Pro-Life Film 'Gosnell' Suspiciously Removed from Theaters Despite Box Office Success
It’s a movie about “America’s Biggest Serial Killer,” but you may not have even heard about it. It may not even be playing in a theater near you despite the fact the crowd-funded movie has been doing so well.
The Daily Wire reported that “‘Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer’ surpassed box office expectations upon its release last week by entering into the Top 10 grossing films with a revenue of $1,235,000 on just 668 screens.”
The movie, based on real events and directed by actor Nick Searcy, recounts the arrest and subsequent trial of abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell. And while multiple people who’ve seen it report it is not graphic, it also doesn’t fit the pro-abortion narrative so often pushed by establishment media and Hollywood.
Traveled 60 miles one way to see @GosnellMovie today. Very powerful, and a must see. Congrats to @RealDeanCain, @yesnicksearcy, and all involved. Done in such a way that it conveys the emotion, without being graphic. The scene when the jury looks at the photo was gut wrenching… pic.twitter.com/nG1PQjrLHt
— Mike Moses (@Mike_Moses35) October 20, 2018
Took my 14 and 12 year old daughters to see @GosnellMovie today. People posted it was not gory and luckily they were right. Great conversation with my girls afterward. I may preach abstinence but eventually they will make big decisions on their own. Great acting. @RealDeanCain
— Victoria Bauman (@VictoriaMBauman) October 14, 2018
Now, according to The Daily Wire, almost 200 theaters nationwide have suddenly dropped it from their screens, even in cities where it was doing exceptionally well. Although some might argue that it was dropped so “Halloween” could run, marketing director and producer John Sullivan has another thought on the matter.
“We’ve been the number 6 in a 15-plex and it gets dropped this week. We’ve been number 9 in a 30-plex and we’re getting dropped this week. There are about 15 theaters like that where typically you would not get dropped,” he said.
“I do recognize it’s a crowded marketplace — ‘Halloween’ is going to be a huge opening. But it’s very odd to me that you’re within the top 10 and you’re getting dropped out of a movie house.”
In a preview for the movie, the character of Assistant District Attorney Alexis ‘Lexy’ McGuire says, “Nothing that man did that protects women or children. And you don’t have to be a pro-life activist to see that.” And perhaps that is the biggest problem of all for the movie and the telling of the story.
In an opinion piece for LifeNews, Courier Times reporter JD Mullane noted that he covered “the 2013 trial of the infamous Philadelphia abortionist and killer of newborns, a murder trial ignored by Big Media.” The scene of the all the empty media seats from the trial was actually reflective of a real photo Mullane snapped in disgust at the actual proceedings.
According to Mullane, “The day after my pic went viral, pressure grew on the media. They scoffed. Most infamous was Sarah Kliff, a health writer for The Washington Post.”
“She told (the Federalist’s Senior Editor Mollie Z.) Hemingway that Gosnell was a ‘local crime’ story. The big media were shamed into coming to Philly, though many, like the New York Times, bailed after a few days.”
And much like their seeming refusal to cover the trial, establishment media appears to be refusing to review the film, as well. In a statement to The Daily Signal, co-producer Phelim McAleer said, “We are the No. 1 independent movie of the weekend and (No. 5) per screen average across the U.S.”
“This has been achieved despite the mainstream media virtually refusing to review the film, despite it opening nationally.” Their refusal has not altered the fact that when seen, the movie scores well with critics and audiences alike.
Townhall noted that “Critics and audience members alike have responded quite favorably to the film so far. It received a fresh critic score of 67% on the popular movie review website Rotten Tomatoes, and a 99% score when it came to general audience approval.”
The Washington Times reported that for Gosnell’s crimes, he was “convicted on three counts of first-degree murder in 2013,(and) Gosnell, now 77, is serving a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.” The movie generated funding from more than 29,000 donors in 2014 so the powerful story could be told.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
