The Forge (2024 film)

2024 American film by Alex Kendrick

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The Forge

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Alex Kendrick
Written by|

* Alex Kendrick
* Stephen Kendrick

Produced by|

* Stephen Kendrick

Starring|

* Cameron Arnett
* Priscilla Shirer
* Aspen Kennedy
* Karen Abercrombie
* T.C. Stallings
* BJ Arnett
* Ken Bevel
* Benjamin Watson
* Jonathan Evans
* Jerry Shirer
* Tommy Woodard

Cinematography| Bob Scott
Edited by|

* Bill Ebel
* Alex Kendrick

Music by| Zachary Leffew

Production
companies

* Affirm Films
* Provident Films
* Kendrick Brothers

Distributed by| Sony Pictures Releasing

Release date

* August 23, 2024 (2024-08-23)

Running time

| 125 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English
Budget| $5 million[1]
Box office| $40.4 million[2][3]

The Forge is a 2024 American Christian drama film directed by Alex Kendrick and written by him and Stephen Kendrick. A spin-off to War Room, it is the Kendrick brothers' ninth film and the sixth through their subsidiary, Kendrick Brothers Productions. Their initial five films were created under Sherwood Pictures. It stars Cameron Arnett, Priscilla Shirer, Aspen Kennedy, Karen Abercrombie, T.C. Stallings, BJ Arnett, Ken Bevel, Benjamin Watson, Jonathan Evans, Jerry Shirer, and Tommy Woodard.

The film was released in the United States on August 23, 2024, receiving positive reviews from critics and audiences and grossed $40 million worldwide against a $5 million budget and garnered Alex Kendrick's 4th "A+" on CinemaScore.

## Plot

[edit]

19-year old Isaiah Wright enjoys playing basketball and video games with his friends. His mother Cynthia insists he get a job, implying he skipped out on college. Isaiah shows his friend Keenan a decrepit Ford Mustang that his father promised to restore but did not. Stopping at a coffee shop, Isaiah flirts with the cashier Abigail, until her father kicks Isaiah out. He fills out an application for Moore Fitness when a man walks in and notices Isaiah and asks him why he's there. A dismissive Isaiah finds out the man is the president of the company, Joshua Moore. Ready to leave, Isaiah is stopped by Joshua, who invites Isaiah to lunch.

During lunch, Joshua gives him his business card and asks him three questions, telling him to call when he's ready to answer them. Cynthia discusses Isaiah's life prospects with her friends when Isaiah asks to borrow her car. Against her instructions, Isaiah returns with the car tardy, having lied about looking for a job in order to play basketball with his friends. Cynthia laments with her friends while Isaiah glances at the business card. Isaiah returns, answering Joshua's questions vaguely. Joshua tells Isaiah that he wishes to mentor and life principles; and shows him the factory floor. Joshua shows him the manager and engineer; he introduces Isaiah to his wife Janelle. Isaiah playfuly dismisses Cynthia's advice on church, but Cynthia is ultimately proud of her son.

Late and unprepared for work, Isaiah is reprimanded, and Joshua tells Isaiah of the importance of being on time. Cynthia invites Miss Clara for prayer support. Joshua opens up to Isaiah of biblical verses and invites him for a food distribution event. Isaiah attends and begins to feel better. In the Moores' house, Isaiah learns from Janelle that Joshua's son Jalen was killed at 17 by a drunk driver. Joshua had blamed Janelle, and a mechanic introduced Joshua to the Lord. Isaiah contemplates over a paper at the charity event and expresses desire for Jesus.

Joshua takes Isaiah as his brother in Christ and suggests baptism. Isaiah is promoted and is introduced to the Forge, a meetup of fellow Christians. Isaiah begins reading the Bible and reorganizes his room, reluctantly surrenduring his video games. Isaiah learns of the international humanitarian aid done by Moore Fitness. While taking the task of meeting with a truck driver, Isaiah find out the driver is his father, who abandoned his family. He opens up to Joshua about his desire for revenge, and Joshua expresses that he also wanted the drunk driver who killed his son. Joshua emphasizes the need for forgiveness and gives him his journal. Overheard by Cynthia, Isaiah forgives his dad and praises the Lord. At the Forge, Isaiah is gifted a sword by Joshua, who empasizes support. Forge member Bobby tells Isaiah that he was the drunk driver responsible for Jalen's death; Joshua led Bobby to Jesus.

Isaiah begins paying rent, exercising, is baptized, and continues being in the Lord. Now 20 years old, Isaiah reveals he sent a letter to his dad. Joshua blesses Isaiah before the Forge, and Cynthia shows Isaiah the newly constructed Ford. Joshua returns to the coffee shop and apologizes to Abigail and her dad. The Moores are at a business meeting in Dallas.

In a mid-credits scene, Isaiah receives a message from his dad in which he asks to talk. Isaiah and Abigail discuss their college prospects.

## Cast

[edit]

* Cameron Arnett as Joshua Moore
* Priscilla Shirer as:
* Cynthia Wright, Elizabeth's identical twin sister
* Elizabeth Jordan, Cynthia's identical twin sister (reprising her role from War Room)
* Aspen Kennedy as Isaiah Wright, Cynthia's teenage son
* Karen Abercrombie as Miss Clara Williams (reprising her role from War Room)
* T.C. Stallings as Tony Jordan, Elizabeth's husband (reprising his role from War Room)
* BJ Arnett as Janelle Moore, Joshua's wife
* Ken Bevel as James
* Benjamin Watson as himself
* Jonathan Evans as Jonathan
* Jerry Shirer as Vaughn
* Tommy Woodard as Bobby
* Marianne Haaland as Wanda
* Alena Pitts as Danielle Jordan, Elizabeth & Tony's Daughter, also Cynthia's Niece (reprising her role from War Room)

## Production

[edit]

In November 2023, it was revealed that a Christian drama film directed by Alex Kendrick titled The Forge had completed principal photography from June to July in Albany, Georgia. Cameron Arnett, Priscilla Shirer, Aspen Kennedy, Karen Abercrombie, T.C. Stallings, BJ Arnett, Ken Bevel, Benjamin Watson, Jonathan Evans, Jerry Shirer, and Tommy Woodard round out the cast.[4][5]

## Release

[edit]

The Forge was distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing on August 23, 2024. In December, the film was made available on Netflix. [6]

## Reception

[edit]

### Box office

[edit]

In the United States and Canada, The Forge was released alongside Blink Twice and The Crow, and played in 1,818 theaters in its opening weekend.[7] The film made $2.4 million on its first day, including $600,000 from Thursday night previews.[1] It went on to debut at $6.7 million, finishing fifth at the box office.[8] The film made $4.6 million in its second weekend.[9]

### Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 67% of 12 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.4/10.[10]

Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave The Forge a rare average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave the film an average of five out of five stars, with 88% saying they would definitely recommend it.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 25, 2024). "Deadpool & Wolverine Pulling Feathers Off The Crow & Putting Blink Twice To Sleep As Summer Winds Down – Sunday AM Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
2. ^ "The Forge – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
3. ^ "The Forge". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
4. ^ "FIRST LOOK AT NEWEST KENDRICK BROTHERS' THEATRICAL RELEASE: 'THE FORGE' FROM AFFIRM FILMS AND PROVIDENT FILMS". PR Newswire. November 15, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
5. ^ "NEW KENDRICK BROTHERS MOVIE 'THE FORGE' TO REUNITE GREAT AMERICAN PURE FLIX FAN FAVES". Pure Flix. November 15, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
6. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 22, 2024). "Sony Pictures Sitting Out CinemaCon 2024". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
7. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 22, 2024). "'Alien: Romulus' To Continue Face-Hug Of Box Office Despite Three Wide Entries As Summer Slows Down". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
8. ^ "Domestic 2024 Weekend 34". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
9. ^ "Domestic 2024 Weekend 35". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
10. ^ "The Forge". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* The Forge at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films produced by the Kendrick brothers (Sherwood Pictures, Kendrick Brothers)

Sherwood Pictures|

* Flywheel (2003)
* Facing the Giants (2006)
* Fireproof (2008)
* Courageous (2011)

Kendrick Brothers|

* War Room (2015)
* Overcomer (2019)
* Show Me the Father (2021)
* Lifemark (2022)
* The Forge (2024)

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