Miracles From Heaven

''Miracles from Heaven'' is a 2016 American Christian drama film directed by Patricia Riggen and written by Randy Brown. It is based on the book of the same name 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. The movie was financially successful, becoming the 8th highest-grossing Christian film in the United States. Although critical reception was mixed, Garner's performance earned general praise.

Plot

The film is based on a true story set in Burleson, Texas between 2007 and 2011.

Christy and Kevin Beam live with their three daughters Abby, Anna, and Adelynn and are active in their local church. One day, Anna starts repeatedly vomiting and is taken to see a doctor who cannot find anything abnormal, suggesting lactose intolerance. However, on March 20, 2008, things only get worse when Anna begins feeling intense stomach pain in the middle of the night. Her parents take her to the hospital, but doctors find no signs of illness, saying it is likely acid reflux but Christy is incredulous.

The following morning, a pediatrician in the hospital is able to diagnose Anna with an abdominal obstruction, and he tells them he must operate immediately or she will die. After emergency surgery, the doctor explains that Anna has been left with intestinal pseudo-obstruction and she is unable to eat, so feeding tubes are needed for her nutrition. The doctor then tells the Beams about America's foremost pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Samuel Nurko in Boston, but explains it could take months for them to be seen.

While Kevin tries to remain faithful, Christy begins growing uneasy and refuses to go to church after some members of the congregation suggest she asks God if the family committed a sin that may have caused Anna's disorder.

Desperate to get her daughter help, Christy takes Anna to Boston Children's Hospital in January 2009, but are denied due to the lack of an appointment. After spending a day with Massachusetts resident Angela Bradford, who takes them on a tour around the city and takes them to the aquarium which is really monumental for Anna as she missed a school trip to the aquarium due to her illness, she learns from a receptionist that Dr. Nurko has a last-minute opening.

After examining Anna, Dr. Nurko shares with Christy the extent of her chronic illness. After returning home, Christy explains to Kevin she is worried about the costs of treatment. While trying to reassure her, he is shocked when Christy admits she lost her faith and cannot even pray. Her church's pastor explains that although Anna is suffering it does not mean God does not love her, and that trying to get close to him feels better than doing it all by yourself.

While Anna goes through extensive treatment, she shares a room with Hayley who has terminal cancer. Hayley asks about her cross necklace, and she explains that it reminds her that Jesus is always with her and gives it to her. Later Hayley tells her father Ben she is not afraid to die. However, Anna shows signs of depression, tearfully telling her mom that she wants to die and be with God. But she is later cheered up with a surprise visit from her dad and sisters.

After returning home Anna and Abbie climb up to a very high branch of an old cottonwood tree. While they are standing on the branch, it begins to break. Anna goes to the trunk for safety, when, as she leans on it, she falls into the hollowed-out center of the base of the tree.

While firefighters work to get Anna out, Christy and her family gather near the base of the tree and pray together. After Anna is taken out of the tree and airlifted to the hospital, Christy and Kevin are shocked to learn that not only did she survive but she also suffered no serious injuries, only a minor concussion.

Sometime after the fall, Anna seems to no longer be affected by her illness. She tells her parents that while in the tree, she saw heaven and spoke to God. She said he told her she would be healed. After meeting with Dr. Nurko one last time, he tells her she is better and that this is goodbye.

At church, Christy shares the story of how God miraculously healed her daughter with his love and how she missed miracles unfolding around her the whole time. However, two of the congregation members say they do not believe her. Ben, who has traveled from Boston upon hearing the story about Anna, believes her. He also shares that Haley died peacefully as Anna gave her faith when in the hospital.

The Beam family then spends some quality time together eating pizza for the first time since Anna got sick. Christy says in a narration that every day is a miracle.

The film ends with clips of the real Beam family where Anna says she has not been sick since and is now a healthy seventh grader.

Cast

* Kylie Rogers as Anna Beam
* Jennifer Garner as Christy Beam, Anna's mother
* Martin Henderson as Dr. Kevin Beam, Christy's husband and Anna's father
* Eugenio Derbez as Dr. Nurko, a pediatric gastroenterologist who is Anna's doctor at the Boston Children's Hospital.
* Queen Latifah as Angela, a waitress who befriends Anna and her mother in a restaurant in Boston
* 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 cancer patient who becomes friends with Anna and later dies offscreen
* Wayne Péré 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 real 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. 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.

On April 8, 2015, the studio hired Patricia Riggen to direct the film. On April 30, 2015, Jennifer Garner was cast to star in the film as Christy Beam. 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. On the same day, ''Variety'' confirmed the casting of Martin Henderson to play the girl's father and Beam's husband.

On June 29, 2015, Kylie Rogers was cast as Beam's sick daughter Anna. 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. John Carroll Lynch was also cast in the film as the pastor.

Filming

Principal photography on the film began in Atlanta, Georgia, in July 2015. David R. Sandefur and Emma E. Hickox were appointed as production designer and editor, respectively. On August 2, 2015, Latifah and Garner were spotted on the set of film in Atlanta.

Soundtrack

The ''Miracles from Heaven'' soundtrack features songs from Howie Day, George Harrison, Clayton Anderson, Third Day and others. The southern Christian rock band Third Day made a cameo as the church worship band.

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 two days later to March 16. The film held its world premiere on February 21, 2016, in Dallas, Texas.

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. 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.

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.

The film grossed $1.9 million on its first day, finishing second at the box office behind ''Zootopia'' ($4.6 million). 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).

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

Critical response

''Miracles from Heaven'' received generally mixed reviews from critics, with Garner's performance receiving praise. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 45%, based on 93 reviews, with an average rating of 5.10/10. 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." On Metacritic the film has a score of 44 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale.

Accolades

References

External links

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''Miracles from Heaven''
at '' History vs. Hollywood''

{{Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Drama

2016 drama films
2016 films
American drama films
Columbia Pictures films
Affirm Films films
Drama films based on actual events
Films about children
Films about diseases and disorders
Films about Baptist Christianity
Films based on non-fiction books
Films directed by Patricia Riggen
Films produced by Joe Roth
Films set in 2011
Films set in Texas
Films shot in Atlanta
Heaven and hell films
Films about near-death experiences
Films scored by Carlo Siliotto
2010s English-language films
2010s American films
Teen Choice Award winning films