How to watch The Forge – is the new Christian movie streaming?
Sony PicturesThe Kendrick Brothers are back with The Forge, a new spinoff to War Room that’s one of the must-see Christian movies of 2024 – and this is how you can watch the film, and if it’s on streaming.
In 2015, Alex and Stephen Kendrick wrote and directed War Room, following a family who seek help from Miss Clara, an elderly woman who encourages them to find peace through prayer.
It was ripped apart by critics, earning a 32% score on Rotten Tomatoes – but audiences loved it, making the movie an unexpected sleeper hit with $74 million worldwide against a $3 million budget.
Nearly a decade later, the filmmaking duo has returned with The Forge, a new movie that goes “outside the box” in ways you won’t expect.
Where to watch The Forge
The Forge will be available to watch exclusively in cinemas from August 23, 2024.
Echoing other faith-based films, you can buy group tickets for yourself and your church congregation. And, if you want to go the extra mile, buyouts are available (for 75 tickets or more).
There’s an extra incentive, too: the first 100 groups to book 100 seats or more will receive a special pin and poster, and the organizer will get a limited edition pocket watch.
What’s it about?
The Forge follows Isaiah Wright, a 19-year-old who loves basketball and video games. However, when his parents force him to confront adulthood, religion helps him discover his true purpose.
“Isiah has some growing up to do. A year out of high school with no plans for his future, Isaiah is challenged by his single mom and a successful businessman to start charting a better course for his life,” the official synopsis reads.
“Through the prayers of his mother and biblical discipleship from his new mentor, Isaiah begins to discover God’s purpose for his life is so much more than he could hope for or imagine.”
Rather than a straight sequel to War Room, The Forge is a spinoff with one important character returning from the original film: Miss Clara.
“We were already inspired with a powerful storyline, but the entire movie vaulted up when we realized it beautifully fit alongside our favourite rite War Room characters,” Stephen Kendrick said in an earlier statement.
His brother added: “We’ve thought outside the box and did some things we’ve never done before with The Forge and can’t wait to see how audiences react to it and these themes of mentorship and second chances.”
The Forge cast
The Forge stars Aspen Kennedy as Isiah Wright, who you may have seen in The Night Before Christmas and Kingdom Business. Other members of the cast include:
Sony Pictures- Cameron Arnett as Joshua Moore
- Priscilla Shirer as Cynthia Wright and Elizabeth Jordan (they’re twins)
- Karen Abercrombie as Miss Clara Williams
- T.C. Stallings as Tony Jordan
- BJ Arnett as Janelle Moore
- Ken Bevel as James
- Benjamin Watson
- Jonathan Evans as Jonathan
- Jerry Shirer as Vaughn
- Tommy Woodard as Bobby
- Marianne Haaland as Wanda
Shirer and Stallings also appeared in War Room, but Abercrombie’s presence is significant. Speaking to
SONset Friday LIVE, she teased: “The story is a story that will touch everybody; every man, woman, and family, and it is a perfect story for right now.”
“It is about discipleship… it’s very powerful. Miss Clara pops in briefly,” she added, as well as praising Kennedy’s “phenomenal” performance.
Discussing Isiah’s journey, Kennedy also told BOSSIP: “He doesn’t have a sense of direction in his life right now.
“He doesn’t wanna go to college, he’s heading on the path where he could get strayed away, but he’s blessed to meet some mentors in his life who help him go down the right path.”
Will The Forge come to streaming?
The Forge will come to streaming, it’s just unclear when or where. Considering War Room is currently available to stream via Starz, it could end up there after it leaves cinemas.
It ultimately depends on the movie’s box office performance. For example, War Room debuted on VOD on December 22, 2015, nearly four months after it premiered in theaters. That’s a long run on the big screen, so don’t expect to watch The Forge at home soon.
There’s another possibility: it’s technically distributed by Sony Pictures (Affirm Films, a company affiliated with the studio), and Sony has a first-look deal with Netflix. In theory, it could be added to the streaming service’s library after six months, but this is just speculation right now.
In the meantime, check out our list of the best movies of 2024 so far, and find out what’s happening with The Chosen Season 5.