Touted by its filmmakers as "a game-changing movie," Home Run opens today in approximately 400 theaters across the country.

Christian retail chains have gotten behind the movie and several best-selling Christian authors have endorsed Home Run, which highlights Celebrate Recovery—a 12-step addiction recovery program based on Christian principles that grew out of Southern California's Saddleback Church and is now found in churches worldwide.

Produced by Impact Productions, the faith-based movie is about an alcoholic baseball hotshot who finds redemption in an unlikely place.

"It won't be the only game in town at movie theaters," the film's Facebook page said. "However, it will be the one film reminding moviegoers that with God, freedom is possible."

The film won the Best Feature Film and Best Inspirational Film categories of the inaugural Resonate Film Festival during the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando, Fla., last summer. David C Cook released a novelization by Travis Thrasher of the movie with the same title last month.

"Home Run is a powerful story of the redemption of our past, present and future for the glory of God," Family Christian President and CEO Cliff Bartow said. "This timeless message is delivered through a baseball story and a man's key relationships. We can all relate at some level to parts of this story, which makes this movie so compelling."

Both the Parable Group and LifeWay Christian Stores encouraged customers, via their Facebook pages, to watch the movie. The film has been heavily marketed to the faith-based community, especially through pastors' screenings.

"Home Run reminds us of the power of forgiveness, the richness of redemption and the wisdom of trusting God to revive us," said pastor and author Max Lucado.

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author, called the movie "a film of great hope."

Megachurch pastor and author Joel Osteen said, "Home Run is a must-see story of change and redemption—a story all of us need to hear and know," while Bible teacher and author Joyce Meyer noted that the movie "portrays the church in its beauty—true life transformation through real and honest relationships with one another and with Jesus."

Samuel Goldwyn Films and Provident Films have partnered in the marketing and distribution of the film. Their previous faith-based movie partnerships included Fireproof, October Baby and Facing the Giants.

Click here for more information on Home Run.

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