The low-budget faith-based movie “His Only Son” has earned an impressive $11 million since it opened two weeks ago. The Angel Studios biblical drama created by David Helling tells the Old Testament story of Abraham, who was commanded by God to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.
“`His Only Son’ recounts one of the most controversial moments in the Old Testament, when Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain of Moriah,” the official film synopsis says. “While traveling to the place of the sacrifice, alongside Isaac and two servants, Abraham is flooded with vivid memories from the years he and Sarah spent longing for the son they were promised — the son he must now lay upon the altar.”
The film was produced on a tiny budget of $250,000. Advertising was done through a crowdfunding campaign in partnership with Angel Studios, which raised more than $1.2 million for prints and advertising costs. Angel Studios said it was the first-ever crowdfunded film with a nationwide theatrical release.
“His Only Son” earned the No. 3 spot in its opening weekend behind “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” It was knocked out of the top five over Easter weekend because of the massive success of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
“`His Only Son’ is the little indie that could, a film made on a tiny budget by a director who went to film school on the G.I. Bill based on a story people have wrestled with for untold centuries,” said Jared Geesey, senior vice president of global distribution for Angel Studios. “Our investors believed in the project and crowdfunded the P and A so word could get out. This film was up against big studio films with serious marketing budgets, and yet this film continues to turn in incredible numbers.
“We believe that the audience is the future of this industry, and we have faith they’ll prove that over and over again with each new offering they choose to get behind.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice