The faith-based movie Jesus Revolution edged newcomer Cocaine Bear with $3.3 million in early previews and could be on pace to overperform projections for the weekend.
Jesus Revolution (PG-13), which follows the true story of a hippie-led revival from the 1960s/70s, made more than $2 million on Wednesday and $940,000 on Thursday for a total of $3.3 million, according to box office data reported by Deadline and others. Cocaine Bear (R), which tells the true story of a bear who ingests illegal drugs, made $2 million Thursday. Both movies are opening this weekend, with Jesus Revolution in 2,475 theaters and Cocaine Bear in 3,000, according to Deadline.
You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to know all the answers. No matter what you’ve lived through, what you’ve done, what you’ve overcome, there is a place for you…right here. There is love for you in the arms of Jesus. ☝️
— Jesus Revolution (@JesusRevMovie) February 10, 2023
Join the JESUS REVOLUTION in theaters Feb 24. pic.twitter.com/EFxvADpkyR
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, in its second weekend, pulled in $3.7 million Thursday, according to Deadline.
Jesus Revolution was made by the same filmmakers at Kingdom Story Company that produced I Can Only Imagine, American Underdog, Woodlawn and I Still Believe.
The faith-based film has a 100 percent positive score by verified moviegoers at Rotten Tomatoes. It's also drawing positive reviews from mainstream critics on the website.
Variety's Dennis Harvey gave it a "fresh" rating and said it's "one of the most appealing faith-based big-screen entertainments in a while, polished and persuasive without getting too preachy."
Deadline's Pete Hammond also gave it a "fresh" rating and said it seems "like something out of a time capsule, but one good-hearted and sincere enough to spread the word to those open enough to take it all in."
Andy Erwin, a producer of Jesus Revolution, told Christian Headlines the film is the most evangelistic movie that Kingdom Story Company has made.
"This is an awesome, entertaining, very funny, very disarming and even rebellious, kind of take on a story that will surprise people within the church and from outside the church," Erwin told Christian Headlines. "It's a great conversation starter."
Jesus Revolution stars Jonathan Roumie (The Chosen) as Lonnie Frisbee, Joel Courtney as Greg Laurie, Kelsey Grammer (Cheers, Frasier) as Chuck Smith, Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Father of the Bride) as Laurie's mother and Anna Grace Barlow as Laurie's girlfriend and future wife Cathe.
Related:
4 Things You Should Know about 'Jesus Revolution'
Kelsey Grammer Weeps While Discussing 'Jesus Revolution': 'I Love this Movie'
'Jesus Revolution' Is an 'Opportunity for Evangelism,' Producer Says of Feb. 24 Film
Photo courtesy: ©Lionsgate, used with permission.
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
