God’s Not Dead (Pure Flix Entertainment) opened to estimated sales of nearly $8.6 million across 780 theaters this weekend. This is the top-grossing performance ever by a faith-based film opening in less than 1,000 theaters.

This is the seventh-largest opening weekend of all time for a faith-based film, behind only The Passion of The Christ, the three “Chronicles of Narnia” films, Son of God and Courageous, according to Box Office Mojo. Only Passion, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian outgrossed God’s Not Dead on a per-screen basis, and the Pure Flix film joins them as the only four faith-based movies to gross more than $10,000 per theater with an opening weekend of more than 32 screens.

Anticipating increased returns as God’s Not Dead expands to more theaters next weekend, Box Office Mojo predicts that the film could top $30 million.

In God’s Not Dead, a college freshman finds his faith challenged by a philosophy professor who requires his students disavow the existence of God or face a failing grade, resulting in Josh having to choose between his faith or his future. The film’s title was inspired by the Newsboys song of the same name, and the movie features cameos by the band and by Duck Dynasty’s Willie and Korie Robertson.

DVD release information has not yet been announced.

The box-office success of God’s Not Dead follows on the heels of Son of God’s $25.6 million opening weekend across 3,260 theaters. With more faith-based films in the pipeline for Hollywood’s self-described “Year of the Bible movie,” including the April 16 release of Heaven Is for Real, 2014 is proving to be a banner year for Christian cinema.

• Prev
• Next