Unsung Hero (film)
| 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 | $19.9 million |
Unsung Hero is a 2024 American Christian drama film written and directed by Richard Ramsey and Joel Smallbone. Released on April 26, 2024, the film follows Rebecca, Joel, and Luke Smallbone of For King & Country, and their life journey to become Christian recording artists.
Plot[edit]
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In 1991, the Smallbone family moved from Sydney, Australia to Nashville, Tennessee in pursuit of a new beginning amidst adversity. 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 St. James
- Jonathan Jackson as Eddie DeGarmo
- Lucas Black as Jed Albright
- Candace Cameron Bure as Kay Albright
- Diesel La Torraca as Joel Smallbone
- JJ Pantano as Luke Smallbone
- Hillary Scott as Luanne Meece
- Lance E. Nichols as Art Meriweather
- Roslyn Gentle as Nana Smallbone
- Kevin Downes as a Suit
- Rachel Hendrix as Amy Grant
- Lily Lumpkin as Meagan Albright
- Don Most as Pierce
- Terry O'Quinn as Grandpa James
- Libby Smallbone as Ellie
- Rebecca St. James as a Flight Attendant
- Beau Wirick as Matt
Production[edit]
On 30 November 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 26 April 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[edit]
The film was released in the United States on April 26, 2024. It is 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[edit]
Box office[edit]
As of 27 May 2024[update], Unsung Hero was still in wide release; in the United States and Canada, it grossed $19.9 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[edit]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 59% of 29 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."[10] 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.[11]
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 May 27, 2024.
- ^ "Unsung Hero". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "Unsung Hero | Domestic Weekly". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "Unsung Hero". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "Unsung Hero". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
