It was widely reported by the press that the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God owned by Edir Macedo (who is also owner of the Record TV network, one of the biggest TV Networks in Brazil) was inflating box-office sales by buying up tickets itself. The Folha de S. Paulo newspaper sent reporters to movie theatres during the film's opening weekend and noticed the screening rooms were empty, despite the blockbuster ticket sales.
José Padilha was allegedly invited by Record productions to direct this film, but declined the offer.
The same box office fraudulent scheme was used in another TV Record film Os Dez Mandamentos - O Filme (2016) in 2016.