Breakthrough (2019 film)

Breakthrough (2019 film)

Breakthrough is a 2019 American Christian drama film directed by Roxann Dawson in her film directorial debut. The film is written by Grant Nieporte, based on the Christian book The Impossible by Joyce Smith with Ginger Kolbaba. It stars Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, Marcel Ruiz, Sam Trammell, and Dennis Haysbert. Breakthrough tells the true story of John Smith, a 14-year-old boy who fell through an icy Missouri lake and was declared dead, only to be revived by his mother's prayers.

Plot

The film follows Joyce Smith and her adopted son, John, who falls through the ice of a frozen lake in Missouri. After being rescued and rushed to the hospital, John is found to have no pulse for nearly an hour, leading the medical team to declare him dead. Refusing to give up, Joyce prays intensely for her son's recovery. Miraculously, John's heart starts beating again, and he eventually makes a full recovery, defying scientific explanations and astounding the medical community.

Cast

• Chrissy Metz as Joyce Smith
• Marcel Ruiz as John Smith
• Josh Lucas as Brian Smith
• Topher Grace as Pastor Jason Noble
• Mike Colter as Tommy Shine
• Sam Trammell as Dr. Kent Sutterer
• Dennis Haysbert as Dr. Garrett

Production

The film is produced by DeVon Franklin through his production company, Franklin Entertainment, and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Principal photography began in Manitoba, Canada, in March 2018. The story is adapted from Joyce Smith's book The Impossible, which recounts the real-life incident of her son's miraculous recovery after a near-fatal accident.

Release

Breakthrough was released in the United States on April 17, 2019. It received mixed reviews from critics but was praised for its performances, particularly Metz's, and its inspirational message. The film was a modest box office success, grossing over $50 million worldwide against a production budget of $14 million.

Reception

Critics gave Breakthrough mixed reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating based on the consensus that while the film follows the typical beats of a faith-based drama, it is elevated by its cast's performances. On Metacritic, the film has a score indicating mixed or average reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, reflecting positive audience reception.

Themes

Breakthrough explores themes of faith, hope, and love, focusing on the power of prayer and belief in the face of impossible odds. The film also touches on themes of community support and the strength of familial bonds during times of crisis.