The Biblical Film

 In recent months there have been several films featuring Biblical events. 

The explosion of Biblical entertainment started with the History Channel miniseries called “The Bible,” and the series aptly displayed a variety of events that occurred through the text. 

The media ate up this mini-series and documented its unprecedented viewers.

“The miniseries was watched by 13.1 million total viewers, according to Nielsen” - Source

The Bible received a variety of feedback.  There remained speculation if the individual who was casted as the devil was supposed to look like President Obama.  You can decide that for yourself:

  

But most of all I believe that it sparked the idea that Biblical entertainment can make money.  The mini-series will be expecting a follow-up series will potential titles including “A.D. and A.D. Beyond the Bible.”  

This year will continue the Biblical entertainment content with Son of God (sparked by the creators of The Bible), and the recent Russell Crowe epic Noah. 

Noah is fascinating because it bears no relation other than basic premise and name to the Biblical account of Noah.  With a 130 million dollar budget this film was credited with stunning visuals.  Some acclaimed that the film was deeper than what it portrayed on the surface, and others are calling it the modern-day Waterworld. 

In the coming months there are several other Biblical entertainment coming to our screens.  Exodus featuring Bale will star as Moses.  Ridley Scott has not said much about the project, but we do know that Sigourney Weaver is going to co-star in the film.  While these two films are the only recent ones created with notable actors, this may be the start of a new trend that Hollywood is beginning to jump on. 

Mary, the Mother of Christ (a Lionsgate film!) featuring the late Peter O’Toole and Sir Ben Kingsley will be released sometime close to December. 

Now this begs the question: Are these films here to stay? 

Some will argue that it’s a fad just like supernatural romance films, and the current filmic love for dystopia that’s occurring at the moment.  But others say that they are targeting a unique audience. 

Hollywood is “Tapping into the faith-based audience” - Source

These are the individuals who consider themselves religious in some capacity, and will visit the theaters to watch the films.

But while “These may be infrequent moviegoers for mainstream movies, but they are frequent moviegoers for Biblical and faith-based films.” - Source]

This means that Hollywood has identified a solid audience, which is considered a luxury for the entertainment industry.  While Hollywood loves to take a gamble, they love knowing that a film will bring in audience and make money for a fact. 

But now Paramount and MGM have teamed up to create a remake of the epic film Ben-Hur.  Penned by Keith Clarke and John Ridley (12 Years a Slave), (Source) the new film will attempt to recreate the magnitude of the original.  Sometimes I feel that after losing their classic film titles back in 80s, MGM has struggled reclaim their status.  While 21 Jump Street thrust them back into the fray, the attempts to remake their own films seem to fall flat (Robocop anyone?)

Is this going to be MGM’s magnificent comeback?  Relying on a Biblical film? For the record, they should take a hint from Paramount’s 2010 remake of True Grit as to how to properly remake a film.