How Daniel and the Fiery Furnace Went From a Crowdfunded Vision to a Box Office Success
What began as a crowdfunded vision has become a successful nationwide theatrical release, brought to life by a team united by faith and fueled by audiences showing up, spreading the word and giving others a chance to see the film.
Daniel and Matthew Kooman started with a vision—to bring the Book of Daniel to the big screen. What they didn’t have was a major studio behind them to bring that vision to life. So they did something different.
They wrote the script, took the project to audiences and ultimately raised more than $1 million through two rounds of crowdfunding, bringing more than 1,000 everyday investors into the project.
Over the next few years, the vision began to take shape. Mena Massoud came on board as Daniel, with Elijah Alexander as King Nebuchadnezzar. The Koomans filmed the biblical epic in India, using real palaces, military compounds and historic locations to bring ancient Babylon to life.
And then EKKL Entertainment came on board, helping take Daniel and the Fiery Furnace from the production set to theaters nationwide.
By the time the official trailer and movie poster dropped, people were hooked. The scale of the production, the performances, the sound and the attention to detail could not be ignored. For an independently made biblical movie, the team had created something that felt anything but small.
Then the advance screenings started. At least 13 cities sold out.
Suddenly, the question wasn’t whether people were interested in Daniel and the Fiery Furnace… They clearly were.
But would audiences show up come opening weekend?
Daniel and the Fiery Furnace Brings the Heat to Theaters
Short answer: they did.
Daniel and the Fiery Furnace opened to an estimated $3.3 million over the September 18–20 weekend, landing at No. 6 at the North American box office in its first three days and playing in 1,525 theaters nationwide. It is also currently the No. 1 faith-based film and the No. 1 indie film in America, earning a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes based on more than 250 verified ratings.
The film did so well that more showtimes have been added, giving audiences opportunities to see the film in theaters through October 1st.
And people are talking about what they saw.
From stories of tears to standing ovations, audiences have described the film as “Amazing,” “Excellent,” “Powerful,” “Emotional,” “Captivating” and “Phenomenal.” One theatergoer even said it was the best ten bucks she’s spent in 25 years!
But perhaps the clearest sign that people are responding to the film isn’t what they’re saying—it’s what they’re doing.
Through the “Buy Seats, Change Hearts” campaign on GiveSendGo, supporters are buying tickets for people who might not otherwise be able to afford to see the film. The campaign has now surpassed its original goal of $50,000, with more than $63,000 raised toward a new $75,000 goal.
It Started with a Team Who Believed
This kind of success doesn’t happen by accident.
With a production this ambitious, there are countless moving pieces—and everyone has to be moving in the same direction.
But for the team behind Daniel and the Fiery Furnace, this wasn’t simply a film people worked on. It was a film people prayed over.
Cast and crew lived together during much of production in India, sharing meals and praying together. The Kooman brothers have also spoken about seeking God’s direction throughout the process, believing that even the smallest decisions needed to honor Scripture.
And that spiritual foundation was part of the film’s story long before audiences ever saw it on a screen.
That’s what made EKKL Entertainment such a natural fit for the project. Launched in 2026, EKKL is a faith-forward entertainment and lifestyle platform built around stories people can believe in, voices they can trust and entertainment that brings people together.
At its heart, the partnership was about more than making a movie. It was about using the power of stories to point people toward something bigger.
There’s Still Time to See Daniel and the Fiery Furnace in Theaters!
For generations, people have encountered the Daniel on the page. Now, audiences are getting the chance to experience these stories on the big screen in a whole new way.
And Daniel and the Fiery Furnace is only the beginning, with additional films in the series expected to bring the rest of the Book of Daniel to life.
And if the response so far is any indication, audiences are ready to see what comes next.
Daniel and the Fiery Furnace is playing in theaters nationwide. Check local showtimes and see it for yourself before time runs out!
