In an article in USA Today, Michael Medved reflects on the underlying message Hollywood is sending with its Oscar nominations. Basically, they are afraid of traditional religion.
He also raises an interesting point regarding the historical success of biblical films. He notes:
Between 1949 and 1959, six religious-themed pictures (Samson and Delilah, David and Bathsheba, Quo Vadis, The Robe, The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur) each became the nation's top box-office hit in the year of its release, while drawing significant Oscar attention. Ben Hur, in fact, set a record that lasted for nearly 40 years with its 11 Academy Awards.
Now against this historical backdrop, and with the recent success of films like The Passion of the Christ, and the growing lament of the left at the religiosity of America, if I were a studio exec, I'd start releasing religious films left and right out of sheer greed if nothing else. "Left Behind" on the big screen would be a no-brainer. Perhaps the studios are more principled than we give them credit for?
Hat tip on this one to Barbara at Church of the Masses.