The Unbreakable Boy

The Unbreakable Boy
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJon Gunn
Written byJon Gunn
Based onThe Unbreakable Boy: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love
by Scott Michael LeRette and Susy Flory
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyKristopher Kimlin
Edited byParker Adams
Music byPancho Burgos-Goizueta
Production
companies
Kingdom Story Company
Unbreakable Boy LLC
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
  • February 21, 2025 (2025-02-21)
Running time
109 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$7.2 million[2][3]

The Unbreakable Boy is a 2025 American biographical drama film directed and written by Jon Gunn.[4] Based on the book The Unbreakable Boy: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love by Scott Michael LeRette and Susy Flory, the film dramatizes the true story of LeRette’s son Austin, who was born with a rare brittle bone disease and is also on the autism spectrum.[5] The film stars Zachary Levi as Scott LeRette, alongside Meghann Fahy, Jacob Laval, Drew Powell, Gavin Warren, and Patricia Heaton.

Lionsgate announced the project in November 2020, with Gunn attached as both writer and director. Principal photography began that same month in Oklahoma and concluded in December 2020. Originally scheduled for release in 2022, the film was delayed multiple times before receiving a wide theatrical release in the United States on February 21, 2025.[6][7][8][9]

The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise directed at its inspirational tone and central performances, particularly Levi and Laval, though several reviewers criticized the autism representation and its overly sentimental and formulaic approach. At the box office, The Unbreakable Boy earned $6.4 million in the United States and Canada and $1.1 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $7.5 million.

Plot

Scott LeRette and his partner, Teresa, learn they are expecting a child and decide to get married. Their son, Austin, is born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, and is later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. At birth, he suffers a broken collarbone, which leads to the discovery of his condition.

As Austin grows, his medical and developmental needs impact the family’s daily life. His behavior causes difficulties at home, in school, and in public settings. Scott and Teresa raise a second son, Logan, while managing the demands of Austin’s care. Financial strain and personal stress contribute to ongoing tension within the family. Scott also experiences issues related to alcohol use.

Austin interacts with members of the local community, including medical professionals and educators. His physical condition requires continued treatment, and his behavioral challenges affect relationships within the household. The family adjusts to changing circumstances while navigating the responsibilities of raising a child with multiple diagnoses.[5][10][11]

Cast

Production

The Unbreakable Boy was officially announced on November 13, 2020, by filmmakers Andrew and Jon Erwin.[12] On November 17, it was reported that Zachary Levi had been cast in the lead role.[13] Additional casting was announced on November 20, including Jacob Laval, Meghann Fahy, Peter Facinelli, Drew Powell, Pilot Bunch, and Patricia Heaton.[14]

Principal photography began in Oklahoma in November 2020 and took place under COVID-19 safety protocols. Filming concluded later that year.[6] On November 29, 2021, Pancho Burgos-Goizueta was announced as the film’s composer.[8]

Release

The Unbreakable Boy was originally scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on March 18, 2022.[5][6][7][8] However, eight days before its planned debut, Lionsgate removed the film from its release schedule without providing an official explanation or announcing a new date.[15] The film remained undated for over two years until January 24, 2024, when it was assigned a new release date of February 21, 2025.[9]

On the day of its release, producer Kevin Downes stated that the decision to delay the film had been intentional, explaining that the filmmakers chose to wait for “the right time” due to the political and social climate in the United States in 2022.[16]

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, The Unbreakable Boy was released alongside The Monkey and was projected to gross between $2 and $3 million from 1,687 theaters in its opening weekend.[17] The film earned $850,000 on its first day and debuted to $2.4 million, finishing eighth at the domestic box office. In its second weekend, it grossed $1.3 million,[18] before falling out of the top ten in its third weekend.[19]

Critical response

The Unbreakable Boy received mixed reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 48% of 42 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "The Unbreakable Boy is amiable enough, but it sells its inspirational true story short by taking too many easy routes towards uplift."[20] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 35 out of 100, based on six critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[21] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. PostTrak reported a 90% overall positive score, with 81% of viewers saying they would "definitely recommend" the film.[22]

Several critics praised the film's intentions and performances but criticized its storytelling approach. Nell Minow of RogerEbert.com commended the film’s "deeply felt sincerity" and Jacob Laval’s portrayal of Austin but noted that it "tries to do too much" and occasionally loses narrative focus.[23] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that while the film aims to be uplifting, it often veers into overly sentimental territory, commenting that it “works hard to tug at the heartstrings but sometimes crosses into emotional excess.”[24]

In Variety, Owen Gleiberman remarked that the film struggles to find the right tone, describing it as “too feel-good for its own good.” He observed that while the premise had potential, the film opts for soft reassurance rather than deeper character exploration.[25] Sheri Linden of The New York Times similarly noted that the story might have been more compelling had it allowed Austin’s perspective to take more focus, writing that “a stronger infusion of Austin’s vitality could have made the film more distinctive.”[26]

Other reviewers were more positive. Common Sense Media highlighted the film’s family-oriented themes and performances, calling it a “gentle and well-meaning story about resilience and love,” while Plugged In praised its portrayal of unconditional support and faith within the family dynamic.[27][28]

References

  1. ^ "The Unbreakable Boy". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  2. ^ "The Unbreakable Boy". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  3. ^ "The Unbreakable Boy – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  4. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (November 17, 2020). "Zachary Levi Joins 'The Unbreakable Boy' Movie From Lionsgate & Kingdom Story Company". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 30, 2021). "Lionsgate Dates Nicolas Cage Satire 'Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent' & Kingdom Story Movies". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c McDonnell, Bandy (July 3, 2021). "Release dates revealed for 'American Underdog' and 'Unbreakable Boy', more Oklahoma movie news". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "'Downtown Abbey 2' Pushed From Holiday Release to March 2022 Debut". MSN. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Pancho Burgos-Goizueta Scoring Jon Gunn's 'The Unbreakable Boy'". Film Music Reporter. November 29, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  9. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 24, 2024). "Lionsgate Sets Winter 2025 Release For Kingdom Story's 'The Unbreakable Boy'". Deadline. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  10. ^ Vlessing, Etan (November 17, 2020). "Zachary Levi to Star in 'The Unbreakable Boy' Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  11. ^ McNary, Dave (November 17, 2020). "Zachary Levi to Star in 'The Unbreakable Boy' Family Drama for Lionsgate". Variety. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "Erwin Brothers Announce New Film 'The Unbreakable Boy' About Inspiring, Optimistic Boy With Autism". BCNN1- Black Christian News Network. November 13, 2020. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  13. ^ Welk, Brian (November 17, 2020). "Zachary Levi to Star as Father of Autistic Son in 'The Unbreakable Boy'". TheWrap. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  14. ^ D'Nuka, Amanda (November 20, 2020). "Jacob Laval, Meghann Fahy, Peter Facinelli, Patricia Heaton & More Join Zachary Levi in 'The Unbreakable Boy'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  15. ^ Bonfield, Thomas (March 10, 2022). "Release of 'The Unbreakable Boy' Pushed Back". Christian Film Blog. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  16. ^ O'Hare, Kate (February 21, 2025). "'The Unbreakable Boy' Is Sweet, But Not Without Some Salt". Patheos. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  17. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 19, 2025). "'Captain America: Brave New World' To Hold No. 1 With $30M+ As 'The Monkey' Looks To Swing $17M Opening – Box Office Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  18. ^ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 9". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  19. ^ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 10". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  20. ^ "The Unbreakable Boy". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "The Unbreakable Boy". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 23, 2025). "NEON Sees 2nd Biggest Opening With The Monkey At $14M+ In Midst Of Anora Awards Season Tear – Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  23. ^ "The Unbreakable Boy movie review (2025) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  24. ^ Scheck, Frank (2025-02-20). "'The Unbreakable Boy' Review: Zachary Levi in a Drama That Crosses the Thin Line Between Inspirational and Maudlin". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  25. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (2025-02-23). "'The Unbreakable Boy' Review: Zachary Levi Is the Troubled Dad in an Autism Drama Too Feel-Good for Its Own Good". Variety. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  26. ^ Linden, Sheri (2025-02-20). "'The Unbreakable Boy' Review: Surmounting Hardships With Joy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  27. ^ Movie & TV reviews for parents. "The Unbreakable Boy Movie Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  28. ^ "The Unbreakable Boy". Plugged In. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
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