Jon Erwin (born May 19, 1982, in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, and entrepreneur best known for creating faith-based films that combine inspirational storytelling with mainstream appeal. He first gained recognition working alongside his brother, Andrew Erwin, as one half of the filmmaking duo known as the Erwin Brothers.
After leaving film school, Jon and Andrew began their careers by producing the documentary The Cross and the Towers (2006), which explored the discovery of a steel cross in the wreckage of the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks. Jon later served as second unit director on the 2011 film Courageous, an experience that inspired him and his brother to create their first feature film, October Baby (2011). The success of that film led to several other faith-based productions, including Moms’ Night Out (2014) and Woodlawn (2015).
Jon achieved widespread commercial success with I Can Only Imagine (2018), a biographical drama based on the life of Christian musician Bart Millard. Produced on a modest budget, the film became one of the highest-grossing independent films of 2018, earning more than $86 million worldwide. He followed this success by co-directing I Still Believe (2020), The Jesus Music (2021), American Underdog (2021), and Jesus Revolution (2023), helping establish himself as one of the leading filmmakers in the faith-based entertainment industry.
Building on this momentum, Jon co-founded Kingdom Story Company with producer Kevin Downes as a partnership with Lionsgate. The studio was created to produce high-quality films for faith and family audiences while expanding the reach of Christian storytelling in mainstream cinema.
In 2023, Jon founded Wonder Project, an independent entertainment studio dedicated to producing films and television series for faith- and values-oriented audiences. Backed by significant investment, the company launched its first major production, House of David, a historical drama series released on Prime Video in 2025. Through Wonder Project, Jon has continued to expand into both film and television, aiming to create inspirational stories with broad commercial appeal.
Over the course of his career, Jon Erwin has directed or produced numerous successful films, including Ordinary Angels (2024), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024), The Unbreakable Boy (2025), and Young Washington (2026). His work has helped redefine modern faith-based filmmaking by combining strong production values with inspirational, character-driven stories that resonate with both religious and general audiences.
