In 2022, Mark Wahlberg undertook a remarkable cinematic endeavor with his film Father Stu, which delves into the true story of Stuart Long. Long, a once amateur boxer, confronted life’s challenges head-on as he battled inclusion body myositis while embracing his newfound path as a Catholic priest. However, Wahlberg’s involvement in this project goes far beyond his role as an actor.
In an interview with Insider, Wahlberg disclosed that he made a personal investment of “millions and millions of dollars” to partially finance the film when other financial backers were hesitant to take it on. He drew inspiration from his co-star Mel Gibson, who had similarly invested around $30 million of his funds to support The Passion of the Christ.
Mark Wahlberg Broke The Cardinal Rule: Self-Financed Father Stu
Hailing from the vibrant Dorchester neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, Mark Wahlberg experienced the challenges of a humble upbringing as the youngest among nine siblings. His formative years were marked by personal struggles and difficulties. However, Wahlberg successfully transformed his life and emerged as an esteemed A-list actor, now known for his commitment to his faith.
Having admired Rosalind Ross’s previous collaborations with Mel Gibson, Mark Wahlberg held her in high regard and considered himself a devoted admirer of her work. Recognizing her talent, he approached Ross to direct the film after she penned the script for Father Stu. Despite encountering limited enthusiasm from potential financial backers, Wahlberg made a bold decision to support the project personally, using his own financial resources which turned out to be $21 million to bring Father Stu to fruition. He stated-
“Yes, I broke the cardinal rule. You never put your own money into a film. But I didn’t really go out to a lot of people. I didn’t send it to any major studios. I had a couple of friends who I had made kind of small independent movies with or people that I made a couple of true stories with, and they didn’t even really respond to it. So I said, ‘You know what? I’m just going to do it on my own’.”
Mark Wahlberg starrer Father Stu Turned Out To Be A Flop
Mark Wahlberg’s highly anticipated film, Father Stu, based on the biography of Stuart Long—a former boxer turned Catholic priest—was released in the USA on April 13, 2022. Opening in over 2,700 theaters, the film garnered attention with its intriguing storyline. On its opening day, Father Stu managed to collect $1.5 million, with a weekend box office collection of $5.70 million in the domestic market, comprising the USA and Canada. The film has accumulated a total of $20.88 million at the domestic box office and an additional $713k overseas, resulting in a total of $21.59 million worldwide.
Despite meeting the initial projections of industry experts, “Father Stu” fell short of achieving substantial commercial success considering its production budget of $30-40 million. As a result, the film has been criticized and labeled as a box office disappointment by both critics and media outlets. Despite its smaller budget, “Father Stu” struggled to make a significant impact in terms of financial performance.
Critical reception for “Father Stu” has been moderate, as evidenced by its IMDb rating of 6.5/10 and a 42/100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 121 reviews. The film has garnered mixed reviews, indicating a diversity of opinions regarding its overall quality and impact.
Source: Variety
