Alex, left, and Stephen Kendrick, co-founders of Kendrick Brothers, are the producers and writers behind "War Room." "There is a huge contingency of the American population who do not go to movies. They have been burned too many times," says Stephen Kendrick. "Christians love good movies, but too often their faith is ridiculed or mocked. Alex and I are trying to make the kind of movies that we want to go see."Highest-grossing faith-based films
1. The Passion of the Christ: $370,782,9302. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: $291,710,9573. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: $141,621,4904. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: $104,386,9505. Heaven is for Real: $91,443,2536. God’s Not Dead: $60,755,7327. Son of God: $59,700,0648. Soul Surfer: $43,853,4249. War Room: $41,356,482 (so far)10. The Nativity Story: $37,629,831Source: Box Office Mojo
It's the little film that could.
Since its release three weeks ago, the Christian drama "War Room" has grossed more than $41 million, according to Box Office Mojo. And the film only cost $3.5 million to produce, a microbudget by Hollywood standards.
Just as impressive are the big-budget, big-name movies that "War Room" has shot down as it blazed a trail to the top of the box-office charts. The weekend of its Aug. 28 release, "War Room" surprised the entertainment industry by nearly knocking off "Straight Outta Compton," the story of rap group N.W.A., as top box-office draw. "War Room" took in $11 million and "Compton" collected $13.2 million.
"'War Room stuns with $11 million," blazed Variety.com's headline.
Within six days, "War Room" was the nation's top movie, according to Box Office Mojo, taking down movie giant "Compton." It continued its hold on No. 1 over the four-day Labor Day weekend. "War Room" earned $12.6 million to hold the top spot, according to Rentrak, and also beat out Robert Redford's highly touted "A Walk in the Woods."
"Real people are hungry for God. The box office proves it," says Christina Heckler, one of more than 100 people to respond on Facebook when the Times Free Press asked for reviews, pro or con, of "War Room."
Every Facebook response was positive.
"Even as someone who is agnostic, I still learned a lot from it," says Jillian Banks of Cleveland, Tenn. "Forgiving and not giving up on the people you love is important."
Last weekend, "War Room" dropped to third, behind the debuts of "The Perfect Guy" and "The Visit," but still took in $7.7 million. Paul Dergarabedian, Rentrak's senior media analyst, said in a press statement that "War Room" continues to benefit at the box office because it fills "a void in the marketplace for the largely under-served faith-based audience."
"War Room" is the latest release from Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick, the brothers who brought faith-based movies "Fireproof" and "Courageous" to the big screen. But "War Room" has already grossed more in three weeks than either of those films totaled while in the theaters. "Fireproof" made $33 million, "Courageous" topped $35 million.
The movie gets its name from a closet-turned-prayer-room named by elderly widow Clara Williams, played by Karen Abercrombie. When the widow decides to sell her home, she meets stressed-out Realtor Elizabeth Jordan, played by Priscilla Shirer. Jordan and her husband, Tony, are a young couple whose marriage is falling apart; about the only thing they still do together is fight. They have a beautiful daughter whom they ignore more and more as they become caught up in the daily stress of their marriage.
Williams invites the Realtor to come back for coffee the next day where she reveals her War Room during a tour of the house. The former closet's walls have notes with Scripture and prayer requests taped to them, which guide the widow's prayers when she's fighting her own battles.
As the intergenerational friendship developments, Williams encourages Jordan to fight for her marriage and pray for her husband. The young mother creates her own prayer closet and, as expected, her family relationships change for the better.
"It causes you to either get a prayer life or adds fuel to the one you already have," says Chattanoogan Arnesia Edwards.
Mary Hanks-Oxendine of Rossville says the movie inspired her to want to improve her prayer life and she started her own prayer room this week. Chattanoogan Amy Rollins Cochrane says it was "the best movie I have seen in a long time," and Roger N. Miller describes it as "very uplifting."
"It shows real struggles of marriage and made me appreciate my husband so much more loved it!" says Mandi Choate of Cleveland, Tenn.
Even the one respondent who hadn't seen "War Room" was motivated to do so now.
"With all these thumbs up I gotta see it," says Deborah Bostic.
"War Room" is showing at Carmike Majestic 12 on Broad Street, Carmike East Ridge 18 on South Terrace, Carmike Wynnsong 10 on Gunbarrel Road, and Carmike Northgate 14 on Northgate Mall Drive.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.