Nicolas Cage stars in Christian film

The film version of the successful Left Behind book series hits the big screen this Friday. Nicolas Cage stars in the film that's directed by legendary stunt man Vic Armstrong who did work on the “Indiana Jones” movies. Cage plays an airline pilot who must land his plane when millions of people disappear. It's not the only religious film on the way. The Biblical epic Exodus is set for theaters this December and a prequel to The Passion of the Christ with Ben Kingsley called Mary won't be far behind. Here's the trailer for Left Behind.

Exodus: Gods and Kings

The first trailer is out for the movie Exodus: Gods and Kings which stars Christian Bale. It's Ridley Scott's take on the story of Moses leading his people to freedom from their Egyptian oppressors. Scott already has sweeping epics under his belt like Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. So it's expected that Exodus will be filled with visual effects. Exodus is due to reach the big screen December 12.

Belief in Satan is on the rise

Deliver Us From Evil is on the big screen this week. Vox takes a look at it and believe in Satan here.

Redford as Roberts?

Robert Redford may play the late Oral Roberts in a new film. Come Sunday will tell the story of of Oklahoma evangelist Carlton Pearson who falls out of favor with the evangelical community when he stops preached there is a hell. Roberts was Pearson's mentor. Read more at the Hollywood Reporter.

Can Christians make funny movies?

A new movie genre debuts at the box office this weekend: the Christian comedy, writes Eric Marrapodi at CNN.com. "Moms’ Night Out" starring Patricia Heaton and Sean Astin is opening on more than 1,000 screens, and it aims to do something no other Christian major motion picture has endeavored to do: make you laugh. On purpose. Read more here.

Noah opens big

Paramount's Noah movie did well on its opening weekend in the US--as well as in places like Russia and Australia. Paramount says the US domestic take is going to come in around $44 million. The film has already earned more than $50 million overseas.

Emma Watson talks religion

Even though Emma Watson is a star in the Biblical epic Noah, she doesn't have Christian views. She tells The Telegraph , "I already, before I did the movie, had a sense that I was someone that was more spiritual, than specifically religious. I had a sense that I believed in a higher power, but that I was more of a Universalist, I see that there are these unifying tenets between so many religions."

Hollywood films a testament to renewed interest in Bible stories

Hollywood appears to be banking on moviegoers’ interest in faith and God as it prepares to roll out two big-budget films based on biblical tales. Producer-director-screenwriter Darren Aronofsky’s 3-D opus “Noah,” starring Oscar winners Russell Crowe as Noah and Anthony Hopkins as his grandfather Methuselah, is due to be released in March. “Exodus,” directed by Ridley Scott and starring Christian Bale as Moses, is scheduled to be released in December. Read more at the Washington Times.

Chartig new evangelical waters in documentary films

The Denver Post takes a look at efforts by Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family to move into documentary film, particularly it's nationwide effort to push Irreplaceable in theaters this summer. The paper quotes the head of Focus on the Family as saying, "Culture is led by entertainment. We're awakening to the fact we have to do more in this (area). Just getting in the public policy arena and slugging it out — we're not not doing it very well." Read more here.

Noah comes to the big screen

Russell Crowe and Anthony Hopkins are in the new movie from Paramount about Noah. Crowe has the title role while Hopkins was cast as Noah’s grandfather, Methuselah. Darren Aronofsky's big budget biblical epic also includes Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, and Ray Winstone. The film is set for an early 2014 release.

Bible Miniseries coming to Theaters

The producers of the 5-part TV miniseries called The Bible are re-editing the video, adding some footage, and releasing it for the big screen. The Son of God should be in theaters shortly before Ash Wednesday of next year.

There's a Civil War Brewing at Rick Santorum's Christian Film Company

A lawsuit filed Monday in Tarrant County and first reported by Courthouse News describes escalating tensions between Santorum and other top executives that finally boiled over in recent days. Read more at the Dallas Observer here.

Film Review: ‘The Investigator’

Variety gives a generally positive review to a new Christian film called The Investigator here. The publication says, "This odd duck of a Christian evangelical production, written by Rich Romano (brother of Ray).. has grossed a respectable $100,000 and should continue to play well to its target demo as it expands...for much of its running time, it’s possible to lose sight of the movie’s agenda and get caught up in its hokey machinations." Find out more about the film at its website here.

Church makes R-Rated Film – Accidentally

A Dallas-area church just made an R-Rated film. The Motion Picture Association of America slapped the Retta Baptist Church movie My Son with an "R" rating for violence and drug use, according to the MPAA. But Retta pastor Chuck Kitchens says he's shocked because there's no profanity, sex or nudity and the violence is minimal. He thinks it has more to do with the movie’s faith-based message. The church planned to open the film a week from Friday (Sept. 20) but leaders are afraid other churches won't encourage parishioners to see an R-rated film. You can read more media stories at the website set up by the church for the film here. Below is the trailer.

Rick Santorum takes Helm of Movie Studio

Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has a new job. He's taking over as CEO of EchoLight Studios, a Christian film studio based in Dallas. Santorum joined EchoLight's board a year ago. The studio will release a Western-themed film later this year called The Redemption of Henry Myers.

Superman in Church

A Christian-focused Hollywood marketing firm is suggesting churches tell parishioners to go see the movie Man of Steel, which opened this weekend. Warner Bros. is contacting pastors, inviting them to early screenings, offering discussion guides and has put together film trailers highlighting the possible faith angles of the movie. You can see one of them below. There's even a suggestion sermon title Jesus: The Original Superhero. Grace Hill Media offers sermon notes for churches using multimedia into their services.

Targeting 'Les Miserables' to Christians

CNN takes a look at how the movie Les Miserable is being promoted to Christians here.

The challenge of hope in 'Les Misérables'

The takeaway of CNN contributor to the new film adaptation of Les Miserable here.

Is ‘The Hobbit’ a ‘Christian’ film?

Religion News Service weighs in on the issue here.

The 'Noah' floodgates openeth

USA Today takes a look at a new movie about Noah here.