'Courageous': Faith-based movie set to make some noise at the box office

When the box-office report comes out at the end of the weekend, don't be surprised if a movie called "Courageous" is among the top grossing films. Even if you haven't heard of it until right now.

The family/cop drama is the latest production from Sherwood Pictures, which is affiliated with Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., and has made several fairly successful films with Christian messages. The most prominent is probably "Fireproof," which starred Kirk Cameron and made more than $33 million -- on a budget of less than $1 million.

"Courageous" is being distributed by Sony's TriStar Pictures and is opening in 1,161 theaters this weekend. Online ticket seller Fandango reported that it was far and away the leader in advance sales before it opened Friday (Sept. 30), thanks to savvy marketing to the movie's target audience and hefty group sales.

Wider releases like "The Lion King 3-D" and "Dream House" might still overtake "Courageous" by the end of the weekend. But it's likely to take in somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 million to $8 million, which should easily put it in the Top 10, if not the Top 5.