Best Box Office for an R-Rated Film
…Goes to a Christian movie (or faith-based film). Any guesses? It’s The Passion of the Christ.
I’ve been providing information about box office and DVD income for faith-based films to someone working on an article about the impact of faith-based films in the marketplace and dug up this piece of information on Box Office Mojo. I found this listing of films produced by Christians that promote or embody their religions.
There are only three whose box office topped $100 million. The Passion of the Christ earned$371 million, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe brought in $292 million, and Prince Caspian $142 million. From there it’s a sharp drop down to The Nativity Story at $38 million.
When the top 3 are placed among all films, they come in at 13, 33 and 205, respectively. Not bad when you consider the list of all films covers 29 years. If you think about how many films are released every year, that’s pretty impressive for a genre that only has 71 films listed for it.
But I keep coming back to the thought that The Passion of the Christ is at the top of R-rated films for box office earnings. Isn’t that ironic? Usually an R rating means lots of violence, fairly graphic sex, and lots of bad language that makes you want to wash your eyes and ears out. In this case, it means the suffering Savior for the whole world to see. For all those who say Christians need to “retake Hollywood” or create an alternative Hollywood, I say look at this success. God’s glory will not be denied.
For what it’s worth, the box office figures at that page apply to North American revenues only. Globally, the top-grossing R-rated movie of all time is The Matrix Reloaded ($742.1 million). The Passion of the Christ is second with $611.9 million — though if you focus only on the foreign grosses, then the $241.1 million earned by The Passion overseas is also eclipsed by the overseas earnings of Troy ($364 million), The Last Samurai ($345.6 million), Terminator 2 ($315 million), The Matrix ($292 million), The Bodyguard ($289 million), The Matrix Revolutions ($288 million), Pretty Woman ($285 million), Terminator 3 ($283 million), Gladiator ($269.9 million), Die Hard 3 ($266.1 million), Saving Private Ryan ($265.3 million), Sex and the City ($262.6 million) and 300 ($245.5 million).
August 19th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Thanks Peter for clarifying that. My bad.
It’s very interesting…points out a cultural difference between the US & overseas.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:20 am
What is the highest grossing film to come from a Christian Studio? It’s not the story that’s the problem, but how well we tell it. Angela, when we train or equip the filmmakers of tomorrow, are we doing a successful job? I like to hear your opinion on it? For myself, if I want to be a better cinematographer, I don’t seek out a Christian cinematographer; I look to members of the ASC. They are the best regardless of their faith.
August 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I want to add that I am no way saying that the Christian film industry does not put out a good product. In recent years they have seem to grow exponentially in the quality of work that is being made, praise God. What do the box office numbers really tell us?
August 24th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Adam, regarding your question about a “Christian studio,” there’s not really one that exists in the Hollywood studio tradition. A studio funds production, handles the marketing & theatrical release, and is the distribution entity for its films. So far, there are very few Christian companies doing this. Dave & Rich Christiano are managing their own films from development through to final distribution, as is Cloud Ten.
So in that respect would have to be the Left Behind series from Cloud Ten.
Are we doing a successful job at training tomorrow’s filmmakers? You can’t tell that until they being producing films. Then, how much of that is due to sheer talent, how much to the training?
There are some great cinematographers & producers & directors who are also Christian. But, I have to agree with you. If I want technical training, I want to go to the best regardless.
However, if I’m someone like a writer, director or producer who is trying to create films with a Christian worldview, I think I want to find the best regardless for technical issues. But for the worldview of faith – I might consult who I consider to be some of the best that are making faith-based films.
I won’t go to an atheist for help interpreting scriptures, but if I want to learn the best way to frame a picture, I don’t mind going to an atheist, as long as they’re the best photographer.
August 24th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I think the box office numbers tell us there’s a market for very well-made films and that in the American market, more people would rather pay to see a film about Christ than other R-rated films. That’s very basic.
Also tells us about star power (Mel Gibson), good marketing capitalizing on controversy, and when that is combined with grassroots efforts to involve the church – you’ve got a huge money-maker.
And by choosing the topic of Christ, you eliminate possible roadblocks from denominational issues of theology, etc.
August 24th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Thanks Angela for your response. From your experience, is the Christian filmmaking community seeking out non-Christians in the technical “realm” to help produce better movies? I completely understand where you want to draw the line in regards to who you want running the ship when making the films. (Are they biblically sound?) Is there a distinct line now with Christian productions? I don’t have a clue, so please inform me.
August 24th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
My friend sent me a link to this survey about new a kind of “interactive Bible movie.” It would be great if they could actually do this on The Passion! I love this movie and what a wonderful idea to focus on the message and not the controversy.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5USYzsupdlngDqVSqbz15A_3d_3d
August 31st, 2009 at 6:39 pm