Religulous

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox film

|name =Religulous

|image =Religulous poster.jpg

|caption =Theatrical release poster

|director =Larry Charles

|writer =Bill Maher

|producer ={{ubl|Bill Maher|Jonah Smith|Palmer West}}

|starring =Bill Maher

|cinematography =Anthony Hardwick

|editing ={{ubl|Jeff Groth|Christian Kinnard|Jeffrey M. Werner}}

|music =

|studio =Thousand Words

|distributor =Lionsgate

|released = {{Film date|2008|8|1|Traverse City Film Festival|2008|10|1|United States}}

|runtime =96 minutes

|country =United States

|language =English

|budget =$2.5 million{{cite news|title=Religulous - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information|work= The Numbers|publisher=Nash Information Services|year=2008|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/RELIG.php|access-date= 2008-10-09}}

|gross =$13.9 million

}}

Religulous ({{IPAc-en|r|ɪ|ˈ|l|ɪ|g|j|ʊ|l|ə|s|,_|r|ɪ|ˈ|l|ɪ|dʒ|ʊ|l|ə|s}}) is a 2008 American documentary film written by and starring comedian Bill Maher and directed by Larry Charles. The title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words religious and ridiculous. The documentary

examines and challenges religion and religious belief.{{cite news|last=King|first=Larry|author-link=Larry King|title=Bill Maher Discusses Religulous on Larry King|work=Larry King Live |publisher=CNN|date=2008-08-20|url=http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/08/20/lkl.bill.maher.cnn}}

Contents

A range of views on various world religions is explored as Bill Maher travels to numerous religious destinations including Jerusalem, the Vatican, and Salt Lake City, interviewing believers from a variety of backgrounds and groups. These include a former member of Jews for Jesus, Christians, Muslims, former Mormons,{{cite web|url=http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10618909?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com|title= Review: Maher takes on religion but sounds like he's preaching to the agnostic choir|last=Means|first=Sean|date=2008-10-02| access-date=2008-10-18}} and Hasidic Jews.{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Schaefer|url= http://news.bostonherald.com/entertainment/movies/general/view/2008_09_29_Bill_Maher_takes_politically_incorrect_look_at_faith_in_%E2%80%98Religulous%E2%80%99/|title=Bill Maher takes politically incorrect look at faith in 'Religulous'|publisher=Boston Herald|work=the edge|date=2008-09-29|access-date=2008-05-14}}{{cite news|first=Thom |last=Powers |url=http://www.tiff07.ca/filmsandschedules/filmdetails.aspx?ID=707111610451386 |title=Religulous: A Conversation with Bill Maher and Larry Charles |publisher=Toronto International Film Festival Group |access-date=2007-09-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017030209/http://tiff07.ca/filmsandschedules/filmdetails.aspx?ID=707111610451386 |archive-date=2007-10-17 }}{{cite news |last=Hemingway| first=Mollie Ziegler|title=Look Who's Irrational Now|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=Les Hinton|date=2008-09-18|url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122178219865054585|access-date=2008-10-01}} Maher travels to Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, London, where he "preaches" Scientology beliefs.{{cite news|last=Moore|first=Roger|title=Movie review: 'Religulous' -- 4 out of 5 stars|work=The Orlando Sentinel|date=2009-10-01|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-movie-review-religulous-010108,0,4421023.story|access-date=2008-10-01}} {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Slotek|first= Jim|title=Anti-religion film not risky enough|work=CANOE - JAM! Movies|publisher=Canoe|date=2008-10-03|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Reviews/R/Religulous/2008/10/03/6964346-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710063028/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Reviews/R/Religulous/2008/10/03/6964346-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 10, 2012|access-date=2008-10-03}}

Maher also takes a tour around Creation Museum and the Holy Land Experience. The film promotes the Christ myth theory, a fringe theory that there was no Jesus.

Cast

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

All persons appearing as themselves:

{{div col end}}

Production

Maher said he used a fake title A Spiritual Journey for the film to obtain interviews.{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Patrick| title=Bill Maher hates your (fill in the blank) religion|work=The Big Picture|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2008-08-07|url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/08/bill-maher-hate.html|access-date=2008-10-01}} Creationist Ken Ham of the group Answers in Genesis, who appeared in the film,{{cite news|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/104/story/226061.html |title=Maher takes on religion, but some interviewees cry foul |last=Cusey |first=Rebecca |work=Charlotte Observer |date=2008-10-01 |access-date=2008-10-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927073007/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2008/10/01/226061/maher-takes-on-religion-but-some.html |archive-date=2013-09-27 }} was critical of what he called Maher's "deception" to obtain the interview.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/aroundtheworld/2007/02/07/hbos-bill-maher-and-the-plot-to-deceive-aig/|title=HBO's Bill Maher and the plot to deceive AiG|publisher=Answers in Genesis|last=Ham|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Ham|date=2007-02-07|access-date =2008-10-04}}{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bSkoAAAAIBAJ&pg=3035,3352860&dq=ken+ham+bill+maher&hl=en|title=Creationism leader not laughing at comedian's visit|publisher=Tuscaloosa News|author=Lovan, Dylan T.|date=2007-02-11|access-date=2013-03-10}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2014/03/31/does-bill-maher-really-want-answers/|title=Does Bill Maher Really Want Answers?|publisher=Answers in Genesis|last=Ham|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Ham|date=2014-03-31|access-date=2014-04-03}}

The documentary was produced by Thousand Words and distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment. Originally slated for an international release date coinciding with the Christian Easter holiday 2008 (March 23), post-production delays resulting from a screenwriters guild strike pushed the release date back.{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Sciretta|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2007/08/18/bill-mahers-religion-documentary-aims-for-easter-release-date/|title=Bill Maher's Religion Documentary aims for Easter Release Date|publisher=www.slashfilm.com|work=/Film|date= 2007-08-18|access-date=2007-09-10 }} The film was eventually released on October 3, 2008.{{cite news|first=Winter|last=Miller|url= https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/religulous-shifted-to-october-1117985471/|title='Religulous' shifted to October|publisher=Reed Business Information|work=Variety|date=2008-05-11|access-date=2008-05-14}}

Reception

=Box office=

Religulous had an opening weekend take of $3.5 million from an early October 1 release in Los Angeles and New York City and also a limited 502-theater release, averaging $6,972 per theater. As a result, the film was ranked at #10 at the box office that weekend. Its per-screen receipts were almost three times those of a competing film to which it has been compared in the media, the politically conservative An American Carol,{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Michael|title=For the right wing, 'An American Carol'|work=Dallas Morning News|date=2008-10-03|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-carol_1003gl.ART.State.Edition1.2699bd1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004090449/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-carol_1003gl.ART.State.Edition1.2699bd1.html |archive-date=2008-10-04 |url-status=dead |access-date=2014-11-24}}{{cite web|first=Steven D.|last=Greydanus |url=http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/16170 |title=Religulous vs. American Carol |publisher=NCRegister |access-date=2014-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503092604/http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/16170 |archive-date=2014-05-03}}{{cite web|author=Jonathan Mumm |url=http://www.news10.net/life/entertainment/story.aspx?storyid=48910&catid=54 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081129210834/http://www.news10.net/life/entertainment/story.aspx?storyid=48910&catid=54 |archive-date=2008-11-29 |url-status=dead |title=Mumm at the Movies: Religulous & An American Carol; 10/9/08 |publisher=News 10 – KXTV |access-date=2014-11-24}}{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/10/partisanship-at-the-theaters/ |title=EDGE: Partisanship at the theaters |work=Washington Times |date=2008-10-10 |access-date=2014-05-10}} which edged out Religulous to finish at #9 over the same weekend, but had a per theater average of only $2,325.{{cite news|last=Germain|first=David|title=Audiences adopt 'Chihuahua' with $29M weekend|agency=Associated Press|date=2008-10-05|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/2008-10-05-1945988660_x.htm |access-date=2014-11-24}}{{cite news|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|author2=Tatiana Siegel |title= Political season hits its peak|work=Variety|publisher=Reed Business Information|date=2008-10-06|url= https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/political-season-hits-its-peak-1117993541/|access-date=2008-10-09}} Only the #1 movie, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, at $9,020, had a higher per-screen average than Religulous.{{cite news|title=Box Office Mojo Weekend Box Office October 3–5, 2008|publisher=Box Office Mojo|date=2008-10-06|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/|access-date=2008-10-09}}{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSTRE49C89N20081014 | work=Reuters | title=Political films can't compete with real thing | date=2008-10-14}}

For the second weekend, Religulous had a 35.5% drop in box office receipts and dropped to #13 with a gross of $2,200,000 at 568 theaters for a per screen average of $3,873.{{cite news|title=October 10–12, 2008 Weekend|publisher=Box Office Mojo|year=2008|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2008&wknd=41&p=.htm|access-date=2008-10-16}}

Religulous grossed over $13 million after having a production budget of $2.5 million. {{As of|2019}}, it is 27th among the highest grossing documentaries in the US{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=documentary.htm |title=Documentary Movies at the Box Office |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=2019-05-12}} and was the highest grossing documentary of 2008.{{cite news|title= Religulous (2008)|publisher=Box Office Mojo|date=2008-10-19|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=religulous.htm|access-date=2008-10-16}}

=Critical response=

Religulous received mixed to positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 69%, based on 154 reviews, with an average rating of 6.31/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Religulous is funny and offensive in equal measure, and aims less to change hearts and minds than to inspire conversation."{{cite news|title=Religulous|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=IGN|year= 2008|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/religulous|access-date=2019-05-12}} On Metacritic the film has a score of 56 out of 100, based on 31 critics, "mixed or average reviews".{{cite news|title=Religulous - Lionsgate|work=Metacritic|publisher=CNET|year=2008|url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/religulous|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080823010038/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/religulous|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 23, 2008|access-date=2008-10-04}}

Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film a rating of three and a half out of four stars, and wrote: "I report faithfully that I laughed frequently. You may very well hate it, but at least you've been informed. Perhaps you could enjoy the material about other religions, and tune out when yours is being discussed. That's only human nature."{{cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|title=The punch line is "apocalypse" |work= Chicago Sun-Times|publisher=rogerebert.com|date=2008-10-02|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/religulous-2008|access-date=2022-11-28}} {{rating|3.5|4}}

Robert W. Butler of The Kansas City Star gave the film a rating of three stars, and commented: "The film is one-sided, less a measured argument than a bunch of rants and barbed observations. But it’s also very funny, which trumps everything else."{{cite news|last=Butler|first=Robert W.|title =Religulous|work=The Kansas City Star|date=2008-10-02|url= http://www.kansascity.com/710/story/823717.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011154639/http://www.kansascity.com/710/story/823717.html |archive-date=2008-10-11 |url-status=dead |access-date=2008-10-02}} {{rating|3|4}} Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a rating of A−, and wrote: "The movie is funny as...well, hell."{{cite magazine|last=Gleiberman|first= Owen |title=Religulous (2008)|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Entertainment Weekly and Time|date=2008-10-01|url= https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20230120,00.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081002153730/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20230120,00.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= October 2, 2008|access-date=2008-10-02}} The Canadian Press said the movie "delivers a laugh-out-loud attack on the most sacred of cows."{{cite news|url=http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5h0QMpdlNjZUUs4e82ei5xMMiRIsg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004012123/http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5h0QMpdlNjZUUs4e82ei5xMMiRIsg |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-10-04 |title=Bill Maher travels the globe challenging religious belief in 'Religulous'|work=The Canadian Press|date=2008-09-20|access-date=2014-11-24 }}

Christie Lemire, of the Associated Press, wrote: "If you're an atheist or an agnostic, you'll be completely on board and happy to tag along with Maher as he travels the globe asking people about their faith — everywhere from Jerusalem to the Vatican to Amsterdam, where he finds not only the Cannabis Ministry but also a Muslim gay bar (with two people in it)."{{cite news|first=Christie|last=Lemire|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|url= http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10592212|title=Maher preaches to choir with religion film|publisher=MediaNews Group|date=2008-09-29| access-date=2008-10-01 }} John Anderson of Newsday wrote: "much that's funny, insightful and thought-provoking. But it certainly doesn't give the religious a lot of slack."{{cite news|first=John |last=Anderson |url=http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/sunday/fanfare/ny-ffmov5856561sep28,0,4460986.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002042906/http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/sunday/fanfare/ny-ffmov5856561sep28%2C0%2C4460986.story |archive-date=2008-10-02 |url-status=dead |title=Bill Maher questions religion, God in 'Religulous' |work=Newsday |publisher=Newsday |date=2008-09-28 |access-date=2014-11-24 }}

The documentary received some negative reviews, with Rick McGinnis of Metro concluding that, "Maher is preaching to the choir with an undisguised dishonesty that only the true believers will forgive."{{cite news|url=http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/Entertainment/article/121056 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208034707/http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/Entertainment/article/121056 |archive-date=2008-12-08 |url-status=dead |access-date=2014-11-24|date=2008-10-03|first=Rick|last=McGinnis|publisher=Metro|title=Religulous (film review) }} {{rating|2|5}} James Berardinelli wrote, "If the subject of religion is as important to Maher as he claims during his end comments, then he should have followed those words with actions and made a movie that's more than a sum of inauthentic interviews, ranting attacks, and obvious observations. The choir may hum along with Maher but the rest of those watching this movie will be singing the blues."{{cite news|last=Berardinelli|first=James| title=Religulous - A movie review by James Berardinelli|work=ReelViews Movie Review|publisher=preview.reelviews.net|year =2008 |url= http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1350|access-date=2008-10-01}} Nick Schager of Slant Magazine called it an "atheistic wannabe-dissection of modern faith."{{cite news|first=Nick|last=Schager|url= https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=3884|title=Slant Magazine Film Review: Religulous|work=Slant Magazine|publisher=www.slantmagazine.com|date=2008-09-20|access-date=2008-05-14 }}

In a review for The New York Times, Stephen Holden notes that when Maher "turns from evangelical Christianity to Judaism and Islam, its tone becomes uncertain and its rhythm choppy".Holden, Stephen (2008-10-01). [https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/movies/01reli.html?_r=0 "Believers, Skeptics and a Pool of Sitting Ducks"], New York Times. Retrieved 2013-01-28. Sam Greenspan argues that "Jewish people seemed to get handled with kid gloves" by Maher.Greenspan, Sam (2008-10-13). [http://www.11points.com/Movies/11_Points_Review_of_Religulous "11 Points Review of Religulous"]. Retrieved 2013-01-28.

In his review, Stephen Holden also wrote that "the film has the same loose, on-the-road structure" as Larry Charles' previous film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan and commented: "Much of Mr. Maher’s film is extremely funny in a similarly irreverent, offhanded way."{{cite news|last=Holden| first=Stephen|title=Believers, Skeptics and a Pool of Sitting Ducks|work =The New York Times|date=2008-10-01|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/movies/01reli.html?ref=movies|access-date=2008-10-01}} Claudia Puig of USA Today wrote: "those with a taste for irreverent humor and clear-eyed analysis will find it funny, enlightening and disturbing."{{cite news|last=Puig|first=Claudia|title='Religulous' mirthfully heaps scorn on the faithful | work=USA Today|date=2008-09-30|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2008-09-30-religulous_N.htm|access-date= 2008-10-01}} Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter characterized the film as "An often hilarious but relentlessly shallow attack on religious fundamentalism by humorist Bill Maher".{{cite news|last=Honeycutt|first=Kirk|title=Film Review: Religulous|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|date=2008-09-04|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=11607 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908150857/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=11607 |archive-date=2008-09-08 |url-status=dead |access-date=2014-11-24}}

Louis Peitzman of the San Francisco Bay Guardian wrote that "It doesn't even matter that he goes out of his way to be offensive, as he's consistently funny enough to pull it off."{{cite news|last=Peitzman|first=Louis|title=Film listings|work=San Francisco Bay Guardian|date=2008-09-30| url=http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=7190&catid=85&l=1|access-date=2008-10-01}} Scott Indrisek wrote at Style.com that: "Religulous earns many of its laughs from skillful editing, with Maher's interviews jazzed up by video clips".{{cite news|last=Indrisek |first=Scott |title=Maher's Believe It or Not |publisher=CondéNet |date=2008-09-30 |url=http://men.style.com/news/blog/2008/09/mahers-believe.html |access-date=2008-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219225254/http://men.style.com/news/blog/2008/09/mahers-believe.html |archive-date=2008-12-19 }}

Ben Kenigsberg of Time Out New York gave the film a rating of three out of six stars, and wrote: "The worst scenes in Religulous are appalling for their methods; the best are appalling for their information."{{cite news|last=Kenigsberg |first=Ben |title=Religulous (2008) |work=Time Out New York |publisher=Time Out Group |date=2008-10-02 |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/newyork/reviews/85833/religulous.html |access-date=2008-10-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003131405/http://www.timeout.com/film/newyork/reviews/85833/religulous.html |archive-date=2008-10-03 }} {{rating|3|6}}

Harry Forbes of Catholic News Service condemned the film, deeming it "morally offensive."{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/08mv156.htm |title=CNS Movie Review: Religulous |website=www.catholicnews.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401031837/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/08mv156.htm |archive-date=1 April 2014 |url-status=dead}}

=Accolades=

The 3rd Annual Independent Investigative Group IIG Awards presented an award to Religulous recognizing the promotion of science and critical thinking in popular media on May 18, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.iigwest.com/iigawards/2009/20090929_pressrelease.html |title=IIG | The IIG Awards |publisher=Iigwest.com |date=2010-08-21 |access-date=2011-07-01}}

DVD release

Lions Gate Entertainment released the film on DVD February 17, 2009.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=homevideo&id=religulous.htm |title=Religulous DVD / Home Video |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=February 28, 2009}} Special features on the DVD include a commentary with Bill Maher and director Larry Charles, deleted scenes, and extended Bill Maher monologues from around the world that were either edited down or not included in the film at all.

Possible sequel

On January 4, 2015, Maher tweeted a photo of himself and director Larry Charles with the caption: "Director Larry Charles on the Hawaii trip this year...was "Religulous II" discussed??", suggesting the possibility of a sequel.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/billmaher/status/551881014478262272 |title=@billmaher |date=January 4, 2015 |access-date=January 5, 2015 |publisher=Twitter }}

Soundtrack

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Artist(s)

| title1 = Travelin' Band | extra1 = Creedence Clearwater Revival | writer1 = John Fogerty | length1 = 2:08

| title2 = The Birds and the Bees | extra2 = Jewel Akens | writer2 = Herbert Newman | length2 = 2:09

| title3 = I Ain't Superstitious | extra3 = Jeff Beck Group | writer3 = Willie Dixon | length3 = 4:54

| title4 = Wooly Bully | extra4 = Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs | writer4 = Domingo "Sam" Samudio | length4 = 2:21

| title5 = Alma Redemptoris Mater | extra5 = Voices of Ascension | writer5 = Traditional | length5 = 2:55

| title6 = Jesusland | extra6 = Ben Folds | writer6 = Ben Folds | length6 = 4:28

| title7 = Crazy | extra7 = Gnarls Barkley | writer7 = Brian Burton, Thomas Callaway, Gian Franco Reverberi, Gian Piero Reverberi | length7 = 4:34

| title8 = Jesus Is Just Alright | extra8 = The Doobie Brothers | writer8 = Arthur Reid Reynolds | length8 = 3:00

| title9 = Party in My Pants{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e79yYM4WZYg |title="Party In My Pants" by: Apollo |date=2016-05-26 |last=Doron |first=Braunshtein |access-date=2024-12-19 |via=YouTube}} | extra9 = Doron Burstein | writer9 = Doron Braunshtein | length9 = 4:27

| title10 = Yiddish Blues | extra10 = Klezmer Conservatory Band | writer10 = Traditional | length10 = 3:10

| title11 = Highway 61 Revisited | extra11 = Bob Dylan | writer11 = Bob Dylan | length11 = 3:41

| title12 = I Think We're Alone Now | extra12 = Tiffany | writer12 = Ritchie Cordell | length12 = 3:49

| title13 = Road to Nowhere | extra13 = Talking Heads | writer13 = David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth | length13 = 4:20

}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}