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Breakthrough
2019 116 min United States of America PG 12+
★6.6
Drama
Director: Roxann Dawson
🎭 Based on
«The Impossible (2017 novel)»
byJoyce Smith
Trailers
Description
Tragedy strikes when a woman named Joyce's son falls through the ice on a frozen lake and is trapped underwater for over 15 minutes. After being rushed to the hospital, the 14-year-old boy continues to fight for his life as Joyce, her husband and their pastor stay by his bedside and pray for a miracle.
Budget:
$14M
US Gross:
$40.71M
Worldwide:
$49.2M
Starring
Marcel Ruiz
Actor
Topher Grace
Actor
Sarah Constible
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 2020
— Best Original Song
Key opinion
Breakthrough is a polarizing faith-based drama that draws sharp lines between those who find its sincerity moving and those who view it as heavy-handed. While its technical production and emotional core receive some praise, the film is widely criticized for its repetitive structure and contrived narrative arc.
| Acting | The film features strong, emotionally resonant performances, particularly from Chrissy Metz. | |
| Cinematography | The technical execution, including the cinematography and the depiction of the rescue sequence, provides an immersive viewing experience. | |
| Theme | The narrative relies heavily on divine intervention, leading to conflicting views on whether the story feels genuinely miraculous or artificially contrived. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is divisive; supporters appreciate the focus on family dynamics, while critics find the two-hour runtime bloated by tedious dialogue and repetitive scenes. | |
| Screenplay | The quality of the screenplay is contested, with some viewers praising its sharp dialogue and others finding the character motivations, particularly the mother's, to be fanatical and absurd. |