“American Underdog,” the new faith-based film about football star Kurt Warner, had a strong opening weekend and despite a strong “Spiderman” and other holiday movies. It opened in the top 10 at the box office, and moviegoers gave it an A+ rating on CinemaScore.
On its first weekend, the movie earned an estimated $5.9 million, which placed it at No. 5, just behind fourth-place newcomer “The King’s Man.” “American Underdog’s” total is even more impressive considering it opened on Christmas Day and was in theaters only two days last weekend, Saturday and Sunday. “The King’s Man,” by comparison opened on December 22. “The Hollywood Reporter” labeled it a “stellar two-day gross.”
READ: American Underdog actor profoundly affected by faith of film
Currently, the film has earned almost $15 million. Over New Year’s weekend it raked in more money than the much-anticipated “The Matrix Resurrections,” plus “Westside Story“, “Disney’s “Encato,” and more.
“American Underdog” also earned a rare A+ CinemaScore grade from audiences. CinemaScore is a service that asks moviegoers to rate films on the opening weekend. The romantic sports drama follows the life and career of Kurt Warner, who won a Super Bowl five years after working at a grocery store, Hy-Vee, to stay afloat financially. The film also follows his relationship with his wife Brenda, who guided him in his spiritual growth.
Kurt Warner celebrated the film’s success on social media. “To hear that our movie @AmericanUnderdg is making a bunch of grown men cry just warms my heart,” he tweeted.
Warner told “Christian Headlines” that he didn’t hesitate to let his life’s story be made into a movie. “I’ve always felt like there’s a reason that we have the story that we have,” he said. “I was never worried about sharing the story and putting it on the big screen. I was worried about getting it right.”
Warner said he is thrilled with the final product.
“I want to make a movie that impacts people, I want people to leave the theater saying, ‘Man, that was good,'” he said. “I think without a doubt, we made that movie.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice