Why These Conservative Movies Are Winning at the Box Office
By Movieguide® Contributor
Two conservative films are performing well at the box office this month, proving that moviegoers really do care about strong morals and family values.
REAGAN, starring Dennis Quaid, and Matt Walsh’s AM I RACIST? have both been doing well this month. So far, REAGAN has grossed $26 million, and Walsh’s film has taken over $9 million and scored “the top opening for a political doc in 20 years.”
Despite their popularity with fans, both films have received some backlash due to their controversial and political nature.
“Several film critics have panned Quaid’s movie, with The Washington Post calling it ‘shallow hagiography’ and New York Magazine describing it as a ‘disservice’ to Reagan the president. The biopic has a 17% critic approval on Rotten Tomatoes, but boosts a 98% Popcornmeter rating and an average of 4.7 stars on Google’s audience ratings. Meanwhile, AM I RACIST? has a 73% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a 98% Popcornmeter rating and a 7.5 out of 10 on IMDB,” MSN reported.
“We had the largest gap in cinema history between critics and audiences; 98% of the audience loved the movie,” said Quaid. “And I think it was 19% or 20% of critics liked the movie. The rest not only panned it, but basically attacked it. So, I guess we must be doing something right.”
Movieguide® praised both films for their moral worldviews, something that will always draw an audience.
REAGAN received a +1 content score. The review reads:
Dennis Quaid gives a bravura performance in REAGAN as the beloved President, union leader and movie star. He’s just as good during the more intimate scenes as he is in the iconic public scenes. He’s supported by a great cast, including Jon Voight as a KGB analyst who closely follows Reagan’s beliefs and behavior. The movie’s focus on Reagan’s fight against communism gives a strong narrative structure to REAGAN’s stirring story of faith and patriotism.
Due to some language, AM I RACIST? earned a -2 content rating from Movieguide®. The review reads:
AM I RACIST? is often funny and sometimes hilarious. Some of the comments against racism and white people by the Marxist race hustlers are unintentionally hilarious but also outrageous. Matt plays along with them and says a few crazy things himself. AM I RACIST? uses satire to expose Marxist “antiracist” ideology and identity politics as the fraud they truly are. Some of the people in AM I RACIST who are interviewed or depicted utter some obscenities, but the “f” words are bleeped out to get a PG-13 rating. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution.
