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{{short description|2019 anti-abortion film directed by Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}} {{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{short description|2019 film directed by Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Unplanned | name = Unplanned
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| caption = Theatrical release poster | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = {{Plainlist| | director = {{Plainlist|
* Cary Solomon *Cary Solomon
* Chuck Konzelman *Chuck Konzelman
}} }}
| producer = {{Plainlist| | producer = {{Plainlist|
* Chris Jones *Chris Jones
* Joe Knopp *Joe Knopp
* Daryl Lefever *Daryl Lefever
* Cary Solomon *Cary Solomon
*Chuck Konzelman<ref name=HR180919 />
* Chuck Konzelman<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/unplanned-planned-parenthood-documentary-works-gods-not-dead-writers-1144994| title='God's Not Dead' Writers Making Planned Parenthood Movie| publisher=]| accessdate=March 2, 2019|author=Paul Bond|date=September 19, 2018}}</ref>
}} }}
| screenplay = {{Plainlist| | screenplay = {{Plainlist|
* Cary Solomon *Cary Solomon
* Chuck Konzelman *Chuck Konzelman
}} }}
| based on = {{based on| ''Unplanned''|]}}
| starring = {{Plainlist| | starring = {{Plainlist|
* ] *]
* Brooks Ryan *Brooks Ryan
* ] *]
}} }}
| cinematography = Drew Maw | cinematography = Drew Maw
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| music = Stephen Blake Kanicka | music = Stephen Blake Kanicka
| studio = Soli Deo Gloria | studio = Soli Deo Gloria
| distributor = ] | distributor = ]
| released = {{Film date|2019|3|29|United States}} | released = {{Film date|2019|3|29|United States}}
| runtime = 106 minutes | runtime = 106 minutes
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| language = English | language = English
| budget = $6 million<ref name="BOM" /> | budget = $6 million<ref name="BOM" />
| gross = $21.1 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web|title=''Unplanned'' (2019) |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=unplanned.htm |website= ] |publisher= ] |accessdate= July 29, 2019}}</ref> | gross = $21.3 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web|title=''Unplanned'' (2019) |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=unplanned.htm |website= ] |publisher= ] |access-date= July 29, 2019}}</ref>
}} }}
'''''Unplanned''''' is a 2019 American ]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sumanac-Johnson |first1=Deana |title=How Unplanned made it to 56 theatres across Canada |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/unplanned-anti-abortion-movie-journey-to-56-theatres-1.5208979 |website=CBC News |accessdate=January 29, 2020 |date=July 13, 2019}}</ref> ] film written and directed by Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman. It is based on the disputed<ref name="Harpers">{{Cite news|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a27131471/unplanned-abortion-movie-documentary-explained/|title=Why the Abortion Movie Unplanned Is Factually Incorrect|last=Wright|first=Jennifer|date=2019-04-16|access-date=2019-08-15|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/2019/4/17/18306100/unplanned-movie-abby-johnson-planned-parenthood-abortion |title=Unplanned, the anti-abortion movie that's getting mainstream attention, explained |last=North |first=Anna |date=2019-04-17 |access-date=2019-08-15}}</ref><ref name="HuffPo"/> memoir ''Unplanned'' by ]. The film stars ], Brooks Ryan and ], following Johnson's life as a clinic director for ] and her subsequent transition to ].<ref name="HuffPo">{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/an-obgyn-debunks-unplanned-the-anti-abortion-movie_n_5cb74ff4e4b0ec270a4684bd |title=The Anti-Abortion Movie 'Unplanned' Is Loaded With Dangerous Lies |date=2019-04-17 |access-date=2019-08-16 |language=en}}</ref>


'''''Unplanned''''' is a 2019 American ] written and directed by Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman.<ref name=CBC_1>{{cite news |last1=Sumanac-Johnson |first1=Deana |title=How Unplanned made it to 56 theatres across Canada |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/unplanned-anti-abortion-movie-journey-to-56-theatres-1.5208979 |website=] |access-date=January 29, 2020 |date=July 13, 2019}}</ref> It is based on the disputed 2011 memoir ''Unplanned'' by ] ].<ref name="Harpers">{{Cite news|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a27131471/unplanned-abortion-movie-documentary-explained/|title=Why the Abortion Movie Unplanned Is Factually Incorrect|last=Wright|first=Jennifer|date=2019-04-16|access-date=2019-08-15|language=en-US}}</ref>{{ r | Vox }}<ref name="HuffPo"/> The film stars ] as Johnson, following her life as a clinic director for ] and her subsequent transition to anti-abortion activism.<ref name="HuffPo">{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/an-obgyn-debunks-unplanned-the-anti-abortion-movie_n_5cb74ff4e4b0ec270a4684bd |title=The Anti-Abortion Movie 'Unplanned' Is Loaded With Dangerous Lies |date=2019-04-17 |access-date=2019-08-16 |language=en}}</ref>
The film was theatrically released in the United States by evangelical Christian production and distribution house ] on March 29, 2019. The working title was ''Redeemed'', and details of its subject were kept from the public in order to minimize protests by ] advocates. Some TV channels refused to air ads for the film due to its subject matter. Despite the controversy and limited promotional campaign, the film exceeded box office predictions, grossing $21 million worldwide on a $6 million budget.

The film was released to US theaters by ] studio ] on March 29, 2019. The working title was ''Redeemed'', and details of its subject were kept from the public in order to minimize protests by ] advocates. ] CEO ] served as an ] and appears in the film in a ]. Some TV channels refused to air ads for the film due to its subject matter.

The film grossed $21 million worldwide on a $6 million budget. The accuracy of the film's portrayal of abortion and of Planned Parenthood have been severely criticized by doctors and advocates for Planned Parenthood,{{r | NYT2019 | HuffPo | Vox }} with several commentators describing it as political propaganda.{{r | VarietyReview | GaM_2 | Guardian_1 | TS }}


==Plot== ==Plot==
The plot closely follows the account found in Abby Johnson's memoir, ''Unplanned''.<ref>Lauren Cavalea and Chris Francescani, , abcnews.go.com, USA, March 28, 2019</ref> The film opens with a depiction of Johnson's home life with her husband, Doug, and daughter, Grace. In voice-over, Abby Johnson says she was tricked into participating with ] and the scene shifts to a time in 2009 when she claims she was asked to assist in an ultrasound-guided ] abortion at thirteen weeks gestation. During the procedure, Abby seems to witness the fetus showing distress as it is aborted. The scene ends with Abby leaving in tears.<ref name="Variety" /><ref name="Catholic News">{{cite news|last1=Mulderig|first1=John|url=https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/unplanned.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223022418/https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/unplanned.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2020|title=Unplanned|date=March 25, 2019|work=]|access-date=23 February 2020}}</ref> Johnson then describes, in voice over, that her story started her junior year at ]. The scene is depicted in flashback of a Planned Parenthood booth at a career fair. Johnson agrees to volunteer after the representative in the booth says to her that their ultimate goal was to reduce the number of abortions.<ref name="Variety"/> As a ], she meets director Cheryl and witnesses anti-abortion protesters being verbally confrontational towards the women going in.<ref name="Vox">{{cite news |last1=North |first1=Anna |title=Unplanned, the anti-abortion movie that's getting mainstream attention, explained |url=https://www.vox.com/2019/4/17/18306100/unplanned-movie-abby-johnson-planned-parenthood-abortion |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=] |date=17 April 2019 |language=en | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504060903/https://www.vox.com/2019/4/17/18306100/unplanned-movie-abby-johnson-planned-parenthood-abortion | archive-date=2019-05-04 | url-status=live }}</ref> One protester, Marilisa, is depicted as being kinder to women than the other protestors and says that those from her organization, "Coalition for Life", are "not here to hurt them or condemn them".<ref name="Vox"/><ref name="Variety"/>
In 2001 Texas, ] sees a ] booth at a college career fair and agrees to volunteer after being told their ultimate goal was to reduce the number of abortions. As a ], she meets director Cheryl and witnesses anti-abortion protesters being verbally confrontational towards the women going in. One protester, Marilisa, agrees with Abby about this approach being uncharitable; her group instead prays and calmly talks with the women, directing them to resources to help them raise their children. Abby reveals to her that she has had an abortion; she reflects that she had been a college student whose deadbeat boyfriend Mark had encouraged her to abort their pregnancy.


A flashback within a flashback then happens to when Abby had her two abortions, the first as a college student and the second after she marries then divorces.<ref name="Maclean's">{{cite news |last1=Kingston |first1=Anne |title=I watched Unplanned so you don't have to - Macleans.ca |url=https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/anne-kingston-unplanned-film/ |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=] |date=July 15, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Variety"/> During the second abortion, for $400.00, she is given ] at the clinic and is told there will be "a little bleeding", but the experience is depicted as being excruciatingly painful, over twelve hours and then followed up with "eight weeks of blood clots and excruciating cramps" causing her to fear for her life.<ref name="Variety" /><ref name="Vox" />
Abby marries Mark, but divorces him a year later after he ]. Two weeks later, she discovers that she is pregnant again and chooses to have a ] at the clinic where she now volunteers. For $400, she is given a brown bag containing Cytotec Misoprostol (The RU-486 abortion pill) and is told it will "gently empty out her uterus and there will be a little bleeding", but the experience is painful, resulting in extreme bleeding and eight weeks of cramping. In narration, Abby says that her anger turned from being directed at Planned Parenthood to being directed at herself. Abby continues to volunteer and becomes a public relations director and later counselor who answers questions from women about to have an abortion, and says she is very good at convincing them to go through with it. Abby marries Doug, who loves her, but does not approve of her career. They soon discover she is pregnant and Cheryl suggests she get an abortion, but Abby chooses to keep her child. Throughout these events, Abby continues to talk with Marilisa and her husband Shawn, despite their opposing views on abortion.


The film then cuts back to Abby's continuing work at the clinic, and she recounts in voice-over that it became "my career, despite the disapproval of virtually everyone in my life". The film flashes forward to her second marriage to Doug, a man who proclaims love while, like her parents, disapproving of her career on religious and moral grounds.<ref name="Hollywood Reporter">{{cite news|last1=Scheck|first1=Frank|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/unplanned-1198201|title='Unplanned': Film Review|date=March 29, 2019|work=]|access-date=23 February 2020|language=en}}</ref> Abby describes starting her life with Doug and attending a church with him that is decidedly opposed to abortion even while she continues to work at Planned Parenthood.
Cheryl shows Abby the room of "products of conception", which are the fetal remains after abortion, and tells Abby that she would like her to succeed her as director, which she agrees to do. As director, Abby's clinic becomes the best performing in the region, and she is awarded "Employee of the Year". During a company conference, she publicly voices her concerns towards a new directive to increase the number of abortions, especially medical abortions, because they are more profitable, for which she is formally reprimanded. Abby also looks at her own medical records from her previous medical abortion and sees the sonogram of her unborn child.


Abby becomes pregnant by Doug and, feeling secure in her life and marriage, chooses to carry the pregnancy. In the meantime, a scene is depicted of a botched abortion taking place at the clinic where Abby is told not to call an ambulance because of the way it would "look".<ref name="Hollywood Reporter" /><ref name="National Review">{{cite news |last1=DeSanctis |first1=Alexandra |title='Unplanned' Movie Exposes Grisly Reality of Abortion |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/04/unplanned-review-nobody-ever-said-abortion-was-pretty/ |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=] |date=2 April 2019}}</ref> Abby gives birth to Grace and is promoted to director when Cheryl is transferred to Houston. Before ] strikes, Abby coordinates all of the abortions to happen beforehand, anticipating that it will not be possible to perform the procedures for a while after the hurricane. Abby wins Employee of the Year while also being told by Cheryl that she should double the number of abortions. Cheryl explains that "Non-profit is a tax status, not a business model!",<ref name=Guardian_1>{{cite news |last1=Hoffman |first1=Jordan |title=Unplanned review – anti-abortion propaganda is a gory mess |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/28/unplanned-review-anti-abortion-propaganda-is-a-gory-mess |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=] |date=29 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424054006/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/28/unplanned-review-anti-abortion-propaganda-is-a-gory-mess | archive-date=2019-04-24 | url-status=live }}</ref> and says the organization makes its money off of abortions the way that fast food restaurants make money off fries and soda.<ref name="Variety" /><ref name="Hollywood Reporter" /><ref name="NP_1">{{cite news|last=Knight|first=Chris|date=July 11, 2019|title=Anti-abortion film Unplanned is useless propaganda and poorly made cinema packed with lies|language=en-CA|work=National Post|url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-useless-propaganda-and-poorly-made-cinema-packed-with-lies|access-date=February 23, 2020}}</ref> Abby is scolded for objecting to this, and then eventually reprimanded by Cheryl for insubordination after which the first few moments of the film are repeated just prior to Abby's participation in the procedure.
In 2009, Abby is called in to assist in an ultrasound-guided ] abortion at thirteen weeks gestation. She notes that she has never witnessed an abortion before, and she is concerned when she sees the fetus on the ultrasound, which is moving away from the suction tube. The doctor turns on the suction machine and Abby finds the process gruesome and disturbing. Upon seeing an empty womb, Abby leaves in tears.


Abby goes to the office of ], run by Marilisa and Shawn, and tearfully tells them that she cannot stay in her job after what she has seen. They support Abby and offer to help her find employment. Abby formally resigns and begins to help with their campaign, even being on the other side of the clinic fence encouraging women not to go through with their abortions. However, Planned Parenthood sues Abby for allegedly leaking confidential information about their operations, and Shawn convinces his laid-back lawyer friend Jeff to defend them. While Planned Parenthood intimidates Abby into thinking they have a strong case, the judge quickly finds it without merit and rules in favor of Abby. Abby is then depicted going to the office of ], run by Marilisa and her husband, Shawn, and tearfully telling them that she cannot stay in her job after what she has seen. They offer to help her find employment.<ref name="Catholic News"/> Abby formally resigns from Planned Parenthood and begins to help with the 40 Days for Life campaign, to the point of being on the other side of the clinic fence encouraging women not to go through with their abortions.<ref name="Maclean's"/> Planned Parenthood sues Abby for leaking confidential information about their operations, and Shawn convinces his laid-back lawyer friend Jeff to defend her.<ref name="Catholic News"/><ref name="Hollywood Reporter"/> On the day of the trial, Jeff proves Abby is innocent in court.


In 2013, when the clinic Abby worked at has closed, she organizes a pro-life event at the abandoned building in which she expresses regret for performing abortions as well as having two. She ties two roses to the fence and leaves a private letter marked "To my children", before her husband and daughter join her and they leave. The closing captions say that Abby continues to work with the ministry "And Then There Were None", helping other abortion clinic workers leave and find employment elsewhere. In 2013, the clinic Abby worked at closes, and she organizes a celebration at the abandoned building in which she expresses regret for performing abortions as well as having two.<ref name="Maclean's"/> The closing captions say that Abby continues to work with the ministry "And Then There Were None", helping other abortion clinic workers leave and find employment elsewhere.<ref name="Maclean's"/><ref name="Variety"/>
=== Accuracy of portrayal===
Jennifer Villavicencio, an obstetrician who performs abortions, told the '']'' that a 13-week-old fetus lacks the neurological capacity to recoil from pain, so its movements during an abortion should not be interpreted as "fighting for its life".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ugwu |first1=Reggie |title=With 'Unplanned,' Abortion Opponents Turn Toward Hollywood |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/movies/unplanned-movie-abortion.html |accessdate=31 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=8 April 2019}}</ref> Villavicencio stated to the '']'' that most abortions last 3-10 minutes and are "well tolerated".<ref name="HuffPo" /> In the film, Planned Parenthood is portrayed as promoting abortion for the sake of profit, with one character stating {{"'}}Nonprofit' is a tax status, not a business model!".<ref name="HuffPo" /> There is no one agreed measure but the proportion of Planned Parenthood's activities that are abortion related is probably between 12% and 37%, but may be as low as 7% of all treatment events.<ref name="Lee_8/12/2015">{{cite web | last=Lee | first=Michelle | title=For Planned Parenthood abortion stats, '3 percent' and '94 percent' are both misleading | website=] | date=August 12, 2015 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/08/12/for-planned-parenthood-abortion-stats-3-percent-and-94-percent-are-both-misleading/ | access-date=December 18, 2019}}</ref>


== Accuracy of portrayal ==
==Cast==
Several outlets—including '']'',<ref name="VarietyReview">{{cite magazine|last=Glieberman|first=Owen|date=March 29, 2019|title=Film Review: 'Unplanned' - The memoir of a Planned Parenthood worker turned anti-abortion activist isn't good drama but it's effective propaganda (if you're part of the choir).|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/unplanned-review-1203175761/|url-status=live|magazine=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403002028/https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/unplanned-review-1203175761/|archive-date=2019-04-03|access-date=2020-08-05}}</ref> '']'',{{r|GaM_2}} '']'',<ref name="Guardian_1" /> and the '']''{{r|TS}}—described the film as "]".

'']'' reported on an evaluation of the film's first scene:

{{blockquote|In that first scene, teased in the trailer and on posters as "the moment that changed everything", Abby, played by Bratcher, witnesses an ultrasound-guided termination of a pregnancy at 13 weeks. The ultrasound, as depicted onscreen, shows a fetus with a discernible head, torso and limbs frantically squirming away from a doctor's probe—an action that Abby later describes as "twisting and fighting for its life"—before being liquefied by suction.

Given a description of this scene, Jennifer Villavicencio, a fellow with the nonpartisan ] who performs ultrasound-guided abortions but has not seen the film, said that while an ultrasound of a 13-week-old fetus may show a visible head and body, the notion that it would be "fighting for its life" is misleading.

"If you watch an ultrasound, certainly there is movement, but it's not kicking its legs or recoiling", said Villavicencio. She noted broad scientific consensus that fetuses cannot experience pain, and therefore would not recoil from it, until well after 13 weeks. "There is no neurological capability for awareness of danger—that part of the brain is simply not there yet", she said.<ref name="NYT2019">{{cite news|last1=Ugwu|first1=Reggie|date=8 April 2019|title=With 'Unplanned,' Abortion Opponents Turn Toward Hollywood|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/movies/unplanned-movie-abortion.html|access-date=31 August 2019}}</ref>}}

Villavicencio explained to the '']'' that most abortions last three to ten minutes and are "well tolerated".<ref name="HuffPo" />

The film has been criticized for uncritically portraying events as Johnson claims they occurred in spite of a variety of journalists casting doubt on the veracity of her account.<ref name="TexasObserver_1">{{cite magazine|last=Elbein|first=Saul|date=2010-01-28|title=Conversion Story – How Bryan's Planned Parenthood director became a pro-life celebrity.|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/conversion-story/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217162821/https://www.texasobserver.org/conversion-story/|archive-date=2012-12-17|access-date=2020-05-28|newspaper=]}}</ref><ref name="TexasMonthly">{{cite magazine|last=Blakeslee|first=Nate|date=February 2010|title=The Convert – Former Bryan Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson's abrupt change from pro-choice activist to pro-life spokesperson turned her into a talk show sensation. But is her story true?|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/the-convert/|url-status=live|magazine=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817063759/https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/the-convert/|archive-date=2015-08-17|access-date=June 30, 2011}}</ref><ref name="TexasMonthly_2019">. '']'', April 16, 2019</ref><ref name="Slate">{{cite web|author=Amanda Marcotte|date=January 7, 2010|title=The Earth-Shaking Abortion That Never Happened|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2010/01/the-earth-shaking-abortion-that-never-happened.html|access-date=March 16, 2019|publisher=Slate}}</ref>
Johnson stated that the patient whose abortion led to her decision to leave Planned Parenthood was a black woman. Based on reporting by '']'' (which relied on Planned Parenthood clinic records), only one patient served by Johnson's then-employer on September 26, 2009, was black, and she was in the sixth week—not the 13th week—of her pregnancy.{{r|TexasMonthly}}

The film depicts Planned Parenthood as promoting abortion for the sake of profit.{{r|HuffPo|p=1|q=Planned Parenthood is falsely depicted as a for-profit abortion business }}{{r|NP_1|p=1|q=When Abby asks why the clinic is pushing to double the number of abortions it provides – which also happens to be a falsehood about the way the non-profit, reproductive health care provider operates – Cheryl explains that it&apos;s like the fries and soft drinks that fast-food restaurants use to turn a profit. "Abortion is our fries and sodas", she hisses. "Abortion is what pays for our salaries."}}{{r|HuffPo}}<ref name="RewireNews">{{cite web|author=Amie Newman|date=November 3, 2009|title=Planned Parenthood Director's Holes in Story Revealed In Recent Radio Interview|url=https://rewire.news/article/2009/11/03/planned-parenthood-directors-holes-story-revealed-in-recent-radio-interview/|access-date=March 16, 2019|publisher=Rewire News}}</ref> A character, Cheryl (]), claims that Planned Parenthood makes its money off of abortions the way that fast food restaurants make money by selling French fries and soda.<ref name="Variety"/><ref name="Hollywood Reporter"/><ref name="NP_1" />

Anna North of ''Vox'' criticized the film for depicting abortion as very dangerous, noting that within the United States, it is ].{{r|Vox|p=1|q=Meanwhile, Sisson and others question whether the approach of ''Unplanned'' is really so different from that of the protesters it decries. In the film, the peaceful Coalition for Life members distance themselves "from the pictures of bloody fetuses, but then the movie itself is a larger piece of propaganda that&apos;s so bloody and so reliant on fetal imagery," Sisson said. Indeed, the film includes many scenes of blood gushing through tubes and onto women&apos;s clothes, painting a picture of abortion as extremely dangerous. In fact, according to one recent study, complications occur in about 2.1 percent of abortions, with major complications — defined as hospitalizations, surgeries, or transfusions — happening in 0.23 percent. The procedure is significantly safer than childbirth.}}

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing| {{Cast listing|
* ] as ] *] as ]
* Brooks Ryan as Doug *Brooks Ryan as Doug
* ] as Cheryl *] as Cheryl
* Jared Lotz as Shawn *Jared Lotz as Shawn
* Emma Elle Roberts as Marilisa *Emma Elle Roberts as Marilisa
* Robin DeMarco as Kathleen *Robin DeMarco as Kathleen
* Robert Thomason as Mike *Robert Thomason as Mike
* Tina Toner as Renee *Tina Toner as Renee
* Sarah Hernandez as Elena *Sarah Hernandez as Elena
* Maura Corsini as Megan *Maura Corsini as Megan
* Lezl Gonzales as Taylor *Lezl Gonzales as Taylor
* Kaiser Johnson as Jeff *Kaiser Johnson as Jeff
* Andee Grace Burton as Grace *Andee Grace Burton as Grace
* Alexander Kane as Mark *Alexander Kane as Mark
* Stacey Bradshaw as Karen *Stacey Bradshaw as Karen
*] as Foreman}}
}}


==Production== ==Production==
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| alt2 = | alt2 =
| caption2 = | caption2 =
| footer = ] is portrayed in the film by ]. | footer = ] (left) is portrayed in the film by ] (right).
}} }}
In September 2018, it was announced that ] on a new ] film with a working title of ''Redeemed'' had been completed. Out of fear for potential protests due to the subject matter, everyone involved with the project signed a ], whereby they agreed not to engage in social media posts about the film nor any press interaction.<ref name=Stream>{{cite web | url=https://stream.org/unplanned-film-planned-parenthood-abby-johnson/ | title=Major Film on Planned Parenthood Clinic Director Who Left Abortion Industry Slated for 2019 | publisher=Stream | accessdate=January 21, 2019 |author=Josh Shepherd |date=September 19, 2018}}</ref> Additionally, the film was secretly shot in ].<ref name="CBN">{{cite web | url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2019/february/unplanned-directors-explain-great-irony-of-films-r-rating| title='Unplanned' Directors Explain Great Irony of Film's R-Rating| publisher=]| accessdate=March 2, 2019|author=Carly Hoilman|date=February 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name="IMDb">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt9024106/|title=Unplanned|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> In September 2018, it was announced that ] on a new ] film with a working title of ''Redeemed'' had been completed. Out of fear for potential protests due to the subject matter, everyone involved with the project signed a ], whereby they agreed not to engage in social media posts about the film nor any press interaction.<ref name="Stream">{{cite web | url=https://stream.org/unplanned-film-planned-parenthood-abby-johnson/ | title=Major Film on Planned Parenthood Clinic Director Who Left Abortion Industry Slated for 2019 | publisher=Stream | access-date=January 21, 2019 |author=Josh Shepherd |date=September 19, 2018}}</ref> Additionally, the film was secretly shot in ].<ref name="CBN">{{cite web | url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2019/february/unplanned-directors-explain-great-irony-of-films-r-rating| title='Unplanned' Directors Explain Great Irony of Film's R-Rating| publisher=]| access-date=March 2, 2019|author=Carly Hoilman|date=February 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name="IMDb">{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt9024106/|title=Unplanned|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>


Based on Johnson's memoir of the same name,<ref name=AJTFTB1>{{cite web | url=http://www.abbyjohnson.org/thanks-for-stopping-by-1 | title=Abby Johnson - Thanks for Stopping By | accessdate=March 16, 2019 |author=Abby Johnson | date= March 16, 2019}}</ref> ''Unplanned'' was produced on a $6 million budget.<ref name=HR180919>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/unplanned-planned-parenthood-documentary-works-gods-not-dead-writers-1144994 | title="God's Not Dead" Writers Making Planned Parenthood Movie | publisher=The Hollywood Reporter | accessdate=January 21, 2019 |author=Paul Bond |date=September 19, 2018}}</ref> ], founder and owner of ], was a major backer of the film, contributing $1 million to production and having a cameo.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/my-pillow-founder-michael-lindell-jumps-film-financing-1163209| title=Multimillionaire Trump Fan and Fox News Advertiser Jumps Into Film Financing | publisher=The Hollywood Reporter | accessdate=January 21, 2019 |author=Paul Bond |date=November 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Fox News Pushing">{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/pro-life-activist-abby-johnson-reacts-to-r-rating-for-anti-abortion-film-we-are-pushing-the-boundaries |title=Pro-life activist Abby Johnson reacts to R rating for anti-abortion film: 'We are pushing the boundaries' |author=Stephanie Nolasco|date=February 27, 2019 |website=] |publisher= |access-date=March 3, 2019 |quote=}}</ref> Based on Johnson's memoir of the same name,<ref name="AJTFTB1">{{cite web|url=http://www.abbyjohnson.org/thanks-for-stopping-by-1|title=Abby Johnson - Thanks for Stopping By|access-date=March 16, 2019|author=Abby Johnson|date= March 16, 2019}}</ref> ''Unplanned'' was produced on a $6 million budget.<ref name="HR180919">{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/unplanned-planned-parenthood-documentary-works-gods-not-dead-writers-1144994 | title="God's Not Dead" Writers Making Planned Parenthood Movie | publisher=The Hollywood Reporter | access-date=January 21, 2019 |author=Paul Bond|date=September 19, 2018}}</ref> ], founder and owner of ], was a major backer of the film, contributing $1 million to production and having a cameo.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/my-pillow-founder-michael-lindell-jumps-film-financing-1163209| title=Multimillionaire Trump Fan and Fox News Advertiser Jumps Into Film Financing | publisher=The Hollywood Reporter | access-date=January 21, 2019 |author=Paul Bond |date=November 21, 2018}}</ref>


Directors Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon sent a draft of their script to Johnson for review. Upon reading, Johnson reacted, "I read the script. And in the first 15 pages, I hated me. Then I got to the end of the script, and I loved it. It was me!"<ref name=Stream /> During casting, producers warned potential cast members that their participation in the film might result in their not getting future roles in the film industry due to the film's subject matter.<ref name=Stream /> Unlike the upcoming '']'' – which had some crew who quit once they learned of the film's subject matter – ''Unplanned'' did not suffer from the same fate since those involved knew about the film's focus when hired.<ref name=HR180919 /> Directors Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon sent a draft of their script to Johnson for review. Upon reading, Johnson reacted, "I read the script. And in the first 15 pages, I hated me. Then I got to the end of the script, and I loved it. It was me!"<ref name="Stream" /> During casting, producers warned potential cast members that their participation in the film might result in their not getting future roles in the film industry due to the film's subject matter.<ref name="Stream" /> Unlike the upcoming '']'' – which had some crew who quit once they learned of the film's subject matter – ''Unplanned'' did not suffer from the same fate since those involved knew about the film's focus when hired.<ref name="HR180919" />


Music labels denied the rights to use such songs as ]'s "]", "]" by ], ]'s "]", ]'s "]" and "The Guardian Suite" by ].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.spin.com/2019/01/anti-abortion-film-music-licensing-rights-denied/ | title=Cyndi Lauper, One Direction, The Fray Licensing Rights Denied to Anti-Abortion Film | publisher=Spin | access-date=January 21, 2019 |author=Tosten Burks |date=January 18, 2019}}</ref> Christian singer ] wrote a song for the film called "Unplanned", posting its music video a week before the film's release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2019/march/christian-singer-matthew-west-drops-music-video-for-new-lsquo-unplanned-rsquo-song|title=Christian Singer Matthew West Drops Music Video for New 'Unplanned' Song|author=Tré Goins-Phillips|publisher=Christian Broadcasting Network|date=March 30, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref>
Bratcher has related that following her acceptance of the role – and just prior to commencement of filming – she found out that her mother had had an abortion during her teens and almost had an abortion while she was pregnant with her.<ref name="Alateia">{{cite web|url=https://aleteia.org/2019/03/01/unplanned-is-a-movie-full-of-surprises-including-some-that-happened-during-production/|title='Unplanned' is a movie full of surprises, including some that happened during production|publisher=Aleteia|accessdate=March 3, 2019|author=John Burger|date=March 1, 2019}}</ref> Bratcher's mother has a role as an extra.<ref name="Alateia" />

The factual basis of the memoir has been questioned,<ref name=Slate>{{cite web | url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2010/01/the-earth-shaking-abortion-that-never-happened.html | publisher=Slate | title=The Earth-Shaking Abortion That Never Happened | accessdate=March 16, 2019 |author=Amanda Marcotte | date=January 7, 2010}}</ref> specifically her statements that "higher-up at Planned Parenthood encouraged her to increase abortions for financial reasons".<ref name=RewireNews>{{cite web | url=https://rewire.news/article/2009/11/03/planned-parenthood-directors-holes-story-revealed-in-recent-radio-interview/ | publisher=Rewire News | title=Planned Parenthood Director's Holes in Story Revealed In Recent Radio Interview | accessdate=March 16, 2019 |author=Amie Newman | date=November 3, 2009}}</ref> Johnson also stated that the patient in question was a black woman. However, based on reporting by '']'', which relied on Planned Parenthood clinic records,<ref name=TexasMonthly>{{cite web | url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/the-convert/ | publisher=Texas Monthly | title=The Convert | accessdate=March 16, 2019 |author=Nate Blakeslee | date= February 15, 2010}}</ref> only one patient from September 26, 2009 was ], and she was in the sixth week (not the 13th week) of her pregnancy.

Music labels denied the rights to use such songs as ]'s "]", "]" by ], ]'s "]", ]'s "]" and "The Guardian Suite" by ].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.spin.com/2019/01/anti-abortion-film-music-licensing-rights-denied/ | title=Cyndi Lauper, One Direction, The Fray Licensing Rights Denied to Anti-Abortion Film | publisher=Spin | accessdate=January 21, 2019 |author=Tosten Burks |date=January 18, 2019}}</ref> Christian singer ] wrote a song for the film called "Unplanned", posting its music video a week before the film's release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2019/march/christian-singer-matthew-west-drops-music-video-for-new-lsquo-unplanned-rsquo-song|title=Christian Singer Matthew West Drops Music Video for New 'Unplanned' Song|author=Tré Goins-Phillips|publisher=Christian Broadcasting Network|date=March 30, 2019|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}</ref>


==MPAA rating== ==MPAA rating==
''Unplanned'' was given an ] (the first for any ] film) by the ], who cited the graphic abortion-related scenes as the reason for the rating and notified the producers of the film that the film would remain R-rated unless those scenes were removed,<ref name="Fortune" /><ref name="CBN" /> denying that it had assigned the rating due to ].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/pure-flix-responds-to-mpaas-r-rating-for-anti-abortion-film-r-stands-for-recommended| title=Pure Flix responds to MPAA's R-rating for anti-abortion film: 'R stands for recommended'| publisher=]| accessdate=March 2, 2019|author=Stephanie Nolasco|date=February 23, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Fortune">{{cite web | url=http://fortune.com/2019/02/22/mpaa-pure-flix-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-r-rating/| title=MPAA Gives Controversial Anti-Abortion Film 'Unplanned' Surprise R Rating| publisher=]| accessdate=March 2, 2019|author=Brian Raftery|date=February 23, 2019}}</ref> Pure Flix, which had been expecting a PG-13 rating, decided not to contest the MPAA's action due to concerns that such conflict may delay the film's release.<ref name="CBN" /> However, regarding the classification, co-directors Konzelman and Solomon said this: "e consider the MPAA's current standards to be deeply flawed, insofar as they allowed scenes of remarkably graphic sex, violence, degradation, murder and mayhem to have a PG-13 rating, whereas our film, highlighting the grave dangers of abortion in a straightforward manner, is considered dangerous for the American people to view<ref name="Fox News Pushing" /> ''Unplanned'' was given an ] (the first for any ] film) by the ] (MPAA), with the rating descriptor being "for some disturbing/bloody images", citing the graphic abortion-related scenes as the reason for the rating, and notified the film's producers that it would remain R-rated unless those scenes were removed.<ref name="Fortune" /><ref name="CBN" /> The MPAA denied allegations that it had assigned the rating due to ].<ref name="Fortune">{{cite web | url=http://fortune.com/2019/02/22/mpaa-pure-flix-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-r-rating/| title=MPAA Gives Controversial Anti-Abortion Film 'Unplanned' Surprise R Rating| publisher=]| access-date=March 2, 2019|author=Brian Raftery|date=February 23, 2019}}</ref> ], which had been expecting a PG-13 rating, decided not to contest the MPAA's action due to concerns that such conflict could delay the film's release.<ref name="CBN" />


Ken Rather, Vice President of Distribution at Pure Flix, made a similar comment: " 15 year-old-girl can get an abortion without her parent’s permission but she can’t see this movie without adult supervision? That’s sad."<ref name="Hollywood Reporter 4">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mpaas-r-rating-anti-abortion-film-disputed-by-distributor-pure-flix-1189183|title=MPAA's R-Rating for Anti-Abortion Film Disputed by Distributor Pure Flix|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|author=Paul Bond|date=February 22, 2019|access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Fox News Pushing" /> In response to the film's rating, the MPAA was sent a complaint signed by twenty-nine people uninvolved in the production of the film. The signers include former Arkansas governor ], political commentator ], actor ], and ]-winning film producers ] and ].<ref name="SR">{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/christian-groups-criticize-mpaa-anti-abortion-film-r-rating/|title=Christian Groups Criticize MPAA For Giving Anti-Abortion Film R-Rating|publisher=Screen Rant|author=Helen Armitage|date=March 17, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019}}</ref><ref name="THR">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mpaa-criticized-by-christian-groups-r-rated-anti-abortion-movie-1195158|title=MPAA Criticized by Christian Groups Over R-Rated Anti-Abortion Movie|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Paul Bond|date=March 15, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019}}</ref> Despite this, the MPAA did not revoke the rating, saying that "he filmmakers did not make use of the rating appeal process."<ref name="THR" />


Johnson subsequently wrote an open letter addressed to parents, stating that the film contained no nudity, sex or profanity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/nation-and-world/an-open-letter-from-abby-johnson-regarding-unplanned-r-rating/|title=An open letter from Abby Johnson regarding 'Unplanned' R rating|author=Catholic News Service|publisher=The Catholic Spirit|date=March 28, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> A second open letter, signed by the same twenty-nine people from the MPAA complaint, encouraged faith communities to ignore the rating and turn out for the film as they did for '']'', another religious movie that received controversy from the evangelical community for receiving an R rating for its graphic violent content.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Open Letter to the Faith Community in America |url=https://www.unplannedfilm.com/openletter |website=Unplanned Movie |access-date=7 April 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tomeo |first1=Teresa |title=Open Letter About R Rating of Pro-life 'Unplanned' Movie Exposes Media Bias: Media Expert Teresa Tomeo says R Rating is 'Sabotage' |url=http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/2937582432.html |access-date=7 April 2019 |work=Christian Newswire |date=28 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="NCR Unexpected Success">{{cite news |last1=Deffner |first1=Elisabeth |title=Unplanned Opportunity: How a Movie's Unexpected Success Is Reinvigorating Pro-Lifers |url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/unplanned-opportunity-how-a-movies-unexpected-success-is-reinvigorating-pro |access-date=7 April 2019 |work=National Catholic Register |date=6 April 2019}}</ref>
Johnson, however, acknowledged that the R rating may have been assigned in good faith: "We are pushing the boundaries of what has never been before on such a wide scale by showing America exactly what abortion is — and abortion is disturbing. It’s violent . . . . In my opinion, one of the most impactful films of our time is '']''. It was rated R. So I feel like ''Unplanned'' is in good company. An R rating from the MPAA isn’t going to slow this movie down. I believe people are ready for the truth.<ref name="Fox News Pushing" />


== Release ==
In response to the film's rating, the MPAA was sent a complaint signed by twenty-nine people uninvolved in the production of the film. The signers include former Arkansas governor ], political commentator ], actor ], and ]-winning film producers ] and ].<ref name="SR">{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/christian-groups-criticize-mpaa-anti-abortion-film-r-rating/|title=Christian Groups Criticize MPAA For Giving Anti-Abortion Film R-Rating|publisher=Screen Rant|author=Helen Armitage|date=March 17, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019}}</ref><ref name="THR">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mpaa-criticized-by-christian-groups-r-rated-anti-abortion-movie-1195158|title=MPAA Criticized by Christian Groups Over R-Rated Anti-Abortion Movie|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Paul Bond|date=March 15, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019}}</ref> Despite this, the MPAA did not revoke the rating, saying that "he filmmakers did not make use of the rating appeal process."<ref name="THR" />


Johnson subsequently wrote an open letter addressed to parents, explaining why the MPAA had assigned the R rating and stating that the film contained no nudity, sex or profanity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/nation-and-world/an-open-letter-from-abby-johnson-regarding-unplanned-r-rating/|title=An open letter from Abby Johnson regarding 'Unplanned' R rating|author=Catholic News Service|publisher=The Catholic Spirit|date=March 28, 2019|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}</ref> A second open letter, signed by the same twenty-nine people from the MPAA complaint, encouraged faith communities to ignore the R rating and turn out for the film as they did for ''The Passion of the Christ''.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Open Letter to the Faith Community in America |url=https://www.unplannedfilm.com/openletter |website=Unplanned Movie |accessdate=7 April 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tomeo |first1=Teresa |title=Open Letter About R Rating of Pro-life 'Unplanned' Movie Exposes Media Bias: Media Expert Teresa Tomeo says R Rating is 'Sabotage' |url=http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/2937582432.html |accessdate=7 April 2019 |work=Christian Newswire |date=28 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="NCR Unexpected Success">{{cite news |last1=Deffner |first1=Elisabeth |title=Unplanned Opportunity: How a Movie's Unexpected Success Is Reinvigorating Pro-Lifers |url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/unplanned-opportunity-how-a-movies-unexpected-success-is-reinvigorating-pro |accessdate=7 April 2019 |work=National Catholic Register |date=6 April 2019}}</ref>

==Release==
===United States=== ===United States===
''Unplanned'' was released in the United States on March 29, 2019.<ref name="SR" /> The film received a pre-screening on February 21, 2019, in lower Manhattan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cny.org/stories/pro-life-movie-unplanned-carries-redemptive-theme,18715|title=Pro-Life Movie 'Unplanned' Carries Redemptive Theme|publisher=Catholic New York|author=Christie L. Chicoine|date=March 1, 2019|access-date=March 5, 2019}}</ref> and again on March 28, 2019, in Indiana, one day before its release date.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eaglecountryonline.com/news/local-news/pro-life-activist-hopes-unplanned-film-screening-will-change-hearts/|title=Pro-Life Activist Hopes "Unplanned" Film Screening Will "Change Hearts"|publisher=Eagle Country News|author=Mike Perleberg|date=March 5, 2019|access-date=March 5, 2019}}</ref> ''Unplanned'' was released in the United States on March 29, 2019.<ref name="SR" /> The film received a pre-screening on February 21, 2019, in lower Manhattan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cny.org/stories/pro-life-movie-unplanned-carries-redemptive-theme,18715|title=Pro-Life Movie 'Unplanned' Carries Redemptive Theme|publisher=Catholic New York|author=Christie L. Chicoine|date=March 1, 2019|access-date=March 5, 2019}}</ref> and again on March 28, 2019, in Indiana, one day before its release date.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eaglecountryonline.com/news/local-news/pro-life-activist-hopes-unplanned-film-screening-will-change-hearts/|title=Pro-Life Activist Hopes "Unplanned" Film Screening Will "Change Hearts"|publisher=Eagle Country News|author=Mike Perleberg|date=March 5, 2019|access-date=March 5, 2019}}</ref>


Many media outlets declined to air advertising for the film on account of the controversial subject matter and/or the film's R rating, including ], ], ], ], ], and Christian radio network ].<ref name="TV ads">{{cite web |last1=Bond |first1=Paul |title=TV Networks Reject Ads for Anti-Abortion Movie |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/networks-reject-ads-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-1197928 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |accessdate=31 March 2019 |language=en |date=29 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://world.wng.org/content/k_love_mum_on_new_pro_life_movie|title=K-Love mum on new pro-life movie|author=Mary Jackson|publisher=World News Group|date=March 29, 2019|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}</ref> Google also listed the film as "drama/propaganda" in search results for a period of time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/google-slammed-labeling-pro-life-film-unplanned-propaganda|title=Google under fire for dubbing 'Unplanned' film 'propaganda'|publisher=Fox News|author=Joseph A. Wolfsohn|date=April 11, 2019|accessdate=April 22, 2019}}</ref> Only ], who also did editorial coverage of the production,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2019/04/19/Fox-News-gave-anti-abortion-film-Unplanned-over-1-million-in-free-promotion-this-year/223503|title=Fox News gave anti-abortion film Unplanned over $1 million in free promotion this year|publisher=Media Matters For America|author=Madelyn Webb|date=April 19, 2019|accessdate=April 22, 2019}}</ref> and the ] agreed to air ads.<ref name="TV ads" /> Many media outlets declined to air advertising for the film on account of the controversial subject matter and/or the film's R rating, including ], ], ], ], and Christian radio network ].<ref name="TV ads">{{cite web |last1=Bond |first1=Paul |title=TV Networks Reject Ads for Anti-Abortion Movie |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/networks-reject-ads-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-1197928 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=31 March 2019 |language=en |date=29 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://world.wng.org/content/k_love_mum_on_new_pro_life_movie|title=K-Love mum on new pro-life movie|author=Mary Jackson|publisher=World News Group|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019|archive-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407092219/https://world.wng.org/content/k_love_mum_on_new_pro_life_movie/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Only ] (who also did editorial coverage of the production)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2019/04/19/Fox-News-gave-anti-abortion-film-Unplanned-over-1-million-in-free-promotion-this-year/223503|title=Fox News gave anti-abortion film Unplanned over $1 million in free promotion this year|publisher=Media Matters For America|author=Madelyn Webb|date=April 19, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019}}</ref> and the ] agreed to air ads.<ref name="TV ads" />


During the opening weekend, its official ] account was suspended (reportedly because it was linked to another account that violated Twitter's code of conduct). It was soon reinstated, gaining thousands of additional followers within several hours, eventually exceeding the number of followers for Planned Parenthood.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |title='Unplanned' Anti-Abortion Film Has Twitter Troubles, But Account Now Restored |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/unplanned-anti-abortion-film-has-twitter-troubles-but-account-now-restored-1202585667/ |accessdate=March 31, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 30, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="NCR Unexpected Success"/> Twitter was then accused of dropping followers of the film's account from over 200,000 to approximately 16,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/04/unplanned-movie-twitter-suspension-followers-removed/ |publisher=Heavy.com |title=Unplanned Movie: Twitter Suspension, Followers Removed |date=April 1, 2019 |author=Jessica McBride |accessdate=April 3, 2019}}</ref> Senator ] accused Twitter of censoring conservative views, and in a letter to Twitter CEO ], requested that an outside independent audit be made into Twitter's speech policies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/sen-josh-hawley-wants-independent-twitter-audit-after-suspension-of-unplanned-movie-account|title=Sen. Josh Hawley wants independent Twitter audit after suspension of 'Unplanned' movie account|author=James Rogers|publisher=Fox News|date=April 3, 2019|accessdate=April 3, 2019}}</ref> Twitter responded and "said follower counts can often take up to 24 hours to stabilize following a suspension and that any issues with page follows should also be resolved shortly"; the next day, according to ''Newsweek'', "the official account for the film appeared to confirm Twitter’s statement" in a tweet.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/unplanned-movie-twitter-censorship-abby-johnson-suspended-anti-abortion-1381695|newspaper=]|accessdate=April 24, 2019|date=April 1, 2019|title=Is Twitter Censoring Anti-abortion Movie ''Unplanned''? Website Denies Account Tampering After Conservative Outrage|first=Jason|last=Murdock}}</ref> During the opening weekend, the film's official ] account was suspended (reportedly because it was linked to another account that violated Twitter's code of conduct). It was soon reinstated, gaining thousands of additional followers within several hours, with the follower count briefly appearing to shoot up as high as 200,000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |title='Unplanned' Anti-Abortion Film Has Twitter Troubles, But Account Now Restored |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/unplanned-anti-abortion-film-has-twitter-troubles-but-account-now-restored-1202585667/ |access-date=March 31, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 30, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="newsweekFollowers" /> Twitter was then accused of dropping followers of the film's account from over 200,000 to approximately 16,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/04/unplanned-movie-twitter-suspension-followers-removed/ |publisher=Heavy.com |title=Unplanned Movie: Twitter Suspension, Followers Removed |date=April 1, 2019 |author=Jessica McBride |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> US senator ] accused Twitter of censoring conservative views, and in a letter to Twitter CEO ], requested that an outside independent audit be made into Twitter's speech policies. Twitter responded and "said follower counts can often take up to 24 hours to stabilize following a suspension and that any issues with page follows should also be resolved shortly"; the next day, according to ''Newsweek'', "the official account for the film appeared to confirm Twitter's statement" in a tweet.<ref name="newsweekFollowers">{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/unplanned-movie-twitter-censorship-abby-johnson-suspended-anti-abortion-1381695|newspaper=]|access-date=April 24, 2019|date=April 1, 2019|title=Is Twitter Censoring Anti-abortion Movie ''Unplanned''? Website Denies Account Tampering After Conservative Outrage|first=Jason|last=Murdock}}</ref>


Mark Cavaliere, an executive director of a local Coalition for Life,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwest.life/people/mark-cavaliere/|title=Mark Cavaliere}}</ref> dressed in a 40 Days for Life shirt like those seen in the film and recruited volunteers at some showings.<ref name="NCR Unexpected Success"/> Mark Cavaliere, an executive director of a local Coalition for Life,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://southwest.life/team/mark-cavaliere/|title=Mark Cavaliere &#124; Biography|website=Southwest Coalition of Life}}</ref> dressed in a 40 Days for Life shirt like those seen in the film and recruited volunteers at some showings.<ref name="NCR Unexpected Success" />


===Canada=== ===Canada===
No Canadian distributors were initially interested in the movie, which prevented movie theaters from picking it up. In June 2019, the small distribution company Cinedicom agreed to make it available to the Canadian market, its president stating the decision to distribute the film was based on divine inspiration. The producers accused Canada's dominant movie theater chain ] of effectively banning the movie in the country by not showing it in its theaters. However, the company's usual practice is to only consider movies if their distributor presents a marketing plan and obtains a rating from a provincial ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/unplanned-anti-abortion-movie-canada_ca_5d013ab0e4b0985c4196e665|title=Is Anti-Abortion Movie 'Unplanned' Really Coming To 100s Of Theatres In Canada?|last=Kappler|first=Maija|date=June 14, 2019|website=Huffington Post Canada|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-controversial-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-heading-to-canadian/|title=Controversial anti-abortion film Unplanned heading to Canadian theatres|last=Hertz|first=Barry|date=June 12, 2019|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref><!-- The Globe source in paywalled and is the only source with a quote about the distributor's motivitations. It reads: BJ McKelvie, president of the Fredericton, N.B.-based distribution company, said in a release, "I complained to God that I was hearing that Unplanned was banned in Canada and I heard His voice loud and clear, 'Why don't you distribute it?' It was a defining moment for me."--> No distributors in ] were initially interested in the film, which prevented movie theaters from picking it up. In June 2019, the small distribution company Cinedicom agreed to make it available to the Canadian market, its president stating the decision to distribute the film was based on divine inspiration. The producers accused Canada's dominant movie theater chain ] of effectively banning the film in the country by not showing it in its theaters. The company usually only considers films if their distributor presents a marketing plan and obtains a rating from a provincial ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/unplanned-anti-abortion-movie-canada_ca_5d013ab0e4b0985c4196e665|title=Is Anti-Abortion Movie 'Unplanned' Really Coming To 100s Of Theatres In Canada?|last=Kappler|first=Maija|date=June 14, 2019|website=Huffington Post Canada|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-controversial-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-heading-to-canadian/|title=Controversial anti-abortion film Unplanned heading to Canadian theatres|last=Hertz|first=Barry|date=June 12, 2019|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref><!-- The Globe source in paywalled and is the only source with a quote about the distributor's motivitations. It reads: BJ McKelvie, president of the Fredericton, N.B.-based distribution company, said in a release, "I complained to God that I was hearing that Unplanned was banned in Canada and I heard His voice loud and clear, 'Why don't you distribute it?' It was a defining moment for me."--> Christian activist ] participated in organizing a petition threatening to boycott Cineplex unless it agreed to screen the film.<ref name="CBC_1" />


Cineplex later reversed its decision, opting to screen the film in 14 locations. The competing chain ] also screened the film at 10 locations.<ref></ref> On July 12, 2019, the film took in $352,000 on its opening weekend on 56 screens across Canada for a per-screen average of around $7,100.<ref name="CCN">{{Cite web|url=https://grandinmedia.ca/pro-life-movie-enjoys-unplanned-success-during-its-brief-run-in-canadian-theatres/|title=Pro-life movie enjoys 'Unplanned' success during its brief run in Canadian theatres|last=Conlon|first=Mickey|date=June 23, 2019|website=Canadian Catholic News|access-date=June 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>Sumanac-Johnson, Deana, "", '']'', 13 July 2019</ref> ''Unplanned'' made $643,000 CAD at the Canadian box office.<ref name="CCN" /> Cineplex later reversed its decision, opting to show the film in 14 locations. The competing chain ] also show the film at 10 locations.<ref></ref> Released onn July 12, 2019, the film took in $352,000 during its opening weekend, with the screen count variously reported as 49 or 56.<ref name="CCN">{{cite web|url=https://grandinmedia.ca/pro-life-movie-enjoys-unplanned-success-during-its-brief-run-in-canadian-theatres/|title=Pro-life movie enjoys 'Unplanned' success during its brief run in Canadian theatres|last=Conlon|first=Mickey|date=June 23, 2019|website=Canadian Catholic News|access-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724213540/https://grandinmedia.ca/pro-life-movie-enjoys-unplanned-success-during-its-brief-run-in-canadian-theatres/|archive-date=July 24, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="CBC_1" /> ''Unplanned'' made $643,000 CAD at the Canadian box office in its one week of release.<ref name="CCN" />


===Philippines===
''Unplanned'' premiered exclusively in ] cinemas in the ] on August 21, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|last=Aguilar|first=Krissy|title=Anti-abortion film 'Unplanned' to screen in the PH|url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/342043/anti-abortion-film-unplanned-to-screen-in-the-ph|access-date=October 7, 2020|newspaper=]|publisher=INQUIRER.net|date=August 14, 2019|location=], Philippines|quote=After its success in North America, anti-abortion film "Unplanned" will debut to Filipino audiences on Aug. 21.}}</ref> Felicidad Tan-Sy, the widow of SM founder ], cried during its local premiere and stated that "Every Filipino, every person needs to see this movie."<ref>{{cite news|last=Bernardo|first=Deni Rose M. Afinidad|title=Controversial anti-abortion movie 'Unplanned' now showing in the Philippines|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2019/08/23/1945780/controversial-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-now-showing-philippines|access-date=October 7, 2020|work=] |publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=August 23, 2019|location=], Philippines}}</ref>

''Unplanned'' was released on ] and ] in August 2019.{{cn|date=February 2024}}
==Reception== ==Reception==
===Box office=== ===Box office===
''Unplanned'' grossed $19 million in the United States and Canada, and $2.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide $21.3 million, against a production budget of $6 million.<ref name="BOM" />
In the United States, ''Unplanned'' was released alongside '']'' and '']'', and based upon tracking was projected to gross $3-5 million from 1,060 theaters its opening weekend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-dumbo-hopes-take-flight-50m-1197606|title=Box Office Preview: 'Dumbo' Hopes to Take Flight With $50M-plus|website=]|author=Pamela McClintock|date=March 28, 2019|accessdate=March 28, 2019}}</ref> The film made $3 million on its first day, including $700,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $6.4 million, exceeding box office projections and finishing 4th at the box office,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/04/01/pro-life-movie-unplanned-climbs-to-no-4-at-box-office/|title=Pro-Life Movie 'Unplanned' Opens at No. 4 at Box Office|author=Joshua Nelson|publisher=The Daily Signal|date=April 1, 2019|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}</ref> marking the second-best opening for a Pure Flix film behind '']'' ($7.6 million in 2016); the film played best in conservative-leaning states in the Midwest and South.<ref name=THR2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-dumbo-flies-26m-previews-1198097|title=Weekend Box Office: 'Dumbo' Disappoints With $45M U.S. Debut|website=]|author=Pamela McClintock|date=March 31, 2019|accessdate=March 31, 2019}}</ref> '']'' said the opening was "remarkable considering that the film was rated R boxed out from running TV spots on most major cable networks and Christian radio."<ref name=opening>{{cite news |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title='Dumbo' Hovers Low With $46M+ But Hopes On Matinees; Matthew McConaughey Hits Bottom With $1.7M 'Beach Bum' |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/dumbo-box-office-results-disney-us-jordan-peele-weekend-1202584883/|accessdate=March 31, 2019|work=] |date=March 31, 2019}}</ref><ref name="THR3">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/unplanned-box-office-anti-abortion-pic-opens-strong-6m-1198369|title='Unplanned' Box Office: Controversial Anti-Abortion Pic Surprises With Strong $6M Debut|author=Pamela McClintock|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}</ref> It was reported that churches across the country had bought out entire screenings for the picture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/unplanned-anti-abortion-pro-life-movie-box-office-success-1202585875/|title=Anti-Abortion Pic 'Unplanned' Battles To $6.1M; 2nd Best Opening For Faith-Based Studio Pure Flix|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|last2=D'Alessandro|first2=Anthony|date=2019-03-31|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-04-03}}</ref> ] also hosted nearly 300 screenings.<ref>{{cite AV media |people= |date= |title=Unplanned shocks Hollywood, changes hearts |medium=video |language=English |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvqtqemd7wM |access-date=25 April 2019 |time=0:23 |publisher= 40 Days for Life }}</ref> In its second weekend the film was added to 456 additional theaters (for a total of 1,516) and made $3.2 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/shazam-opening-weekend-box-office-the-joker-pet-sematary-1202589627/|title='Shazam!' Shoots To Super $53M+ Opening, $56M+ With Previews; 'Pet Sematary' Purrs $25M – Sunday AM B.O. Final|website=]|author=Anthony D'Alessandro|date=April 7, 2019|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}</ref> By the end of its theatrical run, the film had grossed $21 million.<ref name=BOM/> Audiences polled by ] after seeing the film gave it a rare "A+" grade, and those at ] gave it an overall positive score of 80% and a 65% "definite recommend".<ref name="opening" /><ref name="THR2" />

In the United States, ''Unplanned'' was released alongside '']'' and '']'', and based upon tracking was projected to gross $3–5 million from 1,060 theaters its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-dumbo-hopes-take-flight-50m-1197606|title=Box Office Preview: 'Dumbo' Hopes to Take Flight With $50M-plus|website=]|author=Pamela McClintock|date=March 28, 2019|access-date=March 28, 2019}}</ref> The film made $3 million on its first day, including $700,000 from Thursday night previews. The film played best in conservative-leaning states in the Midwest and South. Audiences polled by ] gave the film a rare average grade of "A+".<ref name="THR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-dumbo-flies-26m-previews-1198097|title=Weekend Box Office: 'Dumbo' Disappoints With $45M U.S. Debut|website=]|author=Pamela McClintock|date=March 31, 2019|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> '']'' said the opening was "remarkable considering that the film was rated R boxed out from running TV spots on most major cable networks and Christian radio."<ref name="opening">{{cite news |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title='Dumbo' Hovers Low With $46M+ But Hopes On Matinees; Matthew McConaughey Hits Bottom With $1.7M 'Beach Bum' |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/dumbo-box-office-results-disney-us-jordan-peele-weekend-1202584883/|access-date=March 31, 2019|work=] |date=March 31, 2019}}</ref><ref name="THR3">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/unplanned-box-office-anti-abortion-pic-opens-strong-6m-1198369|title='Unplanned' Box Office: Controversial Anti-Abortion Pic Surprises With Strong $6M Debut|author=Pamela McClintock|date=31 March 2019 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> It was reported that churches across the country had bought out entire screenings for the picture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/unplanned-anti-abortion-pro-life-movie-box-office-success-1202585875/|title=Anti-Abortion Pic 'Unplanned' Battles To $6.1M; 2nd Best Opening For Faith-Based Studio Pure Flix|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2019-03-31|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-04-03}}</ref> In its second weekend the film was added to 456 additional theaters (for a total of 1,516) and made $3.2 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/shazam-opening-weekend-box-office-the-joker-pet-sematary-1202589627/|title='Shazam!' Shoots To Super $53M+ Opening, $56M+ With Previews; 'Pet Sematary' Purrs $25M – Sunday AM B.O. Final|website=]|author=Anthony D'Alessandro|date=April 7, 2019|access-date=April 7, 2019}}</ref>


===Critical response=== ===Critical response===
On ], the film holds an approval rating of 40% based on 25 reviews, with an ] of 4.79/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "A dramatic approach to a hot-button topic whose agenda is immediately clear, ''Unplanned'' will only reinforce the feelings of viewers on either side of the issue."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/unplanned |title=Unplanned (2019)|website=] |access-date=April 11, 2019}}</ref> On ], the film has a weighted average score of 10 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/unplanned|title=Unplanned reviews |website= ] |access-date= April 11, 2019 }}</ref> On ], the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads: "A dramatic approach to a hot-button topic whose agenda is immediately clear, ''Unplanned'' will only reinforce the feelings of viewers on either side of the issue."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/unplanned|title=Unplanned (2019)|website=]|publisher=]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}</ref> On ], the film has a ] of 10 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/unplanned|title=Unplanned reviews |website= ] |access-date= April 11, 2019 }}</ref>


Writing for the '']'', Rose Pacatte said that "''Unplanned'' is an important film, a designation that directors hate to hear. It is not entertaining (until the cheesy lawyer shows up) but tells an emotional story with wide-ranging implications."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/media/unplanned-important-not-exactly-entertaining|title='Unplanned' is important, but not exactly entertaining|website=]|author=Rose Pacatte|date=March 28, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> In a review for '']'', Nick Olszyk stated that, "''Unplanned'' is a testament to the truth, and the more people know about the abortion industry, the harder it is to obscure that truth."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2019/04/02/beyond-abortion-polemics-unplanned-gets-personal/|title=Beyond abortion polemics, "Unplanned" gets personal|website=]|author=Nick Olszyk|date=April 2, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2019}}</ref> '']''<nowiki/>'s Josh Terry wrote that the film "...may not bridge the divide between the different sides of the abortion issue, but it will provide some food for thought for the undecideds", ultimately concluding that "''Unplanned'' has room for praise and criticism."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900063389/movie-review-unplanned-pureflix-a-planned-parenthood-supervisor-changes-her-mind-pro-life-abortion.html |publisher=Deseret News |title=Movie review: In graphic 'Unplanned,' a Planned Parenthood supervisor changes her mind |author=Josh Terry |date=April 1, 2019 |accessdate=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=http://www.webcitation.org/77OOG2zJJ |archive-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> Religious publications were mostly positive about the film. Writing for the '']'', ] said that "''Unplanned'' is an important film, a designation that directors hate to hear. It is not entertaining (until the cheesy lawyer shows up) but tells an emotional story with wide-ranging implications."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/media/unplanned-important-not-exactly-entertaining|title='Unplanned' is important, but not exactly entertaining|website=]|author=Rose Pacatte|date=March 28, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> '']''<nowiki/>'s Josh Terry wrote that the film "...may not bridge the divide between the different sides of the abortion issue, but it will provide some food for thought for the undecideds", ultimately concluding that "''Unplanned'' has room for praise and criticism."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900063389/movie-review-unplanned-pureflix-a-planned-parenthood-supervisor-changes-her-mind-pro-life-abortion.html |publisher=Deseret News |title=Movie review: In graphic 'Unplanned,' a Planned Parenthood supervisor changes her mind |author=Josh Terry |date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405035431/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900063389/movie-review-unplanned-pureflix-a-planned-parenthood-supervisor-changes-her-mind-pro-life-abortion.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> According to '']''<nowiki/>'s ], ''Unplanned'' "reveals the culture of death that lies at the core of our secular-liberal modernity".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2019/04/09/unplanned-is-this-generations-matrix/ |magazine=Catholic Herald |title=Unplanned is this generation's Matrix |first=Sohrab|last=Ahmari |date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520133535/https://catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2019/04/09/unplanned-is-this-generations-matrix/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref>


In contrast, '']''<nowiki/>'s Frank Scheck criticized ''Unplanned'' as "proselytizing agitprop" comparable to a "basic cable television movie in its mediocre production values and subpar performances".<ref name="Hollywood Reporter">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/unplanned-1198201|title='Unplanned': Film Review|last=Scheck|first=Frank|website=]|language=en|access-date=2019-04-03}}</ref> Similarly, ] of '']'' said the film "isn't good drama but it's effective propaganda" <ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/unplanned-review-1203175761/|title=Film Review: 'Unplanned'|website=]|author=Owen Gleiberman|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> and '']''<nowiki/>'s Vadim Rizov stated that " has greater technical finesse than its foundational forebears... there's not a single scene that speaks to characters with lives outside their streamlined narrative function; they're performers in a parable traced over a ], filmed with a bland competence at odds with the true perversity of the material".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://film.avclub.com/unplanned-is-an-abortion-about-abortion-1833646797|title=''Unplanned'' is an abortion about abortion|website=The A.V. Club |author=Vadim Rizov|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> In contrast, '']''<nowiki/>'s Frank Scheck criticized ''Unplanned'' as "proselytizing ]" comparable to a "basic cable television movie in its mediocre production values and subpar performances".<ref name="Hollywood Reporter" /> Similarly, ] of '']'' said the film "isn't good drama but it's effective propaganda"<ref name="Variety">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/unplanned-review-1203175761/|title=Film Review: 'Unplanned'|website=]|author=Owen Gleiberman|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> and '']''{{'}}s Vadim Rizov stated that " has greater technical finesse than its foundational forebears. But there's not a single scene that speaks to characters with lives outside their streamlined narrative function; they're performers in a parable traced over a ], filmed with a bland competence at odds with the true perversity of the material".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/unplanned-is-an-abortion-about-abortion-1833646797|title=''Unplanned'' is an abortion about abortion|website=The A.V. Club |author=Vadim Rizov|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> Writing for ], Philip Martin said that "''Unplanned'' is a competently made film that has some moments of genuine grace and a winning lead performance by Ashley Bratcher".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Philip |date=2019-03-29 |title=Unplanned |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/mar/29/unplanned-20190329/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>


The Canadian ] was generally critical of ''Unplanned''. '']'',<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-a-disgusting-piece-of-propaganda-that/|title=Anti-abortion film Unplanned is a disgusting piece of propaganda that may endanger the health of women|last=Hertz|first=Barry|date=July 10, 2019|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref> the '']''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Chris |title=Movie review: Anti-abortion film Unplanned is useless propaganda and poorly made cinema packed with lies {{!}} Ottawa Citizen |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/movies/anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-useless-propaganda-and-poorly-made-cinema-packed-with-lies/wcm/2b2b90a2-4f9f-4d27-8ce8-466c454ce50b |website=Ottawa Citizen |accessdate=July 16, 2019 |date=July 11, 2019}}</ref> and the '']''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Braun |first1=Liz |title=Anti-abortion movie 'Unplanned' social and political propaganda |url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/braun-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-social-and-political-propaganda |website=Toronto Sun |accessdate=July 16, 2019 |date=July 9, 2019}}</ref> all described the film as dishonest religious, social, and political propaganda. However, Christian news programs such as '']'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Maggie |title="Unplanned" Film Coming to a Theatre Near You! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzZxBQQr0HU |website=YouTube |accessdate=July 16, 2019 |date=March 26, 2019}}</ref> ''The Faytene Show'' and '']''<ref>{{cite web |title=SLHour: Unplanned {{!}} A Featured Interview with Abby Johnson |url=https://saltandlighttv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=90404 |website=Salt and Light Media |accessdate=July 16, 2019 |date=March 30, 2019}}</ref> were supportive of it. The Canadian media was generally critical of ''Unplanned''. '']'',<ref name="GaM_2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-a-disgusting-piece-of-propaganda-that/|title=Anti-abortion film Unplanned is a disgusting piece of propaganda that may endanger the health of women|last=Hertz|first=Barry|date=July 10, 2019|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=July 10, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815163856/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-a-disgusting-piece-of-propaganda-that/ | archive-date=2019-08-15 | url-status=live}}</ref> the '']''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Chris |title=Movie review: Anti-abortion film Unplanned is useless propaganda and poorly made cinema packed with lies {{!}} Ottawa Citizen |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/movies/anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-useless-propaganda-and-poorly-made-cinema-packed-with-lies/wcm/2b2b90a2-4f9f-4d27-8ce8-466c454ce50b |website=Ottawa Citizen |access-date=July 16, 2019 |date=July 11, 2019}}</ref> and the '']''<ref name="TS">{{cite news |last1=Braun |first1=Liz |title=Anti-abortion movie 'Unplanned' social and political propaganda |url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/braun-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-social-and-political-propaganda |newspaper=] |access-date=July 16, 2019 |date=July 9, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716165724/https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/braun-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-social-and-political-propaganda | archive-date=2019-07-16 | url-status=live }}</ref> all described the film as dishonest religious, social, and political propaganda. Christian news programs such as '']'' were supportive of it.<ref>{{cite web |title=SLHour: Unplanned {{!}} A Featured Interview with Abby Johnson |url=https://saltandlighttv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=90404 |website=Salt and Light Media |access-date=July 16, 2019 |date=March 30, 2019}}</ref>

Luke Thompson, in ''Forbes'', notes the heavily political nature of the film and adds that it "aims to please the hardcore base and is R-rated. It's also quite literally visceral, throwing blood and other things I can't mention here virtually in your face like a PETA protester at a fur coat fashion show".<ref name="Forbes">{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukethompson/2019/03/30/unplanned-movie-ashley-bratcher-mike-lindell-mypillow-pure-flix-abby-johnson-planned-parenthood-abortion-debate/|title=Review: 'Unplanned' Preaches (A Lot) To The Anti-Abortion Choir|last=Thompson|first=Luke Y.|access-date=2019-08-16|language=en}}</ref>


===Planned Parenthood reaction=== ===Planned Parenthood reaction===
Shortly before release, the American division of ] stated that the arguments in it were false.<ref name="TV ads"/> Additionally, the Ottawa chapter opposed the film's first Canadian screening, held at ] on April 11, 2019 with four ] members of Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Planned Parenthood Ottawa |title=👏👏👏👏 |url=https://twitter.com/PPOttawa/status/1118963590541840384 |website=Twitter |accessdate=April 26, 2019 |date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>{{better source|date=April 2019}} Shortly before release, the American division of ] stated that the claims in the movie were false and that the movie promotes falsehoods.<ref name="TV ads" />


==Soundtrack== ==Soundtrack==
A soundtrack album was released on March 22, 2019 with the title track being interpreted by ]. Blake Kanicka, the music supervisor for ''Unplanned'' failed to license songs from more established mainstream artists and from a half dozen of the largest music companies.<ref name=bb-soundtrack>{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/movies/8494552/anti-abortion-movie-major-label-music|author=Paul Bond|title=$6 Million Anti-Abortion Movie Seeks Major Label Music, But Finds No Takers|publisher=Billboard|date=22 January 2019|accessdate=24 July 2019}}</ref> A soundtrack album was released on March 22, 2019, with the title track being performed by ]. Blake Kanicka, the music supervisor for ''Unplanned'', failed in attempts to license songs from more established mainstream artists and from a half dozen of the largest music companies.<ref name=bb-soundtrack>{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/movies/8494552/anti-abortion-movie-major-label-music|author=Paul Bond|title=$6 Million Anti-Abortion Movie Seeks Major Label Music, But Finds No Takers|publisher=Billboard|date=22 January 2019|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref>

<!-- see ] to improve this section -->
; Tracklist
# "Masterpiece" by ]
# "Unplanned" by ] <small>(Written by Matthew West & AJ Pruis)</small>
# "This Could Change Everything" by Francesca Battistelli <small>(Written by Francesca Battistelli, Jason Walker, Tommee Profitt)</small>
# "Weddingmarch" by ] <small>(Written by ])</small>
# "Mercy and Majesty" by ] and Jenn Johnson <small>(Written by Brian Johnson, Jeremy Riddle, Matt Redman, Jason Ingram, Jonas Myrin, Benjamin Glover)</small> <small>(''Instrumental'')</small>
# "Merrydeath" by Neon Ridge <small>(Written by Mikael Kallin)</small>
# "Cecie's Lullaby" by Steffany Gretzinger <small>(Written by Steffany Gretzinger)</small>
# "To Our God" by Brian Johnson <small>(Written by Brian Johnson, Jeremy Riddle, Joel Taylor)</small> <small>(''Without words'')</small>
# "We Dance" by ] <small>(Written by Steffany Gretzinger & Amanda Cook)</small>
# "Exigency" by ] <small>(Written by Charlie Ryan)</small>
# "Overcomer" by ] <small>(Written by Ben Glover, Christopher Stevens, David Garcia)</small>
# "Como Un Flor" by MML <small>(Written by Antonio Garcia Isaac)</small>
# "It Is Well (Live) by ] <small>(Written by Kristene DiMarco)</small> <small>(''Without words'')</small>
# "Foreboding" by Kyle Preston <small>(Written by Kyle Preston)</small>
# "You're Gonna Be OK" by Jenn Johnson <small>(Written by Jenn Johnson, Seth Mosley, Jeremy Riddle)</small>
# "Cleanse" by Be Still the Earth <small>(Written by Marshall Usinger)</small>
# "Monster On My Mind" by David Stebels and Brent Keast <small>(Written by David Siebels & Brent Keast)</small>
# "And So They Watched as the Years Passed Us By" by ] <small>(Written by Kit Day, Joshua Carlton, Alex Abrams, Joel Erickson)</small>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] *]
* '']'', a 2018 film surrounding ] *'']'', a 2018 film about abortion provider ]
* '']'', a 2011 pro-life ] *'']'', a 2011 anti-abortion ]
* '']'', a 1984 ] documentary by ] describing the abortion process via ] *'']'', a 1984 anti-abortion documentary by ] describing the abortion process via ]
* '']'', an upcoming 2019 dramatization of the ] *'']'', a 2020 dramatization of the ]
* '']''


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links == == External links ==
* {{Official|https://www.unplannedfilm.com/}} *{{Official|https://www.unplannedfilm.com/}}
* {{IMDb title|9024106}} *{{IMDb title|9024106}}


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Latest revision as of 01:16, 11 January 2025

2019 anti-abortion film directed by Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon

Unplanned
Unplanned promotional posterTheatrical release poster
Directed by
  • Cary Solomon
  • Chuck Konzelman
Screenplay by
  • Cary Solomon
  • Chuck Konzelman
Produced by
  • Chris Jones
  • Joe Knopp
  • Daryl Lefever
  • Cary Solomon
  • Chuck Konzelman
Starring
CinematographyDrew Maw
Edited by
  • Parker Adams
  • Dana Wilson
Music byStephen Blake Kanicka
Production
company
Soli Deo Gloria
Distributed byPure Flix Entertainment
Release date
  • March 29, 2019 (2019-03-29) (United States)
Running time106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6 million
Box office$21.3 million

Unplanned is a 2019 American drama film written and directed by Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman. It is based on the disputed 2011 memoir Unplanned by anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson. The film stars Ashley Bratcher as Johnson, following her life as a clinic director for Planned Parenthood and her subsequent transition to anti-abortion activism.

The film was released to US theaters by evangelical Christian studio Pure Flix on March 29, 2019. The working title was Redeemed, and details of its subject were kept from the public in order to minimize protests by abortion rights advocates. My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell served as an executive producer and appears in the film in a cameo role. Some TV channels refused to air ads for the film due to its subject matter.

The film grossed $21 million worldwide on a $6 million budget. The accuracy of the film's portrayal of abortion and of Planned Parenthood have been severely criticized by doctors and advocates for Planned Parenthood, with several commentators describing it as political propaganda.

Plot

The plot closely follows the account found in Abby Johnson's memoir, Unplanned. The film opens with a depiction of Johnson's home life with her husband, Doug, and daughter, Grace. In voice-over, Abby Johnson says she was tricked into participating with Planned Parenthood and the scene shifts to a time in 2009 when she claims she was asked to assist in an ultrasound-guided suction aspiration abortion at thirteen weeks gestation. During the procedure, Abby seems to witness the fetus showing distress as it is aborted. The scene ends with Abby leaving in tears. Johnson then describes, in voice over, that her story started her junior year at Texas A&M. The scene is depicted in flashback of a Planned Parenthood booth at a career fair. Johnson agrees to volunteer after the representative in the booth says to her that their ultimate goal was to reduce the number of abortions. As a clinic escort, she meets director Cheryl and witnesses anti-abortion protesters being verbally confrontational towards the women going in. One protester, Marilisa, is depicted as being kinder to women than the other protestors and says that those from her organization, "Coalition for Life", are "not here to hurt them or condemn them".

A flashback within a flashback then happens to when Abby had her two abortions, the first as a college student and the second after she marries then divorces. During the second abortion, for $400.00, she is given mifepristone at the clinic and is told there will be "a little bleeding", but the experience is depicted as being excruciatingly painful, over twelve hours and then followed up with "eight weeks of blood clots and excruciating cramps" causing her to fear for her life.

The film then cuts back to Abby's continuing work at the clinic, and she recounts in voice-over that it became "my career, despite the disapproval of virtually everyone in my life". The film flashes forward to her second marriage to Doug, a man who proclaims love while, like her parents, disapproving of her career on religious and moral grounds. Abby describes starting her life with Doug and attending a church with him that is decidedly opposed to abortion even while she continues to work at Planned Parenthood.

Abby becomes pregnant by Doug and, feeling secure in her life and marriage, chooses to carry the pregnancy. In the meantime, a scene is depicted of a botched abortion taking place at the clinic where Abby is told not to call an ambulance because of the way it would "look". Abby gives birth to Grace and is promoted to director when Cheryl is transferred to Houston. Before Hurricane Ike strikes, Abby coordinates all of the abortions to happen beforehand, anticipating that it will not be possible to perform the procedures for a while after the hurricane. Abby wins Employee of the Year while also being told by Cheryl that she should double the number of abortions. Cheryl explains that "Non-profit is a tax status, not a business model!", and says the organization makes its money off of abortions the way that fast food restaurants make money off fries and soda. Abby is scolded for objecting to this, and then eventually reprimanded by Cheryl for insubordination after which the first few moments of the film are repeated just prior to Abby's participation in the procedure.

Abby is then depicted going to the office of 40 Days for Life, run by Marilisa and her husband, Shawn, and tearfully telling them that she cannot stay in her job after what she has seen. They offer to help her find employment. Abby formally resigns from Planned Parenthood and begins to help with the 40 Days for Life campaign, to the point of being on the other side of the clinic fence encouraging women not to go through with their abortions. Planned Parenthood sues Abby for leaking confidential information about their operations, and Shawn convinces his laid-back lawyer friend Jeff to defend her. On the day of the trial, Jeff proves Abby is innocent in court.

In 2013, the clinic Abby worked at closes, and she organizes a celebration at the abandoned building in which she expresses regret for performing abortions as well as having two. The closing captions say that Abby continues to work with the ministry "And Then There Were None", helping other abortion clinic workers leave and find employment elsewhere.

Accuracy of portrayal

Several outlets—including Variety, The Globe and Mail, The Guardian, and the Toronto Sun—described the film as "propaganda".

The New York Times reported on an evaluation of the film's first scene:

In that first scene, teased in the trailer and on posters as "the moment that changed everything", Abby, played by Bratcher, witnesses an ultrasound-guided termination of a pregnancy at 13 weeks. The ultrasound, as depicted onscreen, shows a fetus with a discernible head, torso and limbs frantically squirming away from a doctor's probe—an action that Abby later describes as "twisting and fighting for its life"—before being liquefied by suction.

Given a description of this scene, Jennifer Villavicencio, a fellow with the nonpartisan American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists who performs ultrasound-guided abortions but has not seen the film, said that while an ultrasound of a 13-week-old fetus may show a visible head and body, the notion that it would be "fighting for its life" is misleading.

"If you watch an ultrasound, certainly there is movement, but it's not kicking its legs or recoiling", said Villavicencio. She noted broad scientific consensus that fetuses cannot experience pain, and therefore would not recoil from it, until well after 13 weeks. "There is no neurological capability for awareness of danger—that part of the brain is simply not there yet", she said.

Villavicencio explained to the HuffPost that most abortions last three to ten minutes and are "well tolerated".

The film has been criticized for uncritically portraying events as Johnson claims they occurred in spite of a variety of journalists casting doubt on the veracity of her account. Johnson stated that the patient whose abortion led to her decision to leave Planned Parenthood was a black woman. Based on reporting by Texas Monthly (which relied on Planned Parenthood clinic records), only one patient served by Johnson's then-employer on September 26, 2009, was black, and she was in the sixth week—not the 13th week—of her pregnancy.

The film depicts Planned Parenthood as promoting abortion for the sake of profit. A character, Cheryl (Robia Scott), claims that Planned Parenthood makes its money off of abortions the way that fast food restaurants make money by selling French fries and soda.

Anna North of Vox criticized the film for depicting abortion as very dangerous, noting that within the United States, it is significantly safer than childbirth.

Cast

  • Ashley Bratcher as Abby Johnson
  • Brooks Ryan as Doug
  • Robia Scott as Cheryl
  • Jared Lotz as Shawn
  • Emma Elle Roberts as Marilisa
  • Robin DeMarco as Kathleen
  • Robert Thomason as Mike
  • Tina Toner as Renee
  • Sarah Hernandez as Elena
  • Maura Corsini as Megan
  • Lezl Gonzales as Taylor
  • Kaiser Johnson as Jeff
  • Andee Grace Burton as Grace
  • Alexander Kane as Mark
  • Stacey Bradshaw as Karen
  • Mike Lindell as Foreman

Production

Abby Johnson (left) is portrayed in the film by Ashley Bratcher (right).

In September 2018, it was announced that principal photography on a new Pure Flix film with a working title of Redeemed had been completed. Out of fear for potential protests due to the subject matter, everyone involved with the project signed a confidentiality agreement, whereby they agreed not to engage in social media posts about the film nor any press interaction. Additionally, the film was secretly shot in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Based on Johnson's memoir of the same name, Unplanned was produced on a $6 million budget. Mike Lindell, founder and owner of My Pillow, was a major backer of the film, contributing $1 million to production and having a cameo.

Directors Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon sent a draft of their script to Johnson for review. Upon reading, Johnson reacted, "I read the script. And in the first 15 pages, I hated me. Then I got to the end of the script, and I loved it. It was me!" During casting, producers warned potential cast members that their participation in the film might result in their not getting future roles in the film industry due to the film's subject matter. Unlike the upcoming Roe v. Wade – which had some crew who quit once they learned of the film's subject matter – Unplanned did not suffer from the same fate since those involved knew about the film's focus when hired.

Music labels denied the rights to use such songs as The Fray's "How to Save a Life", "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper, One Direction's "Story of My Life", Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party" and "The Guardian Suite" by Trevor Rabin. Christian singer Matthew West wrote a song for the film called "Unplanned", posting its music video a week before the film's release.

MPAA rating

Unplanned was given an R rating (the first for any Pure Flix film) by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), with the rating descriptor being "for some disturbing/bloody images", citing the graphic abortion-related scenes as the reason for the rating, and notified the film's producers that it would remain R-rated unless those scenes were removed. The MPAA denied allegations that it had assigned the rating due to political bias. Pure Flix, which had been expecting a PG-13 rating, decided not to contest the MPAA's action due to concerns that such conflict could delay the film's release.

In response to the film's rating, the MPAA was sent a complaint signed by twenty-nine people uninvolved in the production of the film. The signers include former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, political commentator Glenn Beck, actor Kevin Sorbo, and Academy Award-winning film producers Gerald R. Molen and Gray Frederickson. Despite this, the MPAA did not revoke the rating, saying that "he filmmakers did not make use of the rating appeal process."

Johnson subsequently wrote an open letter addressed to parents, stating that the film contained no nudity, sex or profanity. A second open letter, signed by the same twenty-nine people from the MPAA complaint, encouraged faith communities to ignore the rating and turn out for the film as they did for The Passion of the Christ, another religious movie that received controversy from the evangelical community for receiving an R rating for its graphic violent content.

Release

United States

Unplanned was released in the United States on March 29, 2019. The film received a pre-screening on February 21, 2019, in lower Manhattan, and again on March 28, 2019, in Indiana, one day before its release date.

Many media outlets declined to air advertising for the film on account of the controversial subject matter and/or the film's R rating, including A&E Networks, Discovery, Inc., Hallmark Channel, NBCUniversal, and Christian radio network K-Love. Only Fox News (who also did editorial coverage of the production) and the Christian Broadcasting Network agreed to air ads.

During the opening weekend, the film's official Twitter account was suspended (reportedly because it was linked to another account that violated Twitter's code of conduct). It was soon reinstated, gaining thousands of additional followers within several hours, with the follower count briefly appearing to shoot up as high as 200,000. Twitter was then accused of dropping followers of the film's account from over 200,000 to approximately 16,000. US senator Josh Hawley accused Twitter of censoring conservative views, and in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, requested that an outside independent audit be made into Twitter's speech policies. Twitter responded and "said follower counts can often take up to 24 hours to stabilize following a suspension and that any issues with page follows should also be resolved shortly"; the next day, according to Newsweek, "the official account for the film appeared to confirm Twitter's statement" in a tweet.

Mark Cavaliere, an executive director of a local Coalition for Life, dressed in a 40 Days for Life shirt like those seen in the film and recruited volunteers at some showings.

Canada

No distributors in Canada were initially interested in the film, which prevented movie theaters from picking it up. In June 2019, the small distribution company Cinedicom agreed to make it available to the Canadian market, its president stating the decision to distribute the film was based on divine inspiration. The producers accused Canada's dominant movie theater chain Cineplex Entertainment of effectively banning the film in the country by not showing it in its theaters. The company usually only considers films if their distributor presents a marketing plan and obtains a rating from a provincial ratings board. Christian activist Faytene Grasseschi participated in organizing a petition threatening to boycott Cineplex unless it agreed to screen the film.

Cineplex later reversed its decision, opting to show the film in 14 locations. The competing chain Landmark Cinemas also show the film at 10 locations. Released onn July 12, 2019, the film took in $352,000 during its opening weekend, with the screen count variously reported as 49 or 56. Unplanned made $643,000 CAD at the Canadian box office in its one week of release.

Philippines

Unplanned premiered exclusively in SM Supermalls cinemas in the Philippines on August 21, 2019. Felicidad Tan-Sy, the widow of SM founder Henry Sy, cried during its local premiere and stated that "Every Filipino, every person needs to see this movie."

Unplanned was released on DVD and Blu-ray in August 2019.

Reception

Box office

Unplanned grossed $19 million in the United States and Canada, and $2.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide $21.3 million, against a production budget of $6 million.

In the United States, Unplanned was released alongside The Beach Bum and Dumbo, and based upon tracking was projected to gross $3–5 million from 1,060 theaters its opening weekend. The film made $3 million on its first day, including $700,000 from Thursday night previews. The film played best in conservative-leaning states in the Midwest and South. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare average grade of "A+". Deadline Hollywood said the opening was "remarkable considering that the film was rated R boxed out from running TV spots on most major cable networks and Christian radio." It was reported that churches across the country had bought out entire screenings for the picture. In its second weekend the film was added to 456 additional theaters (for a total of 1,516) and made $3.2 million.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 42% based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "A dramatic approach to a hot-button topic whose agenda is immediately clear, Unplanned will only reinforce the feelings of viewers on either side of the issue." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 10 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".

Religious publications were mostly positive about the film. Writing for the National Catholic Reporter, Rose Pacatte said that "Unplanned is an important film, a designation that directors hate to hear. It is not entertaining (until the cheesy lawyer shows up) but tells an emotional story with wide-ranging implications." The Deseret News's Josh Terry wrote that the film "...may not bridge the divide between the different sides of the abortion issue, but it will provide some food for thought for the undecideds", ultimately concluding that "Unplanned has room for praise and criticism." According to Catholic Herald's Sohrab Ahmari, Unplanned "reveals the culture of death that lies at the core of our secular-liberal modernity".

In contrast, The Hollywood Reporter's Frank Scheck criticized Unplanned as "proselytizing agitprop" comparable to a "basic cable television movie in its mediocre production values and subpar performances". Similarly, Owen Gleiberman of Variety said the film "isn't good drama but it's effective propaganda" and The A.V. Club's Vadim Rizov stated that " has greater technical finesse than its foundational forebears. But there's not a single scene that speaks to characters with lives outside their streamlined narrative function; they're performers in a parable traced over a Chick tract, filmed with a bland competence at odds with the true perversity of the material". Writing for Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Philip Martin said that "Unplanned is a competently made film that has some moments of genuine grace and a winning lead performance by Ashley Bratcher".

The Canadian media was generally critical of Unplanned. The Globe and Mail, the Ottawa Citizen and the Toronto Sun all described the film as dishonest religious, social, and political propaganda. Christian news programs such as Salt + Light Hour were supportive of it.

Planned Parenthood reaction

Shortly before release, the American division of Planned Parenthood stated that the claims in the movie were false and that the movie promotes falsehoods.

Soundtrack

A soundtrack album was released on March 22, 2019, with the title track being performed by Matthew West. Blake Kanicka, the music supervisor for Unplanned, failed in attempts to license songs from more established mainstream artists and from a half dozen of the largest music companies.

See also

References

  1. ^ Paul Bond (September 19, 2018). ""God's Not Dead" Writers Making Planned Parenthood Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  2. ^ "Unplanned (2019)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  3. ^ Sumanac-Johnson, Deana (July 13, 2019). "How Unplanned made it to 56 theatres across Canada". CBC News. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  4. Wright, Jennifer (2019-04-16). "Why the Abortion Movie Unplanned Is Factually Incorrect". Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  5. ^ North, Anna (17 April 2019). "Unplanned, the anti-abortion movie that's getting mainstream attention, explained". Vox. Archived from the original on 2019-05-04. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  6. ^ "The Anti-Abortion Movie 'Unplanned' Is Loaded With Dangerous Lies". 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
  7. ^ Ugwu, Reggie (8 April 2019). "With 'Unplanned,' Abortion Opponents Turn Toward Hollywood". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  8. ^ Glieberman, Owen (March 29, 2019). "Film Review: 'Unplanned' - The memoir of a Planned Parenthood worker turned anti-abortion activist isn't good drama but it's effective propaganda (if you're part of the choir)". Variety. Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  9. ^ Hertz, Barry (July 10, 2019). "Anti-abortion film Unplanned is a disgusting piece of propaganda that may endanger the health of women". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2019-08-15. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  10. ^ Hoffman, Jordan (29 March 2019). "Unplanned review – anti-abortion propaganda is a gory mess". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2019-04-24. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  11. ^ Braun, Liz (July 9, 2019). "Anti-abortion movie 'Unplanned' social and political propaganda". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  12. Lauren Cavalea and Chris Francescani, 'Unplanned' tells the story of the one of the youngest Planned Parenthood employees to become a clinic director ... and the event that she says changed everything, abcnews.go.com, USA, March 28, 2019
  13. ^ Owen Gleiberman (March 29, 2019). "Film Review: 'Unplanned'". Variety. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  14. ^ Mulderig, John (March 25, 2019). "Unplanned". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  15. ^ Kingston, Anne (July 15, 2019). "I watched Unplanned so you don't have to - Macleans.ca". Maclean's. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
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  40. ^ Bond, Paul (29 March 2019). "TV Networks Reject Ads for Anti-Abortion Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
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