Moviegoers prefer movies with Christian and biblical values, according to an annual study of box office and video sales figures among the major movies.

MovieGuide magazine's 2010 Annual Report to the Entertainment Industry revealed that of the movies released in 2009 by the six major studios and the major independent studios, films with very strong Christian worldviews--such as The Blind Side and Disney's A Christmas Carol--averaged $75.7 million per movie at the box office in 2009. But movies with very strong non-Christian worldviews--such as Brüno--averaged only $26.9 million.

"Movies with very strong Christian worldviews average the most money by far, followed closely by movies with very strong moral worldviews coming from a traditional biblical perspective," MovieGuide Publisher Ted Baehr said. "Filmmakers need to make movies that overtly reflect the faith and values of America's 234 million Christians. Hollywood can no longer afford to ignore Jesus Christ."

The study found movies with very strong moral worldviews reflecting traditional biblical values averaged $66.5 million per movie. Movies with a very strong Christian worldview did even better against movies with very strong secular humanist or atheist worldviews, such as Land of the Lost and Antichrist.

In addition, 14 of the top 20 DVDs of 2009 had strong or very strong Christian and moral worldviews, including Up, Monsters vs. Aliens, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Marley & Me, High School Musical 3, Gran Torino and Hannah Montana: The Movie.

Baehr presented highlights of the report during the 18th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala, held Feb. 23 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The surprise hit drama The Blind Side and Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story were the big winners of the John Templeton Foundation Epiphany Prizes for Inspiring Movies and TV, announced during the event.

Oscar-nominated The Blind Side--starring Sandra Bullock and based on the true story of an unabashedly white, Christian family's adoption of a homeless African-American teen who becomes a football star--received the $100,000 Epiphany Prize for Film. TNT's Gifted Hands broadcast garnered the $100,000 Epiphany Prize for Television.

Click here for more information on MovieGuide magazine's 2010 Annual Report to the Entertainment Industry.

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