The faith-based film “War Room” surprised Hollywood observers by coming in second place in the box office race behind the smash hit “Straight Outta Compton” which grossed $13.2 million this past weekend. And in the number three slot, Tom Cruise’s action-packed film “Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation” came in at $8.3 million.
The Sony TriStar release “War Room” opened with a solid $11 million. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it’s impressive, considering “War Room” only rolled out in 1,135 theaters.
“War Room’s” debut, which was expected to open in the $5 million range, is the highest-earning faith-based debut since 2014’s “Heaven Is for Real,” which scored $22.5 million from 2,417 theaters.
“We knew that we were going to get a lot of love, we just didn’t expect quite this much love,” said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. “This is a genre that we’re very much committed to.”
Brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick are the directing and producing team behind “War Room.” The prayer-themed “Courageous” (2011), “Fireproof” (2008) and “Facing the Giants” (2006). Their first movie, “Flywheel,” was released on DVD in 2003. All of their projects have gone out through Sony’s faith-based TriStar/Affirm label. “Courageous” is the brothers’ highest-earning film with a lifetime gross of $34.5 million. “War Room” was made for $3.5 million and is the first of their films to feature African Americans in the leading roles.
The Kendrick Brothers told The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview, “When we started writing out the plot, it occurred to us that this movie would be more powerful or passionate as told from an African American perspective,” Alex Kendrick told THR; he directed and co-wrote each of the films. “The African American church is more visceral; they are more expressive and there is a powerful passion to their prayers.”
Alex said that he and his brother received an extensive amount of counsel in creating the project that “was prayed over probably more than anything we’ve ever done.”
“We wanted to be very respectful and honorable in the telling of the story,” he continued. “Throughout the entire production, even the edit, we would check with those in the African American community to give us feedback, and we wanted to make sure that the story about prayer was adequately told, but. . . was done so in the way that would not dishonor anybody.”
“War Room” dramatizes how the power of prayer, surrender and forgiveness can work in our lives to change situations for the better.
The film focuses on a Black couple whose marriage is in trouble which in turn negatively impacts their young daughter’s life. Elizabeth Jordan (Priscilla Shirer) is a real estate agent and husband, Tony (T.C. Stallings, “Courageous”) is a frequently traveling pharmaceutical company rep. They attend church and publicly appear to be a happy family, but it’s all a façade.
As strained marriages go, the children often suffer more than the parents. Their young daughter Danielle (Alena Pitts) is an afterthought with her parents, and is often left to figure things out on her own. Consequently, she is not a happy child.
There’s many a Christian who will confess “the Lord works in mysterious ways,” and in this case, God sent the “right” person into Elizabeth’s life to help in her hour of need. Miss Clara (Karen Abercrombie), is a new client seeking help selling her family home. It’s Miss Clara who introduces Elizabeth to the “War Room,” shares her testimony, and how she learned to walk in faith.
“War Room” will teach you how to pray. And you learn that prayer must be accompanied by “right” action and thinking. The movie is a powerful film that gives viewers unexpected entertainment. I highly recommend this film.
“War Room” is in theaters now. Gail can be reached at gail@hollywoodbychoice.com.
