AFTER DEATH Achieves Top Faith-Based Documentary of All Time

Published: November 9, 2023

AFTER DEATH Achieves Top Faith-Based Documentary of All Time

By Movieguide® Contributor

Angels Studios, the production company behind the blockbuster SOUND OF FREEDOM, reached two new milestones with its latest documentary, AFTER DEATH.

The documentary is the “top grossing faith-based documentary of all time” and “the top grossing documentary since 2019,” Angles Studios says.

It’s “a testament to Angel Studios’ disruptive track record,” said Brandon Purdie, Angel Studios’ VP and Head of Theatrical. “Once more, we’ve partnered with valued exhibitors to rekindle the passion of audiences who haven’t visited the cinema in years.”

The documentary explores the memories of survivors who faced near-death experiences. It uncovers records of those who’ve had out-of-body experiences while they were unconscious, as well as those who believed they visited heaven or hell. The movie earned a +3 content rating from Movieguide®.

The New York Times reported, “This documentary convenes a supergroup of writers and survivors: from early expounders like the author Raymond Moody (widely credited with coining the term ‘near-death experience’) and the cardiologist Michael Sabom, to such recent best-selling names as the pastor Don Piper (’90 Minutes in Heaven’) and a surgeon, Mary Neal (‘To Heaven and Back’).”

Movieguide® reported on AFTER DEATH’s strong opening weekend:

AFTER DEATH had a strong opening weekend, placing fourth at the box office as it made its mark as the twelfth highest-grossing opening for a documentary of all time.

The movie brought in an estimated $5 million over the weekend as it explored the question, “What happens after we die?”

“This weekend, the success of AFTER DEATH underscores cinema’s vital role as a powerful communal space for pondering profound questions, igniting the deepest yearnings, and fostering collective hope,” said Brandon Purdie.

Deadline noted that for a documentary to open in more than 2,600 theaters in its first weekend is impressive. The source said it’s “an extremely wide release for a doc that doesn’t also happen to be a concert film.”

Part of Movieguide®’s review reads:

AFTER DEATH is a fascinating, inspiring look into the nature of thousands of near death experiences. It explores the scientific evidence, the encounters people have had, and how the experiences affected them and their lives afterwards. AFTER DEATH has wonderful special effects that help make it a cinematic experience. Best of all, however, it has a strong Christian worldview promoting hope, love, purpose, meaning, and life. It encourages viewers to stop and consider Eternity. It also tells viewers, “What we say and do really matters.”