'Courageous' Still Going Strong; Books on Bestseller Lists
Even after three weeks since its release, the faith-based film “Courageous” is still running strong in theaters, finishing 11th at the box office this past weekend.
Beating out movies like “The Lion King 3D” and “Contagion,” the movie has to date grossed $24,981,166 in total, according to Box Office Mojo though it only had a $2 million budget. It was in the top 10 at the box office for the first three weeks.
Many big names from the sports world tweeted about the film this weekend as well, including NFL running back Jonathan Stewart, Orlando Magic All-star player Dwight Howard, and NCAA coach Scott Drew.
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Howard, an outspoken Christian, shared, “Saw courageous. It’s pretty good. I would really suggest this movie. Didn’t get alotta hype but a great message.”
Carolina Panthers player Stewart also wrote, “Just got done watching the movie courageous I encourage ever (sic) man father son to go see it it’s an awesome movie.”
“A really good movie for all fathers to watch is Courageous! Highly recommend it,” Baylor University coach Drew added.
Stephen Kendrick, co-writer and producer for “Courageous” alongside brother Alex Kendrick, encouraged audiences to continue spreading the word about the film.
He recently wrote on Facebook, “Hey, while the movie is still in theaters, please help us to keep getting the word out. Proverbs says we should work hard during harvest time and not slack off...and it is harvest time right now. Millions of people are hearing the Gospel and seeing it lived out in 1200+ theaters across the US. Thanks for helping us redeem the opportunity.”
The action-packed Christian drama, which follows the lives of four police officers struggling to reconcile their faith and their fathering, was the fourth film to be produced by the Kendrick brothers and Sherwood Baptist Church. Their previous films include “Fireproof” and “Facing the Giants.”
Hoping to raise up godly men and fathers, the makers wrote the film, challenging parents across the world to step up to their roles.
The message has resonated with many, including author Kristen Welch of Don’t Make Me Come Up There!
She recently blogged about her family’s experience of watching the film.
“I took my oldest daughter to see Courageous, the new movie about Biblical fatherhood. I cried the ugly in the middle of the sold-out theater. My daughter and I shared popcorn, a coke, and much more. We held hands.”
The next day, her husband took their 9-year-old son on the same date.
“On the drive home, my hubby asked his only son to give him a parenting grade [after watching the film],” Welch wrote. He received a B-.
“And then they talked. Really talked. I think it’s too beautiful to share, too private to disclose, but when they returned, we sat down as a family and talked about the one thing my son pointed out – the one thing we could really work on. It was something he felt like all five of us struggle with. He was absolutely right.”
“I was proud of his courage to tell us. Even more proud of my husband to ask. We sat around the sofa and joined hands and we each asked God out loud to help make us more like Him.”
The film continued to spark stories of change like Welch’s, inspiring hundreds and thousands of others to raise godly families.
In order to help families “take the next step” after watching the film, “Courageous Resources” were created.
Books like The Resolution for Men, Courageous Living and study materials like Honor Begins at Home have been made available for accountability.
The “Courageous” team just announced on Facebook on Monday that The Resolution for Men, The Resolution for Women, and Courageous the novel all joined the Kendrick brothers’ The Love Dare on the New York Times Bestsellers list.
“For two years we’ve been praying and getting ready for this movie and now that it’s in theaters please tell your Facebook friends,” the Kendrick brothers shared on YouTube. “Let’s make the most of the movie and let’s change the world."
