Los Angeles ? Some IMAX theaters at science centers have declined to show “Volcanoes of the Deep Sea” — but is it because of debates about evolution, or is it just a so-so movie?

Filmmakers behind “Volcanoes” said executives at some Southern IMAX theaters told them they worried the movie might rile conservative Christians because of its references to evolution.

Stephen Low, the film’s producer-director, said 10 to 15 IMAX theaters decided against showing “Volcanoes.” While that is a seemingly small number, it represents about 20 percent of the potential market.

“Volcanoes” has been on the IMAX circuit since 2003, playing in about 35 theaters.

Science centers in a few communities opted not to show “Volcanoes” after test audiences objected to its theories that life may have evolved from bacteria able to live in the water around super-hot vents of deep-sea volcanoes.

IMAX theaters at science centers in Charlotte, N.C., and Fort Worth, Texas, received similar comments at test screenings, but officials at both said they passed on “Volcanoes” because the movie received low marks on quality.

Now, though, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History plans to run it because of the publicity the controversy has generated.

Van Romans, the museum’s director, said he has received about 75 letters and e-mails from people saying the center should run the film.

A scene from the IMAX film Volcanoes

The museum originally passed on “Volcanoes” because planners felt they could draw better crowds with other documentaries, but the film now has stronger box-office potential, Romans said.

“The scientific team and research on the film was top-notch,” said Anita Kern, dean of science at Atlanta’s Fernbank Museum of Natural History, whose IMAX theater chose not to run “Volcanoes.” “But when you’re doing IMAX films, you’re doing it for the general public. What you want is to educate people in very entertaining ways. This film just didn’t do it. It was slow moving and a little dry.”

Kern said she did not recall anyone in the museum’s test audience making comments about the evolution theories presented in “Volcanoes.”

“Volcanoes” filmmaker Low said science centers are calling it a “lousy film” so they do not have to admit they bowed to religious sentiment.