Unsung Hero (film)

Last updated

Unsung Hero
Unsung Hero poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written by
  • Richard Ramsey
  • Joel Smallbone
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJohnny Derango
Edited byParker Adams
Music byBrent McCorkle
Production
companies
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release date
  • April 26, 2024 (2024-04-26)(United States)
Running time
113 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6 million
Box office$21.1 million

Unsung Hero is a 2024 American Christian drama film written and directed by Richard Ramsey and Joel Smallbone. It follows Rebecca, Joel, and Luke Smallbone of For King & Country and their life journey to become Christian recording artists.

Contents

The film was released in North America on April 26, 2024.

Plot

In 1991, the Smallbone family moved from Sydney, Australia to Nashville, Tennessee, in pursuit of a new beginning. David and his wife, Helen, uproot their lives and six children seeking refuge in Nashville after the collapse of David's music company in Australia following a $500,000 loss from one concert booking.

As the family settles into their new home they encounter numerous challenges, including financial struggles and the daunting task of starting over in a foreign country. Despite the uncertainty, Helen's unwavering faith and David's determination propel them forward, instilling hope and resilience in their children.

Three of the Smallbone siblings, Joel, Luke, and Rebecca St. James, develop their musical talents and navigate the competitive music industry. Joel and Luke eventually form the duo For King & Country, while Rebecca embarks on a quite successful career as a Christian recording artist.

Cast

Production

On November 30, 2022, Joel and Luke Smallbone announced via social media that they had made a film with their brother Ben about their mother. [2] The film was set for release on April 26, 2024 by Lionsgate and produced by Kingdom Story Company and Candy Rock Entertainment, a production company headed by Candace Cameron Bure who also acts in the movie. [3]

The film was directed by Joel Smallbone, making his directorial debut and written by Joel and Richard Ramsey. The cast includes Jonathan Jackson, Bure, Kirrilee Berger, Lucas Black, Terry O'Quinn, and Hillary Scott, a singer. The producers are Justin Tolley, Josh Walsh, and Luke Smallbone. [4]

Release

The film was released in the United States on April 26, 2024. It was scheduled to be released in Australia on May 30, coinciding with For King & Country's "Homecoming" musical tour through Australia and New Zealand. [5] In the lead up to the film, For King & Country released an updated version of "Place in this World," featuring Michael W. Smith, who originally released the song in 1991. [6]

Reception

Box office

As of 23 June 2024, Unsung Hero was still in wide release; in the United States and Canada, it grossed $21.1 million at the box office [7] against a production budget of $6.0 million. [8] For the first three weeks of its run it was in the Top 10 at the domestic box office, peaking at No. 2 in the first week. [9]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 61% of 33 critics' reviews are positive with an average rating of 6.1/10. The website's consensus reads: Unsung Hero presents a heartwarming dramatization of its fact-based story that's just uplifting enough to make up for its tepid approach to real-life drama. Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 46 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [10] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it a 96% overall positive score with 90% saying they would definitely recommend it. [11]

Awards and nominations

AwardDate of ceremonyRecipientsResult
Dove Awards 2024 Inspirational Film of the YearWon [12]
Movieguide Awards February 7, 2025Best Movie for Mature AudiencesPending [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Unsung Hero (PG)". BBFC . May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  2. ↑ "FOR KING + COUNTRY on Instagram: "WE MADE A MOVIE!"". Instagram. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (August 1, 2023). "Lionsgate Nabs 'Unsung Hero' Drama from Music Duo For King + Country (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Lionsgate Picks up for King & Country's 'Unsung Hero' Movie". Billboard .
  5. ↑ Mitchell, Cody (April 19, 2023). "Unsung Hero: A Family's Journey from Down Under to Centre Stage in the USA". The Daily Declaration. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ Mitchell, Cody (January 31, 2024). "A Film That Celebrates Family: The True Story Behind for KING + COUNTRY and Rebecca St James". The Daily Declaration. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Unsung Hero". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved June 24, 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  8. ↑ "Unsung Hero". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Unsung Hero | Domestic Weekly". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Unsung Hero". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  11. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 28, 2024). "'Challengers' Serves Biggest U.S. Opening To Luca Guadagnino At $15M; Best For Zendaya Live-Action Non-IP Pic – Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  12. ↑ Gospel Music Association, Past winners, doveawards.com, USA, retrieved 5 octobre 2024
  13. ↑ Rice, Lynette (January 22, 2025). "32nd Annual Movieguide Awards: 'Twisters,' 'Bluey' & 'Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of TV' Among 2025 Nominees". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 22, 2025.
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