10 Successful Christian Films that Turned Hollywood’s Head

#5 — God’s Not Dead (2014)

Made for a fraction of a studio tentpole, this classroom drama hit a cultural nerve. With a simple premise—a student challenges an atheist professor—it turned targeted church marketing and word-of-mouth into weeks of staying power. For Hollywood the lesson was blunt: the right faith concept can out-earn its budget dozens of times over. It also crystallized a template (issue-driven plot, recognizable musicians/guest cameos, post-credits calls-to-action) that many later releases echoed.
Next: a prayer closet and a surprise #1 that stunned the industry.