Jesus Revolution

Jesus Revolution is an American Christian drama film directed by Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle. Based on the book of the same name, the film StarsJoel Courtney, Jonathan Roumie, Kelsey Grammer, Anna Grace Barlow and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
The film was released on February 24, 2023 by Lionsgate and grossed $35 million, it has received mixed reviews from critics though being favorably received by audiences.
==Plot==
In 1969, a staid yet respected Southern California pastor, Chuck Smith, finds that his church is slowly dying with an inability to connect with the younger, live-free generation of hippies. One day, his daughter gives a ride to a colorful hippie hitchhiker named Lonnie Frisbee, who says he is traveling around and telling people about the Ministry of Jesus. Smith, at first suspicious of Frisbee, eventually warms up to him and welcomes other hippies to his house. They join forces and start a successful movement to evangelize hippies and others.
Meanwhile, high-school student Greg Laurie runs away from his Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps class and joins a girl named Cathe who "turns him on" to a rock concert featuring Timothy Leary preaching the value of drugs for self-discovery. However, Greg sees that various hippies are dangerously irresponsible; Cathe's sister gets sick from a drug overdose. Greg and Cathe find solace at Smith and Lonnie's ministry, though Cathe's uptight parents are not enthusiastic about Greg.
The ministry explodes in popularity, being seen as a "Jesus Revolution" or "Jesus freaks", and even sparking a Time magazine cover in 1971. However, Lonnie becomes egotistical and eventually splits with Smith, though they reconcile later on. Greg offers to take over a ministry branch in Riverside, and eventually marries Cathe and becomes a famous pastor himself. Smith and Frisbee are remembered as founders of the widespread Calvary Chapel movement, and more generally as leaders in the Jesus movement.
==Cast==
*Joel Courtney as Greg Laurie
*Kelsey Grammer as Chuck Smith
*Anna Grace Barlow as Cathe
*Jonathan Roumie as Lonnie Frisbee
*Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Charlene
*Nicholas Cirillo as Charlie
*Jackson Robert Scott as Young Greg Laurie
*Ally Ioannides as Janette Smith
*Julia Campbell as Kay
*Nic Bishop as Dick
*Jolie Jenkins as Pilar
*DeVon Franklin as Josiah
*Shaun Weiss as Vietnam Vet
==Production==
The film was announced in June 2018, with Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn writing the screenplay, Gunn directing, and Greg Laurie, Kevin Downes, and the Erwin Brothers producing. Jim Gaffigan and Joel Courtney signed on in the lead roles in June 2020, although Kelsey Grammer eventually replaced Gaffigan. Filming occurred in Mobile, Alabama in March 2022, with several other scenes being shot on-location in California.
==Release==
Jesus Revolution was theatrically released in the United States on February 24, 2023. The film had its premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on February 15, 2023,
==Reception==
===Box office===
In the United States and Canada, Jesus Revolution was released alongside Cocaine Bear, and was projected to gross around $6-7 million in its opening weekend.
===Critical response===
Rotten Tomatoes reports a 62% approval rating out of 47 reviews from critics, with an 5.9/10 average rating. The site's consensus reads "Jesus Revolution fumbles an opportunity to bring fascinating real-life history vibrantly to life, but deserves credit for avoiding the preachiness common to faith-based films." Metacritic assigns the film a score of 46 based on 7 reviews, reporting "mixed or average reviews".
===Audience response===
Audiences were far more positive on the film. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 99% approval rating out of 2,500+ verified ratings, with an 4.9/5 average rating. The site's "Audience Says" consensus reads "Jesus Revolution faithfully depicts the moment in time it sets out to capture -- and may remind many viewers of their own path to religious conversion." Though, Metacritic assigns the film a score of 5.4 based on 27 ratings, reporting "mixed or average reviews".
==References==