During the Great Depression, war veteran and former orphan Rusty Russell (Luke Wilson) relocates with his wife Juanita (Vinessa Shaw) and daughter to Fort Worth, Texas, to teach math and science at the Masonic Home for Orphans. He also takes on the role of football coach. Upon arrival, Rusty discovers that the orphanage is run by the abusive Warden Frank Wynn (Wayne Knight), who exploits the boys for child labor in his personal printing press. The boys, lacking proper education and discipline, are subjected to harsh conditions and have little hope for the future.
Determined to make a difference, Rusty, with the support of the home's compassionate physician, Doc Hall (Martin Sheen), decides to form a football team. Recognizing the boys' physical limitations, he devises innovative strategies, including a spread offense, to level the playing field. Despite lacking basic equipment and playing barefoot, the team, dubbed the "Mighty Mites," begins to improve, instilling a sense of purpose and unity among the players.
Facing numerous challenges, including resistance from Warden Wynn and skepticism from the community, the Mighty Mites persevere. They gain attention for their unique playing style and resilience, eventually catching the interest of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As the team advances toward the Texas state championships, they confront personal and institutional obstacles that test their determination and spirit.
In the climactic championship game, the Mighty Mites face a formidable opponent. Despite their best efforts and innovative tactics, they narrowly lose the game. However, their journey and transformation inspire a nation in need of hope, and Rusty's legacy as a coach and mentor endures.
Sony Pictures Classics acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film in January 2021, five months pending the official release.[16] It was released in a limited release on June 11, 2021 which was followed by a wide expansion one week later on June 18, 2021.[17][18] The film was released theatrically in the United Kingdom three months later on September 17, 2021.[19]
Reception
Box office
In its opening weekend the film made $251,569 from 132 theatres. It expanded to 1,047 theatres the following weekend, making an estimated $870,000 and finishing in eighth place at the box office.[20]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 63% based on 89 reviews with an average rating of 6/10. The site’s critics consensus reads: "12 Mighty Orphans will rouse faithful fans of old fashioned inspirational sports dramas, but the target audience has seen this sort of thing done more effectively before."[21] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 44 out of 100 based reviews from 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[22] Audiences surveyed by PostTrak gave the film an 80% positive score, with 75% saying they would definitely recommend it.[20]
Peter Debruge of Variety called it "Square but satisfying" and said "sometimes they do make ‘em like they used to."[23]
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