Blaze Media Reports: There have been scattered efforts by Christians to influence this powerful medium. The late evangelist Billy Graham created World Wide Pictures in the 1950s, which went on to make over 100 films. But most of those films struggled to find an audience outside churches.
In the 1980s and 1990s, smaller, independent filmmakers — among them, my former film school professor Edward McDougal — attempted to blaze a trail in an industry that was indifferent and often hostile to Christianity. Alex and Stephen Kendrick's 2008 hit "Fireproof" earned enough at the box office to put faith-based films on Hollywood’s radar.
More recently, Angel Studios has used its unique crowdfunding model to perform a successful end run around the traditional Hollywood system. Likewise, Dallas Jenkins’ "The Chosen" series has become such a phenomenon that it now draws fans to an annual event called “ChosenCon.”
The Erwin brothers break through
Then there are writer-director-producers Andrew and Jon Erwin, often credited on-screen as “the Erwin brothers.” With fellow filmmakers such as Jon Gunn (director of the terrific films "The Case for Christ" and "Ordinary Angels," among others) and Jenkins, they've formed a sort of Christian "fellowship of the Ring" — dedicated to storming the gates of Mordor/Hollywood.
What's remarkable about the Erwin brothers is that their success has earned them a seat at the Hollywood table. It's a seat they seem intent on keeping, as they work within a system that has long neglected the Christian audience.
Riding the momentum of their hit "I Can Only Imagine," the Erwins teamed with producing partners Kevin Downes and Tony Young to launch Kingdom Story Company in 2019. A distribution deal with Lionsgate soon followed.
Kingdom Story Company’s 2023 film "Jesus Revolution" (co-directed by Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle) raised the bar for Christian movies, employing top-notch talent to tell a truly touching story about authentic Christian faith. Kingdom’s latest film, "The Unbreakable Boy" (directed by Jon Gunn and starring Zachary Levi) hits theaters February 21. And Andrew Erwin recently announced that a sequel to "I Can Only Imagine" is in development.
