God's Not Dead | |
---|---|
Based on | God's Not Dead by Rice Broocks |
Distributed by | Pure Flix Entertainment Freestyle Releasing (1) Fathom Events (2) |
Release date | 2014–present |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | <$13,150,000 (Total of 4 films) |
Box office | $97,748,762 (Total of 4 films) |
The God's Not Dead film series consists of American Christian-drama films, based on the book of same name authored by Rice Broocks. The overall plot centers on a Christian pastor named Rev. David "Dave" Hill, who argues for the reality of God through a number of occurrences, in a modern-day society. The main characters of the series are often forced to present proof of their beliefs.
The films have been met overall with positive reception, [1] [2] [3] [4] and mostly popular with Christian and religious audiences, [5] and were successful at the box office. [6] [7] [8] [9]
The 2013 Evangelical Christian book by Rice Broocks titled God's Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty, serves as the inspiration for the God's Not Dead films. Released by Thomas Nelson Publishing, the book is presented by the author in a self-help manner, and argues for belief in Jesus and the Holy Bible. The book encourages Christians to remain firm in their beliefs, and not be afraid to talk about it with others in society. The place of the Bible features in the plot of the film series. [10]
Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
God's Not Dead | March 21, 2014 | Harold Cronk | Chuck Konzelman & Cary Solomon | Michael Scott, David A.R. White, Russell Wolfe and Anna Zielinski | [11] | |
God's Not Dead 2 | April 1, 2016 | Michael Scott, David A.R. White, Russell Wolfe, Elizabeth Travis and Brittany Lefebvre | [12] | |||
God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness | March 30, 2018 | Michael Mason | Michael Scott, David A.R. White, Elizabeth Travis, Brittany Yost and Alysoun Wolfe | [13] | ||
God's Not Dead: We the People | October 4, 2021 | Vance Null | Tommy Blaze | Cary Solomon | Brent Ryan Green and Anna Zielinski | |
God's Not Dead: In God We Trust | September 12, 2024 | Tommy Blaze | David A. R. White | |||
A college student named Josh Wheaton who seeks to attain higher learning in pursuing further education, finds that his Christian faith brings him to a confrontation with his philosophy professor. The teacher named Professor Radisson, begins the class by having each student sign a document that denies the existence of God. When Josh refuses to renounce his beliefs, the professor decides that a debate between the two of them will determine his final grade. Should the entire class be convinced by Josh's statements, he can pass the course. If the class is not moved, his academic future may be at an end.
As Josh tries to prepare for this classroom event, various other individuals struggle with their personal stumbling blocks that seem to pull them away from their faith in Jesus Christ. With the assistance of the leader of his church, Reverend David "Dave" Hill, Josh prepares for the assignment. Along the way he believes there is a higher purpose to the conversation with his college professor, than merely to pass the class. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
There were three 20-minute debates in which Josh sought to bring historical and scientific content to prove the existence of God, while the professor tried to prove the non-existence of God. The students became aware of facts they were not familiar with, and some had never heard of before. At the end of the debates, Josh and the professor were surprised by the reaction of the students. All the students stood up and affirmed that God is not dead. [19]
A young high schooler named Brooke Thawley is coming to terms with the passing of her brother. Though her parents have raised the family in an atheist setting, she continues to have questions about the existence of an afterlife. She becomes impressed by the positive disposition of her history teacher named Grace Wesley, who always has joy regardless of the day. In a one-on-one conversation after class with her teacher, Ms. Wesley shares with her that a belief in a Savior, gives her purpose. When the Salvation Army comes to the house after her parents decide to donate his belongings, Brooke is surprised to discover that he had been studying The Holy Bible . As she longs for her brother's presence, she too begins to read from its pages. One day in her history class, the lesson centers around the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and their respective sacrifices for their beliefs. Brooke raises her hand and asks about the parallels between these historical figures, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. As Grace knows what Brooke has been going through in her personal life, she acknowledges the similarities and quotes some lines of scripture to emphasize the girl's realizations. Another student in the class records the interaction using their cell phone, and tells someone else that the teacher has been preaching in the classroom. By word of mouth, the incident gets relayed to the principal of the school. Grace is called into the office and given disciplinary action, and is placed on administrative leave, while the school investigates the situation. At her next meeting, she is given a plea deal by the School Board, where she will retain her job by apologizing for sharing these scriptures in class. Grace sees this as denouncing her beliefs, and argues that she did nothing wrong by acknowledging her student's question. The Board options to send the occurrence to court, where she will have to legally fight to retain her job.
As Grace prepares for the trial by hiring a lawyer through a teachers union, the prosecutor tries to subpoena the sermons of all local preachers. Additionally, the prosecuting team approaches Brooke's parents with the option that if they stand as a witness against her teacher, appearing as examples that "there is no all-knowing deity", they will ensure the girl gets funding for her college education. When the trial begins, Grace defends her freedom of speech, and the defensive attorneys argue that the discussion that took place in class was an example of a historical analysis of Jesus, as opposed to purely evangelical. Reverend David Hill is approached with a request to release his sermons to the prosecuting team, to which he denies their request, resulting in his eventual arrest by state authorities. When Brooke decides to take a stand as a witness in favor of the intentions of her teacher, the young high schooler finds her new-found faith means something more as she must defend her beliefs in a court of law. [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [18]
After some time, Reverend David Hill is released from incarceration following his denial to legal authorities in releasing his evangelical materials. Controversy surrounding his arrest ignites discussions on at the campus, to close the St. James Church and convert the building to a secular school extension. As the school board votes in favor to shut down the church, Rev. Dave and Rev. Jude Mbaye attempt to convince them otherwise. When this proves to be unfruitful, they option to sue the college. A student named Adam who is angered by his recent breakup with his girlfriend throws a brick into the church window, unintentionally starting a fire which almost destroys the building and kills Jude who was inside at the time.
David seeks the help of his estranged brother Pearce, a successful atheist lawyer. His brother does not believe that the case is something worth fighting for, and tries to convince Rev. Dave of the unprobeable outcome. Overcome with guilt, Adam confesses to the fire through a text message. The young man is arrested, and scheduled to be tried for felony charges. As David seeks divine guidance, he must decide whether to let the charges go or if the mistakes of the college student should end in his imprisonment; all while receiving spiritual promptings that St. James Church may not be the answer to his ecclesiastical responsibilities. [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [18]
A group of families choose to begin home-schooling their children, following a sermon by their local pastor. After an unexpected visit from a social services worker, the parents find themselves at odds with the law, when the representative decides that what is being taught in the home is not sufficient. Citing state core standards, a local judge gives the group a week to develop a court case that they will present before a court of law in Washington D.C. where they must show that their at home studies are adequate to meet the requirements; otherwise the children will need to return to public schooling. As the parents develop their case, various other leaders of churches become involved including Reverend David Hill.
Taken aback by what he believes to be government interference over their personal freedoms, Rev. Hill finds that he is determined to help these families prove that they are free to teach their children as they would like, and to enlighten Congress that in a modern-day United States, God is still present and relevant. [31] [32] [33] [34] [18]
In September 2022, it was announced that a fifth installment in the film series was in development and officially titled, God's Not Dead: Rise Up. However, the film has since been retitled to God's Not Dead: In God We Trust. Directed by Vance Null, this will follow Reverend David "Dave" Hill as he runs for office in a campaign against an opponent named Peter Kane that seeks to remove religion from public policy; and the Reverend begins to question: "Is God dead in American politics?". [35]
David A.R. White will reprise his starring role in addition to serving as producer, while Dean Cain, Isaiah Washington, Ray Wise, Cory Oliver, Brad Heller, and the Newsboys will return in their respective roles. Production is scheduled to commence in the last months during 2022, in South Carolina. The project will be produced by Pinnacle Peak Pictures and will be distributed by Pure Flix. The film was scheduled to be released in 2023. [36] [18] After filming was delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, additional photography took place in November 2023, [37] as well as April of 2024. [38] The film was released on September 12, 2024. [37]
Character | Films | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
God's Not Dead | God's Not Dead 2: He's Surely Alive | God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness | God's Not Dead: We the People | God's Not Dead: In God We Trust | |
Rev. David "Dave" Hill | David A. R. White | ||||
Jeffrey Radisson | Kevin Sorbo | ||||
Josh Wheaton | Shane Harper | Shane Harper | |||
Mina Shelley | Cory Oliver | Cory Oliver | |||
Mark Shelley | Dean Cain | Dean Cain | |||
Grace Wesley | Melissa Joan Hart | ||||
Walter Wesley | Pat Boone | ||||
Tom Endler | Jesse Metcalfe | ||||
Brooke Thawley | Hayley Orrantia | ||||
Marlene | Sadie Robertson | ||||
Pete Kane | Ray Wise | Ray Wise | |||
Pearce Hill | John Corbett | ||||
Adam Richertson | Mike Manning | ||||
Keaton Young | Samantha Boscarino | ||||
Teo | Aaron "Shwayze" Smith | ||||
Sydney | Jennifer Cipolla | ||||
Cissy Houston | Herself | ||||
Mike McKinnon | Antonio Sabàto Jr. | ||||
Rebecca McKinnon | Francesca Battistelli | ||||
Brandon McKinnon | Matt Anspach | ||||
Kayla Neely | Dani Oliveros | ||||
Ayisha Moradi | Hadeel Sittu | Hadeel Sittu | |||
Misrab Moradi | Marco Khan | Marco Khan | |||
Rep. Daryl Smith | Isaiah Washington | ||||
Martin Yip | Paul Kwo | Paul Kwo | |||
Amy Ryan | Trisha Fache | ||||
Judge Elizabeth Neely | Jeanine Pirro | ||||
Rev. Jude Mbaye | Benjamin Onyango | ||||
Newsboys | Michael Tait, Jody Davis, Jeff Frankenstein, & Duncan Phillips | Michael Tait, Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Jody Davis, Jeff Frankenstein, & Duncan Phillips | |||
School attorney | Brad Heller | Brad Heller |
Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Composer | Cinematographer | Editor | Production companies | Distributing companies | Running time | Ref. | |
God's Not Dead | Will Musser | Brian Shanley | Vance Null | Check the Gate Productions, Pure Flix Studios, Red Entertainment Group | Freestyle Releasing, Pure Flix Entertainment | 1 hr 52 mins | [11] |
God's Not Dead 2 | Pure Flix Studios | Pure Flix Entertainment | 2 hrs | ||||
God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness | Pancho Burgos-Goizueta | Joseph Sandoval | 1 hr 56 mins | ||||
God's Not Dead: We the People | Vance Null | Pinnacle Peak Pictures | Fathom Events | 1 hr 31 mins | |||
God's Not Dead: In God We Trust | David Codeglia | 1 hr 36 mins |
Film | Box office gross | Box office ranking | Video sales gross | Worldwide total gross income | Budget | Worldwide total net income | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North America | Other territories | Worldwide | All time North America | All time worldwide | North America | |||||
God's Not Dead | $60,755,732 | $3,920,617 | $64,676,349 | #1,436 | #7,251 | $32,353,305 | $97,029,654 | $1,150,000 | $95,879,654 | [6] [39] |
God's Not Dead 2 | $20,774,575 | $3,713,273 | $24,487,848 | #3,654 | #7,465 | $8,156,453 | $32,644,301 | $5,000,000 | $27,644,301 | [7] [40] |
God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness | $5,728,940 | $1,685,238 | $7,414,178 | #6,205 | #8,774 | $2,698,068 | $10,112,246 | <$5,000,000 | >$5,112,246 | [8] [41] [42] |
God's Not Dead: We the People | $1,170,387 | — | $1,170,387 | #8,441 | #14,076 | $1,018,853 | $2,189,240 | $2,000,000 | $189,240 | [8] [41] [9] |
Totals | $88,429,634 | $9,319,128 | $97,748,762 | x̄ #4,934 | x̄ #9,392 | $44,226,679 | $141,975,441 | <$13,150,000 | >$128,825,441 |
Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
---|---|---|---|
God's Not Dead | 12% (26 reviews) [1] | 16/100 (6 reviews) [43] | — |
God's Not Dead 2 | 10% (40 reviews) [2] | 22/100 (8 reviews) [44] | A [45] |
God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness | 10% (20 reviews) [3] | 33/100 (9 reviews) [46] | A− [45] |
God's Not Dead: We the People | — (2 reviews) [4] | — | — |
Kevin David Sorbo is an American actor. He has had starring roles in two television series: as Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995–1999) and as Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda (2000–2005). In between his years playing Hercules, Sorbo played his first leading film role in the 1997 fantasy film Kull the Conqueror.
Clueless is a 1995 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written and directed by Amy Heckerling. It stars Alicia Silverstone with supporting roles by Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd. It was produced by Scott Rudin and Robert Lawrence.
Cassie René Bernall was an American student who was killed in the Columbine High School massacre, where 11 more students and a teacher were killed by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who then committed suicide. It was reported that Bernall had been asked whether or not she believed in God, and she said "Yes", before being shot during the massacre. However, investigators concluded the person who was asked about her belief in God was Valeen Schnurr, who survived the shooting.
Rebecca Jean Fink, known professionally as Rebecca Jean or Rebecca St. James, is an Australian American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and actress. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. She was signed to ForeFront Records in 1993, releasing her major label debut the following year.
Brooke Gabrielle Ligertwood, professionally known as Brooke Fraser, is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. After signing with Sony BMG in 2002, she gained recognition for her debut album, What to Do with Daylight (2003) and followed with Albertine (2006) and Flags (2010). All three debuted at number one on the RMNZ chart and gained her the number one single "Something in the Water". She later released Brutal Romantic (2014), various compilation albums, the live album Seven (2022) and Eight (2023). The latter two were released by Capitol CMG under her married name, Brooke Ligertwood.
David Andrew Roy White is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer and businessman. He is a co-founder of Pinnacle Peak Pictures, a distribution and production company specializing in Christian faith- and family-themed films. He is best known for his role as Reverend Dave in the God's Not Dead film series.
Pretty Persuasion is a 2005 American black comedy film directed by Marcos Siega, written by Skander Halim, and starring Evan Rachel Wood, James Woods, Ron Livingston, Elisabeth Harnois, and Jane Krakowski. Its plot follows a manipulative, sociopathic 15-year-old student at an elite Beverly Hills academy who accuses her drama teacher of sexual harassment.
The Christian film industry is an aspect of Christian media for films containing a Christian-themed message or moral. They are often interdenominational films, but can also be films targeting a specific denomination of Christianity.
God Help Me is a 2006 American Christian direct-to-video romantic comedy film written and produced by Dan Olds. It was directed by Reece Tedford, and stars Tom Miner, George Moss, Jim Anderson, Candace Orrino and Shelley Findley. The film was produced by Dust Storm Productions, and distributed on July 13, 2006 by CustomFlix.
Hell High is a 1989 American slasher film written, produced, and directed by Douglas Grossman. The film centers on a school teacher who suffers a mental breakdown after being harassed and attacked by a group of her students, driving her into a homicidal rage.
God's Not Dead is a 2014 American Christian drama film directed by Harold Cronk and starring Kevin Sorbo, Shane Harper, David A. R. White, and Dean Cain. Written by Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman from a story they co-wrote with Hunter Dennis, and inspired by Rice Broocks' book God's Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty, the film follows a Christian college student (Harper) whose faith is challenged by an atheist philosophy professor (Sorbo), who declares God a pre-scientific fiction. The film was produced by Pure Flix Entertainment in association with Check the Gate Productions, Red Entertainment Group, and Faith Family Films, and released theatrically on March 21, 2014, by Freestyle Releasing.
Do You Believe? is a 2015 American Christian drama film directed by Jon Gunn and stars an ensemble cast featuring Ted McGinley, Mira Sorvino, Andrea Logan White, Lee Majors, Alexa PenaVega, Sean Astin, Madison Pettis, Cybill Shepherd, and Brian Bosworth. The film is distributed by Pure Flix, who released it on March 20, 2015.
God's Not Dead 2 is a 2016 American Christian drama film, directed by Harold Cronk, and starring Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe, David A. R. White, Hayley Orrantia and Sadie Robertson. It is a sequel to God's Not Dead (2014), and the second installment in the titular film series. Aside from David A.R. White reprising his role as Reverend David Hill, Paul Kwo, Benjamin Onyango, and Tricha LaFache also reprise their roles as Martin Yip, Reverend Jude, and Amy Ryan respectively. It follows a high school teacher facing a court case that could end her career, after having answered a student's seemingly innocuous question about Jesus. The film presents an evangelical perspective on the separation of church and state.
I'm Not Ashamed is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Brian Baugh and based on the journals of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Columbine, Colorado. Scott, played by Masey McLain, serves as the protagonist of the film; the story of both gunmen, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, is intertwined with hers and this indicates the two were the antagonists. The film was distributed by Pure Flix Entertainment. It received generally negative reviews from critics and audiences. It performed poorly at the box office as well, with revenue of $2.1 million compared to the $1.5 million budget of the film.
Let There Be Light is the 25th live album of Hillsong Worship, which consists of several worship pastors from Australian church Hillsong Church. The album was recorded during the 2016 Hillsong Conference at the Qudos Bank Arena from 4 July until 7 July 2016 and was released on 14 October 2016, under Hillsong Music, Sparrow Records and Capitol Christian Music Group.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a 2018 coming-of-age drama film directed by Desiree Akhavan and written by Akhavan and Cecilia Frugiuele, based on the 2012 novel by Emily M. Danforth. It stars Chloë Grace Moretz, John Gallagher Jr., Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, Marin Ireland, Owen Campbell, Kerry Butler, Quinn Shephard, Emily Skeggs, Melanie Ehrlich, and Jennifer Ehle. Moretz plays a teenager sent to a gay conversion therapy centre. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2018. It was released in the United States on August 3, 2018, by FilmRise, and United Kingdom on September 7, 2018, by Vertigo Releasing. It received positive reviews and has grossed $2 million globally.
Pinnacle Peak Pictures is an American independent evangelical Christian film production and distribution studio founded by David A. R. White and Russell Wolfe. Pinnacle Peak produces Christian films, including God's Not Dead (2014), Do You Believe? (2015), Woodlawn (2015), The Case for Christ (2017), and Unplanned (2019). Since 2014, films produced and distributed by Pure Flix have collectively grossed over $195 million at the worldwide box office. The company has headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona.
God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness is a 2018 American Christian drama film written and directed by Michael Mason. It is a sequel to God's Not Dead 2: He's Surely Alive, and the third installment overall in the God's Not Dead film series. It stars David A. R. White, John Corbett, Shane Harper, Benjamin Onyango, Ted McGinley, Jennifer Taylor, Tatum O'Neal, Shwayze and Cissy Houston.
God's Not Dead: We the People is a 2021 American Christian drama film directed by Vance Null, with a script written by Tommy Blaze, from an original story co-authored by Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman. The sequel to God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness and the fourth installment in the God's Not Dead series, the plot centers around Rev. David "Dave" Hill's role in defending religious homeschooling before Congress. The film stars David A. R. White, Antonio Sabato Jr., Francesca Battistelli, Judge Jeanne Pirro, Isaiah Washington, and William Forsythe.
Seven is the first live album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Brooke Ligertwood and her seventh solo album overall. It was released on 25 February 2022, via Sparrow Records and Capitol Christian Music Group. The album features a guest appearance by Brandon Lake. The album was recorded on 11 November 2021, at The Belonging Co in Nashville, Tennessee. Ligertwood collaborated with Jason Ingram in handling the production of the album.