What Changed The Faith-Based Film Industry?

What Changed The Faith-Based Film Industry?

Author: The Media Project February 24, 2026 Duration: 17:28

Christian movies have a pretty negative reputation.


They are criticized for being cheesy, preachy, poorly acted, poorly written, and generally prioritizing lesson-teaching over entertainment or artistic excellence.


But, in recent years, their Rotten Tomatoes scores have been on a steady uptick. The critical reviews contain more of the nuance given to secular films, and, en masse, viewers seem to be more positive about their experiences.


So, what’s happening?


The tide that has turned in the faith-based film industry is multifaceted. The studios have become willing to give Christian directors bigger budgets. Writers have started telling stories with more complicated heroes and honest portrayals of life. Skilled and well-established actors like Patricia Heaton, Zachary Levi, Kelsey Grammar, and Dennis Quade are being hired


One of the innovators behind the industry’s compounding improvement is Andy Erwin.


Andy Erwin and his brother Jon helped found Kingdom Story Company in 2019. The studio has been responsible for some of the biggest and most positively reviewed Christian films to date—including Jesus Revolution, Sarah’s Oil, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. 


But the Erwin brothers’ breakout hit was 2018’s “I Can Only Imagine.” The film follows MercyMe’s vocalist Bart Millard from his childhood growing up with an abusive father to his creation of one of the most popular contemporary Christian songs of all time.


Now, they’re back with the sequel, “I Can Only Imagine 2” which came out in theaters last week.


Religion Unplugged’s Culture Critic, Joseph Holmes, sat down with Erwin to better understand where the Christian film industry is headed and why the story of “I Can Only Imagine” needed to be expanded on.



I Can Only Imagine: https://icanonlyimagine.com


In a world where faith is often reduced to headlines or soundbites, Religion Unplugged offers a different kind of space. This podcast, from The Media Project, engages with the profound and complex ways belief shapes our lives, politics, and history. You’ll hear candid conversations and stories drawn from original reporting by a global network of journalists. We move beyond simple debates to explore the nuanced realities of spirituality and religious practice as they intersect with culture, conflict, and community. Each episode is an opportunity to listen deeply to narratives that are frequently overlooked, understanding that religion remains a powerful and growing force across the globe. This isn’t about doctrine; it’s about the human experience at the intersection of the sacred and the everyday. Tune in for a grounded, journalistic approach that unplugs the stereotypes and connects you to the authentic stories defining faith in the 21st century.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Religion Unplugged
Podcast Episodes
Before You Climb Any Higher: Interview with Jonathan McReynolds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:22
Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds speaks about his new book, "Before You Climb Any Higher." Jonathan tells Matthew Peterson what he has learned about God and success on his journey to becoming a majo…
What is Religion's Role in The 2025 Oscars? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:37
Culture Critic Joseph Holmes, Culture Editor Jillian Cheney, and "Theme Park Theologian" Houston Coley talk about what this year's Oscars say about religion in 2025.
Inside The Story: Interview with Audrey Jackson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:53
Last year, Audrey Jackson travelled to Antakya, Turkey to document the efforts of churches and faith-based relief organisations a year after severe earthquakes shook the region. Matthew Peterson interviewed Audrey to lea…
How To Think Impossibly: Interview with Jeffrey J. Kripal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:00
All over the world and for many years, people have claimed to see objects in the sky, prophesy the future, and speak with mythical beings. Impossible experiences happen all the time, but what do we do with them? To find…
Between Borders: Interview with Elizabeth Tabish [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:38
Film critic Joseph Holmes sits down with Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene from The Chosen) to discuss her career in film, how the faith-based film industry is different, and how her new film Between Borders contributes t…
Experiments in Mystical Atheism: Interview with Dr. Brook Ziporyn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:00
For decades, New Atheism has been characterized by "the humanistic rejection of religion." But Dr. Brook Ziporyn's new book, Experiments in Mystical Atheism, argues instead for "the religious rejection of God." Matthew P…
Habits For a Sacred Home: Interview with Jennifer Pepito [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:22
The new year brings new opportunities and new obligations by the boatload. As calendars fill up and to-do lists get longer, home life can get rocky. Matthew Peterson speaks with Jennifer Pepito about her recent book Habi…
Mary: Interview with D.J. Caruso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:06
Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews director D.J. Caruso about his new Netflix film "Mary." They discuss what inspired Caruso to make a story about the mother of Jesus, why Mary is so inspirational, how one balances…
Rediscovering Christmas: Interview with AJ Sherrill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:07
The Christmas season is often packed to the brim with parties, concerts, gift-buying, and general holiday busyness. But does it have to be that way? Religion Unplugged's Matthew Peterson interviews AJ Sherril about his r…
Is the Future of Christmas Movies Faith-Based? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:28
Newsletter and Culture Editor Jillian Cheney and Film Critic Joseph Holmes discuss why there hasn't been a Christmas classic in 20 years, the rise of Christmas action movies, and if "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" sign…