Miracles from Heaven (film)

Miracles from Heaven
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Patricia Riggen
Produced by	DeVon Franklin T. D. Jakes Joe Roth
Written by	Randy Brown
Based on	Miracles from Heaven by Christy Beam
Starring	Jennifer Garner Martin Henderson Kylie Rogers John Carroll Lynch Eugenio Derbez Queen Latifah
Music by	Carlo Siliotto
Cinematography	Checco Varese
Edited by	Emma E. Hickox
Production companies	Affirm Films Roth Films Franklin Entertainment
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release dates	March 16, 2016 (2016-03-16)
Running time	109 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$13 million[2]
Box office	$73.9 million[3]

Miracles from Heaven is a 2016 American Christian drama film directed by Patricia Riggen and written by Randy Brown. It is based on Miracles from Heaven by Christy Beam, which recounts the true story of her young daughter who had a near-death experience and was later cured of an incurable disease. The film stars Jennifer Garner, Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, John Carroll Lynch, Eugenio Derbez and Queen Latifah. Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in July 2015. The film was released on March 16, 2016 by Columbia Pictures. The movie was a major financial success, and although critical reception was mixed, Garner's performance earned general praise.

Plot

Set in Burleson, Texas, in 2011, the film centers on a 10-year-old girl named Anna Beam (Kylie Rogers), daughter of Christy Beam (Jennifer Garner). Anna is suffering from a pseudo-obstruction motility disorder and is unable to eat, using feeding tubes for nutrition. Upon checking at the local hospital, they find no signs of illness but say it's "acid reflux" or "lactose intolerance", but Christy is not convinced by this. Hoping to discover what is the cause of her disease, Christy and Anna travel to Boston despite not having an appointment with the pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Nurko.

When she is subsequently examined at Boston Children's Hospital, evidence of the chronic illness is found. She goes through extensive treatment. During this ordeal, Anna and her mother befriend a local Massachusetts resident named Angela, as well as Ben and his sick daughter, Haley.

One day, Anna falls into the hollow of a three-story tree and she has near-death experience. Anna is miraculously healed of her disease, because she had fallen and hit her head just right. At church, Christy shares the story of how God miraculously healed her through love. As Christy finishes her speech, one of the congregation protests, stating that she does not believe Christy. Ben, who traveled from Boston upon hearing the story about Anna, believes her and tells her that his daughter Haley died peacefully because Anna gave her faith earlier when in the hospital.

Cast

• Jennifer Garner as Christy Beam, Anna's mother^[4]
• Kylie Rogers as Anna Beam^[5]
• Martin Henderson as Dr. Kevin Beam, Christy's husband and Anna's father^[6]
• Eugenio Derbez as Dr. Nurko, a pediatric gastroenterologist who is Anna's doctor at the Boston Children's Hospital.^[7]
• Queen Latifah as Angela, a waitress who befriends Anna and her family at the hospital^[8]
• Brighton Sharbino as Abbie Beam, the oldest Beam daughter
• Courtney Fansler as Adelynn Beam, the youngest Beam daughter
• Zach Sale as Dr. Blyth, the first doctor to listen to Christy about her sick daughter
• Kelly Collins Lintz as Emmy, a family friend of the Beams
• John Carroll Lynch as Reverend Scott, the Senior Pastor of the Beam family's church
• Brandon Spink as Billy Snyder, a friend of Anna
• Hannah Alligood as Haley, a sick cancer patient who becomes friends with Anna
• Wayne Pere as Ben, Haley's father
• Bruce Altman as Dr. Burgi, Anna's doctor who is the head of the pediatric division at the hospital in Texas
• Suehyla El-Attar as a receptionist at the Boston Children's hospital
• The Beam family makes a cameo at the end of the film before the credits.

Production

On November 10, 2014, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Sony Pictures Entertainment had acquired the film adaptation rights to a faith-based memoir, Miracles From Heaven: A Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and Her Amazing Story of Healing, written by Christy Beam, and hired Randy Brown to write the script.^[9] The team behind the studios' 2014 Christian film Heaven Is for Real, T. D. Jakes and Joe Roth, were retained to produce the film along with DeVon Franklin.^[9]

On April 8, 2015, the studio hired Patricia Riggen to direct the film.^[10] On April 30, 2015, Jennifer Garner was cast to star in the film as Christy Beam.^[4] On June 22, 2015, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Queen Latifah was cast as a waitress who befriends Anna and Beam at the Boston Children's Hospital.^[8] On the same day, Variety confirmed the casting of Martin Henderson to play the girl's father and Beam's husband.^[6]

On June 29, 2015, Kylie Rogers was cast as Beam's sick daughter Anna.^[5] On July 17, 2015, Eugenio Derbez was cast to play a character inspired by Children's Hospital specialist Dr. Samuel Nurko, an American-based Mexican pediatric gastroenterologist who eases his young patients' treatment by playing games with them.^[7] John Carroll Lynch was also cast in the film for an unspecified role.^[11]

Filming

Principal photography on the film began in Atlanta, Georgia, in July 2015, as Garner was spotted filming on July 8.^[12] Filming was subsequently confirmed by various sources, together with announcements that David R. Sandefur and Emma E. Hickox had been appointed as production designer and editor, respectively.^[11][13] On August 2, 2015, Latifah and Garner were spotted on the set of film in Atlanta.^[14]

Soundtrack

The Miracles from Heaven soundtrack features songs from Howie Day, George Harrison, Clayton Anderson, Third Day and more.^[15] The southern Christian rock band Third Day made a cameo as the church worship band.^[16]

Release

On May 11, 2015, the film was scheduled for a March 18, 2016 release by Columbia Pictures. On January 10, it was moved up to March 16.^[17]

Home media

Miracles from Heaven was released on Digital Media on June 21, 2016 and was followed by a DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release on July 12, 2016 from AFFIRM Films and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.^[18][19] The film debuted in second place on the home video sales chart behind The Divergent Series: Allegiant for the week ending on July 17, 2016.^[20]

Reception

Box office

Miracles from Heaven grossed $61.7 million in North America and $12.2 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $73.9 million, against a budget of $13 million.^[3]

The film grossed $1.9 million on its first day, finishing second at the box office behind Zootopia ($4.6 million).^[21] The film had an $18 million Wednesday-to-Sunday gross, including $14.8 million in its opening weekend, finishing third at the box office behind Zootopia ($37.2 million) and The Divergent Series: Allegiant ($29 million).^[22]

On its opening weekend in the United Kingdom Miracles from Heaven grossed $29 thousand, dropping to $231 by week four.^[23]

Critical response

Miracles from Heaven received mixed reviews from critics, with Garner's performance receiving praise. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 44%, based on 82 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10. The site's consensus reads, "Miracles from Heaven makes the most out of an outstanding performance from Jennifer Garner, but it isn't quite enough to keep this faith-based drama from preaching to the choir."^[24] On Metacritic the film has a score of 44 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".^[25] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale.^[21]

Accolades

References

External links

• Official website
• Christy Beam
• Miracles from Heaven at the Internet Movie Database
• Miracles from Heaven at History vs. Hollywood