No cursing, car chases, sex or violence - the two Christian brothers who have Hollywood running scared: Siblings' films about faith rake in more than $88 million - and are thrashing blockbusters at the box office 

• War Room, story of African-American family overcoming marriage difficulties through prayer, came in second at box office with $11million
• Christian film from brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick came behind Straight Outta Compton but beat Owen Wilson thriller No Escape
• Brothers chalk film's success up to prayer, though they have also raised grassroots buzz around it by distributing materials to churches
• They did not top rankings, but two previous movies grossed more than $33million and an early effort earned $10million
• 'I think the days of being surprised when faith-based movies do well should be over,' one analyst said

By Christopher Brennan For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:05 EST, 31 August 2015 | Updated: 22:54 EST, 31 August 2015

Though the hip-hop drama Straight Outta Compton topped this weekend's box office totals with $13million, an unheralded Christian film marched to second place despite a lack of major promotion or star power.

War Room, a film about prayer and a family in a crumbling marriage by brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, raked in more than $11million despite only showing at just over 1,100 theaters.

In comparison, the latest Mission Impossible and Owen Wilson thriller No Escape each made more than $8million, but were shown in more than 3,000 locations across the country.

Though War Room starred a trio of relative unknowns, it was able to best major studios such as Paramount and Weinstein Company despite a PG rating and a complete lack of titillating explosions or violence

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The Christian movie War Room, about a family surviving difficulty in a marriage through prayer, debuted at number two in the box office with $11million. Above, a still from the movie between Miss Clara (left), played by Karen Abercrombie, and Elizabeth, played by Priscilla Shirer

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The movie is the latest effort from Stephen (left) and Alex Kendrick (center), who are known well only in evangelical circles. Above, the filmmakers with brother Shannon (right) an IT worker who joined their company

The movie, made with a $3.5million, budget sees an African-American family headed by a hardworking husband Tony, played by TC Stallings, begin to crumble as he is tempted by cheating.

His wife Elizabeth, Priscilla Shirer, ultimately creates a 'war room' of prayer that helps the family survive through adversity after meeting a brash older woman named Miss Clara, played by Karen Abercrombie.

'God totally gets the credit for what's happening,' Stephen Kendrick said in a statement of the film's success. 'Thousands of people have been praying for this movie.' 

Stephen and his brother Alex, who are from Georgia and both ordained ministers, have previously made three films together including 2011's Courageous, 2008's Fireproof and Facing the Giants in 2006.

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War Room centers around the relationship between a hardworking husband tempted to cheat (right, played by TC Stallings) and his wife. Above, Stallings is pictured with director Alex Kendrick

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Some had expected his latest effort to end up debuting in the $5million range before its success. Above, the crew film a scene in a gymnasium

Some had expected his latest effort to end up debuting in the $5million range. 

The $2million budget Courageous debuted with $9million from 1,200 screens and eventually made $34million. Fireproof $6.8million on 900 screens and went on to earn $33million, according to Forbes. Facing the Giants earned more than $10million. 

Courageous and Fireproof had 30 and 40 per cent review on rating site Rotten Tomatoes, with early effort Facing the Giants getting a rotten 13 per cent.

However, none have had the attention that their latest effort has received and came in lower in the ranking among other multiplex offerings, which are currently in a lazy late August slumber.

Despite it receiving only 27 per cent positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, War Room is now being described as a 'sleeper hit'. 

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'I think the days of being surprised when faith-based movies do well should be over,' one analyst said. Above, Elizabeth in a still from the movie

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The filmmakers have also helped generate buzz for War Room by distributing materials such as books and Bible-study lesson plans to churches. Above, Stephen Kendrick with a 'novelization' of his movie

'Some of our critics, especially the secular critics, will accuse us of preaching to the choir and accuse us of not hitting our proper audience, which is hilarious to me because we know our audience,' Alex Kendick told The Hollywood Reporter. 

The movie earned an A+ on CinemaScore, which gauges audience appreciation. 

'I think the days of being surprised when faith-based movies do well should be over,' says Paul Dergarabedian,' a Rentrak's analyst told EW.

'Faith-based movies are filling a void and serving an audience that has been pretty much left out of the movie conversation for many years.'

The Kendricks distributed resources such as Bible-study lesson plans and t-shirts to churches and other ministers who used their movie for discussion in their congregations. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3217724/No-cursing-car-chases-violence-new-receipe-box-office-success-pair-Christian-brothers-films-faith-crushing-big-studio-rivals-Hollywood-quaking-s-boots.html#ixzz3kTyCGmtI
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