Hollywood’s new blacklist is having a serious impact on the stories we see on screen today. It’s an industry-wide secret: conservative actors, writers, and filmmakers tread carefully to avoid professional consequences. Conservative voices have largely been silenced, forcing many to hide their beliefs. Even daring to pitch a right-leaning script is a gamble in today’s Hollywood climate, as Andrew Klavan detailed in his book Virtue Bombs: How Hollywood Got Woke and Lost Its Soul.
When conservative-leaning projects do make it to the big screen, they face an uphill battle. Take the pro-life drama Unplanned from 2019 as an example—despite its strong message, it encountered numerous hurdles just to be shown. However, recent trends show that the tide may be turning, with conservative films fighting their way to prominence at the box office.
Just this past weekend, three right-leaning films muscled their way into the top ten. The documentary Am I Racist?, from The Daily Wire, placed fourth with $4.75 million. In this feature, Matt Walsh exposes the extremes of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Then there’s Reagan, a biopic on America’s 40th president starring Dennis Quaid, which has earned a respectable $23 million over three weeks. Remarkably, this was achieved despite limited screen time—nearly 1,000 fewer theaters than the weekend’s major release Speak No Evil. Rounding out the list is the faith-based film God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust, which earned $1.7 million across 1,339 screens.
It appears that the left is running a massive campaign to get @MattWalshBlog’s film “Am I A Racist” removed from theaters and bombarded with bad reviews.
Hollywood is SCARED of this movie…
— snowflake.tears (@snowflaketearss) September 16, 2024
What makes these successes even more notable is that none of these films come from mainstream Hollywood. Am I Racist? is a Daily Wire production, distributed through the new SDG Releasing. God’s Not Dead was brought to theaters by Fathom Events, while Reagan relied on the upstart distribution company Showbiz Direct. These non-traditional distribution methods signal a shift: conservative filmmakers are forging new paths to get their stories out, bypassing Hollywood’s gatekeepers.
Just watched the movie #Regan amazing !! Real NOT sick Hollywood garbage. Congrats #dennisquaid
He’s been sensores by #woke #Hollywood pic.twitter.com/7NeB2Q08Wi— Trend ℏ (@genepy1) August 31, 2024
Critics, however, are not so kind. Major film critics avoided Am I Racist? and God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust entirely, while Reagan faced scathing reviews, including a harsh critique from The Daily Beast, which called it the worst film of the year. Yet, despite the backlash from media outlets, audiences have embraced these films. Reagan holds a stellar 98 percent approval rating from viewers, and Am I Racist?, a 99 percent.
And this is just the beginning. Dinesh D’Souza, a well-known conservative filmmaker, is set to release Vindicating Trump on September 27, just in time for the election season. Conservatives are no longer waiting for Hollywood’s approval—they’re building their own platforms, creating what’s been dubbed a “parallel economy.” This rise of conservative content is tapping into an audience Hollywood has long ignored, leaving room for these upstart companies to cash in on the demand for right-leaning stories.
The exclusion of conservative voices in Hollywood isn’t just about politics—it’s about business. By ignoring a significant portion of the country, mainstream studios are leaving money on the table. And while traditional Hollywood remains comfortable in its progressive bubble, the rise of alternative platforms and production companies signals a new era for conservative storytelling.
One sharp-eyed reader also pointed out another title in this growing trend: The Forge, which, like War Room and Fireproof, is making waves with Christian audiences.
