The faith-based film I Still Believe is coming to video-on-demand Friday, two weeks after it was No. 1 at the box office on opening night.
It’s an unprecedented move for a faith film that would be heading into its third weekend in theaters if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Most theaters nationwide, including those owned by Regal and AMC, are closed.
The rental price will be $19.99 with a 48-hour viewing window. It’s the same price Universal placed on The Invisible Man, The Hunt and Emma, three films that also saw their theater runs cut short. Universal and Lionsgate – the studio behind I Still Believe – are calling it “premium on-demand.” With the nationwide average ticket movie price at $9, the $19.99 rental price is roughly the same price point for a couple viewing the film in theaters.
I Still Believe’s release to on-demand platforms comes “at a time we need hope and inspiration,” co-director Jon Erwin said in a video posted on social media.
Hope comes home. Hear from co-director Jon Erwin and enjoy #IStillBelieve at home on Friday, March 27. https://t.co/XnCoJuH477 pic.twitter.com/dWZFlIy7lM
— I Still Believe Film (@istillbelieve) March 21, 2020
The movie was expected to gross upwards of $18 million opening weekend but was released when federal and state governments were discouraging mass gatherings. Still, it finished No. 3 for the weekend with a gross of $9.1 million. It was No. 1 on opening night.
It was made by the same directors who also made I Can Only Imagine, Woodlawn and Mom’s Night Out.
I Still Believe tells the true story of Christian singer Jeremy Camp’s marriage to his first wife, Melissa, who died of ovarian cancer.
It stars K.J. Apa and Britt Robertson and has a 98 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Erwin said the story has “universally relatable” themes, including love, miracles, prayer and finding purpose in pain.
“This film is going to create a lot of conversations that can bring people hope and healing,” Erwin told Christian Headlines. “… There’s miracles and there’s heartache in the same story. And that’s life, and that’s how God works. There’s a purpose and a plan for both, and both have value.”
Learn more at IStillBelieve.com/OnDemand.
Related:
‘I Still Believe’ Challenges Society’s ‘Narcissistic’ Definition of Love, Directors Say
K.J. Apa: ‘God Really Anointed’ the New Faith Film ‘I Still Believe’
Director: I Still Believe Is a ‘Huge Opportunity’ to Reach the Unchurched
4 Inspiring Spiritual Lessons from I Still Believe
5 Reasons I Still Believe Is One of the Best Films You’ll Ever Watch
Photo courtesy: ©Lionsgate
Video courtesy: ©Lionsgate Movies
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, The Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
