Pinnacle Peak Pictures Explained

Pinnacle Peak Pictures
Type:Private
Genre:Religious
Founders:David A. R. White
Russell Wolfe
Location City:Scottsdale, Arizona
Location Country:U.S.
Key People:David A. R. White
Michael Scott (CEO)[1]
Industry:Entertainment
Products:Christian films
Services:Educational curriculum
Revenue:$27.4 million (2018 box office receipts)[2]

Pinnacle Peak Pictures (formerly Pure Flix Entertainment until January 2021) is an American evangelical Christian film production and distribution studio founded by David A. R. White and Russell Wolfe.[3] Pinnacle Peak produces Christian films, including God's Not Dead (2014), Do You Believe? (2015), Woodlawn (2015), The Case for Christ (2017), and Unplanned (2019). Since 2014, films produced and distributed by Pure Flix have collectively grossed over $195 million at the worldwide box office.[4] The company has headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona.

History

Pinnacle Peak was founded in 2005 by David A. R. White, Michael Scott, Russell Wolfe, Randy Travis, Byron M. Jones[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] and Elizabeth Travis as Pure Flix Entertainment.[11] [12]

Since its foundation, the company has created many films, such as The Wager,[13] Home Beyond the Sun, In the Blink of an Eye, Sarah's Choice,[14] , , Holyman Undercover, and Samson.

The company produced Jerusalem Countdown in 2011, with 10 West Studios.[15] They also produced the first two seasons of TBN's Travel the Road. God's Not Dead (2014) starring Kevin Sorbo, Shane Harper, and Dean Cain earned over $60 million in the U.S. box office and was released in digital format by Lionsgate on August 5, 2014.

In November 2015, Pure Flix established an in-house distribution arm, hiring former Regal executive Ken Rather as head. The studio planned for God's Not Dead 2 to be its first self-distributed film.[16] Also in 2015, Pure Flix launched a subscription streaming service of the same name, which would be devoted to Christian and family-friendly films and television series.[17] In 2016, Pure Flix launched "Keep the Faith", a curriculum supplement for homeschooling. [18]

Pure Flix partnered with the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference to supply further opportunities for Hispanic actors to improve the media representation of the Hispanic community.[19] [20] In 2016, Pure Flix reached a multi-year home media distribution deal with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, starting with Woodlawn.[21]

On November 12, 2020, Pure Flix announced that it would sell its eponymous streaming service to Sony Pictures Entertainment (via its Affirm Films subsidiary); financial details were not disclosed.[22] [23] The acquisition included rights to the "Pure Flix" brand, thus the studio was rebranded as Pinnacle Peak Pictures in January 2021.[24]

God's Not Dead series

Their film God's Not Dead was 2014's highest-grossing independent film[25] and one of the most successful independent faith-based films of all time despite negative criticism.[26] A second film, God's Not Dead 2 grossed over $1.4 million in Brazil[27] and was considered by Vox to be "moderately commercially successful".[28] A third film, titled , was released on March 30, 2018. A fourth film, , was released in October 2021. The Christian band Newsboys appear in and provide music for the first two films in the series.[29] Legalities related to the Johnson Amendment were referenced in the second film.[30]

Productions and distributions

Film

Release dateTitleNotes
2004Home Beyond the Sun
2007The Wager
2008The Imposter
2009
Sarah's Choice
In the Blink of an Eye
2010Holyman Undercover
What If...[32]
The Bill Collector
2011The Encounter
Jerusalem Countdown[33]
2012Ghost Soldiers
Apostle Peter and the Last Supper[34]
The Mark
2013The Book of Esther[35]
The Book of Daniel[36]
2014God's Not Dead[37]
Moms' Night OutProduced by TriStar Pictures, Affirm Films, Provident Films, and Four Boys Entertainment
2015Do You Believe?[38]
Old Fashioned
Faith of Our Fathers
Woodlawn[39]
2016God's Not Dead 2
I'm Not AshamedProduced by Big Film Factory and Visible Pictures
2017The Case for Christ[40]
Same Kind of Different as MeDistribution only
Produced by Disruption Entertainment and Paramount Pictures
2018SamsonProduced by Boomtown Films
Produced by Universal 1440 Entertainment and The WTA Group
Shake Off the World[41]
Little WomenProduced by Paulist Productions and Main Dog Productions
Indivisible
2019Unplanned
2021[42]
2022Redeeming Love[43] Produced by Universal Pictures, Nitibah Pictures, and Mission Pictures International
2024God's Not Dead:In God We Trust

Television

Subsidiaries

Pinnacle Peak owns a subsidiary known as Quality Flix.[44] Quality Flix works with international films, in contrast to Pinnacle Peak, which is primarily focused on distribution of films within the United States.[45]

Controversies

In 2019, Pure Flix's anti-abortion film Unplanned attracted controversy in both mainstream and evangelical media. Some Christian commentators perceived the film as being unfairly censored after it received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America and following a brief and subsequently rescinded suspension of the film's Twitter account.[46] [47] Michael Gryboski, writing for Christian Post, criticized major Canadian film distributors (such as Cineplex) refusal to screen the film in the country, calling it a "de facto ban".[48] Film critic Normal Wilner countered that statement by accusing the distributors of employing disingenuous tactics to "manufacture a controversy", pointing out that the film was eventually shown in about 25 Cineplex and Landmark theaters in Canada and claiming nothing had prevented an earlier release. In turn, he pointed out Pure Flix's decision of deliberately choosing not to screen Unplanned for critics to avoid negative reviews.[49] After its release, some criticized Unplanned for 'dangerous' inaccuracies.[50]

Despite Pure Flix films generally being well-received by its evangelical Christian viewership, the company has also attracted criticism from several Christian commentators. Film critic Alissa Wilkinson, who wrote for Christianity Today and teaches at the Christian King's College in New York City, criticized Pure Flix films for being intellectually unstimulating and reinforcing their audience's prejudices "instead of exercising and challenging the imagination of their audience in ways that would make their audience better Christians".[51] She also criticized the studio's successful God's Not Dead trilogy for being "far more interested in bolstering a certain sort of persecution complex than in encouraging its audience toward Christlike behavior".[52] Justin Chang, another film critic who identifies as Christian, likewise criticized Pure Flix's brand of faith-based films for what he perceived as their "self-victimizing" depiction of the evangelical Christian community.[53] Kayla Bartsch, writing for National Review, argued that Pure Flix's films "work to confirm the hypothesis that American Christianity must be artless and unrefined", making a case for more nuanced and stimulating religious films.[54]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scribner . Herb . 'This isn't just about a movie': Pure Flix CEO explains why he wants movie rights to Thai cave rescue story . . July 11, 2018 . August 2, 2018.
  2. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/chart/?view=company&view2=release&yr=2018&timeframe=yty&sort=&order=&studio=pureflix.htm Pure Flix Box Office Receipts by Release Date | Box Office Mojo
  3. Web site: Genius Products Announces Exclusive DVD and Digital Rights Distribution Agreement with Pure Flix Entertainment. 11 March 2014. BusinessWire.com. Business Wire. https://web.archive.org/web/20170910143138/http://www.businesswire.com/news/google/20080311005610/en. September 10, 2017. dead. 5 August 2014. BusinessWire Genius.
  4. Web site: Pure Flix Production Company Box Office History . The Numbers. December 20, 2019.
  5. Web site: Pure Flix Entertainment LLC . Pure Flix Entertainment . Pure Flix . https://web.archive.org/web/20070509015751/http://www.pureflixentertainment.com/ . 12 September 2023. 2007-05-09 .
  6. Web site: A conversation with Pure Flix's David A.R.White: Faulty brakes, broken radiator, spiritual battles—and the Lord's favor (Part 3) « Word News.
  7. Web site: "Heaven is for Real" is a compelling story, not a canned sermon. 17 April 2014.
  8. Web site: Byron Jones – Mountain Top Entertainment.
  9. Web site: Pure Flix Entertainment LLC . www.pureflixentertainment.com . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070109054939/http://www.pureflixentertainment.com/ . 9 January 2007 . dead.
  10. Web site: Randy Travis Still Inspiring Others After Stroke. 4 July 2019.
  11. Mia Galuppo, hollywoodreporter.com, Faith-Based Company Pure Flix Launches Theatrical Distribution Arm, US, November 17, 2015
  12. Katherine Rosman, nytimes.com, Forget Netflix and Chill. Try Pure Flix and Pray., New York, April 22, 2017
  13. Web site: New Production Releases On DVD November 17. November 18, 2009. Breathcast. https://web.archive.org/web/20120311094913/http://breathecast.christianpost.com/Christian.Music.News-New.Production.By.Mike.Norris.And.Executive.Producer.Chuck.Norris.Releases.On.DVD.November.17/1_3365.htm. March 11, 2012. dead. December 12, 2009.
  14. Web site: Pro-Life Movie Starring Rebecca St. James Hits Stores . Donovan . Kevin P. . November 23, 2009 . . December 12, 2009.
  15. Web site: Movie Shoot Aboard S.S. Badger . Jokich . Alex . Greg Miller . April 13, 2010 . . April 15, 2010.
  16. Web site: Patrick Hipes . 17 November 2015 . 'God's Not Dead' Producer Pure Flix Launches Theatrical Distribution Arm . Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 2016
  17. Gene Maddaus . 2016-12-19 . PureFlix Lets Users Delete Words Like 'Hell' and 'Damn' . Variety.com . 2018-04-09.
  18. Web site: 2016-09-19 . Hollywood movie house launches free curriculum for home-school families . 2023-07-06 . . en.
  19. News: Pure Flix, NHCLC Transform Hispanic Roles in Hollywood With Ambitious Film Industry Project. The Christian Post. Kevin Porter. November 2016.
  20. Jerry Bowyer, The Case For "The Case For Christ" And Other Christian-Themed Films, forbes.com, USA, September 25, 2017
  21. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment . Pure Flix Entertainment & Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Enter Into Long Term, Multi-year Distribution Agreement . CISION® PR Newswire . 2 June 2018.
  22. Web site: Ortega . Jeannie . 2020-11-13 . Sony buys Christian streaming service Pure Flix to further reach faith audience . 2023-07-06 . The Christian Post . en-US.
  23. News: Faughnder . Ryan . 2020-11-12 . Seeking Christian viewers, Sony acquires 'God's Not Dead' producers' streaming service . en-US . . 2020-11-13.
  24. Web site: 2021-01-22. Pure Flix Rebrands as Pinnacle Peak Pictures. 2021-04-27. The Hollywood Reporter. en.
  25. News: 'God's Not Dead' Creators Hope for Double Blessing. Efrem Graham. Christian Broadcasting Network. 2016-11-04.
  26. News: 'God's Not Dead 3' Is in the Works, Says Actor-Producer David AR White (Interview). Jeannie Law. The Christian Post. December 2016.
  27. Web site: God's Not Dead 2 . Boxofficemojo.com . 2016-04-01 . 2018-04-09.
  28. Web site: How 2016's movies and TV reflected Americans' changing relationship with religion. Alissa Wilkinson. . December 2016.
  29. News: 7 fast facts about Newsboys before Fraze show. Dayton Daily News. Don Thrasher. 2016-11-05.
  30. Web site: Mike Pence's church pitch, the Johnson Amendment, and the decline of the religious right. Vox. Alissa Wilkinson. November 2016.
  31. News: 'God's Not Dead' Earns Two Prestigious Awards, Sequel Film in Development. Emma Koonse. The Christian Post. 2016-11-04.
  32. Web site: What if.... AllMovie. 9 August 2013. 2010.
  33. Web site: Jerusalem Countdown. AllMovie. 9 August 2013. 2011.
  34. Web site: Buchanan. Jason. Apostle Peter and the Last Supper. AllMovie. 9 August 2013. 2012.
  35. Web site: Book of Esther. AllMovie. 16 March 2014. 2013.
  36. Web site: The Book of Daniel. AllMovie. 16 March 2014. 2013.
  37. Web site: God's Not Dead. YouTube: GodsNotDeadTheMovie. 5 August 2014. 14 August 2013.
  38. McNary. Dave. AFM: Faith-Based 'Do You Believe?' Aims to Match 'God's Not Dead' Success. 14 June 2015. Variety. 28 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150203180121/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/do-you-believe-american-film-market-1201341248/. 3 February 2015. “Do You Believe?” focuses on a dozen different lives that intersect on the streets of Chicago, starting with a local pastor (Ted McGinley) being moved by the visible faith of an old street-corner preacher, played by Delroy Lindo..
  39. Web site: webadmin. Woodlawn: Dare to Believe Will Come to Theaters in October. PeopleNet. 14 June 2015. 7 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151006151830/http://peoplenetv.com/woodlawn-dare-to-believe-will-come-to-theaters-in-october/. 6 October 2015. dead.
  40. News: Ex-Atheist Lee Strobel's Journey From Atheism to Christ Hits Theaters in Spring 2017 (Trailer) . The Christian Post. Jeannie Law . Retrieved November 2016
  41. Web site: Avondale releases 2 films, start work on 3rd. robesonian. 2018-08-17. Robesonian. en-US. 2020-01-02.
  42. Web site: October Premiere Date Set for "God's Not Dead: We the People". 2021-07-26. 2021-08-25. Christian Film Blog. Bonifield. Thomas.
  43. Web site: DJ Caruso Adapts Romance Novel 'Redeeming Love' With Abigail Cowen, Tom Lewis. The Wrap. Bryan Welk. April 29, 2020. July 3, 2020.
  44. Web site: How a faith-based movie studio is seizing the moment in Trump's America. Arkin. Daniel. August 5, 2018. NBC News. NBC Universal.
  45. Web site: Pure Flix / Quality Flix . Quality Flix . 22 August 2018.
  46. Web site: Unplanned: How it has been censored and why it is significant. Lamm. Olivia. 2019-04-09. Mississippi Center for Public Policy. en-US. 2020-03-04.
  47. Web site: 'Unplanned' makes twice the expected box office sales despite social media censorship. www.christianpost.com. April 2019 . en. 2020-03-04.
  48. Web site: 'Unplanned' finally coming to Canada after de facto ban of pro-life film. www.christianpost.com. 17 June 2019 . en. 2020-03-04.
  49. Web site: The manufactured controversy over anti-abortion movie Unplanned. Wilner. Norman. 2019-07-09. NOW Magazine. en-us. 2020-03-04.
  50. News: Jeltsen. Melissa. 17 April 2019. The Anti-Abortion Movie 'Unplanned' Is Loaded With Dangerous Lies. Huffington Post.
  51. Web site: I'm a Christian and I Hate Christian Movies. Wilkinson. Alissa. 2016-03-30. Thrillist. 2020-03-04.
  52. Web site: How the Christian movie series God's Not Dead fails to be Christian. Wilkinson. Alissa. 2018-04-03. Vox. en. 2020-03-04.
  53. Web site: A Christian critic wrestles with new biblical films and the hope of a better 'faith-based' cinema. 2018-03-30. Los Angeles Times. en-US. 2020-03-04.
  54. Web site: The Catholic Film Alliance and a Rebirth of Religious Patronage of the Arts. 2019-06-30. National Review. en-US. 2020-03-04.

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