Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 05/30/25

A good ride. Opening in 2,205 locations over Memorial Day weekend opening,The Last Rodeo, the independent modestly budgeted PG-rated Angel Studios release starring Neal McDonough (featured in this space last week) rides into Week 2 at the Box Office with a lot of positive buzz. The film, about a bull rider who to comes out of retirement to save his cancer-stricken grandson, boasts a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 95% and a coveted A CinemaScore that covers all demographics.

As Angel Studio’s head of brand development Brandon Purdie puts it, “The Last Rodeo held strong over Memorial Day weekend, landing in the top ten during one of the most competitive frames of the year…Neal and (his wife, production partner and co-star) Ruvé McDonough have created something rare: a film that delivers cinematic entertainment with heart, scale, and purpose. It’s not just compelling storytelling—it’s a vision realized with conviction. The Last Rodeo proves that values‑driven films belong on major weekends.” Purdie continues “Our exhibition partners understand Angel’s desire to drive audiences back to theaters.”
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Chuck for everybody! The film studio Neon has teamed with Fandango and AMC Theatres on a gifting initiative allowing audiences to share The Life of Chuck with the ones they love via virtual gift cards. Customers who purchase tickets for the movie directly from Fandango and AMC will receive a direct link after their showtime to gift the film to their friends and family, inviting them to see the film.

Sharing the Word through film and song. When worship artists Shane Barnard and Shane Everett (aka Shane & Shane) saw an early version of the animated film Light of World (in theaters September 5th), they immediately wanted to partner with the Salvation Poem Project on the theme song for the movie. Light Of The World Medley combines the Salvation Poem song (which launched the ministry that created the movie) with their new ballad Light of the World to create this. 

Salvation Poem Project Founder Matt McPherson says “It’s been wonderful to partner with Shane & Shane as they reimagine The Salvation Poem within this powerful new medley…The original song has already reached over a billion people, and our hope is that this new version will go even further, guiding many more to a personal relationship with Christ and advancing the Kingdom in an even greater way.”

The Salvation Poem Project is a team of filmmakers, game developers, and multimedia storytellers whose goal is to craft stories to share Jesus Christ with the world. Hundreds of millions worldwide have been reached by The Salvation Poem Project’s intellectual property through printed literature, radio and tv broadcasts, websites, social media, smartphone apps (and more) in nearly 100 languages.

Light of World tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of his beloved young friend, the Apostle John.
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A tale for two Kings. The film Solo Mio starring Kevin James (TV’s King of Queens) and featuring Jonathan Roumie (who plays the actual King of Kings in The Chosen) has been selected as Angel Studio‘s first foray into the rom-com genre. In the movie, Matt (James) finds himself left alone at the altar by his fiance. Heartbroken, he goes on their planned Italian honeymoon alone where he rediscovers his zest for life, food and meets a woman who helps him find love again.

Talking about the acquisition, Angel President Jordan Harmon says “We saw Solo Mio and the feeling was incredible. We knew it was a perfect fit for Angel to release to a broad audience…Kevin James and Jonathan Roumie bring heart, humor, and originality to this uplifting tale of rediscovery and we can’t wait for audiences to experience it in theaters.”

Solo Mio is slated for a nationwide theatrical release on February 6, 2026.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.