Sight & Sound Theatres, in partnership with Roadside Attractions, has released A Great Awakening, a new feature film exploring the powerful relationship between evangelist George Whitefield and founding father Benjamin Franklin, offering audiences a fresh look at the spiritual movement that preceded America's independence.
Directed by Joshua Enck, president and chief story officer of Sight & Sound Theatres, the film is set in the years leading up to the American Revolution and tells the true story of how Whitefield's preaching helped spark widespread revival across the American colonies, shaping both hearts and the emerging national identity.
Framed around the unlikely friendship between a passionate preacher and a pragmatic statesman, A Great Awakening presents a lesser-known historical narrative, emphasizing how spiritual renewal played a foundational role before political independence was declared.
According to the filmmakers, the project aims to remind modern audiences that before liberty was defined in political terms, it was first experienced as a transformation of the heart, as revival spread through towns and cities during the First Great Awakening.
Enck described the timing of the release as significant, noting the film arrives during the Easter season, a period centered on renewal and resurrection, ahead of the patriotic celebrations of July 4. He expressed hope that the story will invite viewers to reflect more deeply on the meaning of freedom and its spiritual roots.
Actor Jonathan Blair, who portrays Whitefield, immersed himself in historical journals to prepare for the role, drawing from firsthand accounts of the evangelist's thoughts and experiences during the revival movement. Blair said the message at the heart of Whitefield's preaching remains unchanged today, centered on the call to be "born again," a theme that continues to resonate across generations.
Following the success of previous productions such as I Heard the Bells, the film marks another step in Sight & Sound Theatres' expansion into cinematic storytelling, bringing its faith-based theatrical approach to a wider audience through feature films.
A Great Awakening is now available in select theaters, inviting viewers to rediscover a pivotal moment in history when revival helped shape a nation.
