Overall, it finished its opening weekend with a gross of $4, million, which ranked it 10th among all movies. Most of the other top 10 movies were shown in 2,000-3,000 theaters.

According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Amazing Grace's per-theater average total of $5,125 ranked third to "Ghost Rider," which averaged $5,543 and opened in 3,620 theaters, and the "The Number 23," which averaged $5,292 and opened in 2,759 theaters.

The movie's success could mean a broader distribution in coming weeks.

The movie’s release coincides with the 200th anniversary of “The Slave Trade Act,” which in 1807 abolished slavery in the United Kingdom.

David Hunt and his wife, Patricia Heaton, co-produced the film with Terrence Malick, Ed Pressman and Ken Wales. Hunt was one of the originators of the project and had been working on it for several years before Walden Media brought major funding to the venture.

Currently appearing as Darren McCarthy on the television series “24,” Hunt said the film about Wilberforce has been a project close to his heart. The idea he hopes the film’s audience will take away is powerful influence individuals can make.

“You can make a difference in your life and in other peoples’ lives,” the British-born actor said. “It is possible to do good on this planet and there are forces greater than ourselves,” he added as he talked about the message the movie delivers.

The film’s appeal is magnified because it is based on actual events. It is widely known that Wilberforce was motivated by his Christian faith and his conviction to do God’s work. It is less well known that he was influenced by his longtime friend, John Newton, who penned the words to the hymn the movie is named for—and who had at one time been a slave trader himself.

“He redirected an entire economy and an entire culture,” Hunt said of Wilberforce. “I think you have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this story. Storytelling is the most powerful form of communication that we have.”

Even before its release, the film project had energized groups and individuals already working to bring an end to the many forms of slavery that still exist in today’s world. Walden Media’s Bristol Bay Productions took notice and launched the Amazing Change Campaign and Web site to bring attention to people and organizations that are working to finish what Wilberforce started.

Bristol Bay took advantage of the film’s appeal to evangelicals by including them in an effort that doubled as publicity for the movie when Feb. 18 was declared to be “Amazing Grace Sunday” and churches across the nation registered on a Web site to sing the hymn and pray for the end of slavery once and for all.

Focus on the Family produced a five-hour audio drama CD set, also titled Amazing Grace, which is advertised as “inspired by the major motion picture.” The organization is one of many Christian groups that has endorsed the film and partnered to support it in a number of ways.

The story told by the film is one that has captured the attention of today’s youth. Wilberforce is a hero they can follow. He was elected to Parliament at age 21. His good friend, William Pitt the Younger, became Prime Minister at age 24. Following Wilberforce’s conversion, Pitt persuaded him to remain in government rather than become a clergyman.

Zach Hunter, a 15-year old who calls himself an abolitionist, has become a spokesman for the Amazing Change campaign. The teenager, who likes art and poetry, viewed the film five times before its release. Of course, that may have something to do with the fact that his mother has done work for both Walden Media and the International Justice Mission. But Zach has his own resume.

When he was 12 he started the campaign LC2LC, “Loose Change to Loose Chains” to encourage his own generation to get involved in a global effort to end slavery. The concept is simple: Collect loose change and give it to the International Justice Mission’s efforts to free slaves. His idea has grown into an international effort and LC2LC now has an accompanying curriculum in Christian and secular formats that any group can use.

“I think that abolition is a term that could be revived,” he said as he talked about the abolitionist label he has embraced.

Last summer Hunter spoke in San Diego at the Spirit West Coast music festival. The teen has a book coming out this month entitled “Be the Change: Your guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World,” published by Zondervan.

“I really think that anybody can make a difference,” the recent author said. “It has always been the single, determined person who can change things.”

Hunter, who lives in Atlanta, has toured nationally to speak about slavery at a number of events.

“My generation wants something bigger than themselves to strive towards,” Hunter said. “We want something big we can reach out and get a hold of.”

No one can argue with the size of his cause. The legacy of William Wilberforce lives on. His story has proven to be one worth telling to every generation.

For more information, visit amazingchange.com, amazinggracemovie.com and fourboysfilms.com.


BP News contributed to this report.