Alex Kendrick, Kevin Downes, Courageous
Newcomers Courageous, 50/50, Dream House, and What’s Your Number failed to make it to the top three spots at the North American box office on Friday, Sept. 30. Also of note, movie stars — e.g., Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Chris Evans — took the backseat to a Christian Message.
Directed by Capote’s Bennett Miller and starring Brad Pitt, the baseball drama Moneyball topped the US/Canada chart, according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. Moneyball, which has for the most part trailed behind The Lion King 3D this past week, grossed $3.85 million (-43% from last Friday). Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, and Chris Pratt co-star.
Kiddie flicks — both with the advantage of 3D surcharges — came next: at no. 2, Dolphin Tale earned $3.46m (-32%), while at nearly 1,200 fewer theaters The Lion King 3D collected $3.3m. Directed by Charles Martin Smith, Dolphin Tale features Harry Connick Jr, Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Austin Stowell, and Morgan Freeman. The Lion King features songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, and the voices of Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, and others.
It remains to be seen whether Moneyball will also top the weekend, or, more likely, if the box-office crown will go to either Dolphin Tale or — for the third consecutive weekend — The Lion King 3D.
Distributed by Columbia/Tri-Star, the Christian drama Courageous was no. 4, with $3.1m at 1,161 locations. If estimates are correct, the film’s average was a solid $2,670 per theater — an especially impressive figure considering Courageous‘ lack of box-office names and mixed critical reception: a mediocre 45% approval rating among Rotten Tomatoes‘ critics.
Directed by Alex Kendrick (Fireproof, Facing the Giants), who also co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Stephen Kendrick, Courageous tells the story of four cops who struggle with their religious beliefs following a tragic event. The cast includes director Kendrick, Ben Davies, and Kevin Downes.
Courageous picture: Tri-Star / Sony Pictures.
People are sick of slutty blondes, Daniel Craig in non-James Bond roles, and dark comedies. Religious movies rule