Is Genesis History? is a 2017 American Christian film by Thomas Purifoy Jr. that promotes the pseudoscientific notion of Young Earth creationism, a form of creation science built on beliefs that contradict established scientific facts regarding the origin of the Universe, the age of the Earth and universe, the origin of the Solar System, and the origin and evolution of life.[3] The film suggests the Earth was created in six days of 24-hours each in opposition to day-age creationism, and also advocates the Genesis biblical narratives of Adam and Eve, the Fall, the global flood, and the tower of Babel. It grossed $2.6 million in theaters and $3.3 million in video sales.
| Is Genesis History? | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Thomas Purifoy Jr. |
| Written by | Thomas Purifoy Jr. |
| Produced by | Thomas Purifoy Jr. |
| Starring | |
| Distributed by | Fathom Events |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Box office | $2.6 million[2] |
Production
editThe film was written, directed, and produced by Thomas Purifoy Jr., who said he was inspired to make it after his daughter watched the Bill Nye–Ken Ham debate in 2014 and began asking him questions about the creation–evolution controversy.[4] Del Tackett, the creator of Focus on the Family's "The Truth Project", narrates the film.[5][6] Interviewing thirteen creationists, the narrator of the film argues that Genesis portrays real historical events.[5][7] Other speakers include creationists George Grant, Paul Nelson, Marcus R. Ross, Andrew A. Snelling, and Kurt Wise, and also Larry Vardiman in the film's bonus features.
Release history
editIs Genesis History? was released into American theaters on Thursday, February 23, 2017.[1] It was shown in 704 theaters and grossed $1.8 million in one night.[1] Over 143,000 people saw the film that night, and its box office earnings were the highest of any film in theaters in the United States that night.[8][9][10] The film was shown again in theaters on March 2 and 7, 2017, in the United States,[9][10] and also in Canada on March 14, 2017. The film went on to earn a total box office of $2.6 million, after the encore showings.[2] The film was re-released in around 850 theaters for an anniversary showing on February 22, 2018, with a bonus scene of Wheaton College students touring the Ark Encounter, a creationist attraction operated by Answers in Genesis, a fundamentalist apologetics organization. The students were members of a creationist club which had requested a screening of the film, leading to controversy among the Christian school's faculty, nearly all of whom reject the "historical creationism" narrative that Is Genesis History? presents.[11]
A follow-up film, Mountains after the Flood, was released in 2023.[12][13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Is Genesis History? at Box Office Mojo
- ^ a b "Is Genesis History? (2017)". The Numbers. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
- ^ Cade, Lars (June 26, 2017). "Is Genesis History: Digging for Truth and Coming up Empty-Handed". Naturalis Historia. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ Storm, Christie (February 18, 2017). "Daughter's Queries Prompted Genesis Film". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Law, Jeannie (February 16, 2017). "Evidence of Young Earth Creationism Will Debunk Current Scientific Paradigm, Filmmaker Says". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- ^ Fraser, Trevor (February 16, 2017). "Movie Musings: Genesis, Leon Russell and More". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ^ Tomlin, Gregory (November 29, 2016). "Is Genesis History? Film Aims to Answer Questions of Creation, Evolution, Global Flood". Christian Examiner. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- ^ Guerrasio, Jason (April 5, 2017). "How religious movies are thriving more than ever before under Trump". Business Insider. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
- ^ a b Law, Jeannie (March 4, 2017). "'Is Genesis History?' Film on Young Earth Creationism Returns to Theaters for Encore Screening". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- ^ a b "Is Genesis History? Fathom Event Hits No. 1 in Box Office, Returns to Theaters March 2nd and 7th". AMFM Magazine. February 27, 2017. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- ^ Showalter, Brandon (February 21, 2018). "Young Earth Creationist, Wheaton College Students Speak at 1-Y Anniv. Release of 'Is Genesis History?'". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ Duff, R. Joel (June 24, 2021). "Young-Earth Creationism in 2021: The Dawn of The New Creationists, Part 1". The Natural Historian. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ Tomlinson, Caroline (February 24, 2023). "Premiere: "Is Genesis History? Mountains After the Flood"". Cedarville University. Retrieved April 22, 2024.