KJ Apa Transforms Into Christian Singer Jeremy Camp In Second Trailer For ‘I Still Believe’
By Katie Colley | ET Canada | January 14, 2020
The real-life story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp comes to life in a new trailer for “I Still Believe”.
On Tuesday, the second trailer for the biopic was released, which sees “Riverdale” star KJ Apa taking on the role of Camp, alongside co-stars Britt Robertson and Shania Twain.
The romantic biopic chronicles Camp’s personal struggles after losing his wife Melissa to ovarian cancer, sending him on a spiritual journey that led to the creation of four acclaimed albums.
The new trailer highlights Camp’s road to finding love and fame in the midst of his wife’s battle with cancer.
ET Canada’s Cheryl Hickey caught up with Twain, who plays Camp’s mom in the film, who admitted her latest acting gig was more than she ever imagined.
“It’s so much bigger than doing a music video,” says Twain. “It’s less intense because music videos are a real sprint. And moviemaking is definitely more of a marathon.”
“I love the fact that this movie is a true story. It’s a beautiful story.”
‘I Still Believe’ Voted No. 1 Romantic Movie of 2020 — By Seventeen Magazine
By Lindsay Elizabeth | Faithwire | January 17, 2020
“I Still Believe,” the biopic about award-winning artist Jeremy Camp’s late wife Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp, ranked top romantic movies of 2020 by Seventeen Magazine.
Named and based after Camp’s powerful song “I Still Believe,” the biopic details the heartbreaking story behind the song. You can listen to it here.
The powerful chorus reads:
“I still believe in Your faithfulness I still believe in Your truth I still believe in Your holy word Even when I don’t see, I still believe.”
“I Still Believe,” tells the story of Award-winning Christian singer Jeremy Camp and his marriage to Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp. Less than a year after the two wed, Melissa lost her battle with ovarian cancer and passed away.
Jasmine Gomez of Seventeen Magazine wrote, “Riverdale’s K.J. Apa stars in this romantic movie about singer/songwriter Jeremy Camp. The movie follows Jeremy’s life, including his marriage to his first wife, Melissa. Melissa was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just before they were married, but the pair continued on with their relationship through Melissa’s illness.”
“I Still Believe” is packed with a star-studded cast including Riverdale’s K.J. Apa, actress Britt Robertson, and singer Shania Twain.
The film was produced by Studio Kingdom, the Erwin brother’s new studio that was formed in partnership with Lionsgate. Jon Erwin and Andrew Erwin 8 who directed “I Can Only Imagine,” which grossed $83.5 million with a production budget of $7 million.
You can watch the trailer for “I Still Believe” below, and buy tickets to see it in theatres here.
You love his music. Wait until you hear @JeremyCamp’s heart. Watch as Jeremy and the cast talk about the faith that drives #IStillBelieve, in theaters March 13. Secure your tickets:tickets.istillbelieve.movie
Share your excitement about about #IStillBelieve and you might even go to the red carpet experience at the LA Special Screening! Join #TeamBelieve by going toistillbelievemovie.com/teambelieve
The Red Carpet screening in Los Angeles is Thursday, March 5.
Christian Mingle's #MingleMovieNight Will Give Fans the Chance to Walk the Red Carpet for Lionsgate's I Still Believe L.A. Screening
PRNewswire | Christian Mingle | February 10, 2020
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dating site Christian Mingle has teamed up with global content leader Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company to offer fans the opportunity to rub elbows with the stars of upcoming Jeremy Camp biopic I Still Believe.
The highly anticipated film, starring KJ Apa and Britt Robertson, is based on the true story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp, chronicling a powerful journey of faith, loss and the life-changing strength that comes from love.
As part of the #MingleMovieNight sweepstakes, two lucky winners will each get the chance to bring a date to I Still Believe's star-studded Red-Carpet Experience on March 5, 2020 in Los Angeles. The Grand Prize winners will be announced on Christian Mingle's social media channels at 9am PST on February 28, 2020.
Christian Mingle is also giving away 50 pairs of tickets to see I Still Believe in US theatres following its March 13, 2020 release. Ten winners will be announced every Friday at 9am PST, starting February 14 and ending March 13.
To enter the sweepstakes, fans must submit their details via the Christian Mingle website. Participants can register for free, find full terms and conditions, and submit their entries via the official #MingleMovieNight contest page: https://www.christianmingle.com/MingleMovieNight
The sweepstakes opens to the public on February 10. Entries for the Grand Prize close February 27, while the closing date for all other prize entries is March 12. Winners will be notified by email and may also be announced via Christian Mingle's social media channels. Entrants can track announcements by following @RealChristianMingle on Instagram.
About Christian Mingle Christian Mingle is an online dating platform that caters to Christian singles seeking long-term relationships. Launched in 2001, Christian Mingle is available in 4 languages, and helps singles find quality connections with others who share their faith and values. It is part of Spark Networks SE, a global leader in online dating with headquarters in Berlin and offices in New York and Utah.
About I Still Believe From Kingdom Story Company, the creators of I Can Only Imagine, from Lionsgate and sister company Roadside Attractions, comes I Still Believe, the inspiring true story of music mega star Jeremy Camp. Starring KJ Apa and Britt Robertson, I Still Believe is the story of one young couple's remarkable journey that proves hope can survive great tragedy and that love tested is the only love worth sharing. I Still Believe is set for release in North America on March 13, 2020 by Lionsgate. The film also stars Shania Twain and Gary Sinise. Directed by Jon Erwin and Andrew Erwin the film was written by Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn and is produced by Kevin Downes, Jon Erwin, and Andrew Erwin.
About Lionsgate The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content leader whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world. Lionsgate film and television properties also support a global network of location-based entertainment and other branded attractions as well as a robust video game business. Lionsgate's content initiatives are backed by a nearly 17,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global sales and distribution infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company's worldwide consumer base.
Contact Christian Mingle: Karl Ryan | karl.ryan@spark.net Instagram | @RealChristianMingle - Twitter | @christianmingle - #MingleMovieNight
Director: I Still Believe Is a 'Huge Opportunity' to Reach the Unchurched
By Michael Foust | Christian Headlines | February 19, 2020
The director of the upcoming faith-based film I Still Believe says the movie’s all-star cast could attract an unchurched audience who typically wouldn’t be open to a Christian message.
Andrew Erwin, who co-directed the film with his brother and also co-directed the 2018 hit movie I Can Only Imagine, told Christian Headlines that the film’s cast – including K.J. Apa and Britt Robertson – could appeal to non-Christians.
Apa has 17 million Instagram followers. Robertson has appeared in several movies popular among young adults and teens.
A romantic drama, I Still Believe (PG) tells the true story of Christian singer Jeremy Camp’s marriage to his first wife, Melissa, who died of ovarian cancer. Camp wrote his popular song I Still Believe after her death.
I Still Believe releases in theaters March 13.
The goal is always to have “crossover appeal,” Erwin said.
“We're not going to be one of these that sells out to reach an audience,” Erwin told Christian Headlines. “But what we're trying to do is broaden our audience to where we can kind of gain new fans – new people that typically would not engage with something like this.
“We tested it with audiences, and it tested on such great scores with the general public that Lionsgate doubled our theater count from I Can Only Imagine,” Erwin said. “And they also are giving us an IMAX release – and there’s never been a faith film released in IMAX before. So it's definitely a step up as far as an opportunity for Christians being relevant. So my hope is it does crossover.”
With Apa and Robertson in the film, the filmmakers have a “huge opportunity” to reach a younger unchurched audience, Erwin said. Further, the inclusion of Shania Twain and Gary Sinise in the movie – they play Camp’s parents – can attract an older audience who typically wouldn’t watch a faith-based film either, Erwin said.
I Still Believe was labeled by Seventeen Magazine as one of the top romantic movies in 2020 to watch.
Although I Can Only Imagine was the Erwin brothers’ biggest hit yet, it wasn’t their first movie. They also made Woodlawn (2015), Mom’s Night Out (2014) and October Baby (2011).
The objective, Andrew Erwin said, is always to reach an audience that doesn’t go to church.
“Our focus is still firmly rooted within the church, but it's focused out,” he told Christian Headlines. “And so our goal is to reach out beyond the church walls to engage a generation that's walking away from the church – as an introduction to Christianity.
“We try to be an introduction to Christianity that's focused on people who are not necessarily churched or have become disillusioned with their faith,” he added. “And so that's the audience we're trying to reach. We're trying to give the church a tool that they can use to reach their community. So it's definitely still engaging the church – but for a different purpose. It's to reach out beyond the church walls.”
It's apparent: @KJ_Apa plays the son of @GarySinise and @ShaniaTwain in the new movie #IStillBelieve, opening in theaters March 13.tickets.istillbelieve.movie
We'll be live with Shania Twain ahead of the release of her upcoming film I Still Believe! ✨ Tweet us your questions for the singer — and stay tuned for the full interview!
Check out the music video for @JeremyCamp’s new version of his classic hit, featuring clips from the new movie that tells his story. Get ready: #IStillBelieve opens in theaters March 13. Watch the full music video here:
The official Red Carpet Los Angeles screening with the cast is Saturday, March 7.
I Still Believe Film @istillbelieve
Want to join us at the red carpet? Get a chance to see @KJ_Apa and the cast at ArcLight Hollywood at our LA Special Screening. Check out more details at:http://bit.ly/ISBLAScreening
The official Red Carpet Los Angeles screening with the cast is Saturday, March 7.
I Still Believe Film @istillbelieve
Want to join us at the red carpet? Get a chance to see @KJ_Apa and the cast at ArcLight Hollywood at our LA Special Screening. Check out more details at:http://bit.ly/ISBLAScreening
The official Red Carpet Los Angeles screening with the cast is Saturday, March 7.
I Still Believe Film @istillbelieve
Want to join us at the red carpet? Get a chance to see @KJ_Apa and the cast at ArcLight Hollywood at our LA Special Screening. Check out more details at:http://bit.ly/ISBLAScreening
Hang out with @KJ_Apa, @realbritt_rob and @ShaniaTwain tomorrow (1:00pm PT/4:00pm ET) as they talk to @People about #IStillBelieve atfacebook.com/peoplemag/
Let’s go girls! @ShaniaTwain’s tweeting out tonight, she’s feeling alright – we’re all going to hang out with @TwitterMusic tomorrow (4:20pm PT/7:20pm ET) for #IStillBelieve! Use #AskShania on Twitter to ask her all your most pressing questions.
The official Red Carpet Los Angeles screening with the cast is Saturday, March 7.
I Still Believe Film @istillbelieve
Want to join us at the red carpet? Get a chance to see @KJ_Apa and the cast at ArcLight Hollywood at our LA Special Screening. Check out more details at:http://bit.ly/ISBLAScreening
Just got back from the @istillbelieve premiere and I can’t wait for you guys to see the film!! It’s SO GOOD. Love to everyone involved ❤️ what a night! #IStillBelieve
I had a wonderful time at the premiere of @istillbelieve. I cried, I laughed, I loved every second of the movie. I can’t wait for you to see it! Out March 13th 😘
5 Reasons I Still Believe Is One of the Best Films You'll Ever Watch
By Michael Foust | CrossWalk.com | March 10, 2020
Jeremy is an outgoing college freshman with a heart for God and a passion for music. As his father says, it’s “a gift.” He is also a single man who has fallen for a fellow classmate, Melissa. Never mind that he’s known her only for five minutes, or that she’s involved with someone else, or that she doesn’t yet know his name.
He’s going to pursue her – and perhaps write a song about his feelings, too.
“I’m Jeremy,” he tells her, awkwardly, in their first conversation. “I saw you tonight. I mean, I was watching you.”
Perhaps that’s not the best pick-up line, but Melissa eventually warms to his innocence, his voice, and his faith. She falls for him, too, and soon, their relationship is so close that marriage seems certain. But before Jeremy can propose, Melissa is diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer and facing a grim prognosis.
She’s scared – yes – but she remains steadfast in her faith.
“If one person’s life is changed by what I go through, it will all be worth it,” she says.
The new film I Still Believe (PG) is based on the real-life story of Jeremy Camp and his first wife, Melisa Henning, who met one another at Calvary Chapel Bible College in California.
It stars K.J. Apa as Camp, Britt Robertson as Melissa, Gary Sinise as Camp’s father, and Shania Twain as Camp’s mother.
Here are five reasons you should watch it:
1. It’s the Latest Film from the Erwin Brothers
I Still Believe was co-directed by the same tandem, Jon and Andrew Erwin, who also made I Can Only Imagine (2018) and Woodlawn (2015) – two faith-based films beloved by moviegoers and mainstream critics alike. Moviegoers gave the latter two movies an A+ CinemaScore rating, while Rotten Tomatoes critics certified both films “fresh” (meaning that at least 60 percent of critics liked them). Imagine and Woodlawn are the only two faith-based movies ever to acquire an A+ CinemaScore grade and a fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating.
Here’s the good news: I Still Believe may be the Erwins’ best movie yet.
2. It’s Uplifting and Gripping
I Still Believe has drawn parallels to I Can Only Imagine, but the two plots are radically different. (The newest film, unlike its predecessor, is a romance.)
I Still Believe is gripping even though many moviegoers know how the story ends. Perhaps that’s because we’re captivated and inspired by the plot: a young man falls in love with a woman who is eventually diagnosed with cancer, but instead of backing off, he asks her to marry him. She grows closer to God each day until her final breath, and he never leaves her side. He then writes a song, I Still Believe, about his faith in the midst of sorrow.
The story forces us to ask tough questions: Would we face death with such courage? Is our faith strong enough to withstand a similar trial? And is our love for our spouse as deep as it should be?
3. It Spotlights Biblical Love … and Till-Death-Do-Us-Part Commitment
Our self-absorbed offers a me-centric, “what-can-you-do-for-me” type of love. That false view of love impacts everything around us: song lyrics, TV plots and – of course – divorce rates.
I Still Believe offers something different … and better. That’s because it spotlights a God-authored, Christ-centric love, with self-sacrifice and commitment at its core. It’s the love that is patient and kind, that isn’t self-seeking and doesn’t keep a record of wrongs. It’s the love that always perseveres.
“In today’s narcissistic culture, where everything is about making me happy, this [film] offers the complete opposite,” Jon Erwin told Crosswalk.
The love in I Still Believe, he said, is “love as it should be.”
“It's loving sacrificially. It's loving selflessly,” he said. “It's laying down your life for someone that you love.”
The film addresses other biblical themes, too, including prayer and miracles. Some of Jeremy’s prayers are answered the way he wanted. Others aren’t.
How do you react when your prayers aren’t answered the way you wished? And what happens when the miracle you desired doesn’t materialize? The movie doesn’t provide all the answers, although it points to eternal truths – and to the providential tapestry of God – that can provide comfort.
“I think this film is going to create a lot of conversations that can bring people hope and healing as they come out of the theater,” Jon Erwin said.
4. It Has Great On-Screen Chemistry
K.J. Apa and Britt Robertson are only acting, but it sure seems real. Their stellar on-screen chemistry pulls you into the plot and doesn’t let go until the credits roll.
They previously starred together in another movie, A Dog’s Purpose.
Apa recommended Robertson for the role in I Still Believe.
“[He said,] ‘Whoever we cast as Melissa has to be somebody I deeply care about. And it has to be real chemistry between us,’” Andrew Erwin told Crosswalk. “And we just said, ‘Who have you worked with that you really loved and enjoyed?’”
That person was Robertson.
“So he contacted her on Instagram,” Erwin said. “And we started talking to her. She read the script, fell in love with it and said, ‘I'll do anything to play this role.’”
Apa plays the guitar and sings in I Still Believe. Erwin estimates that about 80-85 percent of the vocals are from Apa. The rest are from Mike Donehey of Tenth Avenue North.
5. It’s a Romance for the Whole Family
Perhaps you’ve never taken the entire family to a romantic film. Frankly, I can’t blame you.
I Still Believe, though, is a romance the whole family can enjoy. It’s free of the coarse language and sexuality that fills most romantic films, although it has thematic elements – discussion of death and disturbing scenes of a cancer patient dying – that may trouble younger children.
It’s a film every teenager and single person needs to see. It’s a movie married folks should watch, too. That’s because it’s a story that models the sacrificial love of Christ.
The inclusion of Apa and Robertson gives the film crossover appeal. Seventeen Magazine, a mainstream publication, named it the most-anticipated romantic film of the year.
“What’s interesting is that when teenage girls see the movie, they don't say it's too innocent. They actually say, ‘I want to be loved like that,’” Jon Erwin said.
The movie – if you’re curious – doesn’t end on a down note, but instead brilliantly weaves the next chapter of Camp’s life into the plot. You’ll walk to the car wiping away a tear, but inspired.
I Still Believe is rated PG for thematic material.
"I Still Believe" opens in theaters across the U.S. and Canada today.
'I Still Believe': Film Review
KJ Apa and Britt Robertson star in the latest faith-based drama directed by the Erwin Brothers, based on the tragic real-life events that inspired singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp's titular hit song.
By Frank Scheck | The Hollywood Reporter | March 11, 2020
THE BOTTOM LINE Tears will be jerked, but you'll feel the machinations.
You can't blame the Erwin brothers for capitalizing on a hugely successful formula. The filmmakers' last faith-based film, 2018's I Can Only Imagine, was a surprise mainstream hit, grossing $83 million. Now they're back with another inspirational drama inspired by the true story behind a best-selling Christian pop song. The faithful will likely come out in droves again for I Still Believe, with teenage girls particularly likely to be attracted to its wholesome depiction of an ultimately tragic love story.
Based on the book by Grammy-nominated Christian singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp, the film relates the story of his relationship with his first wife, Melissa, who died of cancer shortly after their wedding. When first seen, Jeremy (KJ Apa, Riverdale) is leaving his family in Indiana, including his supportive parents (Gary Sinise, Shania Twain) and his developmentally challenged younger brother (Reuben Dodd), to attend a Christian college in Southern California.
Almost immediately after arriving, he meets one of his idols, Jean-Luc (Nathan Parsons, Roswell), the lead singer of a successful Christian rock band, who invites him to help out during their campus concert. Looking at the audience from backstage, Jeremy spots Melissa (Britt Robertson, A Dog's Purpose), rhapsodically singing along to the music. It's love at first sight, and he soon manages to awkwardly introduce himself. But while Melissa clearly returns his interest, her already close, if not romantic, relationship with Jean-Luc complicates any burgeoning relationship she might have with Jeremy.
That is, until Jeremy convinces her that their love is destiny and that God must surely want them to be together. Needless to say, it's a compelling argument for Melissa, who, while observing a display at a planetarium, is moved to announce, "The God of a trillion stars knows my name!"
Lines like that are indicative of the lack of subtlety in the screenplay by Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn, which tends to bathe everything in a rapturous glow matched by the gorgeous cinematography of Kristopher Sean Kimlin. Despite the extremely dramatic plot developments that occur, nothing seems to carry any real emotional weight. When Jean-Luc eventually finds out about the couple's romance, he seems momentarily hurt but immediately gets over it. And when Melissa is diagnosed with stage-3 ovarian cancer, Jeremy doesn't hesitate before proposing marriage.
As Melissa undergoes grueling surgeries and chemotherapy treatments (demurely, since she barely ever looks sick), Jeremy becomes more and more successful in his musical career. He also takes to asking his concert audiences to pray for Melissa, recounting the story of her struggles in between inspirational songs.
The prayers seem to work, as Melissa goes into remission and the couple enjoys a gorgeous beach wedding presided over by Jeremy's dad, a former pastor. But their happiness proves short-lived, as anyone familiar with the hit song that provided the film's title will likely already know.
To its credit, the pic wrestles with such issues as the difficulty of maintaining faith when tragedy strikes for no apparent reason; one of its moving scenes comes when a grief-stricken Jeremy asks his father to help him make some sense of it (Sinise, delivering a quietly understated performance, plays the scene beautifully). But more often than not, I Still Believe feels like the cinematic equivalent of the sort of Christian pop songs its main character performs, filled with soaring choruses and heavy-handed lyrics. Every emotion is telegraphed to the hilt, with results that feel more manipulative than affecting. The fact that it's a true story only partially mitigates its more cloying aspects.
Many audience members, of course, won't mind the manipulation at all, happy to be in thrall to the positive messages the film sends out. Not to mention that the highly attractive leads, who previously co-starred in A Dog's Purpose, are hugely appealing and display a winning chemistry that makes the central love story go down easily.
Production company: Kingdom Story Company Distributor: Lionsgate Cast: KJ Apa, Britt Robertson, Shania Twain, Gary Sinise, Melissa Roxburgh, Nathan Dean, Abigail Cowen Directors: The Erwin Brothers Screenwriters: Jon Erwin, Jon Gunn Producers: Kevin Downes, Jon Erwin, Andrew Erwin Executive producers: Jeremy Camp, Matt Balm, Bart Millard, Jon Gunn, Tony Young, Scott Lumpkin Director of photography: Kristopher Sean Kimlin Production designer: Joseph T. Garrity Editors: Ben Smallbone, Parker Adams Composer: John Debney Costume designer: Anna Redmon Casting: Beverly Holloway
‘I Still Believe’ Wins Friday Box Office with $4 Million Amid Mass Theater Capacity Cuts
By Allie Gemmill | Collider | March 14, 2020
Lionsgate has scored big at the Friday box office with the release of faith-based drama I StillBelieve. This weekend will likely be the first of many where we see a notable slowing of box office earnings during to growing worldwide concerns over the coronavirus spread. A direct impact on domestic movie theaters is expected thanks to respective announcements from AMC Theaters and Regal Cinemas that each chain’s theater capacities will be cut in half in order to better practice social distancing to keep moviegoers safe.
In light of all ongoing public health and safety concerns, Lionsgate’s I Still Believe earned $4 million domestic through Friday, with $780,000 taken in during Thursday night previews. It averaged $1,231 per theater and opened in 3,250 theaters nationwide. I Still Believe not only did well at the Friday box office; it’s doing well with audiences, too. The pic earned an “A” CinemaScore, the highest score of any new release this weekend. The faith-based film is based on the story that inspired the Christian hit “I Still Believe” and stars Riverdale‘s KJ Apa as Christian singer/songwriter Jeremy Camp and Britt Robertson as Camp’s late wife. I Still Believe follows Camp and his wife, Melissa, as the couple falls in love and tries to stand strong as Melissa battles a cancer diagnosis. In addition to Apa and Robertson, I Still Believe‘s cast includes Gary Sinise and Shania Twain as Camp’s parents and Abigail Cowen (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) as Camp’s current wife, Adrienne Camp.
Speaking of new releases, we can’t forget about Bloodshotand The Hunt. Coming in second is the Vin Diesel-led comic book adaptation earned $3.8 million domestic through Friday, with Thursday night previews totaling $1.2 million. The pic had a slightly better per theater average than #1 movie I Still Believe with $1,319 earned per theater from 2,861 theaters showing the movie nationwide. In fourth place is political satire The Hunt, which has finally hit theaters following a delay related to controversy over the movie’s subject matter. After bringing in $435,000 during Thursday night previews, The Hunt earned $2.2 million domestic through Friday. As for CinemaScores, audiences gave Bloodshot a “B” and The Hunt a “C+”.
The remaining top 5 movies at Friday’s box office included Onward at #3 and The Invisible Man at #5. The Pixar fantasy featuring starring Tom Holland and Chris Pratt conjured $3.2 million domestic on Friday, bringing its domestic total up to $53 million as it heads into its second weekend. Meanwhile, The Invisible Man scared up $1.8 million domestic, bringing its U.S. total up to $60.2 million. Made on a lean $7 million budget, this update on the classic movie monster is proving to be a rewarding investment for Universal and Blumhouse.
U.S. Weekend Box Office - "I Still Believe" debuts at No. 2
Box Office Slips Amid Coronavirus Concerns
By Brad Brevet | Box Office Mojo | March 15, 2020
Concerns over COVID-19 have continued to increase and the effect on the global box office has been felt. This weekend's top ten combined for an estimated $50.35 million, which is the lowest, week eleven combined gross for the top ten since 1995 with all holdovers dropping -60% or more compared to last weekend. With all new wide releases postponed until April 10, things are unlikely to improve.
At the top of the weekend box office is Disney and Pixar's Onward with an estimated $10.5 million, dipping an unheard of -73% compared to opening weekend. The film's domestic cume now stands at $61 million after ten days in release. Internationally, the animated feature added an estimated $6.8 million from 47 markets bringing the international cume to $41.4 million for a worldwide total that now stands at $101.7 million.
Lionsgate's release of I Still Believe debuted in second place, bringing in an estimated $9.5 million. Like all of the weekend's new releases, the film, understandably, fell below expectations, but audiences that turned out liked what they saw. Along with an "A" CinemaScore from opening day audiences, the film received a 99% audience score on RottenTomatoes. The opening weekend audience was 74% female and 73% were over the age of 25 with the studio reporting it played strongest in the South and Midwest.
Despite the challenging environment, Sony's Bloodshot almost managed to meet expectations with an estimated $9.3 million debut and, like I Still Believe, audience impression defied the critical response with the RottenTomatoes audience score coming in at 78% compared to a 31% critical rating. Opening day audiences gave the film a "B" CinemaScore.
Internationally, Bloodshot debuted in 50 markets, debuting at #1 in over half of them. Overall, the film brought in $13 million overseas for an international cume totaling $15.1 million in what Sony refers to as "a challenging environment marked by cinema closures in multiple markets". Major market debuts this weekend included Russia ($2.4m) and Mexico ($1.2m).
Universal and Blumhouse's The Invisible Man landed in third with the best hold among the weekend top ten, dipping -60% for an estimated $5.85 million, pushing the film's domestic cume over $64 million as it kicks off its third week in release. Internationally, the film added $6.2 million, pushing the overseas total over $58 million for a worldwide tally that stands at $122.7 million.
Rounding out the top five is another Universal and Blumhouse feature, the new release The Hunt, which saw its initial release delayed due to controversy surrounding the film's content and two mass shootings in the U.S. last August. The film didn't find any help this weekend, managing just $5.3 million, debuting in 3,028 locations. Opening day audiences gave the film a "C+" CinemaScore to go along with a 65% audience score on RottenTomatoes. Internationally, The Hunt opened in just four markets with the United Kingdom leading the way, finishing in third with an estimated $673k.
Limited releases include Focus's Never Rarely Sometimes Always, which opened in four locations in NY and LA with an estimated $18,000 ($4,601 PTA); Purdie's Heart of Africa opened with an estimated $24,175 in 20 theaters ($1,209 PTA); Sky Island's Inside the Rain brought in an estimated $8,000 from one theater; Bleecker's The Roads Not Taken opened in three theaters with an estimated $3,853 ($1,284 PTA)
KJ Apa & Shania Twain Draw Each Other's Portraits | Portrait Mode | Harper's BAZAAR
When Shania Twain suggests you record a duet together, you can't help but swoon. Just ask KJ Apa, who did just that when the Queen of Country Pop suggested they record together. Here, the "I Still Believe" co-stars sat down for a game of #PortraitMode and talked filming together, on-set pranks, and the undisputed best Shania Twain song of all time.
Lionsgate Will Bring ‘I Still Believe’ To PVOD A Week From Friday
Of the three wide releases to debut last weekend, I Still Believe was arguably hurt the most by the coronavirus pandemic.
By Scott Mendelson | Forbes | March 19, 2020
Lionsgate just announced that Kingdom Story Company’s I Still Believe will debut on premium video-on-demand on all relevant platforms beginning Friday, March 27. While pricing will be determined next week, the film was one of three wide releases that opened last Friday amid the growing coronavirus pandemic. Of the three, I would argue that it was most impacted.
Blumhouse’s The Hunt opened with $5.3 million, below the $10 million projection but in line with recent Universal underperformers ($6.6 million for Cats and $4.7 million for Black Christmas). Sony’s Bloodshot was tracking at $10 million. As such, its $9.17 million domestic launch (on the heels or poor reviews and little buzz) was right in line with the likes of The Last Witch Hunter ($10.8 million in 2015).
Jon and Andrew Erwin’s faith-based drama was the arguable wild card. Yes, Lionsgate had been tracking for a $10-$12 million launch. That would have been fine an under-$15 million drama with a built-in fanbase and the likelihood of legs. But The Shack opened with $16 million in 2017 and I Can Only Imagine opened with $17 million in 2018.
As such, it wasn’t beyond the bounds of probability that this KJ Apa/Britt Robertson/Shania Twain/Gary Sinese romantic drama/music biopic might overperform compared to the arguably doomed Vin Diesel actioner and the controversial Universal action thrillers. Even the $9.1 million launch would have been okay, considering the A Cinemascore grade and 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. But you can’t have legs and post-debut buzz when all of the theaters are closed.
The Hunt will debut on “$20 for a 48-hour rental” VOD tomorrow (alongside The Invisible Man and Emma. Sony’s Bloodshot will be available via electronic sell-through (“$20 to own”) this coming Tuesday. I Still Believe will be available to watch at home next Friday.
They will join “early” VOD offerings like The Gentlemen (a Guy Ritchie gangster flick) and Birds of Prey (a DC superhero/supervillain action comedy arguably structured like a Guy Ritchie gangster flick)as those late January/early February titles debut in their first stop in the post-theatrical afterlife slightly earlier than otherwise intended. I wouldn’t be remotely shocked if Warner Bros.’ Ben Affleck vehicle The Way Back is the next recent release to go down this path.
The likes of Sony’s Bad Boys for Life, Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog and Universal’s Dolittle may stay within the theatrical window for now. The big variable is China, as Chinese theaters may be open in a few weeks. Otherwise, give or take Pixar’s Onward and 20th Century’s Call of the Wild, pretty much everything of note this year has been accounted for in terms of movies already in theaters prior to the shutdown.
A24 announced that it will re-issue First Cow in theaters at a later point when theaters are (safely) open again. Almost everything else of note in the 2020 theatrical releases is either already on VOD/DVD, on their way as scheduled or frankly too small in terms of the theatrical landscape to merit much concern. By next Friday, I Still Believe will cap off the year in theatrically-released feature films for 2020, at least until China opens the doors and starts playing new movies, be they foreign imports or delayed Chinese would-be blockbusters.
In honor of “I Still Believe” coming out, here’s a sneaky peak of the makeup breakdown for Shania Twain, whom I had the absolute pleasure of working on as her Personal MUA. Makeup Department Head: @ignaciamsa SKIN: Clean and prep: @sisleyparisofficial Phyto-Blanc Toner Serum: @bbsturm Hyaluronic Serum Cream: @tataharperskincare Rebuilding Moisturizer Eye Patches: @111skin Sub Zero Eye Mask Sunblock: @tatcha Silken Pore Sunscreen
FACE: Foundation: @diormakeup Capture Totale Concealer: @kohgendo Maifanshi Moisture Fit Bronzer: @tomfordbeauty Shade and Illuminate Blush: @glossier Cloud Cream in “Dawn” Eyebrows: @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Wiz and @urbandecaycosmetics Brow Blade Shadow: @viseartofficial “Paris Edit” Eyeshadow Palette Mascara: @patmcgrathreal Fetisheyes Lip Liner: @bobbibrown in “Nude” Lips: @olioeosso Balm No. 14 “Dusty Rose” Inner Glow: Provided by Mrs. Twain.
KJ Apa’s ‘I Still Believe’ is Available to Stream Right Now
By Greta Bjornson | Decider | March 27, 2020
For audiences craving a romance and a good cry this weekend, a new film has dropped early on VOD. After just two weeks in theaters, I Still Believe is available for streaming starting today! The faith-based film is a true story that chronicles the romance of Jeremy Camp (KJ Apa) and Melissa Henning (Britt Robertson).
“We are heartbroken that we can’t share I Still Believe on a big screen the way we intended,” directors Jon and Andrew Ervin shared in a statement. “But the safety of guests comes first, and we’re proud to have the opportunity to share online a movie whose inspiring message of love, hope and faith is perfect for these uncertain times.”
Based off of Camp’s memoir of the same name, I Still Believe tells the story of the musician’s first wife and their decision to get married even though she had been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. The film follows Camp before and after his marriage to Henning, including his time at college and his rise in the Christian music industry. Riverdale fans are sure to recognize Apa as their favorite red-head, Archie Andrews, but country music listeners are in for a small treat, too: the cast features musician Shania Twain playing the role of Camp’s mother.
With its early VOD release, I Still Believe joins popular titles like The Hunt, Birds of Prey and Portrait of a Lady onFire, all of which were affected by coronavirus movie theaters closures and had to readjust their release schedule to become more accessible to viewers stuck at home during quarantine and practicing self isolation.