Ticket sales top $11 million and open the way for an additional week on the big screen.
For the second time, public demand has prompted an extension of the theatrical run of Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers, the holiday production from The Chosen, the hit streaming show about the life of Christ. Distributor Fathom Events will now show it through December 16th instead of December 10th, a date that was already eight days beyond the original plan of two days; that first extension happened because ticket sales shattered the previous record for the company.
The production tells the Nativity story through the eyes of Mary and Joseph and is followed by musical performances involving big-name Christian acts like Phil Wickham, We the Kingdom, Matt Maher and For King & Country doing both new and old Christmas songs. In just eight days, the film has generated $11.4 million at the box office, according to The Numbers website, having placed in the Top-5 every day and even claimed the number one spot its first two.
The impressive revenue figures in theaters are in keeping with the success of the streaming series: it's been watched in every country in the world and garnered more than 318 million views after just two seasons. Dallas Jenkins, the creator and director of the show, hinted recently that the performance of this Christmas special may well justify a similar endeavor next year, saying the enthusiastic reception gives him and his team the "confidence to do this again."
In the meantime, money from ticket sales will in part be used for future seasons, including number three, which is expected to launch production in Texas in the spring (no word yet, though, on when the first episodes may be ready for release.) As for this current Christmas special, you can get tickets to a theater in your area via this link to Fathom Events.
UPDATE, December 10th: This Christmas special will now play this coming Sunday, Dec. 12th in a free global premiere. The Chosen announced it today, saying that despite the extended theatrical run, "those who can't see it in theaters have waited long enough." Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers will play at 8:00 PM ET (GMT -5) on the show's app (Google Play / App Store) and its YouTube channel, so mark it on your calendars.