Religion as a recipe for success

Terry Mattingly, a religion columnist for Scripps Howard News Service and the director of the Christian-oriented Washington Journalism Centre, believes that The Blind Side is working with audiences because the film's Christian back story is neither gratuitous nor didactic.

"What makes a movie like this important to me is that it doesn't slap people in the face with religion," Mattingly said.

"Most films from Hollywood that involve faith take out all the details —it's just vague and mushy or it's negative religious stereotypes.

"But The Blind Side is a real movie. And then it has another factor: showing respect for religious motivations and emotions. So you have people lining up."

The real life Leigh Anne Tuohy, portrayed by Sandra Bullock in the film, said she can't really explain why the movie is doing as well as it is. But she has her suspicions about the film's appeal. "It's a word-of-mouth thing. People tell other people and they want to experience something good and happy. I think that's really appealing to the masses."