2023 was another successful year for faith-inspired movies. The following is a list of some of the most popular Christian films of the year.
“Jesus Revolution” kicked off the year as a surprise hit at the box office for an independent film. Surpassing $50 million at the box office, the movie highlights the ministry of Revivalist Lonnie Frisbee, a flawed minister used greatly during the Jesus Movement of the 1970s. “Jesus Revolution” was inspired by the true story of the spiritual awakening that swept Southern California in the late 1960s and early ’70s. In the movie, Pastor Greg Laurie and his wife, Cathe, best known for leading Harvest Christian Fellowship, represent a young, wayward generation. But after meeting Frisbee, a charismatic hippie street preacher, they find themselves at the church of Pastor Chuck Smith.
The new Angel Studios documentary “After Death,” showcased people’s experiences in the moments after dying and being revived back to life. The film had a historic opening weekend, becoming the highest-grossing faith documentary of all time after its weekend debut reached the No. 4 spot at the box office, earning $5,060,815.
The film “The Blind” gave viewers a glimpse into the darkest years in the lives of “Duck Dynasty” stars Phil and Kay Robertson. Raking in $17,265,487 at the box office, “The Blind” took viewers on a raw and powerful journey into the early years of Phil and Kay Robertson’s marriage, highlighting their love story, years of heartache and hardship, and God’s work Phil’s life. Despite a decade of challenging times where the family was at great odds due to Phil’s wild behavior, the patriarch eventually surrendered to Christ. His come-to-Jesus moment changed the course of his family’s life forever.
“Divine Influencer” was the No. 1 film on the Great American Pure Flix streaming service this year upon its release. The Shari Rigby-directed film stars Lara Silva (“The Chosen”), who plays a young influencer who goes from riches to rags in film. “Divine Influencer” follows “an entitled influencer [who] is humbled by losing everything. She begins working at a homeless shelter so that she has a place to live. With God’s help, she discovers her true purpose comes from serving others,” the film’s synopsis reads.
The film “Sound of Freedom” earned over $40 million in one week at the box office. Despite an onslaught of criticism from secular media, the movie has earned over $248 million worldwide. The film surpassed box office expectations and topped numbers of big-budget franchises like “Indiana Jones” and “Mission: Impossible.” “Sound of Freedom,” tells the true story of one man’s journey to combat child sex trafficking. The film delivers a bold message calling for the freedom of millions of children enslaved in human trafficking, declaring that “God’s children are not for sale.”
The documentary “Come Out In Jesus Name” stirred controversy and garnered substantial criticism but drew thousands of Americans to theaters across the nation to watch the work of deliverance ministries.
The film follows the deliverance ministry work of Pastors Greg Locke, Alexander Pagani, Isaiah Saldivar, Mike Signorelli, Vladimir Savchuck and Daniel Adams. “Come Out in Jesus Name” was initially released for two days only and soared to No. 5 at the box office to be among the highest-grossing films on its release day. The film received a 97% Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score and delivered its second-highest per-screen average during its encore.