50 Accept Christ in Theater after Watching Faith-Based Film Overcomer

Michael Foust | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Updated: Nov 11, 2019
50 Accept Christ in Theater after Watching Faith-Based Film <em>Overcomer</em>

50 Accept Christ in Theater after Watching Faith-Based Film Overcomer

The faith-based film Overcomer stayed in the Top 5 for three weekends and grossed $34.6 million, but its director says the lives it helped change is more worthy of celebration. 

The Kendrick Brothers film opened in theaters in August and will release to home video in the coming weeks – on digital platforms Nov. 26 and on Blu-ray and DVD Dec. 17.

Director Alex Kendrick told Christian Headlines that 50 people accepted Christ after watching it at one theater.

“A college coach took a college team to see the movie,” Kendrick told Christian Headlines. “After the movie was over, he stood up and he said: If you've watched this film and you are not sure where your identity is based – if you want to nail that down with the God that loves you – you're welcome to come down here and pray with us. And over 50 people responded, and that was just one showing.”

But that is just “one of many, many stories” of lives changed by the film, Kendrick said.

“We've had more reports than I can count of church groups inviting people and giving invitations at the end of the film, and individuals making decisions for Christ in the theater,” he said.

Another story involved a special needs teenager.

“There was a couple that took their special needs teenage son to the movie,” Kendrick said. “And he had limited communication, and he was able to talk a little bit, but they never knew how much he truly understood about salvation. After they watched the movie and were leaving and going back to their car, the son began to communicate to the parents: I want my identity to be in Christ. I want to be a follower of Christ. 

“And they prayed in the car and wept together. The parents then emailed us saying this movie was the catalyst for our son to give first-time evidence that he truly understood what it meant to be in Christ, to be saved.”

Such stories, Kendrick said, are “the kind of response that you hope for and can't put a price on.”

Overcomer tells the story of a high school coach who finds his purpose – his identity – in his basketball team. But when his best players move away and he is forced to coach cross country, he grows depressed. A joy-filled Christian blind man then helps the coach discover his identity in Christ. 

The Blu-ray, DVD and digital release is “packed with extra special features,” Kendrick said.

“Sony actually called and told us we had so many extra features that we were putting on the DVD that there was just no room for anything else,” Kendrick said. “And so when you get the DVD, I mean everything you could possibly want on a DVD – the bloopers, the deleted scenes, the testimonies, the miracles on the set – all that kind of stuff is on there.” 

Related: 

‘Overcomer’ Earns Rare A+ CinemaScore, Opens in Top 5

Kendricks Unveil Details of Next Film: ‘It’s Such an Inspirational Story’

5 Things You Should Know about Overcomer

‘Overcomer’ Director: God, and not Feelings, Defines Your Identity

Overcomer Dares to Ask, "Who Do You Think You Are?"

‘Overcomer’ Actor Quit Hollywood Films When Asked to Do Nudity

Filmmaker Erwin Brothers Announce 4 New Movies, Launch Studio

Actress Madeline Carroll Turned Down Nude Role, Fame and Fortune for Righteousness

Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.

Photo courtesy: Sony/Kendrick Brothers



50 Accept Christ in Theater after Watching Faith-Based Film Overcomer