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Religulous

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Religulous
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLarry Charles
Written byBill Maher
Produced by
  • Bill Maher
  • Jonah Smith
  • Palmer West
StarringBill Maher
CinematographyAnthony Hardwick
Edited by
Production
company
Distributed byLionsgate
Release dates
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.5 million[1]
Box office$13.9 million[1]

Religulous(/rɪˈlɪɡjʊləs,rɪˈlɪdʒʊləs/) is a 2008 Americandocumentary filmwritten by and starringcomedianBill Maherand directed byLarry Charles.The title of the film is aportmanteauderived from the wordsreligiousandridiculous.The documentary examines and challenges religionandreligious belief.[2]

Contents

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A range of views on variousworld religionsis explored as Bill Maher travels to numerous religious destinations includingJerusalem,theVatican,andSalt Lake City,interviewing believers from a variety of backgrounds and groups. These include a former member ofJews for Jesus,Christians,Muslims,former Mormons,[3]andHasidic Jews.[4][5][6]Maher travels toSpeakers' CornerinHyde Park, London,where he "preaches"Scientologybeliefs.[7][8]

Maher also takes a tour aroundCreation Museumand theHoly Land Experience.

Cast

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All persons appearing as themselves:

Production

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Maher said he used a fake titleA Spiritual Journeyfor the film to obtain interviews.[11]CreationistKen Hamof the groupAnswers in Genesis,who appeared in the film,[12]was critical of what he called Maher's "deception" to obtain the interview.[13][14][15]

The documentary was produced byThousand Wordsand distributed byLions Gate Entertainment.Originally slated for an international release date coinciding with the ChristianEasterholiday 2008 (March 23), post-production delays resulting from ascreenwriters guild strikepushed the release date back.[16]The film was eventually released on October 3, 2008.[17]

Reception

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Box office

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Religuloushad an opening weekend take of $3.5 million from an early October 1 release inLos AngelesandNew York Cityand also a limited 502-theater release, averaging $6,972 per theater. As a result, the film was ranked at #10 at the box office that weekend. Its per-screen receipts were almost three times those of a competing film to which it has been compared in the media, the politically conservativeAn American Carol,[18][19][20][21]which edged outReligulousto finish at #9 over the same weekend, but had a per theater average of only $2,325.[22][23]Only the #1 movie,Beverly Hills Chihuahua,at $9,020, had a higher per-screen average thanReligulous.[24][25]

For the second weekend,Religuloushad a 35.5% drop in box office receipts and dropped to #13 with a gross of $2,200,000 at 568 theaters for a per screen average of $3,873.[26]

Religulousgrossed over $13 million after having a production budget of $2.5 million. As of 2019,it is 27th among the highest grossing documentaries in the US[27]and was the highest grossing documentary of 2008.[28]

Critical response

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Religulousreceived mixed to positive reviews. OnRotten Tomatoesthe film has an approval rating of 69%, based on 154 reviews, with an average rating of 6.31/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Religulousis funny and offensive in equal measure, and aims less to change hearts and minds than to inspire conversation. "[29]OnMetacriticthe film has a score of 56 out of 100, based on 31 critics, "mixed or average reviews".[30]

Film criticRoger Ebertgave the film a rating of three and a half out of four stars, and wrote: "I report faithfully that I laughed frequently. You may very well hate it, but at least you've been informed. Perhaps you could enjoy the material about other religions, and tune out when yours is being discussed. That's only human nature."[31]

Robert W. Butler ofThe Kansas City Stargave the film a rating of three stars, and commented: "The film is one-sided, less a measured argument than a bunch of rants and barbed observations. But it’s also very funny, which trumps everything else."[32]Owen GleibermanofEntertainment Weeklygave the film a rating of A−, and wrote: "The movie is funny as...well, hell."[33]The Canadian Presssaid the movie "delivers a laugh-out-loud attack on the most sacred of cows."[34]

Christie Lemire, of theAssociated Press,wrote: "If you're an atheist or an agnostic, you'll be completely on board and happy to tag along with Maher as he travels the globe asking people about their faith — everywhere from Jerusalem to the Vatican to Amsterdam, where he finds not only the Cannabis Ministry but also a Muslim gay bar (with two people in it)."[35]John Anderson ofNewsdaywrote: "much that's funny, insightful and thought-provoking. But it certainly doesn't give the religious a lot of slack."[36]

The documentary received some negative reviews, withRick McGinnisofMetroconcluding that, "Maher is preaching to the choir with an undisguised dishonesty that only the true believers will forgive."[37]James Berardinelliwrote, "If the subject of religion is as important to Maher as he claims during his end comments, then he should have followed those words with actions and made a movie that's more than a sum of inauthentic interviews, ranting attacks, and obvious observations. The choir may hum along with Maher but the rest of those watching this movie will be singing the blues."[38]Nick Schager ofSlant Magazinecalled it an "atheistic wannabe-dissection of modern faith."[39]

In a review forThe New York Times,Stephen Holden notes that when Maher "turns from evangelical Christianity to Judaism and Islam, its tone becomes uncertain and its rhythm choppy".[40]Sam Greenspan argues that "Jewish people seemed to get handled with kid gloves" by Maher.[41]

In his review, Stephen Holden also wrote that "the film has the same loose, on-the-road structure" as Larry Charles' previous filmBorat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstanand commented: "Much of Mr. Maher’s film is extremely funny in a similarly irreverent, offhanded way."[42]Claudia Puig ofUSA Todaywrote: "those with a taste for irreverent humor and clear-eyed analysis will find it funny, enlightening and disturbing."[43]Kirk Honeycutt ofThe Hollywood Reportercharacterized the film as "An often hilarious but relentlessly shallow attack on religious fundamentalism by humorist Bill Maher".[44]

Louis Peitzman of theSan Francisco Bay Guardianwrote that "It doesn't even matter that he goes out of his way to be offensive, as he's consistently funny enough to pull it off."[45]Scott Indrisek wrote atStyle.comthat: "Religulousearns many of its laughs from skillful editing, with Maher's interviews jazzed up by video clips ".[46]

Ben Kenigsberg ofTime Out New Yorkgave the film a rating of three out of six stars, and wrote: "The worst scenes inReligulousare appalling for their methods; the best are appalling for their information. "[47]

Harry Forbes ofCatholic News Servicecondemned the film, deeming it "morally offensive."[48]

Accolades

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The 3rd Annual Independent Investigative GroupIIGAwards presented an award toReligulousrecognizing the promotion of science and critical thinking in popular media on May 18, 2009.[49]

DVD release

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Lions Gate Entertainmentreleased the film on DVD February 17, 2009.[50]Special features on the DVD include a commentary withBill Maherand directorLarry Charles,deleted scenes, and extended Bill Maher monologues from around the world that were either edited down or not included in the film at all.

Possible sequel

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On January 4, 2015, Maher tweeted a photo of himself and director Larry Charles with the caption: "Director Larry Charles on the Hawaii trip this year...was"Religulous II"discussed?? ", suggesting the possibility of a sequel.[51]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"Religulous - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information".The Numbers.Nash Information Services. 2008.Retrieved2008-10-09.
  2. ^King, Larry(2008-08-20)."Bill Maher Discusses Religulous on Larry King".Larry King Live.CNN.
  3. ^Means, Sean (2008-10-02)."Review: Maher takes on religion but sounds like he's preaching to the agnostic choir".Retrieved2008-10-18.
  4. ^Schaefer, Stephen (2008-09-29)."Bill Maher takes politically incorrect look at faith in 'Religulous'".the edge.Boston Herald.Retrieved2008-05-14.
  5. ^Powers, Thom."Religulous: A Conversation with Bill Maher and Larry Charles".Toronto International Film Festival Group. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-17.Retrieved2007-09-10.
  6. ^Hemingway, Mollie Ziegler (2008-09-18)."Look Who's Irrational Now".The Wall Street Journal.Les Hinton.Retrieved2008-10-01.
  7. ^Moore, Roger (2009-10-01)."Movie review: 'Religulous' -- 4 out of 5 stars".The Orlando Sentinel.Retrieved2008-10-01.
  8. ^Slotek, Jim (2008-10-03)."Anti-religion film not risky enough".CANOE - JAM! Movies.Canoe. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012.Retrieved2008-10-03.{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^"Jeremiah Cummings Blames His Misfortune on HBO Host Bill Maher's 2008 Film 'Religulous'".ABC News.
  10. ^Bill Maher Talks To Ex-Gay Pastor John Westcott
  11. ^Goldstein, Patrick (2008-08-07)."Bill Maher hates your (fill in the blank) religion".The Big Picture.Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2008-10-01.
  12. ^Cusey, Rebecca (2008-10-01)."Maher takes on religion, but some interviewees cry foul".Charlotte Observer.Archived fromthe originalon 2013-09-27.Retrieved2008-10-04.
  13. ^Ham, Ken(2007-02-07)."HBO's Bill Maher and the plot to deceive AiG".Answers in Genesis.Retrieved2008-10-04.
  14. ^Lovan, Dylan T. (2007-02-11)."Creationism leader not laughing at comedian's visit".Tuscaloosa News.Retrieved2013-03-10.
  15. ^Ham, Ken(2014-03-31)."Does Bill Maher Really Want Answers?".Answers in Genesis.Retrieved2014-04-03.
  16. ^Sciretta, Peter (2007-08-18)."Bill Maher's Religion Documentary aims for Easter Release Date"./Film.www.slashfilm.com.Retrieved2007-09-10.
  17. ^Miller, Winter (2008-05-11)."'Religulous' shifted to October ".Variety.Reed Business Information.Retrieved2008-05-14.
  18. ^Phillips, Michael (2008-10-03)."For the right wing, 'An American Carol'".Dallas Morning News.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-04.Retrieved2014-11-24.
  19. ^Greydanus, Steven D."Religulous vs. American Carol".NCRegister. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-05-03.Retrieved2014-05-10.
  20. ^Jonathan Mumm."Mumm at the Movies: Religulous & An American Carol; 10/9/08".News 10 – KXTV. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-11-29.Retrieved2014-11-24.
  21. ^"EDGE: Partisanship at the theaters".Washington Times.2008-10-10.Retrieved2014-05-10.
  22. ^Germain, David (2008-10-05)."Audiences adopt 'Chihuahua' with $29M weekend".Associated Press.Retrieved2014-11-24.
  23. ^McClintock, Pamela; Tatiana Siegel (2008-10-06)."Political season hits its peak".Variety.Reed Business Information.Retrieved2008-10-09.
  24. ^"Box Office Mojo Weekend Box Office October 3–5, 2008".Box Office Mojo. 2008-10-06.Retrieved2008-10-09.
  25. ^"Political films can't compete with real thing".Reuters.2008-10-14.
  26. ^"October 10–12, 2008 Weekend".Box Office Mojo. 2008.Retrieved2008-10-16.
  27. ^"Documentary Movies at the Box Office".Box Office Mojo.Retrieved2019-05-12.
  28. ^"Religulous (2008)".Box Office Mojo. 2008-10-19.Retrieved2008-10-16.
  29. ^"Religulous".Rotten Tomatoes.IGN. 2008.Retrieved2019-05-12.
  30. ^"Religulous - Lionsgate".Metacritic.CNET. 2008.Retrieved2008-10-04.
  31. ^Ebert, Roger(2008-10-02)."The punch line is" apocalypse "".Chicago Sun-Times.rogerebert.com.Retrieved2022-11-28.
  32. ^Butler, Robert W. (2008-10-02)."Religulous".The Kansas City Star.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-11.Retrieved2008-10-02.
  33. ^Gleiberman, Owen (2008-10-01)."Religulous (2008)".Entertainment Weekly.Entertainment Weekly and Time. Archived fromthe originalon October 2, 2008.Retrieved2008-10-02.
  34. ^"Bill Maher travels the globe challenging religious belief in 'Religulous'".The Canadian Press.2008-09-20. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-04.Retrieved2014-11-24.
  35. ^Lemire, Christie (2008-09-29)."Maher preaches to choir with religion film".The Salt Lake Tribune.MediaNews Group.Retrieved2008-10-01.
  36. ^Anderson, John (2008-09-28)."Bill Maher questions religion, God in 'Religulous'".Newsday.Newsday. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-02.Retrieved2014-11-24.
  37. ^McGinnis, Rick (2008-10-03)."Religulous (film review)".Metro.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-08.Retrieved2014-11-24.
  38. ^Berardinelli, James (2008)."Religulous - A movie review by James Berardinelli".ReelViews Movie Review.preview.reelviews.net.Retrieved2008-10-01.
  39. ^Schager, Nick (2008-09-20)."Slant Magazine Film Review: Religulous".Slant Magazine.www.slantmagazine.com.Retrieved2008-05-14.
  40. ^Holden, Stephen (2008-10-01)."Believers, Skeptics and a Pool of Sitting Ducks",New York Times. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  41. ^Greenspan, Sam (2008-10-13)."11 Points Review of Religulous".Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  42. ^Holden, Stephen (2008-10-01)."Believers, Skeptics and a Pool of Sitting Ducks".The New York Times.Retrieved2008-10-01.
  43. ^Puig, Claudia (2008-09-30)."'Religulous' mirthfully heaps scorn on the faithful ".USA Today.Retrieved2008-10-01.
  44. ^Honeycutt, Kirk (2008-09-04)."Film Review: Religulous".The Hollywood Reporter.Nielsen Business Media. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-09-08.Retrieved2014-11-24.
  45. ^Peitzman, Louis (2008-09-30)."Film listings".San Francisco Bay Guardian.Retrieved2008-10-01.
  46. ^Indrisek, Scott (2008-09-30)."Maher's Believe It or Not".CondéNet.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-19.Retrieved2008-10-01.
  47. ^Kenigsberg, Ben (2008-10-02)."Religulous (2008)".Time Out New York.Time Out Group. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-03.Retrieved2008-10-02.
  48. ^"CNS Movie Review: Religulous".www.catholicnews.com.Archived fromthe originalon 1 April 2014.Retrieved12 January2022.
  49. ^"IIG | The IIG Awards".Iigwest.com. 2010-08-21.Retrieved2011-07-01.
  50. ^"ReligulousDVD / Home Video ".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedFebruary 28,2009.
  51. ^"@billmaher".Twitter. January 4, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 5,2015.
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