Left Behind (2014)

2014-10-21T03:21:03Z

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2014-04-17T15:24:01Z

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{{about|the film|the [[Newsboys]] album|God's Not Dead (album)}}
{{Infobox film
| name = God's Not Dead
| image = God's Not Dead.jpg
| caption = Theatrical released poster
| director = [[Harold Cronk]]
| producer = Michael Scott Russell Wolfe Anna Zielinski
| writer = Cary Solomon Chuck Konzelman
| based on = {{Based on|''God's Not Dead''|Rice Broocks}}
| starring = [[Kevin Sorbo]] [[Shane Harper]] [[David A.R. White]] [[Dean Cain]] [[Newsboys]] [[Willie Robertson]] [[Korie Robertson]]
| music = Will Musser
| cinematography = Brian Shanley
| editing = Vance Null
| studio = [[Pure Flix Entertainment]] Red Entertainment Group
| distributor = Pure Flix Entertainment
| released = {{Film date|2014|03|21}}
| runtime = 113 minutes <ref>{{cite web|title=''GOD'S NOT DEAD'' (PG)|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/gods-not-dead-film|work=Kingdom Cinemas|publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=April 7, 2014|accessdate=April 8, 2014}}</ref>
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $2 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/kermit-gosnell-tv-movie-kevin-sorbo/ |title=‘God’s Not Dead’s Kevin Sorbo Takes Hollywood & Media To Task As He Backs Crowdfunding Campaign For Telefilm On Convicted Abortion Doctor Kermit Gosnell | publisher=[[deadline.com]] | work=[Deadline] | accessdate=April 5, 2014}}</ref>
| gross = $41,459,838<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=godsnotdead.htm|title=God's Not Dead|work=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=April 16, 2014}}</ref>
}}
'''''God's Not Dead''''' is a 2014 [[Christian film industry|Christian drama film]] directed by [[Harold Cronk]], and stars [[Kevin Sorbo]], [[Shane Harper]], [[David A.R. White]] and [[Dean Cain]]. The film was released to theaters on March 21, 2014, by [[Pure Flix Entertainment]].<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/gods-not-dead-film-review-690393 The Hollywood Reporter]</ref>

==Plot==
Josh Wheaton ([[Shane Harper]]), a devout [[Christian]] and freshman college student, enrolls in a [[philosophy]] class taught by a dogmatic and argumentative [[atheism|atheist]]. Professor Radisson ([[Kevin Sorbo]]) demands that all of his students must sign a declaration that "God is dead" in order to get a passing grade. Faced with a choice between passing the class and betraying his beliefs, Josh refuses. As Josh is the only student in the class to do so, the professor strikes a bargain: Josh must defend his position that "God's not dead" in a series of debates with him, with the class members ultimately deciding who wins. If Josh loses, he flunks. When Josh accepts the challenge, he gets more than he bargained for — jeopardizing his faith, his academic future, and even his relationships.<ref>[http://godsnotdeadthemovie.com/synopsis Godisnotdeadthemovie.com]</ref>

There are several struggles and personal beliefs going on as well in the film. Ayisha (Hadeel Sittu) must hide her Christianity from her devout Muslim family and father. Mina (Cory Oliver) must deal with her mother who is suffering from dementia, her rich executive brother Mark ([[Dean Cain]]) who refuses to see their mother, and her personal relationship with Radisson (which proves a struggle as Mina is a devout Christian and Radisson is an atheist, and Mina is frequently belittled in front of Radisson's colleagues). Amy (Trisha LaFache), a businesswoman and animal right's activist, is diagnosed with cancer and Mark (her boyfriend, Mina's brother) breaks up with her, seeming to care more about his business life than he did about Amy. Martin (Paul Kwo) is a foreign exchange student from China, whose struggles are similar to Josh's: his father does not want him screwing up his brother's scholarship (as Josh's girlfriend, Kara, did not want him standing up to Radisson as it might affect her scholarship).

Radisson has Josh spend 20 minutes at the end of every lecture to give his arguments on why God exists, but Radisson constantly has a counter argument against all of Josh's debates. Ultimately, it comes down to a debate between both Radisson and Josh, who both make compelling points from both sides. Josh questions Radisson, asking why he hates God. After Radisson gives his response, confirming he hates God for his mother's death that left him alone despite his prayers, Josh asks Radisson how he can hate someone that doesn't exist. In the end, every member of Josh's class, including Martin, stand up and say "God's Not Dead", causing Radisson to leave the room in defeat.

After the last lecture, Martin excitedly tells Josh that his lectures have changed his heart and he has become a Christian. Josh invites him to come to the Newsboys concert with him because he had an extra ticket (due to Kara breaking up with him). Radisson ultimately has a change of heart upon reading a letter from his late mother, and leaves to find his ex-girlfriend Mina, who is shown to be attending the same Newsboys concert. He is struck by a car while crossing the street and his ribs are crushed, leaving him slowly dying of internal hemorrhaging. Pastor Dave ([[David A.R. White]]) finds him, and helps save Radisson, who becomes a born-again Christian moments before his death. Mark is shown taunting his mother, stating that he as a non-believer has a great life while she, a faithful person, is riddled with a disease. A suddenly lucid Mom makes a point about how the devil helps some evil people to succeed so that they won't turn to God, but that the person's life is like that of a prisoner whose barred door will ultimately slam at life's end. The cancer-ridden Amy is shown confronting the Newsboys in their dressing room moments before their show, presumably to ambush their faith, but ultimately revealing that she wants to know God. In the closing moments, the Newsboys show a video of Willie Robertson congratulating the "young man" who took up the argument against his professor that God was alive. The Newsboys close the movie with their song "God's Not Dead", dedicating it unknown to themselves, to Josh, saying they support and commend him for taking up the gauntlet against Radisson.

==Cast==
* [[Shane Harper]] as Josh Wheaton
* [[Kevin Sorbo]] as Professor Jeffery Radisson
* [[David A.R. White]] as Pastor Dave
* Trisha LaFache as Amy Ryan
* Hadeel Sittu as Ayisha
* [[Marco Khan]] as Misrab
* Cory Oliver as Mina
* [[Dean Cain]] as Mark
* Jim Gleason as Ward Wheaton
* Benjamin Ochieng as Reverend Jude
* Cassidy Gifford as Kara
* Paul Kwo as Martin Yip

The film also includes [[Cameo appearance|cameos]] by Christian pop rock band [[Newsboys]] and by [[Willie Robertson|Willie and Korie Robertson]] from the television series ''[[Duck Dynasty]]''.

==Production==
The film was shot in [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]], from October to November 2012. A concert appearance of the [[Newsboys]] was filmed in [[Houston]], [[Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Schoen|first=Taylor|title=Christian movie filming on campus|url=http://www.lsureveille.com/entertainment/film/christian-movie-filming-on-campus/article_37b30f32-32d1-11e2-b1d3-0019bb30f31a.html?mode=story|work=[[The Daily Reveille]]|accessdate=August 30, 2013|date=November 12, 2012}}</ref>

Russell Wolfe, the CEO of Pure Flix Entertainment, stated that: {{quote|the inspiration behind the setting of the movie dates back a few years ago. I was in a meeting at Pinnacle Forum and [[Alan Sears]] from [[Alliance Defending Freedom]], was speaking. He was speaking about a young girl who was asked to do some things that went against her faith and got in trouble for not doing them. That story put my jaw on the floor and made me think about how many students go to college as a Christian and how few stay a Christian after they finish their four years. It was that story that inspired me to set the movie on a college campus.|Russell Wolfe<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/2014/02/14/exclusive-interview-with-gods-not-dead-movie-director/|title=Exclusive Interview With Pure Flix Entertainment for God’s Not Dead Movie|date=14 February 2014|publisher=Alliance Defending Freedom|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref>}}

==Reception==

===Critical reception===
A number of sources have cited the film's similarities to a popular [[urban legend]]. The basic premise of a Christian student debating an atheist professor and winning in front of the class has been the subject of at least two popular legends and a popular [[Chick tract]].<ref>{{cite web|title='Noah' Washes Away Competition At The Box Office|url=http://www.etonline.com/movies/144928_Noah_Washes_Away_Competition_At_The_Box_Office/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="God’s Not Dead," But this Trope Is|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christandpopculture/2013/10/gods-not-dead-but-this-trope-is/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=If an anti-atheist story on Snopes were made into a film, it’d be this one|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/09/10/if-an-anti-atheist-story-on-snopes-were-made-into-a-film-itd-be-this-one/}}</ref>

The film has been panned by critics, currently holding a score of 16/100 on [[Metacritic]] indicating "Overwhelming Dislike", based on 5 critics, and a 17% "rotten" rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] as of April 2014.<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/movie/gods-not-dead Metacritic]</ref><ref>[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gods_not_dead/ Rotten Tomatoes], accessed April 12, 2014.</ref> Writing for ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', Todd VanDerWerff gave the film a D-, saying "Even by the rather lax standards of the Christian film industry, God's Not Dead is a disaster. It's an uninspired amble past a variety of Christian-email-forward bogeymen that feels far too long at just 113 minutes".<ref>[http://www.avclub.com/review/gods-not-dead-mess-even-christian-film-standards-202571? The A.V. Club]</ref> Reviewer Scott Foundas of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote "...even grading on a generous curve, this strident melodrama about the insidious efforts of America's university system to silence true believers on campus is about as subtle as a stack of Bibles falling on your head...."<ref>[http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-gods-not-dead-1201142881 Variety]</ref> Steve Pulaski of ''Influx Magazine'', however, was less critical of the film, giving it a C+ and stating "''God's Not Dead'' has issues, many of them easy to spot and heavily distracting. However, it's surprisingly effective in terms of message, acting, and insight, which are three fields Christian cinema seems to struggle with the most".<ref>[http://influxmagazine.com/gods-not-dead/ Influxmagazine.com]</ref>

===Christian appraisal===
The [[Alliance Defending Freedom]], [[American Heritage Girls]], Faith Driven Consumer, Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, [[Trevecca Nazarene University]], [[The Dove Foundation]] and Ratio Christi have all endorsed the film.<ref name="Endorsements">{{cite web|url=http://godsnotdeadthemovie.com/endorsements|title=God's Not Dead - Endorsements|publisher=Pure Flix Entertainment|accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref>

{{quote|I believe Christians should go see this movie because it will strengthen their faith and help them question situations about how they stood up or backed down for their faith. It will also encourage them to share their faith more.|[[Alliance Defending Freedom]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Exclusive Interview With Pure Flix Entertainment for God’s Not Dead Movie|url=http://blog.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/2014/02/14/exclusive-interview-with-gods-not-dead-movie-director/}}</ref> }}

Dave Hartline of ''The American Catholic'' gave ''God's Not Dead'' a positive review and hoped that other films like it will follow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://the-american-catholic.com/2014/03/30/gods-not-dead-theres-something-happening-here/|title=God’s not dead; There’s something happening here|publisher=American Catholic|accessdate=2 April 2014|quote=Slowly but surely with movies like God’s Not Dead, others will follow, and the old secular guard will not like it and force us to endure some trials and tribulations. - See more at: http://the-american-catholic.com/2014/03/30/gods-not-dead-theres-something-happening-here/#sthash.zZY7vFmh.dpuf}}</ref> Some Christian [[Protestant youth ministry|youth groups]] are colliding in the [[Methodist]], [[Catholic]], and [[Baptist]] traditions to watch ''God's Not Dead'' together, which have resulted in screenings of the film selling out.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/3/19/272244/Dallas-Bay-Baptist-Hosts-Movie-God-s.aspx|title=Dallas Bay Baptist Hosts Movie, "God's Not Dead"|date=19 March 2014|work=[[The Chattanoogan]]|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crosbymethodist.org/calendars/youth-watches-gods-not-dead-movie/|title=Youth Watches "God's Not Dead"|date=13 March 2014|publisher=United Methodist Church|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourladyqueenoffamilies.net/God-s-Not-Dead|title=God's Not Dead|publisher=St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families Parish|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref>

Evangelical [[Michael Gerson]], however, was highly critical of the film and its message, writing "The main problem with ''God’s Not Dead'' is not its cosmology or ethics but its anthropology. It assumes that human beings are made out of cardboard. Academics are arrogant and cruel. Liberal bloggers are preening and snarky (well, maybe the movie has a point here). Unbelievers disbelieve because of personal demons. It is characterization by caricature."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/michael-gerson-noah-gods-not-dead-are-movies-lacking-grace/2014/03/31/6a57b63e-b8ec-11e3-899e-bb708e3539dd_story.html|title=Michael Gerson: ‘Noah,’ ‘God’s Not Dead’ are movies lacking grace - The Washington Post|last=Gerson|first=Michael|date=21 March 2014|work=[[The Washington Post]]|publisher=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref> John Mulderig echoed similar concerns in his review for the [[Catholic News Service]], stating: "There might be the kernel of an intriguing documentary buried within director Harold Cronk's stacked-deck drama, given the extent of real-life academic hostility toward religion. But even faith-filled moviegoers will sense the claustrophobia of the echo chamber within which this largely unrealistic picture unfolds."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/14mv038.htm|title= God's Not Dead|last=Mulderig|first=John|publisher=[[Catholic News Service]]|accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref>

==Box Office==

===Commercial performance===
Although a critical failure, the film has met with significant success at the box office. In its first weekend of release, the film earned $8.6 million domestically from 780 theaters, causing [[Entertainment Weekly|Entertainment Weekly's]] Adam Markovitz to refer to it as "The biggest surprise of the weekend...." Box office Mojo reports "That ranks seventh all-time among faith-based movies, and ranks first among those opening in fewer than 1,000 theaters. The film expanded to 1758 theaters increasing 52% after its 2nd week.<ref>[http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/03/23/box-office-report-divergent/ Box office report: 'Divergent' heads straight for $56 million win | Inside Movies | EW.com]</ref> With a production budget of $2,000,000, ''God's Not Dead'' has grossed $42,237,419.<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=godsnotdead.htm</ref>

===International markets===
The film began its international rollout in Mexico on April 4, 2014. The movie debuted at #9 grossing $89,021 from 20 screens. In its second week of release, the movie rose to 6 place with a 31% decline. The movie has so far{{when|date=April 2014}} grossed $195,513.<ref>http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=godsnotdead.htm</ref> The movie's next major market is the United Kingdom when it gets released April 18 in roughly 22 screens.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://godsnotdeadthemovie.com/}}
* {{IMDb title|2528814|God's Not Dead}}

[[Category:2014 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films about Christianity]]
[[Category:Films about religion]]
[[Category:Films directed by Harold Cronk]]
[[Category:Films shot in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Films shot in Texas]]
[[Category:Independent films]]
[[Category:Pure Flix Entertainment films]]