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.
| Unsung Hero | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by |
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| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Johnny Derango |
| Edited by | Parker Adams |
| Music by | Brent McCorkle |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
Release date |
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Running time | 113 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $6 million |
| Box office | $21.1 million |
The film was released in North America on April 26, 2024.
Plot
editIn 1991, the Smallbone family has moved from Sydney, Australia to Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 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.
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, grow their musical talents and navigate the competitive music industry. Joel and Luke eventually form the duo For King & Country, while Rebecca St. James embarks on her own successful career as a Christian recording artist.
Cast
edit- Daisy Betts as Helen Smallbone
- Joel Smallbone as David Smallbone
- Kirrilee Berger as Rebecca Smallbone
- Jonathan Jackson as Eddie DeGarmo
- Lucas Black as Jed Albright
- Candace Cameron Bure as Kay Albright
- Terry O'Quinn as Grandpa James
- Hillary Scott as Luanne Meece
- Diesel La Torraca as Joel Smallbone
- JJ Pantano as Luke Smallbone
- Rebecca St. James as a flight attendant
- Lance E. Nichols as Art Meriweather
- Rachel Hendrix as Amy Grant
- Roslyn Gentle as "Nana" Jean Francis
- Don Most as Pierce
- Kevin Downes as a suit
- Beau Wirick as Matt
Production
editOn 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 is scheduled to release on April 26, 2024 by Lionsgate and produced by Kingdom Story Company.[3]
The film was directed by Joel Smallbone, making his directorial debut, and written by Joel Smallbone and Richard Ramsey. The cast also includes Jonathan Jackson, Candace Cameron Bure, Kirrilee Berger, Lucas Black, Terry O'Quinn, and Hillary Scott. The production team comprises producers Justin Tolley, Josh Walsh, and Luke Smallbone.[4]
Release
editThe 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
editBox office
editAs of 23 June 2024[update], 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] It spent its first three weeks in the Top 10 at the domestic box office, peaking at No. 2 in its first week.[9]
Critical response
editOn 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
edit| Award | Date of ceremony | Recipients | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dove Awards | 2024 | Inspirational Film of the Year | Won[12] |
References
edit- ^ "Unsung Hero (PG)". BBFC. May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ "FOR KING COUNTRY on Instagram: "WE MADE A MOVIE!"". Instagram. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (August 1, 2023). "Lionsgate Nabs 'Unsung Hero' Drama from Music Duo For King Country (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ "Lionsgate Picks up for King & Country's 'Unsung Hero' Movie". Billboard.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Unsung Hero". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Unsung Hero". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Unsung Hero | Domestic Weekly". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Unsung Hero". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gospel Music Association, Past winners, doveawards.com, USA, retrieved 5 octobre 2024
