New Sony/TriStar film, which opens today, will resonate strongly with its target audience and beyond

Contact: Matthew Faraci, Faith Driven Consumer, 919-645-0771, matthew@faithdrivenconsumer.com

RALEIGH, N.C., April 16, 2014 /Standard Newswire/ -- Faith Driven Consumer™  -- the group behind the IStandWithPhil.com movement which played a leading role in Phil Robertson's return to Duck Dynasty, the successful #OpenZilla campaign for tolerance and inclusion at Mozilla, and the ongoing Year of The Bible Movie initiative tracking the commercial viability of major Hollywood films courting faith audiences -- continues to advocate for increased entertainment options in the marketplace for 46 million Faith Driven Consumers who spend $1.75 trillion annually. The organization's Faith-friendly Film Reviews, which use five specific criteria to measure the compatibility of entertainment products for Faith Driven Consumer audiences, finds that the new Sony/TriStar film HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, the story of a little boy's journey to heaven and back, rates a solid faith-friendly 4 out of 5 stars. 

"HEAVEN IS FOR REAL is going to capture the imagination of Faith Driven Consumers, who will likely enjoy this film and urge their friends and family to go see it. The movie is highly accessible for both faith and non-faith audiences alike -- it has a strong message about heaven and the person of Jesus Christ without being too preachy. It is hopeful, entertaining, inspirational, and unique," said Chris Stone, Certified Brand Strategist and Founder of Faith Driven Consumer. "HEAVEN IS FOR REAL hits that necessary sweet spot for faith audiences, combining a solid biblical message with high production values. We believe this film will perform strongly at the box office and will have a long shelf life with consumers for years to come. Sony/TriStar will be well-rewarded for their investment in this project."

The first three Year of the Bible Movie offerings -- NOAH, GOD's NOT DEAD, and SON OF GOD -- paint a mixed earnings picture for the film industry. SON OF GOD and GOD'S NOT DEAD, which received a 4.5 out of 5 and 4 out of 5 rating from Faith-friendly Film Reviews, are exceeding expectations at the box office with stronger than expected gross revenues. NOAH, which received a low 2 out of 5 rating, has underperformed relative to its earnings potential due to its failure to resonate with the core Faith Driven Consumer audience.

The organization's Faith-friendly Film Reviews, which use five specific criteria to measure the faith compatibility of entertainment products, rated the Sony/TriStar film HEAVEN IS FOR REAL a faith-friendly 4 out of 5 stars.

Faith Driven Consumer's Faith-friendly Film Reviews are based on five core criteria:

• Overall Faith and/or Biblical Relevance: HEAVEN IS FOR REAL scored 3.5 out of 5 stars
   
• Faith-compatible Depiction of Characters and Character Relationships: HEAVEN IS FOR REAL scored 4.5 out of 5 stars
   
• Faith-compatible Depiction of Situations: HEAVEN IS FOR REAL scored 4 out of 5 stars
   
• Family Viewing Suitability: HEAVEN IS FOR REAL scored 4 out of 5 stars
   
• Entertainment Value: HEAVEN IS FOR REAL scored 4 out of 5 stars

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL scored an overall 4 out of 5 stars, meaning that it will solidly resonate with Faith Driven Consumers.

Read the entire review here: www.faithdrivenconsumer.com/faith_friendly_film_reviews

About Faith Driven Consumer
Faith Driven Consumer is a movement representing 46 million consumers -- 15% of the U.S. Population -- who spend $1.75 trillion annually. By connecting these consumers with companies that are relatively more compatible with a biblical worldview, Faith Driven Consumer provides a community forum offering resources for making more faith-conscious decisions, encourages companies to meet the unique needs of Faith Driven Consumers, and offers a national voice for this rapidly emerging, economically powerful and Christ-centered consumer market segment. Visit www.faithdrivenconsumer.com for more information.