Woodlawn was the ninth highest grossing film at the Box Office this past weekend, but it received the highest fan reviews of any new release, signaling it could be well positioned for a sustained run in theaters.
The film, which was set and filmed in Birmingham, has thus far received 92% positive fan reviews on the popular movie critic website Rotten Tomatoes. Tom Hanks’ latest thriller, Bridge of Spies, is currently just behind at 91%, although it debuted higher on the Box Office charts, coming in at No. 3.
Here are the current fan ratings of several notable movies that were released the weekend of Oct. 16th.
Woodlawn: 92%
Bridge of Spies: 91%
Goosebumps: 77%
Crimson Peak: 66%
Experimenter: 62%
Truth: 48%
Woodlawn is based on true events surrounding the 1974 Banks vs. Woodlawn football game at Birmingham’s Legion Field. It still holds the record for largest attendance at an Alabama high school football game. The film follows Woodlawn running back Tony Nathan’s recruitment by famed University of Alabama Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant (played by Academy Award winner Jon Voight) during a period when the state was embroiled in racial tensions.
Professional film critics have historically panned “Christian movies.” But Woodlawn has received mostly positive reviews from the critics, in spite of the director’s provocative declaration that he doesn’t have to “water down the Gospel” to make a blockbuster.
“Sports and religion are a potent combination, one that siblings Jon and Andrew Erwin exploit to canny effect in their new film based on the real-life Woodlawn High School football team,” wrote Frank Scheck of the Hollywood Reporter.
“The overall narrative mix of history lesson, gridiron action and spiritual uplift is effectively and satisfyingly sustained,” added Variety’s Joe Leydon.
Woodlawn was shown on over 1,500 screens and brought in $4.1 million at the Box Office in its opening weekend.
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