Andrew Erwin

Biography

Andrew Erwin is an American filmmaker, director, and producer, best known as one-half of the Erwin Brothers, alongside his brother Jon Erwin. Together, they have become leading voices in faith-based and inspirational cinema, creating films that combine compelling storytelling with themes of faith, hope, and redemption.

Early Career and Music Videos

Andrew Erwin began his career working as a duo with his brother Jon. The Erwin Brothers first gained recognition by directing award-winning music videos for well-known artists such as Skillet, Switchfoot, Michael W. Smith, and Amy Grant. Their work in music videos helped establish their visual storytelling style and opened doors for more ambitious projects.

Documentaries and Transition to Feature Films

In 2006, the Erwin Brothers produced the award-winning 9/11 documentary The Cross and the Towers, marking their first foray into feature-length storytelling. In 2010, they shifted their focus exclusively to feature films, beginning with the micro-budget debut October Baby (2011).

With producing partner Kevin Downes, the brothers focused on stories that would resonate with the emerging faith-based audience while remaining broadly relatable. Their early films included the comedy Moms’ Night Out (2014) and the sports drama Woodlawn (2015), the latter marking their first adaptation of a true story—a narrative approach that would become a signature of their brand. Woodlawn earned high praise from audiences and secured an A+ CinemaScore, the first of multiple such accolades for Andrew and Jon.

Breakthrough Success

The Erwin Brothers’ breakout came with I Can Only Imagine (2018), a biographical drama about MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard. The film, made on a $7 million budget and starring Dennis Quaid, was released by Lionsgate and went on to earn $86 million at the box office, becoming the top-grossing independent film of 2018. Its success solidified the brothers’ reputation for producing inspirational, commercially viable films.

Kingdom Story Company and Recent Work

Following the success of I Can Only Imagine, the Erwin Brothers co-founded Kingdom Story Company with Kevin Downes and Tony Young. The company focuses on telling stories of faith, hope, and redemption, particularly for the Heartland audience they grew up in. Notable productions include:

I Still Believe (2020)

THE Jesus Music (2022)

American Underdog (2022)

Jesus Revolution (2023)

Upcoming 2024 releases include Ordinary Angels starring Hilary Swank, Unsung Hero inspired by the band For King + Country, Unbreakable Boy starring Zachary Levi, and Dallas Jenkins’ Best Christmas Pageant Ever.