Biblical box office: How productions like The Chosen are bringing Christianity to a screen near you

Last weekend was a surprising success story for the box office, with the debut of the Dickens adaptation King of Kings exceeding expectations with a $19-million US opening. The biblical blockbuster, telling the story of Jesus Christ’s life and crucifixion, proved to be a hit in April, a month not typically known for animated movies of this nature.

Dreamworks’ The Prince of Egypt had set the high water-mark for faith-based animated films back in 1998, but King of Kings’ success further solidifies the appeal of religious programming for studios and audiences. The recent fifth season of The Chosen, a Christian series, also outperformed expectations, with its first three parts premiering in theatres to a combined total of over $36 million US.

Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in The Chosen, attributes the success of these productions to the audience’s hunger for positivity and light. He notes that about 30 percent of the global audience for The Chosen does not identify as religious, indicating the broad appeal of these stories.

The resurgence of faith-based films in Hollywood is not a new phenomenon. In the early days of cinema, studios focused on big-budget spectacles based on historical stories, legends, and fables, including biblical tales like Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments. However, the shift towards action films in the mid-1970s led to a decline in religious storytelling on the big screen.

Catholic priest and film critic Eric Mah believes that the renewed interest in faith-based films is due to a shift in storytelling, focusing more on creating quality films rather than solely on evangelization. The success of productions like The Chosen and King of Kings can also be attributed to Angel Studios, which has been producing Christian and Christian-adjacent content.

The recent success of Sound of Freedom, a film about child trafficking starring Jim Caviezel, has also highlighted the cultural significance of religious themes in mainstream media. Despite not being explicitly Christian, the film resonated with audiences who made the connection to Caviezel’s portrayal of Jesus in The Passion of the Christ.

Overall, the rise of faith-based films is a reflection of audience desire for uplifting and positive content, as well as a push for independent productions outside the traditional Hollywood bubble. As cultural trends continue to evolve, it is likely that the genre’s popularity will only continue to grow, providing audiences with diverse and meaningful storytelling experiences.