Not Easily Broken, a faith-based drama based on a 2006 FaithWords novel by pastor T.D. Jakes, debuted at No. 9 at the weekend.

Starring Morris Chestnut and Taraji Henson as a couple with a struggling marriage, the movie drew $5.3 million from around 780 screens at 724 theaters nationwide. The drama-with a largely African-American cast-was marketed in a similar vein as the Tyler Perry movies, and distributor Sony Pictures reported a production budget of just $5 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.

Rated PG-13 for language and adult themes, Not Easily Broken-directed by Bill Duke (Cover, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit)-received mixed reviews. The Kansas City Star said the movie "sinks beneath a great mass of clichés until the audience has no choice but to wearily raise its hands in surrender," while USA Today called the film "well-acted and involving."

Among the producers of the 99-minute movie, Jakes also makes a brief cameo in the film as a real estate investor. Not Easily Broken is his second feature film, following Woman, Thou Art Loosed-which made $6.8 million in theaters in 2004, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.

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