Monday’s headlines were full of good news from the box office:
Unplanned, the powerful abortion-themed movie featuring Focus author and former Planned Parenthood director, Abby Johnson, grossed $6.1 million – more than doubling expectations. It was the second-largest launch for the Christian filmmaker Pure Flix, tracking only behind their hit, God’s Not Dead 2 ($7.6 million).
Industry experts were shocked at the NEW film’s popularity. In response to its strong opening weekend, an additional 700 theaters will now be showing the film.
As many of you know, the movie is the real-life story of Abby Johnson, who, as a young woman, was once employed by Planned Parenthood. After witnessing a gruesome abortion, however, she defected and became a pro-life activist. She’s told her story on the Focus on the Family radio program and wrote a bestselling book detailing the fraud, deceit and evil that she witnessed inside the abortion industry.
The film received an “R” rating due to the violent nature of abortion. Adam Holz of our award-winning Plugged In team reviewed it, and offered a very sobering but pointed analysis of the project:
Unplanned forces us to look at an awful reality that we might be tempted to minimize. The film’s depiction of a fetus being sucked, limb by limb, from its mother’s womb cannot be unseen.
But unlike so much of our culture’s fascination and infatuation with gore and violence, that scene depicts something that really happens. Since 1973, an estimated 56 million abortions have been performed in the United States. Sixty million souls knit together in God’s image. Sixty million souls that never drew a breath. It’s a moral travesty that’s incomprehensible in its scope.
Unplanned is an important film because it makes us consider the moral weight of this otherwise mind-numbing statistic. Through the eyes of one woman who once believed she was doing good, we see the horror of abortion for what it truly is.
I’m neither a prophet nor a prognosticator, but I wasn’t shocked to see how well the movie performed.
Why?
Over the last few months, we’ve been hearing from countless Christians who are frustrated with politicians who, now in power, are overreaching and expanding abortion rights – right up till birth, and even beyond.
I’m hearing from people who want to do something. They want to make a difference. They want to help save babies’ lives.
This energy and conviction are what’s behind our upcoming pro-life event in Times Square.
“Alive from New York” will feature live music, inspiring speakers and a live 4D ultrasound – broadcast on several giant digital screens at “the crossroads of the world.” For over a century, Times Square has been the site of mass celebrations – of New Year’ and the end of world wars. On May 4th, we’ll also be gathering to celebrate – this time to celebrate preborn life. By the time the program has concluded, nobody should question whether life inside the womb is viable or real.
Please consider joining us in New York City on May 4th. Click here to register. If you’re unable to be in Times Square, I hope you’ll consider watching via livestream. You’ll also need to register for that special broadcast.
The long campaign to protect every life under law continues. We need your prayers and we need your support. Thank you for your ongoing friendship, and please help spread the word!
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