Moviegoers in need of faith-based content after going through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns will be pleased to know that new, uplifting movies will be coming to theaters this summer and fall. Here’s a list of five movies coming to theaters this summer, fall and up to Christmas.
‘Respect’ ( Aug. 13) The upcoming biopic “Respect” will give viewers insight into the life of famous singer Aretha Franklin. Director Liesl Tommy says the film “begins with the church and ends with the church.” The movie shows how Franklin’s Christian faith, informed by her upbringing in a devout Christian home, remained with her throughout her rocky journey to becoming the queen of soul.
‘Show Me the Father’ (Sept. 10) The upcoming documentary “Show Me the Father” created by the Kendrick Brother will explore in detail the fatherhood of God. “Everyone has a father story, but not everyone has learned how to redeem it for their own good and the good of others,” Stephen Kendrick said of the film. “Even though fatherlessness is directly connected to so much brokenness in today’s world, we wanted to go beyond traditional documentaries and show how God is the perfect Father and can amazingly provide the love and healing to anyone at any stage in life.”
‘Courageous’ ( Oct. 15) Another movie coming from the award-winning brother duo, The Kendricks Brothers, is the release of their blockbuster film “Courageous” with new scenes and a new ending. The brothers said viewers “will get to see what happens to many of the characters 10 years later. It’s a new ending with a few surprises!” “Courageous” was originally released in 2011 and grossed $35.2 million, over 17 times its $2 million budget.
‘American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story’ (December release) The Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate film will feature Oscar-winning actress Anna Paquin opposite actor Zachary Levi. The drama will tell the true story of Kurt Warner, who went from stocking shelves at a supermarket to becoming a Super Bowl-winning MVP. The content made for the big screen was pulled from Warner’s memoir, All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football and the First Miracle Season, as well as first-hand testimonies from Warner.
‘Redeeming Love’ (Coming soon) Another film coming out this year is the adaptation of the bestselling novel Redeeming Love, though the release date has yet to be announced. Produced by Roma Downey (“The Bible”) and Cindy Bond (“I Can Only Imagine”), the filmmakers say they will remain true to the sensitive nature of the story. Redeeming Love, written by Francine Rivers, has remained on multiple fiction bestsellers’ lists for over 15 years, sold over 3 million copies, and has been published in more than 30 languages. The writing is based on the Old Testament book Hosea and, like the novel, the film is set in the backdrop of the California Gold Rush of 1850.