The movie tells the story of Bart Millard, the lead singer of Christian rock band MercyMe, and what led him to write the bestselling Christian single of all time: "I Can Only Imagine."

Millard told CBN News in Nashville, following the film's premiere, that the filmmakers did a great job capturing the heart of his story.

"The first time I saw it, it was really emotional," he said. "I guess they did a good job because they stirred some emotions that I spent most of my life trying to bury."

The film earned nearly double its expected outcome raking in $17.1 million across North America.

It came in third for the weekend behind the opening of "Tomb Raider" and Marvel's "Black Panther."

"Tomb Raider" had a $94 million production budget while "I Can Only Imagine" had a tiny $7 million budget by comparison.

And "I Can Only Imagine" only played in 1,629 theaters, making the $17.1 million earnings even more remarkable.

Compare that to "Tomb Raider" which opened in more than twice as many theaters, 3,854, and only beat "I Can Only Imagine" by about $6 million to take second place for the weekend.

The Christian-themed "I Can Only Imagine" beat out Disney's "A Wrinkle in Time," a movie which had all of its original Christian elements removed by the screenwriter. It also beat a new film about a gay teenage romance.

Meanwhile, "A Wrinkle in Time" is still playing in an incredible 3,980 theaters but hasn't lived up to expectations. Critics believe that's because the prominent Christian themes from the beloved children's novel were replaced by a New Age agenda, as CBN News reported here.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Choices, Not Race, Determine Success in America, Says Immigrant from Zimbabwe, Now an Author, Small Business Owner

'Pray for' America: Christian Leaders React to the Derek Chauvin Verdict

Ted Cruz Exposes Double Standard on Georgia Elections during Committee Hearing on New Georgia Voting Law

'Woke' Simon and Schuster Employees Try to Cancel Pence Book: Publisher Bites Back

Apple Finally Lets Parler Return to App Store Following Republican Letter

Archaeologists Find Site of Harriet Tubman's Father's Home Where This 'Moses' of the Underground Railroad Got Her Start

'It Was A Pretty Powerful Moment': 6-Year-Old Gets Hero's Welcome Back to School after Completing Cancer Treatment

'It's Real!': Arizona Woman's Near-death Experience Confirms Famous Painting of Jesus

Verdict: Jury Finds Derek Chauvin Guilty of Murdering George Floyd

'Stop Killing Our Children': Benjamin Watson Exposes 'Hollow' Apology for Planned Parenthood's Racist Roots

Arkansas Legislature Passes Bill Banning Planned Parenthood from Public Schools

'We're Not Doing Fauci-ism': Ron DeSantis Defends Florida's COVID Response

Latest Episode of 'At Home With The Robertsons' Tackles Tough Questions about COVID-19 Vaccine Safety

WATCH: Arizona Gov. Ducey Declares Border Emergency Because Biden Won't

'Religious Freedom Prevailed': Houston Officials Agree to Permit Synagogue to Meet Following Religious Liberty Lawsuit

'I Heard God Speak to Me': Columbine Survivor Craig Scott Reflects on the Moments That Saved His Life, and How He Found Forgiveness

Biden Admin Axes President Trump's Rules Limiting Experimentation on Aborted Babies

Are Scientists Now Using Human Cells to Create 'Planet of the Apes' Embryos?

Young Pregnant Pro-abortion Leader in Argentina Dies after Legal Abortion

Report: Thousands of Reports of Menstrual Irregularities, Reproductive Dysfunction Following COVID Vaccines