Fact Sheet: TDJ Enterprises

Under the for-profit umbrella of TDJ Enterprises (TDJE) are film, music, books and other products and digital services that extend T.D. Jakes' influence beyond the pulpit. A master communicator, his relevant message of hope is amplified to a mass media audience.  


Film

Jakes' foray into film began with the independently produced Woman, Thou Art Loosed! and was quickly followed by Not Easily Broken. A First Look deal with Sony Pictures enabled Jakes to continue making his mark within the fast-growing faith and family film genre. 

The NAACP Image Award-winning romantic comedy Jumping the Broom debuted as the No. 1 comedy and earned nearly seven times its production budget. The remake of the 1976 Irene Cara-led classic Sparkle, starring Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston, received an "A" audience rating and reached the top five on opening weekend. The Woman, Thou Art Loosed! sequel, On the Seventh Day, marked the launch of the TDJE Independent film division, earning No. 1 independent status upon its opening.  

Through a partnership with international MA-AFRIKA Films and Image Entertainment, TDJ Independent produced and distributed Winnie Mandela starring Jennifer Hudson. A production deal with Fox Searchlight Pictures resulted in Black Nativity, a musical adaptation of Langston Hughes' libretto starring Angela Bassett, which cracked the top 10 in 2013. In 2014 Heaven is For Real, based on the best-selling book, was produced in partnership with former Disney executive Joe Roth, opened at No. 2, and generated more than $100 million. 

The 2016 follow-up Miracles from Heaven, based on the book of the same name, starred Jennifer Garner and Queen Latifa and opened with an "A+" rating. The film ranked No. 3, earning $18.3 million in its first five days, and scored No. 4 in all time faith film openings. 


TV 

The T.D. Jakes talk show debuted in September 2016 with rave reviews. Launched via a unique business model with TEGNA and other production partners, the show focuses on topical issues and airs daily on network stations and OWN. Jakes' small screen work continued in 2018 with Faith under Fire, a Lifetime biopic featuring Toni Braxton.


Music

Dexterity Sounds is responsible for some of the most innovative expressions in Gospel music today. The label has received numerous industry accolades, including Grammys®  for The Storm Is Over and A Wing and a Prayer. Dexterity is known for Sacred Love Songs albums and for its award-winning worship experience DVDs.  Dexterity recently debuted an all-female contemporary gospel group, Grace, that scored a top spot on the Billboard charts and partnered with the internationally renowned Planet Shakers.


Books

T.D. Jakes has authored 40 books. Titles such as Making Great Decisions and Reposition Yourself are perennial bookshelf fixtures. The T.D. Jakes Relationship Bible scored a NAACP Image Award for literature, and his forgiveness book Let it Go! peaked at No. 3 on New York Times best-seller list. In 2014, Instinct: The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive reached No. 1 opening week and remained on the list for double-digit weeks. In 2015, Destiny also made the top 10 as did the latest title, Soar, which focuses on entrepreneurship and reached No. 7 on the New York Times list in October 2017.


Concerts

Live touring comedy revues and concerts have rolled out successfully under the banner A Time to Laugh.  


Podcasts

In 2018 T.D. Jakes launched a new podcast series where he undertakes salient conversations with key newsmakers.

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