NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – It’s the Hollywood ending every studio wants: Low-cost production and high returns at the box office.
Filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick seem to have the formula down – grossing nearly $80 million on four films made for less than $4 million combined. Only thing is the Kendrick brothers work far from Hollywood and, outside the world of Christian-themed cinema, many have never heard of their films.
That could change.
Increasingly, major studios appear to be taking a leap for faith-based audiences with biblical epics such as “Noah” starring Russell Crowe, the planned December release of “Exodus” and a remake of “Ben-Hur” for early 2016.
At one point in April, there were four faith-based movies in the Top 20 at the box office, including “Heaven Is for Real,” about a 4-year-old boy’s account of his trip to heaven. It has grossed more than $99 million on a production budget of $12 million by Sony Pictures.