January 17th 2024.
Jeymes Samuel and Jay-Z were in desperate need of prayers for their film, "The Book of Clarence," which was heavily inspired by the story of Jesus. Unfortunately, the film did not do well during its opening weekend at the box office.
It was a tough weekend for the film, as it faced competition from other popular movies such as Tina Fey's "Mean Girls" musical and the action-packed "The Beekeeper" starring Jason Statham. "Mean Girls" raked in an impressive $33.2 million domestically, while "The Beekeeper" brought in $19.1 million in just four days. In comparison, "The Book of Clarence" only made $2.6 million during its opening weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The film was shown in 2,010 theaters during the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, which paled in comparison to the 3,791 theaters that showed "Mean Girls" and the 3,303 theaters for "The Beekeeper." With such a low opening, it was clear that the film would not be able to make up for its $40 million budget.
It was a disappointing start for the film, as it debuted at No. 9 on the box office charts, falling behind older releases like "Wonka," "Anyone But You," and "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," as reported by Box Office Mojo. Despite being distributed by Legendary Pictures and featuring a star-studded cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Omar Sy, RJ Cyler, David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard, David Oyelowo, and Teyana Taylor, the film just couldn't attract enough viewers.
Critics had mixed reviews for "The Book of Clarence," with a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a B CinemaScore, according to Fortune. One top critic gave it a 3 out of 5, praising Stanfield for his standout performance in the satirical faith-based drama. Another reviewer, who gave the film a C+, complimented Samuel for attempting to create a more accurate depiction of the biblical era, but criticized the film for being overly indulgent and lacking a female perspective.
Despite the mixed reviews, Samuel's goal was to create a more relatable version of the biblical story compared to the typically white-led Hollywood epics. In an interview with Variety, he explained, "While I love those biblical epics, Black people are never in them. I see Yul Brynner and Charlton Heston. I love those actors, but they're not Egyptian. It was super important to tell a story that was based on the environment that I grew up in. It's a local story - anyone can relate to it."
In the end, it was clear that "The Book of Clarence" did not resonate with everyone, but Samuel should be commended for his efforts in creating a unique and diverse retelling of the biblical tale. Despite its flaws, the film was a step towards more representation and inclusivity in Hollywood.
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