crowdfunding campaign to raise more than $1,235,000 to cover advertising costs. According to the Christian streaming media service, “His Only Son” is the first-ever crowdfunded film to have a nationwide theatrical release. Individual donors and churches also pitched in to give away 20,000 tickets.
People have paid to give free tickets to more than 20,000 people! If you know someone who would want a free ticket go to https://t.co/VAfCYuLTRo @hisonlysonfilm @AngelStudiosInc
— Neal Harmon (@nealsharmon) April 8, 2023
“Our investors believed in the project and crowdfunded the P&A, so word could get out,” Geesey said.
This film was up against big studio films with serious marketing budgets, and yet, this film continues to turn in incredible numbers. We believe that the audience is the future of this industry, and we have faith they’ll prove that over and over again with each new offering they choose to get behind.
The film also stars Sara Seyed, Ottavio Taddei, Nicolai Perez, and Daniel da Silva and is currently playing in over 1,900 U.S. theaters. The film’s trailer can be viewed here.
CHRISTIAN AUDIENCES ‘LARGELY UNDERSERVED’
“His Only Son” was released a month after another faith-based film, “Jesus Revolution,” debuted. The film about the real-life “Jesus Movement” of the ’60s and ’70s earned more than $50 million at the domestic box office.
Collider’s Rahul Malhotra said that the success of these and other Christian films underscores the fact that “the faith-based demographic remains largely underserved, with most targeted releases doing splendid numbers and generating enthusiastic response.”
“Jesus Revolution” was released on digital platforms on Tuesday, according to the “Jesus Revolution” Facebook page and will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on April 25, per the film’s website.