Billy: The Early Years

==Release==

===Marketing===
Advance screenings were held throughout the [[Bible Belt]] in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia and Arkansas.<ref>{{cite journal| last =Kimball | first =Josh | title =Billy Graham Taps Bible Belt for Grassroots Support| journal =[[The Christian Post]] | date=August 12, 2008|url =http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080812/billy-graham-movie-taps-bible-belt-for-grassroots-support/index.html | access-date =August 8, 2009 }}</ref> [[Thomas Nelson (publisher)|Thomas Nelson]] published a novelization, ''Billy: The Untold Story of a Young Billy Graham and the Test of Faith that Almost Changed Everything'', written by McKay and Ken Abraham.

===Reception===
''Billy: The Early Years'' opened on October 10, 2008, less than a month before Graham's 90th birthday, grossing $192,042 in 282 theaters during its opening weekend. The film would eventually gross a total of $347,328.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=billyearlyyears.htm | title = Billy: The Early Years of Billy Graham | work = [[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = 2009-08-04}}</ref> In response to the film's box office reception, Mortorff said that ''[[Fireproof (film)|Fireproof]]'', an evangelical film which had been released around the same time, might have unintentionally hurt the film.<ref name="CTI">{{cite journal| last =Chattaway | first =Peter T.|author2=Moring, Mark | title ='Fireproof' Is Hot | journal =[[Christianity Today]] | date=November 11, 2008|url =http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2008/december/1.20.html | access-date =September 17, 2009}}</ref> Mortorff also said that his team was planning a "second wave" of theatrical releases and looking forward to recovering its losses through DVD sales and TV deals.<ref name="CTI"/>

Although Billy Graham's son, [[Franklin Graham]], criticized the film, Gigi Graham, eldest daughter of Billy Graham, supported the film, saying that the film has the "Gospel of Jesus in there" and is "positive toward my parents and their ministry."<ref>{{cite journal| last =Moring | first =Mark | title =Franklin Graham Criticizes Film About His Dad | journal =[[Christianity Today]] | date=August 21, 2008|url =http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/augustweb-only/134-41.0.html?start=3 | access-date =December 25, 2008}}</ref> In a review of the film, critic Roger Moore commented that a "bland leading man in a movie without much of a biographical spark to it makes for a dull sermon indeed."<ref>[http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/movies/orl-movie-review-billy-early-years-100808-story.html Movie review: 'Billy: The Early Years' -- 2 of 5 stars]</ref>

A [[Christian Broadcasting Network|CBN]] review said the film had "a simple and unassuming charm about it, much like the man it honors."<ref>Elliott, Belinda. "''Billy: The Early Years'': Movie Review". [[Christian Broadcasting Network]]. 2008-12-25 http://www.cbn.com/entertainment/screen/ElliottB_Billy-Early-Years.aspx.</ref>