Controversy over Noah continues as the film premieres in foreign markets to big numbers. Will the film sink or swim at the box office? INSIDE EDITION has the details.
Divergent may have blown away the competition at the weekend box office, but there was also a little-known movie that had quite an impact.
God's Not Dead opened on just 780 screens but earned an impressive $8.6 million. It's part of the year of bible-themed movies. Heaven is For Real, bsed on the bestselling book, opens next month. And, of course, Son of God hit theaters three weeks ago.
The most eagerly-awaited is the controversial epic Noah, opening Friday.
INSIDE EDITION's Megan Alexander asked God's Not Dead star Kevin Sorbo of TV's Hercules fame, "We've got a lot of faith films coming out, whether it's Son of God, God's Not Dead, Noah coming out with Russell Crowe-- why do you think this year?"
Sorbo told INSIDE EDITION, "I always go back to Blindside. I think Blindeside really started the whole failth-based world of studios waking up and saying, 'You know, we should take a look at this because there's an audience out there we're not paying attention to.'"
See What Else Sorbo Had To Say About Faith-Based Films
Noah, which stars Russell Crowe, opened over the weekend in Mexico and South Korea, two nations with large Christian populations. In both countries, opening weekend was on par with last year's blockbuster Gravity.
Early reviews for Noah are in, and they're generally positive.
"Never less-than-fascinating and sometimes dazzling," wrote Variety.
But The Wrap calls Noah "a bit of a soggy slog, both overblown and underwritten."
The Hollywood Reporter film critic Todd McCarthy also saw an advanced screening.
McCarthy said, "Even with its flaws, I like Noah quite a bit because of it's bold interpretation of the story that has very often been done in a kind of kid-friendly way."
Believe it or not, the name "God" is not spoken at any point during the movie. But Christian filmmaker and author Phil Cooke, who advised the producers of Noah, said Christians shouldn't shy away from seeing it.
Cooke told INSIDE EDITION, "You can't tell a hundred percent biblically accurate movie, it's never been done. So they take artistic and creative license. However, its a remarkable revision and I think they are very serious about what they are trying to do and I think it's definitely worth seeing."
