The Ark and the Darkness is a 2024 American Christian documentary film directed by Ralph Strean and produced by Strean and Daniel A. Biddle. Produced by Sevenfold Films in collaboration with Genesis Apologetics, the film presents a young-Earth creationist interpretation of the Genesis flood narrative. The film received a limited-event theatrical release in the United States through Fathom Events beginning on March 20, 2024. It ranked third at the domestic box office on each of its first two days, it was shown in 1,030 theaters, and grossed $2,097,560 domestically.
Synopsis The documentary examines the account of Noah's Ark and the flood described in the Book of Genesis. Through narration, interviews, computer-generated imagery, and discussions of several scientific disciplines, it presents arguments commonly associated with flood geology and young-Earth creationism. Topics addressed in the film include the proposed dimensions and capacity of Noah's Ark, the number of animals that would have been carried aboard it, flood traditions found in different cultures, the fossil record, sedimentary rock formations, and the burial of plants and animals. The film also considers how animal populations could have diversified after the flood. The documentary discusses geological sites and formations, including the Morrison Formation, and presents the occurrence of fossilized terrestrial and marine organisms within sedimentary deposits as evidence for large-scale flooding. It also discusses reports of preserved organic material in dinosaur fossils and challenges conventional interpretations of the age and formation of the fossil record. The film features speakers associated with creationist ministries and Christian educational institutions, including geologist Andrew Snelling, paleontologist Gabriela Haynes, historian of geology Terry Mortenson, geophysicist John Baumgardner, microbiologist Andrew Fabich, engineer Mark Horstemeyer, science educator Charles Jackson, and archaeologist Randall Price.
Production The Ark and the Darkness was directed by filmmaker Ralph Strean and produced by Strean and Daniel A. Biddle, president of Genesis Apologetics. It was produced by Sevenfold Films in collaboration with Genesis Apologetics. Strean had previously directed the 2017 documentary Genesis: Paradise Lost. The Ark and the Darkness uses interviews, dramatic visualizations, animation, and computer-generated sequences to illustrate the construction of the Ark and the events described in the flood narrative.
Release and box office The film was distributed theatrically in the United States by Fathom Events. Its initial event screenings were held on Wednesday, March 20, and Thursday, March 21, 2024. On March 20, the film was shown in 996 theaters and earned $750,982, ranking third at the domestic daily box office. On March 21, it expanded to 1,030 theaters and earned an additional $955,257, again ranking third for the day. Its two-day cumulative gross was $1,706,239. The film ranked tenth on Box Office Mojo's domestic weekly chart for March 15–21, 2024. Additional screenings were subsequently held in a smaller number of theaters. A further event screening on April 1 earned $359,300 from 597 theaters. The film's widest release was 1,030 theaters, and its total reported domestic theatrical gross was $2,097,560. Christian media outlets, including CBN News and Movieguide, reported on the film's third-place daily box-office ranking during its initial theatrical engagement. The film was later made available through online video platforms.
Reception Coverage of The Ark and the Darkness appeared primarily in publications and websites discussing Christianity, creationism, and the relationship between religion and science. Movieguide reviewed the film favorably, praising its production, visual presentation, and Christian message. CBN News also presented the film favorably and highlighted its box-office performance and arguments for the historicity of a global flood. Writing in The Christian Post, Leah MarieAnn Klett described the film as an attempt to counter interpretations of the flood as mythology, allegory, or a regional event. Her article focused on comments from Biddle concerning the film's scientific and theological purposes. Other reviewers challenged the film's scientific and theological arguments. In a review for Righting America, Amanda Harpold characterized the documentary as an apologetic work intended to defend belief in a global flood. She criticized its treatment of scientific evidence and argued that its presentation depended upon first accepting a particular interpretation of the Bible. Biologist Joel Duff, writing on the Naturalis Historia website, criticized the film's presentation of geology and paleontology and disputed its interpretation of fossil and geological evidence. He also argued that the film's discussion of end-times theology distracted from its treatment of the Ark and the flood. The film is listed on the review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.
Awards The Ark and the Darkness received awards at several Christian and faith-based film festivals in 2024.
At the Religion Faith International Film Festival's fall 2024 competition, the film received an Outstanding Excellence Award. The film won first place in the documentary category at the 2024 Freedom Christian Film Festival. At the 2024 Great Lakes Christian Film Festival, the film received awards for Best Documentary Feature, Best Producer, and Best Sound Design.
See also Creationism Creation science Flood geology Genesis flood narrative Noah's Ark Young Earth creationism
References
External links Official website The Ark and the Darkness at IMDb The Ark and the Darkness at Rotten Tomatoes The Ark and the Darkness at Box Office Mojo
