Faith-Based 'I Can Only Imagine' Soars With $17.1 Million Launch

[yallerdawg]

Source: Variety, by Dave McNary

Roadside Attractions-Lionsgate’s faith-based “I Can Only Imagine” has crushed early box office forecasts with a surprisingly strong $17.1 million at 1,629 locations in North America.

Recent estimates for “I Can Only Imagine” had been in the $2 million-$8 million range. It rang up the top per-site average by far among this weekend’s wide release movies with $10,476, and it notched an A+ CinemaScore among patrons.

Budgeted at just $7 million, “I Can Only Imagine” tells the story of Bart Millard, the leader of Christian rock group MercyMe, and his conception of “I Can Only Imagine,” the best-selling Christian single of all time. J. Michael Finley stars as Millard with Dennis Quaid as his father in the film from directors Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin, who helmed 2015’s “Woodlawn” and 2014 “Mom’s Night Out.”

The pre-Easter corridor is often used to launch faith-based films. Sony will open “Paul, Apostle of Christ” on March 23, while Pureflix’s threequel “God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness” will debut March 30, the start of Easter weekend. The first two “God’s Not Dead” movies grossed a total of $81.5 million. Lionsgate’s “The Shack” was the top faith-themed film of 2017, with $57 million at the domestic box office after its March 3 debut.

More at: http://variety.com/2018/film/news/i-can-only-imagine-box-office-faith-based-film-1202729700/


Film Review: ‘I Can Only Imagine’

Fans of the title song already know how “I Can Only Imagine” turns out — that is, what happens once MercyMe front man Bart Millard writes the lyrics to the track that will launch their debut album to triple-platinum status. But even newbies (such as this critic) may be impressed to learn how Millard (embodied by musical theater actor J. Michael Finley) managed to give so many Christians the words to express a love they find more powerful than any earthly romance: the anticipation they feel for the day when they will get to meet their heavenly father.

[TheMastersNemesis]

1. WTF?

[ExciteBike66]

2. I do love seeing people making money off Jesus.... nt

[yallerdawg]

3. It's not all about money.

The entertainment industry is also about giving people what they want.

[ExciteBike66]

4. Well of course, that's how they make the money!

[MineralMan]

6. Of course it's all about money.

Black Panther also gave people what they wanted and will have billions in ticket sales.

This movie? Not nearly so much. These religion based movies rarely are hits. I've seen the TV trailers. I won't be attending.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

76. Yes.

Movies for churches to show like the "Passion of the Christ" etc. They love to talk about how much they love...then support dt. Sorry. It's way past time to call out religio-hypocrites and their dual behavior. They are a dying breed and this is just for show that people want to see these films like they do other "block-busters".
Why are X-tians always enamored by good(?) religious flicks, and then go shoot a box of shells, or watch fox all day? It's old old old.

[itsrobert]

51. and that's true for the Religion Industry

n/t

[TlalocW]

5. Oh, good... Another God's Not Dead movie

TlalocW

[rurallib]

64. Thanks for that - I needed the laugh

what a hoot of a review

[Voltaire2]

7. Do Christianity is a death cult.

the anticipation they feel for the day when they will get to meet their heavenly father.

[opiate69]

8. *yawn*

[Bretton Garcia]

9. Religion relies on the imagination, fantasy, illusions.

Not facts.

[edhopper]

10. We've seen this before

they reach out to churches and the churches make it a Christian obligation to see the movie.
They want to "show" those Hollywood heathens that a movie about "good news" can make money.

It is a great pr campaign and the funny thing is that it's Hollywood playing them.

[dawg day]

32. Yeah, it has a big opening weekend, and then nothing.

It sounds really boring, but I do like Dennis Quaid.

[Cartoonist]

11. Religion as lottery

I get it now. I work in a store that sells lottery tickets. Even though the odds are steep, people like to dream of a better life. The lottery is a ticket to that dream.

I can only imagine what it would be like to be rich. Believers can only imagine a life in Heaven. They all think they have the winning ticket.

[guillaumeb]

12. The same negative comments by the same small crowd.

Not that I expected anything different.

[Mariana]

13. Of course, your fan club is much, much bigger.

I hope the backlog of numerous personal messages isn't too overwhelming. I'm sure they missed you terribly.

[guillaumeb]

14. See #12

It still applies.

[Lordquinton]

15. And the same non-replies by the same small crowd

Promoting a conservative movie on a progressive site, somehow it's expected these days.

[guillaumeb]

16. What makes it a conservative movie? eom

[Lordquinton]

17. What makes it not? eom

[yallerdawg]

18. "And the same non-replies by the same small crowd."

It's a vicious circle, isn't it?

[Lordquinton]

19. Yea, it is

Care to break it?

[guillaumeb]

21. Well, when one simply MUST criticize,

it is necessary to find what looks like a reason for the criticism.

[Lordquinton]

23. And you still can't answer the question

You never answer questions. You go out getting atheists hidden posts and sling underhanded insults to avoid questions. What is the reason you refuse to engage in discussion?

[yallerdawg]

24. Who has had a hidden post?

The only one hidden I see is GB"s!

[Lordquinton]

25. You care to answer the question?

Or is it too scary for you and you have to continue the train of insults and deflections?

[guillaumeb]

20. Devastating!!!

And in the face of such incredible insight, what can I say?

[Lordquinton]

22. See post #15

and add this to the list of why discussion can't happen: because theists don't want discussion, they want submission and humiliation.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

41. So I googled "I can only imagine conservative values" (which, I know it's hard to Google)

Take a look at the list of progressive sites touting this film.

I mean Conservative Book Club, Fox News, and barbwire all love it. I'm sure that they would have no problems telling people to go see a movie that has solid progressive values in it.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

40. I haven't seen the movie, but does anything about the trailers

scream "This is going to be a good movie"? It looks like the same kind of mindless drivel that made The Notebook (see, not a religious movie as an example) a giant steaming pile of crap. My intense desire to not see this movie has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with my life being too short to watch shitty movies.

[LSFL]

27. A refreshingly honest title.

He really can only imagine. What the hell, throw in Frankenstien, Peter Pan and Superman and you will then at least have a decent lyric. I don't care what anyone believes as long as they don't try to ram it down humanity's throat. But these transparent attempts to fleece people are repulsive.

[yallerdawg]

28. From 'Variety' today:

Meanwhile, Roadside Attraction and Lionsgate’s faith-based “I Can Only Imagine” remains a force at No. 3 in its second weekend with $13.9 million from 2,253 sites. Based on the story behind the best-selling Christian song, “I Can Only Imagine” earned a surprisingly strong $17.1 million at the domestic box office, bringing its total up to $38 million.

http://variety.com/2018/film/box-office/pacific-rim-uprising-tops-black-panther-box-office-weekend-1202735845/

[Comatose Sphagetti]

29. All religions are but warped expressions of the emotion/feeling of humility.

NT

[yallerdawg]

30. Humility...

in the face of...

Come on - you're almost there...

[mbusby]

31. Here's a religious movie...

...both the book and the movie.



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5834204/?ref_=nv_sr_1

[yallerdawg]

33. "The Handmaid's Tale" is a dystopian fiction and a cautionary warning.

I don't know of any liberal progressive Christians who would consider this a "religious" movie.

[progressoid]

38. "under a fundamentalist THEOCRATIC dictatorship"

[Cuthbert Allgood]

42. I don't know of any liberal progressive Christians

that should like the nonsense that is clearly in I Can Only Imagine.

[AJT]

34. I'm not religious, but there are a lot of liberal minded

religious people and if this movie is one of hope and love than more power to it.

[TlalocW]

35. What exactly, though, is the conflict in the movie?

In God's Not Dead, it's a God-hating philosophy professor who doesn't understand philosophy, strawman arguments, logical fallacies, etc. tryin' to keep a God-loving student down. Was MercyMe, a Christian rock band, facing opposition from their Christian music label not to write the song, but being the outspoken, God-loving rebel that he is, Bart went ahead and WROTE THAT SONG? At the end, did we learn that shadowy influences in the Christian Rock business, with the Newsboys at the head of it, were behind the opposition all along?

TlalocW

[yallerdawg]

36. It's about grace and redemption and hope.

Its a positive, uplifting movie about the backstory of the number one Christian song of all time.

Yes. There are popular, entertaining movies like that!

[Cuthbert Allgood]

43. Not because of the religious message, but Christian rock is shitty music.

Anybody worth a shit is not going to do Christian rock. They make more money not in Christian rock.

[yallerdawg]

48. U2 made a career out of it.

And changed the world in the process.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

50. So, yeah, the members of U2 are Christians

And they include some things in there music, but they are not a Christian rock band. Hemingway included a lot of Christ references in Old Man and the Sea. Does that make Papa a Christian author? Because he might have argued with that. Especially when he had a load on.

[yallerdawg]

54. We all derive our values from somewhere.

We don't have to identify the source to live by them and get the message out.

Jesus never said he was a Christian, either.

[Lordquinton]

73. About that U2 comment...

Shannon’s gift of an Amy Grant tape quietly turns him toward Christian music. Those insufficient semi-Christians in U2 never darken his Walkman again. Bart’s transition to faith music seems like an important one, so naturally the movie glosses it over as if it’s simply what happens when any thinking kid hears Amy Grant.
https://www.avclub.com/i-can-only-imagine-devoting-an-entire-movie-to-one-bad-1823821759

Hawkward...

[Cartoonist]

56. Actually, no

Early in their career, they made a choice, either be a Christian rock band, or not. They chose not.

[yallerdawg]

57. Right.

Good thing they abandoned Christian messaging and values!

Look at their songs and lives!

I'll have you condemning, demonizing and vilifying U2 before you know it!

[Cartoonist]

59. I applaud them

From Wikipedia

Adding to this period of self-doubt, Bono's, the Edge's, and Mullen's involvement in a Charismatic Christian group in Dublin called the "Shalom Fellowship" led them to question the relationship between their religious faith and the lifestyle of a rock band. Bono and the Edge considered quitting the band due to their perceived spiritual conflicts before deciding to leave Shalom instead.

[yallerdawg]

61. Good for you!

You found the one thing you can hang your hat on!

[Cartoonist]

63. Shalom

[Mariana]

68. Everyone has their priorities.

Millions of Christians do the exact same thing, when the teachings of their particular church conflict with something they want to do. They hunt around and find a flavor of Christianity that permits whatever it is they want to do that's more important to them than their religion. If no such denomination exists, they just make up a new one.

[Cartoonist]

69. So Jesus follows them.

Everyone has the free will to make their own denomination.

[Lordquinton]

71. What's the source on that claim?

#1 Christian song of all time?

Follow up, if you consider this song to be #1 then you consider it better than literally any of U2's songs?

[yallerdawg]

37. UPDATE: Erwin Brothers film tops $68 million, rises to No. 6 box office draw for 2018

For all those who said it would be a one-off!


"I Can Only Imagine," directed by the Birmingham-based Erwin Brothers, makers of Christian feature films, has risen to No. 6 on the list of top-grossing movies of the year.

*****

The movie had another strong week at the box office and has taken in $68,528,313 so far since its March 16 release, according to boxofficemojo.com.

*****

On the year, "I Can Only Imagine" trails only "Black Panther," "Peter Rabbit," "Fifty Shades Freed," "Ready Player One," and "A Wrinkle in Time."

It now ranks as the sixth-highest grossing Christian movie of all-time, trailing only "The Passion of the Christ," the three "Chronicles of Narnia" movies, and "Heaven is Real."

*****

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2018/04/erwin_brothers_film_tops_68_mi.html

[Lordquinton]

39. Why are we reporting about conservative movies again?

Really weird to be reading about here.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

44. Because GOOD NEWS

apparently.

Maybe I accidentally logged into bizarro DU this morning.

[yallerdawg]

46. I get it.

"Thou shalt not..."

11th Commandment.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

47. I get it.

Avoid actually discussing something and toss out unrelated one-liners.

Care to discuss why you are posting positive OPs about conservative movies?

I mean, if I started a "The Pope fights against abortion rights" OP and then people said "Screw that guy" should I just answer with "11th Commandment" because, apparently, saying anything negative against shitty conservative religious movies is not allowed on DU anymore.

[yallerdawg]

62. "Faith-based themes" are not "conservative" movies.

You can try to equate "religion" and "conservatism" all you want - it just ain't so!

We are a "Big Tent" Party. I decry any attempts to make it smaller with blanket condemnations.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

66. Still no real answer to the right wing media outlets pushing this movie

Because we all know they actively push progressive movies and don't have a cow over them.

[Mariana]

70. You really seem to have a problem

with the fact that people who disagree with you are allowed to post here. There are so many places available to you where you don't have to tolerate that, including several groups on DU, but you whine and whine and whine again because this one group permits it.



This "commandment" actual exists, as much as you may not like it:

Discuss religious and theological issues. All relevant topics are permitted. Believers, non-believers, and everyone in-between are welcome.

[yallerdawg]

45. I haven't seen anyone anywhere classify this as a "conservative" movie.

Except here in Religion group.

Critics Consensus: I Can Only Imagine's message will have the most impact among Christian audiences, but overall, its performances and storytelling represent a notable evolution in faith-based cinema.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_can_only_imagine_2018

[Cuthbert Allgood]

49. Wish to comment on this?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1218275600#post41

[yallerdawg]

52. Like you, they trigger on "religion" and "faith."

That does not define liberal progressive Democratic Christians - which is, by the way, the vast majority of Democrats.

This movie is about Good Things in Christianity, healing, grace and forgiveness.

Are you suggesting these are not things we value?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

55. Couple things

You have any survey of any merit to back the claim that the "vast majority of Democrats" are "liberal progressive Democratic Christians"? Because, no.

So you are saying that these conservative sites are pushing this movie because they didn't see it and just know it's about religion? Or that they saw it and didn't recognize the progressive values and were tricked to push it?

[yallerdawg]

58. One thing fairly consistent about "conservative" sites:

If it irritates "the left" it has to be a good thing. That is the only requirement.

When "the left" condemns "religion" we fall right into their trap.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

65. So that's a "no" on any poll to support the vast majority of christians are progressive?

And saying that we can't say anything bad about religion because it helps the right is a bullshit argument. If religion does something wrong, it's OK to criticize them.

[Lordquinton]

72. Just saying "faith" doesn't mean it's not

Looking at the director's portfolio they have a specific bent to their politics. These types of movies are typically on a conservative bent. The "message of redemption" is to let abusers back into your life and off the hook.

But, you know, ignore whatever fits your narritive and continue to alianate non-believers from the big tent. Oh, that was another question you refused to answer, isn't it?

[nil desperandum]

53. Look

here, just because Fox news has an article entitled:

"‘I Can Only Imagine’ film -- It’s time for anti-Christian bigots to stop mocking and start listening"

Doesn't mean it's a conservative film, as we all know Fox news is Fair and Balanced....so why would they choose conservative films over just films with a good message for the masses?

[yallerdawg]

60. I don't consider Fox News a reliable source of any kind.

Nothing they say is reliably factual.

Not a reliable source of anything.

But really good at yanking people's chains!

[Cuthbert Allgood]

67. Give me one example (not this film) where they have supported a film with progressive values.

Just one. Until then, yes, it is important and telling that they push this movie.

[guillaumeb]

74. I also asked for one example from non-theists here.

I am still waiting.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

75. Well, good for you. I don't know what you are talking about.

Any chance you want to offer an example of a progressive movie Fox heralded?

[Docreed2003]

77. "I can only imagine..."

Who would want to go watch a movie about a crappy song...but to each his own I guess.

[Pendrench]

78. Hi yallerdawg - my wife actually saw this the other day (with my mother-in-law)

She really enjoyed it (she is also a fan of the group MercyMe).

From what she told me, it was a pleasant movie (and of course she loved the music).

Tim

[yallerdawg]

79. There is a G rated movie audience out there...

which enjoys slice-of-life inspirational - and yes, faith-based - entertainment.

If you come out of the theater feeling good about yourself and others, what is wrong with that?

[Pendrench]

80. Agreed

My wife tends to like movies and books that are "life affirming" - she's also a huge fan of the Hallmark Channel (especially the Christmas shows).

Is it fluff?

Perhaps, but she has a pretty stressful job, so when she has time to unwind she likes her entertainment to be light.

Wishing you well and peace!

Tim