Is Jesus Revolution Based On A True Story, What Happens At The End Of Jesus Revolution Movie?
by Subhashree M
Updated Feb 27, 2023
Jesus Revolution Wiki
Jesus Revolution is a Christian drama movie directed by Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle, released in 2023. The plot revolves around the story of youth minister Greg Laurie and pastor Chuck Smith, played by Joel Courtney and Kelsey Grammer, respectively, as they take part in the Jesus movement in California in the late-1960s. Along with the two lead actors, Anna Grace Barlow, Jonathan Roumie, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley also appear in the film. The movie was released by Lionsgate and grossed $15 million, receiving mixed reviews from critics but being well-received by the audience. The production was announced in June 2018, with Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn writing the screenplay and Gunn directing, and Greg Laurie, Kevin Downes, and the Erwin Brothers producing. Jim Gaffigan and Joel Courtney were initially cast in the lead roles in June 2020, but Gaffigan was eventually replaced by Kelsey Grammer. The filming took place in Mobile, Alabama, and some parts were shot on-location in California. The movie premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on February 15, 2023, and was released in the United States on February 24, 2023, alongside Cocaine Bear. The movie was projected to gross $6–7 million in its opening weekend from 2,475 theaters in the US and Canada. However, it exceeded the expectations and made $15.5 million in its debut weekend, finishing in third place.
Is Jesus Revolution Based On A True Story?
Yes, ‘Jesus Revolution’ is based on a true story. The movie 'The Jesus Revolution' is based on the 2018 novel 'Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today' by Greg Laurie, an Evangelical Baptist Pastor, and Ellen Vaughn. The story follows the Jesus Movement, a Christian revival that emerged in 1970s California. Greg Laurie, the main protagonist of the story, is a renowned author, Senior Pastor, and Founder of Harvest Christian Fellowship, a large megachurch in the US. He started the Harvest Crusades in 1990, which organizes evangelical conferences.Greg Laurie was born in Long Beach, California, in December 1952, and was raised by a single mother. He became a devout Christian at 17 when he met Lonnie Frisbee, a Charismatic Evangelist who was a Minister at Laurie's school. In 1973, Laurie started conducting a home Bible study group of 30 people under the ministry of Pastor Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel.
This group grew larger, and Laurie formed the Harvest Christian Fellowship church that same year. With Pastor Chuck Smith's guidance and mentorship, the church's mission spread nationwide, and large-scale evangelical events started under Harvest Crusades in 1990.The Jesus Movement was a faith revival movement that gained prominence in the media and popular culture. It attracted many youths who were associated with the Hippie community and who turned to Christianity.
These young members often lived in communes and attended Bible study, replacing alcohol and drugs with religious faith. Although some older and conservative members of Calvary Chapel were unhappy with Pastor Smith's decision of welcoming Hippie youth into the church, he chose to take them under his wing, eventually giving a new life to the otherwise diminishing church and helping it grow exponentially.The movie 'The Jesus Revolution' realistically portrays the Jesus Movement and its origins, highlighting the contributions of Greg Laurie, Pastor Chuck Smith, and Lonnie Frisbee.
Greg Laurie himself affirmed the movie's authenticity and expressed his excitement about the project. He stated that the movie was not about him or other individuals but about how Jesus moved and sent a spiritual awakening in their lives that is still being felt today. Kelsey Grammer, who essays the role of Pastor Chuck Smith in the movie, expressed his gratitude for being a part of the project and shared how people he met talked about their experiences with Pastor Smith.The movie accurately depicts the real experiences of people who were a part of the Jesus Movement and its impact on their lives. Although a few details may have been embellished for entertainment, 'The Jesus Revolution' is mainly an authentic tale of finding one's life purpose through faith in God.
Jesus Revolution Reviews
Back in the era of hippies, Woodstock, and peace signs, before the emergence of mega-churches and televangelists, there was a group of passionate Christians known as "Jesus freaks." They did not dress up for church on Sundays and lived simply and communally, inspired by charismatic leaders. The June 21, 1971, cover story in TIME Magazine titled “The Jesus Revolution” described them as having an extraordinary sense of joy and communicating love more sincerely than a slogan.
The story and message of a new film, also titled “Jesus Revolution,” based on a book by one of the leaders of the “Jesus freaks,” Greg Laurie, tells the story of Chuck Smith, a minister in California, who is persuaded by his daughter to talk to the long-haired and improbably named Lonnie Frisbee. Frisbee tells Smith there's an opportunity to reach hippies by showing them that the right place is God. Smith brings Frisbee and his followers into his home and church, and while some members leave in disgust, others are touched by the newcomers' sincerity.
The film is gently told, preaching to the converts and assuming that evangelical Christianity is unassailably the answer. However, it does not explore the hard questions about how the cleansing of baptism does not necessarily lead to a perpetually "buoyant atmosphere of hope and love." The film is capably made but superficial and more of a wistful wish to bring in a wave of new followers than an effort to understand what they'll need once they’re there.
What Happens At The End Of Jesus Revolution Movie?
The Jesus Revolution movie tells the story of a group of young people in the late 1960s and early 1970s who became passionate Christians and formed a community around their faith. The film follows the journey of Lonnie Frisbee, a former hippie turned evangelical Christian who played a key role in the movement, and Chuck Smith, a traditional church minister who welcomed the "Jesus freaks" into his church.At the end of the movie, there is a brief text over the end credits stating that Lonnie Frisbee and Chuck Smith later reconciled after an acrimonious split. However, the film does not delve into the troubled years covered in the documentary "Frisbee: The Life and Death of a Hippie Preacher," which explores Frisbee's struggles with substance abuse and his eventual death from AIDS.Overall, the movie is a gently told story that preaches to the converted and assumes that evangelical Christianity is the answer without considering that this particular form of worship may not be the answer for all. The film ends with a promise of forgiveness, freedom, and acceptance for those seeking God, but does not delve into the complexities and challenges that may arise on that spiritual journey.
Jesus Revolution Movie Ending Explained
The ending of the "Jesus Revolution" movie depicts the acrimonious split between Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee, one of the leaders of the Jesus freaks movement. Frisbee's erratic behavior and struggles with substance abuse and homosexuality led to his dismissal from Calvary Chapel, which resulted in a period of turmoil and instability for both Frisbee and the movement as a whole.The film does not go into detail about Frisbee's troubled years after his dismissal, nor does it explore the challenges and conflicts that arose within the movement as a result of his departure. Instead, the movie ends with a brief text over the end credits stating that Frisbee and Smith later reconciled.Overall, the ending of the "Jesus Revolution" movie emphasizes the transformative power of faith and the importance of community and acceptance. While the film does not delve deeply into the complexities of the Jesus freaks movement or Frisbee's struggles, it provides a hopeful and uplifting portrayal of a group of passionate Christians who sought to bring love and joy to a world in need of hope.
Is Jesus Revolution Based On A True Story - FAQs
Yes, "Jesus Revolution" is based on a true story. It is inspired by the book "Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and Changed the World Forever" by Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn.
The film depicts the story of Lonnie Frisbee, a Christian evangelist and key figure in the Jesus People movement, and Chuck Smith, a pastor who founded the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California. The film also features Greg Laurie, a pastor and author who was part of the Jesus People movement.
While the film takes some creative liberties and condenses timelines, it generally follows the real-life events and people it portrays. The filmmakers consulted with Greg Laurie and others involved in the Jesus People movement to ensure the film was as accurate as possible.
The Jesus People movement was a cultural phenomenon that swept across the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was a countercultural movement that combined the hippie lifestyle with Christian faith, and it helped to shape contemporary evangelical Christianity.