i heard the bells movie review rotten tomatoes

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• DVD & Streaming

I Heard the Bells

• Biography/History , Christian , Drama

Content Caution

In Theaters

• December 1, 2022
• Stephen Atherholt as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; Jonathan Blair as Charley Longfellow; Rachel Day Hughes as Fanny Longfellow

Home Release Date

• November 14, 2023
• Joshua Enck

Distributor

• Sight & Sound Films

Movie Review

It was an innocent suggestion, made in the most innocent of days. The Longfellow family was enjoying the earliest hours of Christmas morning in 1860, their Massachusetts house ringing with children’s laughter as, outside, the church bells rang in the holiday.

Frances Longfellow turned to her husband and told him that he should write a poem about Christmas.

“Christmas is already a poem, Fanny,” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow told her. “It doesn’t need my help.”

Most of America would’ve sided with Fanny, though.

Henry, who penned “Paul Revere’s Ride” And Evangeline , was the rare poet who mattered. His works were known not just by Ivy League literature professors, but by the guy who cleaned the professor’s chimneys. Back in the day, some said that Longfellow wasn’t just the country’s most famous poet : He might be its most famous person .

That Christmas, it would indeed seem as though America’s poet and his family had everything that could be wished or hoped for. Henry’s income paid for necessities and luxuries alike. Henry and Fanny were still deeply in love. Their home echoed with laughter and song.

But it was the last Christmas they would know such joy.

If you listened carefully underneath those peeling bells, you could hear the thunder of war drums. Abraham Lincoln had been elected President just the month before—a leader that the slave-owning South would not tolerate. The Civil War was only months away. Charley Longfellow, Henry’s oldest son, would love to join the Union army, if only his father would let him. But Henry once lost a daughter. He’s not about to lose a son, too.

And while Henry couldn’t know it then, another sort of devastation would visit him in the year to come—one that would scar him physically and emotionally, one that would leave him in a state of despair.

Christmas is already a poem , Henry said. But the Christmas of 1861 would be a very different day. Christmas that year needed all the help it could get.

And Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was in no shape to give it.

Editor’s Note: While the events documented in this movie took place more than 150 years ago, they’re not necessarily that familiar to most folks. And some are critical to the content sections that follow. There will be spoilers ahead.

Positive Elements

Longfellow, of course, was a real poet—though today, few of us know much more about him than his name. I Heard the Bells gives this semi-forgotten literary lion new life, telling us something about his triumphant, sometimes tragic, story.

We learn, for instance, that he was one of the era’s best-known abolitionists, writing poems that pleaded for the cause of the South’s enslaved population. (One of his poems is dramatically read by a former slave during a dinner party.) He instilled that zeal into his son, Charley, who wanted to fight for the Union cause. Henry never wanted his son to fight in the war, and I think we can laud both Charley’s willingness to serve and Henry’s desire to protect his son.

But Fanny just might be the film’s best hero. I Heard the Bells stresses that she’s pretty talented in her own right (Henry credits her for editing his poems), and she’s perpetually encouraging Henry’s own work. “We need poets to change the world, Henry, not politicians,” she tells him.

Spiritual Elements

Fanny is also deeply religious. Entries that Henry finds in her journal prove as much. He reads that, for her, taking her first communion (and thus entering the community of Christ) was a life-changing moment. “I seemed already a new creature,” she writes.

Given her deep faith and character, Fanny’s death rocks Henry’s own faith mightily.

Even before Fanny’s passing, Henry doesn’t seem as though he’s a big fan of church. He thinks the pastor is “creepy” and seems thrilled when the Christmas Eve service is over, preferring to frolic outside in the snow with his youngest daughter. But when Fanny died, Henry later admits to the pastor, his faith seemed dead as well. (The pastor insists that she, and God, are very much alive, and Henry can spend time with both through their writings.) Though Henry still clings to vestiges of faith, he’s clearly not sure of much of anything in Fanny’s aftermath. “If God gave me the voice of a poet, then why did he take away my poetry from me?” He thunders at one point. “I will never write again.”

Still, he believes enough to be horrified when he clashes with Charley over his secret enlistment into the army. “This is not God’s will for you!” Henry tells him.

“You still believe in that?” Charley shoots back. “What do you think He was doing when [Fanny died]? Was He sleeping? … I will not put [hope] in a God who’s sleeping. Or a God who’s dead.”

But when Charley is injured in the war, he’s taken inside a ruined church, where he sees the church bell lying beside him. When he recalls that time later, he admits, “I was scared that I was right … about God being dead.” He says, though, that he had a near-miraculous revelation there as well. And as we listen to his story, we catch a glimpse of a stained-glass window that Charley saw in that church, the glass adorned with a depiction of Jesus.

Henry too has a spiritual turnaround. As he writes for the first time in a while (near what looks like a piece of wood that says “I will not forsake thee), he ultimately shouts, “My poetry lives! My God lives!” The poem that he writes, “Christmas Bells,” contains several Christian allusions and statements, especially in its triumphant closing stanza. And the movie itself ends with a quote from Longfellow’s “The Musician’s Tale; The Saga of King Olaf”:

The dawn is not distant, Nor is the night starless; Love is eternal! God is still God, and His faith shall not fail us; Christ is eternal!

Sexual Content

It’s obvious throughout this biographical story that Henry and Fanny love each other. They’re in a constant state of affection when they’re together, and they sometimes mildly flirt. Henry tells Fanny how beautiful she is.

We learn that Henry was married once before. His first wife died, and Henry tells a clergyman that he feels responsible for her death, because he put his career before her (and forced her to go across the Atlantic with him when she was in a delicate state).

Charley also has a love interest here, whose name is Mary.

Violent Content

I Heard the Bells documents a tragedy and a near-tragedy in the Longfellow family, both of which are rather violent.

First, Fanny’s death. History tells us that she burned to death when her dress caught on fire while Henry was taking a nap. The movie doesn’t show us the explicit details of Fanny’s demise, but it does show her dress ablaze as she screams for help. Henry tries to smother the flames, but he can’t before it’s too late to save her. When her funeral is held, Henry doesn’t attend: He’s laid up in his own bed, face disfigured and his hands bandaged from his own burns. (In real life, Longfellow was famous for his beard—a beard he grew to hide the burn scars on his face.)

Next, Charley. Though Henry tried to call in some favors to ensure his son’s safety, both Charley and a commanding general had a different idea. The general sends Charley off to scout an area around a church, but it proves to be an ambush. We don’t see the bullet that wounds Charley, but do see the young soldier with blood pooling around the middle of his torso. He was shot in the back, and we’re told he nearly died.

We hear an officer talk about how wagons will soon “be stacked with bloody heaps of men.” Charley recalls how the church where he was taken was riddled with a “million bullet holes.” In happier times, Henry pegs a pastor in the face with a snowball. A few men go duck hunting. We hear about how Charles Sumner, a politician and one of Henry’s best friends, was beaten with a cane in Congress for his abolitionist views.

Crude or Profane Language

Drug and alcohol content.

After Fanny dies, Henry turns to ether to cope with both his physical and mental pain. (In real life, we’re told that Longfellow’s post-Fanny drug of choice was an opioid called Laudanum .) Charley accuses his father of not leaving the house except to get more of it.

Wine is served with dinner.

Other Negative Elements

After Fanny’s death, Henry largely withdraws from his family. We see his son, Ernest, helping to take care of his three daughters. And when Henry tells Charley that he can’t leave, that the family needs him, Charley snaps back, “To replace their absent father and dead mother?”

Charley goes behind his father’s back to sign up for the Union army.

We hear Longfellow’s poem “There Was a Little Girl,” which makes a rather disparaging comment about said little girl. (“When she was good, she was very good indeed/But when she was bad she was horrid.”)

Sometimes we lose sight of the meaning of Christmas.

Oh, I think most anyone who might be reading this review has a good idea of why we celebrate Christmas: The birth of Jesus is certainly worth celebrating.

But as important as that event is, all the lights and food and, yes, bells that go along with it can distract us from the context of that celebration.

We celebrate Christmas on December 25, near the very darkest (and for many, the coldest) days of the year. For centuries, it was a bleak, difficult time. Christmas not only commemorated the birth of our Savior, but it reminded believers that with that birth came hope . The world wasn’t always going to be so cold and dark: A light had come into the world.

Today we lose sight of some of that historical darkness. Our streets are lit with Christmas decorations. We talk about the Christmas season , and we associate that with outrageously decorated trees and holiday parties and cookies and television specials and just oodles of anticipation. When we ask someone whether they’re feeling the Christmas spirit, we all know what that means.

Longfellow’s age had its own Christmas season and spirit—perhaps not as lavish or as commercialized as our own, but still there.

But in I Heard the Bells , Henry Wadsworth Longfellow finds darkness in the days before Christmas. Tragedy has covered the season in black. “How inexpressively sad are the holidays,” he tells us. “’Merry Christmas’ say the children. But that is no more for me.”

But in the darkness of the story we see light. We see hope.

I Heard the Bells is a product of Sight & Sound Theatres, an organization known for its lavish stage productions of biblical stories. Most people who’ve gone to one of their productions in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, or Branson, Missouri, rave about them.

Now, Sight & Sound is expanding into the movie business—not stage productions that are recorded and shown on screen, but productions made to be movies from the get-go. I Heard the Bells is the company’s real experiment in that world.

That lack of experience shows here a bit. The movie still feels like a stage production. The stage demands big movements and exaggerated emotion to make it to the back row. Movies, on the other hand, reward a certain subtlety—a product of experience, which Sight & Sound will gain as it finds its footing in this new medium.

Meanwhile the core story—one little known today—carries this film. Longfellow’s journey from joy to grief to rekindled hope is a powerful one—and embodied by the poem that inspired the movie itself.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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“I Heard the Bells” From Sight & Sound Films Review

Coming to movie theaters this December,  I Heard the Bells  tells the inspiring true story behind the beloved Christmas carol and its author, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 

About the Movie, I Heard the Bells

What's in This Post

Known as America’s Poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow leads an idyllic life…until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief. But it’s the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet’s lost voice as he discovers the resounding hope of rekindled faith.

Watch the trailer to “I Heard the Bells” 

My Review of  I Heard the Bells

This year for the kid’s music class we’ve been looking at the stories behind some of our favorite Christian hymns. And, we’ve been finding out that most of our favorite hymns actually came about due to tragedy. There’s so many sad stories behind the songs we’ve learned to love that it was no surprise that the Christmas carol,  I Heard the Bells,  actually originated from tragedy, as well. 

But there was something about watching this true story unfolding on television that just felt more real. I seriously bawled my eyes out watching this movie. It was just so tragic but it was also an inspiring story of redemption and rekindled faith.

There were so many parts in this movie where I got so absorbed into the movie, that I forgot it was a true story. The actors cast in this movie did an amazing job portraying the heartache and emotion in the characters. 

I Heard the Bells perfect film to watch with your family as you prepare to celebrate Christmas!

Watch I Heard the Bells in theaters (ONLY) on December 1st, 3rd, and 4th!

To reserve your tickets click HERE .

Many thanks to Sight & Sound Films for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

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I Heard the Bells Reviews

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Known as America's Poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow leads an idyllic life – until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief. But it's the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet's lost voice as he discovers the resounding hope of rekindled faith.

Film Review: ‘I Heard The Bells’

Written by: Kelly Meade (12/01/22)

We all experience grief at some point in our life. while it waxes and wanes with time, we all deal with the heaviness it brings in our own way. for many, life can become unbearable and things that brought you joy no longer do. when you do find the light again, you’ll discover that faith never truly left you., i heard the bells tells the story of henry wadsworth longfellow and the inspiration behind the timeless christmas carol “i heard the bells on christmas day”., henry is a devout family man who expresses his joy and unique perspective on life through poetry as he became one of the best-known poets of the mid-1800s. henry is portrayed as a caring, happy man who loves his family dearly as we see them celebrate the christmas season., with the sudden loss of henry’s wife fanny, he is left to navigate life and raise six children on his own. this profoundly affected his ability to write as he could no longer find the inspiration or desire to do so., as the civil war rages, henry’s oldest son, charley, enlists and the thought of potentially losing another person weighs on him. when word arrives that charley has been severely injured, henry vows to bring his son home. through his experience, charley’s life is changed and this slowly begins to spark hope in his father’s heart again as well., at a pivotal moment, henry realizes that light & faith are still very much alive and well as his creative inspiration flourishes once more., i heard the bells is the first feature film by sight & sound theatres as they embark on a new chapter with sight & sound films. well-known for their stellar stage productions of stories from the bible, this step into movies sets a wonderful standard for future films. i heard the bells is captivating with beautiful cinematography, sets & costumes created with care and attention to detail. while the story doesn’t shy away from the very real emotions when faced with grief and loss, it also triumphantly declares that faith is the anchor that holds through every storm and can renew hope in the most broken hearts., visit https://www.iheardthebellsmovie.com/ to see when it is playing in your area and purchase tickets., cast includes:, stephen atherholt as henry wadsworth longfellow jonathan blair as charley longfellow rachel day hughes as fanny longfellow, rating: 4.3/5.

Released: 12/01/22 (Theatrically)

Running Time: 110 Minutes (Sight & Sound Films/Sight & Sound Theatres)

Links for I Heard The Bells :

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About the author: kelly meade.

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Thursday, December 1, 2022

[review]—"i heard the bells" is a beautiful historical film.

3 comments:

This looks wonderful! I love the costumes, and I love this Christmas carol as well.

More movies of this caliber should be made, thank you.

I would love to take my family to see this movie!

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I Heard the Bells

I HEARD THE BELLS tells the inspiring true story behind the beloved Christmas carol and its author, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Known as America's Poet, Henry leads an idyllic life - until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief. But it's the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet's lost voice as he discovers the resounding hope of rekindled faith. Experience I HEARD THE BELLS this holiday season in this debut feature by Sight & Sound Films.

I Heard the Bells (2022)

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I Heard the Bells Parent Guide

This film may be flawed, but that doesn't diminish the power of its hopeful message of faith and triumph over darkness..

Theaters: Based on a true story, this film recounts the soul-wrenching experiences that led great American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to stop writing - until he penned a beloved Christmas carol.

Release date December 1, 2022

Run Time: 110 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kirsten hawkes.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Stephen Atherholt) is America’s most popular poet – but he has sworn never to write again. One bereavement after another has left him emotionally spent and unable to summon up the energy or imagination to put words to paper. The final straw is when his eldest son, Charlie (Jonathan Blair), joins the Union Army without his father’s consent. As Charlie rides off to war, he shouts at his father that he will no longer “put hope in a God who is sleeping or a God who is dead.”

With his own faith frozen, Longfellow pulls strings to keep his son away from the front lines of the Civil War and then waits in dread for the feared knock at the door. As the poet descends into a dark night of the soul, it seems unlikely that inspirational words will ever flow from his pen again. How then, does this wounded and grieving man become the author of the beloved Christmas anthem, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”?

What goes wrong with this movie? Its biggest weakness comes in the first act of the film, which feels stage-y. It too often seems that the actors are reciting lines, not having authentic conversations. At the worst moments, I felt like I was watching community theater (good community theater, but still…) Most distracting of all is Longfellow’s wig. It’s almost impossible to describe how bad his wig is: I don’t know what it’s made from but it never looks like real hair. In some scenes it looks like he’s dressing up as Karl Marx, which I am 100% sure is not the look the wardrobe department was trying to achieve. The rest of the movie looks good, I just wish the production staff had spent a bit more money on better wigs for their lead actor.

On the flip side, this movie has a lot to recommend it to family audiences (and particularly to Christian viewers). Negative content is minimal with just enough violence to provide historical accuracy and to keep the narrative moving. The film provides a touching depiction of a strong, loving family and honestly portrays the challenges of maintaining faith in a world of suffering and anguish. It’s a triumphant shout from the battle raging in a man’s soul; a powerful witness of how his renewed faith in God brings light into the darkness of grief and isolation. This message never grows old and as Christmas 2022 approaches in a world gripped by war, famine, and plague, a reminder that “The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men” is as timely as it was in 1863.

About author

Kirsten hawkes, watch the trailer for i heard the bells.

I Heard the Bells Rating & Content Info

Why is I Heard the Bells rated Not Rated? I Heard the Bells is rated Not Rated by the MPAA

Violence: There are scenes of distant war violence and mention of injuries and death. A soldier is shot and is seen with bloody injuries. There is mention of miscarriage and maternal death. A woman burns to death when her dress catches fire. A man is seen with burns on his face and hands. A woman’s dead body is briefly seen in her coffin. There is mention of an abolitionist politician being beaten by a slave owner. Sexual Content:   None. Profanity: None. Alcohol / Drug Use: A soldier smokes a pipe. Alcohol is seen at a dinner party and people hold glasses of what is presumably alcohol, but no one is seen drinking it. A bottle of ether is seen on a bedside table and it is suggested that a main character is abusing the drug to cope with emotional distress.

Page last updated January 20, 2024

I Heard the Bells Parents' Guide

Why does Charlie believe that God is dead or sleeping? If you are a religious person, have you ever faced a challenge to your faith? How did you respond to it? How do Charlie and his father address their loss of faith? What helps them recover their faith?

Loved this movie? Try these books…

If Longfellow’s story is meaningful to you, you can look for the picture book about the writing of the Christmas carol. Entitled I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, the book is written by Lloyd and Karmel Newell and illustrated by Dan Burr.

To learn more about this influential poet, you can read Cross of Snow: A Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Nicholas A. Basbanes.

A complete collection of Longfellow’s poems can be read for free online at Project Gutenberg.

Related home video titles:

A Civil War Christmas is featured in Little Women , a movie adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel.

The Man Who Invented Christmas is a fanciful account of how Charles Dickens (a friend of Longfellow’s) came to write his immortal novella, A Christmas Carol.

Christian writer C.S. Lewis struggles with his faith when his wife becomes critically ill in Shadowlands.

Tolkien follows J.R.R. Tolkien to the horrors of World War I, and illustrates how those experiences influence the development of his faith and his literary works.

The spirit of the season encourages soldiers on opposite sides of the battlefield to lay down their arms and celebrate Christmas 1914 together in Joyeux Noel.

I Heard the Bells

In Theaters: December 1, 2022 (limited)

December 3, 2022 (limited)

December 4, 2022 (limited)

1h 50m | Drama

I HEARD THE BELLS tells the inspiring true story behind the beloved Christmas carol and its author, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Known as America's Poet, Henry leads an idyllic life - until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief. But it's the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet's lost voice as he discovers the resounding hope of rekindled faith. Experience I HEARD THE BELLS this holiday season in this debut feature by Sight & Sound Films.

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Movie Review: I Heard The Bells

by Fr. Edward Looney Advent and Christmas , Movie Reviews and Recommendations

Church bells will soon be summoning worshippers on Christmas Eve and Day. All types of believers will fill church pews for one of the holiest days of the Christian year. Some will be regulars, others occasional, and some will be those who attend only on Christmas and Easter. Each believer will bring their own unique experiences and past to the Christmas celebration and the message of Christ’s birth will impact each person uniquely. Church bells will ring out Christ’s birth as we remember the incarnational moment of salvation.  

I Heard The Bells

People familiar with the towns of Lancaster, PA or Branson, MO might know of the Sight & Sound Theatre that brings the bible to life on stage. They recently branched out and decided to do their first theatrical feature on film with the movie I Heard the Bells . If you listen to Contemporary Christian Music, you’ve probably heard the Christmas song by the band Casting Crowns.  The song is much older and has a long backstory to it. The song is based on the poem Christmas Bells written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863.  Sight & Sound’s new movie, I Heard the Bells strives to tell the origin story of the beautiful poem turned song. 

4 Things To Learn From I Heard The Bells

Here’s what you can expect to learn from the film I Heard the Bells in theaters December 1, 2, and 5.  

1.  You will learn the story of one of the great American poets.  Let’s be honest, we live in an illiterate culture.  Maybe you’ve heard the name Longfellow, but what do you know about his life?  You will be introduced to his life and family.  

2.  You will learn of the tragic death of Longfellow’s wife and how that affected him for many years and how it halted his creative genius. Through his struggle, you will see how he overcame the trials of his life with the help of a local preacher.  

3.  You will see how a broken relationship between a father and son can be healed and reconciled.  

4.  And you will learn the story of why he wrote Christmas Bells .  Let’s just say, it’s more than just church bells ringing on Christmas Day.  It is a multi-layered and filled with meaning.  

The story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is one that you don’t expect.  It’s a story of remembrance and triumph, a story of redemption and restoration of faith.  It’s a story about a bell that will ring again.  Will you hear the bells?  This film is in theatres for a limited time on December 1.  It is part of a Fathom movie release.  You can learn more about the film and how to buy tickets at:  https://www.iheardthebellsmovie.com/ .  

Catholic FAQ On I Heard the Bells

Is this film ok for Catholics to see?

Yes- It’s a movie with a Christian message and does not contradict Catholic teaching.  

Is this film ok for children to see? 

Maybe- The movie is set in the era of the Civil War and so there are some battle scenes.  Also, the death of Longfellow’s wife might be a difficult scene to watch for a child.  

Fr. Looney’s Rating: 

10/10- It was a well-told story that kept my interest and impacted my heart and soul.  

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I Heard the Bells

Known as America’s Poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow leads an idyllic life…until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief. But it’s the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet’s lost voice as he discovers the resounding hope of rekindled faith.

Dove Review

Seldom have I viewed a movie which is both so well-made and features such shining examples of Christian values, not to mention it’s based on a true story. Added to this, is the superb acting, particularly that of Stephen Atherholt as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Rachel Day Hughes as Henry’s wife, Fanny, and Jonathan Blair as Charley, their son. This film really gets you into the spirit of Christmas! It features everything you would want in a movie – drama, humor, a quality story, and inspiration. And Henry and Fanny’s love and romance is warmly portrayed.

The film opens with a haunting quote by Longfellow: “Every heart has its secret sorrows, which the world knows not, and oftentimes we call a man cold, when he is only sad.” Henry will know his share of sadness but as the movie opens, Henry is joyously happy as there is a Christmas Eve service at church and Christmas bells ring. There are a few delicious comedic moments too as Henry’s daughter tells the minister that her father said it isn’t Christmas until he gets past the Reverend! Henry is embarrassed but he really likes the good Reverend, and when he goes to throw a snowball, he accidentally hits him!

At home Henry dances with Fanny and the chemistry between the two is obvious. They discuss the fact the Reverend wishes for Henry to present a Christmas poem. “Christmas is a poem,” says Henry. “It doesn’t need my help.” She reminds him that the minister is a good man who brings good will to men and Henry agrees. “And he knows that within his congregation is a gifted poet,” Fanny tells him. Henry soon makes the comment, “The bells on Christmas day – the hopeful voices of the church, ringing out peace to the earth.”

The prospects of an imminent war between the North and South is discussed between Henry and Fanny, and Fanny tells Henry that their son, Charley, wants to enlist. “He is not of age,” Henry replies, and his concern for his son’s welfare is obvious.

The family sings a beautiful rendition of “O Holy Night ,” featuring a piano . Later Henry is honored for being a poet, for penning such great poems as “Paul Revere’s Ride .” It is stated he has shaped national character and holds a legacy as America’s most famous person.

Henry adores Fanny and tells her she is beautiful and is a poem herself, but sadly, tragedy is about to strike the Longfellow home. While Henry is napping, Fanny accidentally brushes up against a lit candle, and immediately her long dress is set aflame. By the time Henry wakes up and gets to her, throwing her to the floor and attempting to put out the fire, it is too late. Fanny dies the next day.

The funeral scene is portrayed with great sorrow. Henry, in bed with bandages and burns on his hands and lower face, is unable to attend. The minister comes in afterwards and says, “Christ be with you, Henry,” and Henry’s grief is palpable. The acting is brilliant in this film. Henry comments to the reverend, “It’s the 18 th day of July.” “It is,” agrees the minister. “Eighteen years ago today, she became my bride. She wore orange blossoms in her hair.” Afterward, a wreath of orange blossoms is placed on Fanny’s hair inside the casket.

Henry goes through a period of grieving and when he walks outside and eyes orange blossoms on a tree, he says, “The fragrance opens graves within me.” When his children wish him a Merry Christmas, he comments that it no longer has any meaning for him. But time will work out a healing in his life which will enable him to write one of the most memorable Christmas poems ever.

He still will have to deal with his son enlisting in the war, and a visit to his door from a soldier that informs him his son has been wounded. As Henry says: “This war (Civil War) is not a poem.” But an entry from Fanny’s old journal helps Henry. After she had partaken in communion, she had written it was memorable and that “death is happy.” Obviously, those who hope in Christ have the blessed hope of eternal life.

As Henry hears the bells on Christmas day, he works feverishly to finish a poem and he is passionately inspired. The results? “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” “My poetry lives!” he declares. “God lives!”

Some of the lyrics to the song include these words: I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play, And mild and sweet their songs repeat, Of peace on Earth, good will to men.

And after doubting about peace on Earth, the poet powerfully writes, Then rang the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead, nor doth He sleep (Peace on Earth) (Peace on Earth), The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on Earth, good will to men.

There are several things to think about for families in viewing this movie, such as death and grief, and how healing comes from the hope we have in Christ. In addition, the cruelty of war is presented but also the promise of eventual and everlasting peace. Faith plays a big part in this film and helps bring restoration to various characters. Rachel Day Hughes sings a powerful rendition of the song during the credits.

We are pleased that this film has procured our Dove seal for Ages 12+. There are moments of Henry doubting God, and there is the reality of war and the shooting of guns, but there is also a powerful testimony to the hope that faith in God brings. Joshua Enck has potently directed this film and it is a memorable viewing experience.

THE DOVE TAKE: This excellently produced movie is one of quality, and the acting, the writing, and direction of this film results in an inspirational and unforgettable viewing experience for families.

Dove Rating Details

Strong faith elements which includes scenes in church, inspirational songs, and comments about how God lives and helps to restore us.

A professing Christian family shows love to one another; a minister reaches out to a man during a time of grief; a son apologizes to his father for being angry about his father trying to protect him from the war.

A person is referred to as “ugly”.

Guns are fired during the war; a young man is wounded; others are wounded; a woman’s dress catches fire and she screams as she tries to put it out; her husband falls on her, trying to get the flames to die.

A man uses ether to treat pain and help him sleep.

Death and grief; a man doubts in God’s goodness, but he is later restored in his faith; tensions between a father and son about the son joining the war.

More Information

Film information, dove content.

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I HEARD THE BELLS

"god’s faithfulness frees the bonds of grief".

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: Many of the conversations surround grief, including the death and miscarriage of Longfellow’s first wife and child, and conversations about Franny’s death and the death of their first child, but the grief ends on an inspiring note of hope and gratitude for God’s faithfulness.

More Detail:

I HEARD THE BELLS is a dramatic telling of the true story behind American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem turned Christmas carol, I HEARD THE BELLS.

The movie starts with one of Longfellow’s quotes, which reads, “Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and, oftentimes we call a man cold when he is only sad.” The movie cuts to the famous American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as he sits down at a writing desk, picks up his pen and begins writing in his Cambridge home in 1863. The movie flashes back to Christmas Eve three years earlier, as Longfellow, his wife Franny and their four children are in a church service.

The family home is full of artists, but times are tough as the North fights to free the slaves in the South. Longfellow is renowned worldwide but only manages to cope with the limelight because of the support of his wife. The couple are invited to dinners with senators, and his poems about the horror of slavery are read during dinner.

Despite the difficult times, the Longfellows are happy to be together as a family. However, tragedy strikes on July 9, 1861, when Franny dies due to her dress catching on fire. Henry is badly burned after trying to put the fire out.

Distraught and angry, Henry stops writing and grows distant from his children. His eldest son, Charley, wants to enlist. Against his father’s wishes, Charley joins the Northern Army. Henry, who’s friends with a Massachusetts senator, asks that his son be promoted so that he doesn’t fight on the front lines.

However, while fighting in Virginia, Charley is shot and badly injured. Longfellow goes to find his son and bring him home. While Charley makes a recovery from his injuries, he discusses his anger and grief with his father. Charley reveals that he expected to die, but that he found hope and faith again in God.

Inspired by his son and thankful for his survival, Longfellow stays up late on Christmas eve in 1863 to write the words to his famous poem, “Christmas Bells.” However, what was meant to be a hopeful poem about God’s faithfulness to his people, Longfellow is overwhelmed by his grief and puts the poem down until morning.

Will the Christmas morning light help Longfellow realize the goodness of God to him and his family?

I HEARD THE BELLS is incredibly well-acted and produced. Despite its truth about the tragedy in Longfellow’s life, the movie ultimately champions the gifts of family, faith, and hope in the face of the darkness of family tragedy and the violent chaos of the Civil War. The movie suffers from some slow pacing, but it’s a wonderful Christmas movie with scenes of prayer, church, salvation, communion, and song. I HEARD THE BELLS points viewers to the goodness of Jesus Christ and the freedom that comes through Him. However, because of some violence and mature themes about grief, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children.

I Heard the Bells — Movie Review

Verdict: A well-crafted and meaningful story about finding hope and beauty amidst a broken world.

About The Movie

The Christmas movie season is fast approaching. This time of year provides fertile soil for uplifting stories. The faith-based film I Heard the Bells is a Christmas movie, but of a different sort than many traditional holiday films. It tells the true story of how the great American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned the exquisite poem and holiday carol “Christmas Bells” against the backdrop of the Civil War and intense personal tragedy. As both an unabashed classic literature nerd and a Christmas fanatic, the film intrigued me. Despite suffering from a few shortcomings prevalent in many faith-based films, I Heard the Bells is a well-crafted and meaningful story with enough filmmaking competency to do the subject justice.  

The movie is the first film from Sight and Sound, which has previously focused on theatrical performances. It’s a surprisingly strong debut effort. The theater background is evident at times, particularly in the acting. That’s not to say the performances are poor. In fact, they’re quite good. But they have a theatrical flair. For the most part, the film represents a successful move into cinema. The cinematography is well done with moments of sophistication, such as a few well-executed longer tracking shots and some clever transitions. As with most faith-based films, I Heard the Bells lacks the budget or spectacle of a typical Hollywood blockbuster. For example, the Civil War battle action happens just off screen. Nevertheless, the filmmakers make the most of what they have, and the set design never feels cheap or of the “Church Christmas Program” variety.

The heart of the film and its biggest strength is the story itself. I Heard the Bells has a deep and meaningful story that it shares rather than preaches. Like many, I have a somewhat complicated relationship with faith-based films, since they too often feel like sermons poorly disguised as movies. I Heard the Bells doesn’t overcook its message. It focuses on the personal journey of Longfellow and to a lesser extent, his family. In other words, it’s not a sermon about finding God amidst grief and suffering; it’s the story of how a broken man found hope.

Even during what might be considered the more “didactic” or “evangelistic” scenes, such as a priest attempting to comfort Longfellow in a church, the answers the film gives are not all that intellectually satisfying. But they don’t need to be. The priest is not trying to deliver an evangelistic spiel to the audience; he is comforting an individual. As a result, there is a degree of realism that makes Longfellow’s journey feel more powerful. I Heard the Bells shares an important message about faith and grief, but it never feels like a Sunday School lesson, and I mean that as the highest compliment.

Lastly, this is a Christmas film, but not a particularly festive one. The opening thirty minutes are warm and comforting, but the rest of the runtime is somber. This is clearly by design considering the weightier subject matter, and certainly not all Christmas films are required to be breezy singalongs. Perhaps adjust your expectations accordingly.

I went into I Heard the Bells hoping that my deep love of literature and Christmas would make the expected cringe-worthiness of a faith-based film more palatable, and I was pleased to find my concerns unfounded. I greatly enjoyed this film and expect it will inspire many others this holiday season. With this impressive debut, Sight & Sound is off to an extremely promising start, and I look forward to seeing what they do next.   

For Consideration

Profanity: None.

Violence: A woman’s dress catches on fire and she dies from the event. The scene is not gruesome, and the burned skin is not shown. But it may be intense for younger viewers. There are also several moments in which characters describe, in somewhat grim detail, the horrific consequences of the war.

Sexuality: None.

Engage The Film

Finding hope in god amidst a broken world.

The movie draws its main theme directly from the poem itself, which beautifully captures Longfellow’s struggle to see God at work in a world filled with so much pain and suffering. Essentially, the story is an exploration of the classical philosophical problem of evil (ie. if God is all loving and all powerful, then how is there so much evil in the world?). It’s a difficult problem, and the film never attempts to simplify it. Instead, it personalizes it.  

In one scene, Longfellow has a heated conversation with his son, who desires to enlist in the army: “This is not God’s will for you,” he says, to which his son responds, “God’s will. So, you still believe in that? What do you think he was doing when [a family tragedy happened]. Was he sleeping? Hope? I will not put it in a God who is sleeping. Or a God who is dead…there, I said it for both of us.” Earlier, Longfellow expresses his personal grief, “If God gave me the voice of a poet, then why did he take my poetry from me? I will never write again. As the dead lie silent. My voice lies silent. Let the war within me rage.”

The movie doesn’t minimize suffering (the real Longfellow never truly recovered from his grief) or attempt to provide a canned “free-will defense” to the question. Instead, it allows the characters to grieve, and in that grief to find God’s peace. I Heard the Bells doesn’t endeavor to explain why God allows suffering to exist, but it reminds viewers that it is in the middle of suffering that we need to draw nearest to God (Matthew 11:28-30).

The Power of Art

Another theme is the power of art to provide comfort and hope. Longfellow’s wife expresses that the world needs poets to put into words what everyone else is feeling. At various times and in numerous contexts, the impact of his poetry is seen. Yet the film doesn’t seem to hold an idealistic “art will change the world” mindset. In one scene, Longfellow’s son confronts his father, arguing that he wrote poems against slavery, but he won’t let him enlist in the army to fight against it. Poetry is a powerful force, but it can also be an escape. Longfellow’s poetry may inspire the nation, but it was not a substitute for action.

Daniel holds a PhD in "Christianity and the Arts" from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author/co-author of multiple books and he speaks in churches and schools across the country on the topics of Christian worldview, apologetics, creative writing, and the Arts.

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The best summer blockbuster movie of 2024 is now streaming — and viewers rate it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes

If you feel it, chase it!

When I first heard that a sequel to "Twister" was in the works, I was a little bit skeptical. The original movie, with its groundbreaking special effects (for its time) and intense storm-chasing sequences, left a lasting impact on me when I was younger and wanted to chase tornadoes myself (yes this was a genuine passion of mine). It’s one of those movies that’s still a go-to when I need a dose of nostalgia and pure adrenaline. 

So, the idea of revisiting that world years later had me both eagerly anticipating and cautiously questioning whether lightning could strike twice. However, when I watched "Twisters" in theaters, I was pleasantly surprised since it managed to carve out its own place as a modern disaster epic. And, it quite literally blew me away. 

I’m even more excited to watch it again now that it’s streaming on video-on-demand platforms. Whether you’re a fan of the original or a newcomer to the franchise, this movie is a must-watch, and here’s why you should stream it right now. And be sure to check out all the best new movies to stream this week. 

What is 'Twisters' about?

"Twisters" is a standalone sequel that takes place in the world of "Twister", which happens to be one of my favorite disaster movies of all time. This new story focuses on Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a former storm chaser who is traumatized after a devastating tornado encounter back when she was in college. Now years later, she studies natural disasters on computers in New York rather than face them up front. 

However, her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) encourages her to return to the open plains to test a new tracking system that could possibly stop tornadoes after they form. It’s then she meets social media superstar Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), who is determined to achieve the most thrilling but dangerous experience ever. Of course, being so close to tornadoes has its risks and immeasurable dangers. 

'Twisters' is the perfect summer popcorn entertainment

For me, "Twisters" is the ultimate summer popcorn movie. It’s the kind of movie that reminds me why I love going to the theaters in the first place. There’s something about the mix of high-stakes action, stormy special effects and just the right amount of humor that makes it the perfect escape from reality — especially when the weather outside is heating up. But, that doesn’t mean it’s only suited for the summer. Even on a cold, rainy day in winter, I’d happily stream it with a warm drink in hand. 

From the moment you first see a tornado on screen, "Twisters" builds an insane amount of tension to the point that you’re holding your breath. The tension builds as the characters race against nature, and no matter how many times I watch it in the future, I’ll be just as engrossed in the action. But what makes this movie a standout in 2024 is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Sure, there’s drama and danger, but there’s also a sense of fun that runs through the whole movie. After all, it's not exactly "realistic."

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I’m not saying that "Twisters" is the best blockbuster movie ever. It certainly has its weak moments, like the incredibly jarring (annoying) soundtrack and the sometimes cheesy dialogue spoken by Kate and Tyler, but putting those aside, I can guarantee you’ll have great fun watching it. 

Audiences also seem to agree with me considering viewers rated it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes . Some commented saying it’s a "great movie with plenty of action and humor", while others said it will "keep your heart racing." If there’s one negative thing I can agree with, it’s probably the "lack of chemistry between Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar Jones", but they both still offer strong performances on screen.  

You need to stream 'Twisters'

If you aren't eager to watch "Twisters" while it's still in theaters, now’s the time to stream it from the comfort of your couch. As someone who’s a sucker for loud disaster movies, I can honestly say this one delivers on every front. It’s packed with thrilling action, surprisingly heartfelt moments and visuals that really build on the tension. 

Not sold on this blockbuster disaster flick? Check out the five best disaster movies like "Twisters" instead, or for some more intensity, don’t miss this sci-fi action movie on Netflix before it leaves the streamer. 

Buy or rent “Twisters” on Amazon now  

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Alix is a Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, which basically means watching the best movies and TV shows and then writing about them. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer for Screen Rant and Bough Digital, both of which sparked her interest in the entertainment industry. When she’s not writing about the latest movies and TV shows, she’s either playing horror video games on her PC or working on her first novel.

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• pyronaut You must not have heard about Deadpool and Wolverine (which has now crossed a billion dollars) if you call Twisters the best summer blockbuster. I'd even put Bad Boys 3 above it. And Inside Out 2 with its $1.6 billion might have something to say too. Pretty bad call on this one. Reply
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New movie with Jack Black debuts with 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes

The reviews for jack black's latest flick are not looking good folks.

Yasmeen Hamadeh

If you haven't heard of Jack Black's latest movie, it seems you should consider yourself lucky.

The sci-fi action flick - directed by Eli Roth - is based on a popular video game series that follows a ragtag group of misfits as they embark on an adventure to find the missing daughter of the most powerful man in the universe.

Starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black , Jamie Lee Curtis, and so, so much more, the film's trailer was initially met with polarizing reactions. And the movie was arguably shaping up to nab the esteemed title of 'summer disaster film you just have to hate-watch.'

Check out the trailer for the film - called Borderlands - here:

"So they turned Borderlands into Guardians of the Galaxy with a very odd cast. Great," one user wrote on Twitter when the first trailer dropped in February.

Another added: "We will not be watching sadly."

Some, however, did come to Borderlands ' defense with one user writing: "Hear me out y'all, this actually looks good. The casting choices for some of these characters are top notch."

Well, despite some fans trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out that preemptive negative reactions to Borderlands were seemingly right as the movie has gone on to debut with a whopping zero percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes .

Admittedly, it's incredibly difficult to imagine a universe where a film starring both Blanchett and Black would bomb this hard, but alas, it appears we're living in dark times.

At the time of writing, Borderlands has now gone up to a meek three percent on Rotten Tomatoes after a single positive review came in.

But the consensus on the site is still largely brutal.

"The fans deserve a lot better than whatever director Eli Roth is trying to do with Borderlands . This is the video game movie curse at its worst," DiscussingFilm penned in its review.

Film publication IGN wrote : "Borderlands is an abysmal waste of a beloved franchise that takes a kooky band of murderous misfits and drains the life out of their adventure together."

However, one viewer shared: "I enjoyed it, if you are a fan of the game it’s worth the trip. I admittedly didn’t have high hopes and it pleasantly surprised me."

It seems that the video game to live-action film or TV show pipeline is still as much of a gamble as ever, and while critics may not have liked Borderlands , it's still likely that fans might enjoy it instead.

I fear there's only one way to find out.

Borderlands releases in theaters on August 9.

Topics:  Film and TV , Jack Black , Celebrity , Rotten Tomatoes

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Alien: Romulus Is Experiencing a Weirdly Volatile Issue with Its Reviews

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Alien: Romulus debuts with a nearly perfect Rotten Tomatoes score at 97%, and the critiques were promising a face-hugging good time through the first 30 reviews. However, a surge of Romulus haters populated the next 60 evaluations, and Romulus currently registers 81% on the Tomatometer against 90 reviews. However, now that the review embargo for Fede Álvarez’s long-awaited Alien sequel has finally been lifted, it seems the majority of critics are loving the latest entry in the beloved sci-fi horror franchise. Check out the discrepancy between the scores in the screenshots below:

A group of space scavengers, which features both Cailee Spaeny and Isabela Merced, is fixing to discover that no one can hear them scream in space. However, the majority of critics are definitely being heard as they outright praise the glorious cinematic efforts of Romulus over those who weren't quite as charmed by the flick. MovieWeb’s review by Julian Roman succinctly says, "The best film in the franchise since James Cameron's Aliens ." Kristy Puchko of Mashable writes:

You don't just watch Alien: Romulus; you are absorbed into it. Brace yourselves.

Alien: Romulus

Alien: Romulus takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots. While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

While the reviews are just starting to pour in, and the critics-based RT score will fluctuate, it is worth pointing out that Alien: Romulus debuted with a franchise-best Tomatometer rating, although that has since drastically changed. In the meantime, Damon Wise of Deadline says of the film’s star Spaeny (below):

Cailee Spaeny might seem, at first glance, to be an unlikely successor, but the Priscilla star certainly earns her stripes by the end of Alien: Romulus’ tight and deceptively well-judged two-hour running time.

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman adds:

This is closer to a grandly efficient greatest-hits thrill ride, packaged like a video game. Yet on that level it’s a confidently spooky, ingeniously shot, at times nerve-jangling piece of entertainment.

Alien: Romulus Is Scaring & Satisfying Majority of Critics

Much like Alien: Romulus’ first reactions already indicated, the sci-fi horror sequel seems poised to become one of the better installments in the much-beloved franchise, which kicked off way back in 1979 with Alien . And while Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley isn’t leading the space scavengers, Cailee Spaeny appears up to the task when it comes to going head-to-head with the dreaded and terrifying Facehuggers and Xenomorph. Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting writes in her Romulus review:

Alvarez puts the horror first here, with exquisite craftsmanship that immerses you in the insanity.

The franchise first started off strictly as a thrilling horror movie set in space, but changed into a macabre sci-fi action series led by Final Girl Ellen Ripley (Weaver), and eventually matched up the Xenomorph against the Predator in two ridiculous movies. It built its rich lore with Prometheus and the derided Alien: Covenant . But the new film takes the mood all the way back to the horrifying origins of the franchise. Rachel Leishman might pay Alien: Romulus the highest compliment of all in her review for The Mary Sue. Leishman says (below):

Alien: Romulus is the first time I actually was terrified during a movie in this franchise.

And David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter adds: "The creatures remain among the most truly petrifying movie monsters in history, and the director leans hard into the sci-fi/horror with a relentlessly paced entry that reminds us why they have haunted our imaginations for decades."

Alien: Romulus Review | The Best Film in the Franchise Since James Cameron's Aliens

A desperate miner (Cailee Spaeny) and her synthetic brother (David Jonsson) embark on a risky salvage operation above a distant colony.

With such strong reviews dropping ahead of its release this weekend, it’ll be interesting to see if the film’s actual financials exceed Alien: Romulus’ box office predictions which forecast the latest installment in the sci-fi/horror saga to make somewhere between $35 million and $50 million domestically. Regardless, it seems Alien is back and just as frightening as originally intended 45 years ago.

Alien: Romulus hits theaters on August 16, and be sure to check out the film's trailer below:

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Weekend Box Office

Weekend box office: deadpool & wolverine crosses $1 billion, meanwhile, it ends with us almost ended deadpool's reign with an impressive debut of its own..

TAGGED AS: Box Office , movies , news

Blake Lively has enough to deal with from her on-screen significant other this week, let alone trying to draw audiences away from her real-life husband. But that is exactly what she did this weekend. Even if the Colleen Hoover fans weren’t going to (or already saw) the big movie in theaters right now, Lively & Co. have given August a second big movie, one that may end up being the month’s biggest success (and one of the year’s as well).

King of the Crop: Deadpool & Wolverine Crosses $1 Billion

Not often do spouses compete with each other movie-to-movie in the same weekend, but Ryan Reynolds certainly faced some major competition from his. Deadpool & Wolverine still just managed to stay afloat with $54.1 million in its third weekend. That’s a very respectable 44% drop for the 13th-best third weekend in history, just behind Spider-Man: No Way Home ($56 million), Marvel’s The Avengers ($55.6 million), and Jurassic World ($54.5 million), and just ahead of Barbie ($53 million). That brings its running total to $494 million, the seventh-best 17-day total ever, just behind Black Panther ($501.7 million) and, again, Jurassic World ($500.3 million) while being ahead of this year’s Inside Out 2 by over $24 million. But Disney/Pixar’s sequel had a $57.5 million third weekend, so we have a horse race on our hands right now. Those weekday numbers are going to start to go down this week with schools getting back in session. But D&W is clearly locking in somewhere north of $600 million domestic, and with $550 million internationally, the film has joined the billion dollar club ($1.029 billion), marking the 11th for the MCU (and the 31st for Disney) and will be in the Top 50 of all time this upcoming week.

Rotten Returns: Nobody Cared to Visit the Borderlands

There is no spin for the numbers of Eli Roth’s Borderlands . Whether or not it is fair to give him full label credit for the film, which began filming in 2021 and had selective reshoots without him (courtesy of Deadpool director Tim Miller), the numbers are disastrous all around. Reportedly coming in with a budget as high as $120 million, the video game adaptation grossed just $8.8 million this weekend while also posting one of the lowest Tomatometer scores of any wide release this year. It has settled lower than that of Madame Web (11%), Not Another Church Movie (11%) and Tarot (18%). It also received a D+ Cinemascore, the second lowest of the year above The Exorcism’ s D.

As for its box office numbers, it is below even the video game adaptations of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within ($11.4 million), Assassin’s Creed ($10.2 million) and 2007’s Hitman ($10.2 million). At best, the film may hope to get over $20 million domestic, but a big drop next weekend could jeopardize even that. The film now belongs to a less-than-elite class of summer films that cost over $100 million and opened to less than $10 million. Borderlands now joins The Adventures of Pluto Nash , Around the World in 80 Days (2004), Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (released in 2021, the second summer of the pandemic), and this year’s Fly Me to the Moon .

The Top 10 and Beyond: It Ends with Us Scores Impressive Debut,  Trap Falls to Sixth

Despite seven games, comic series and various novels, all the players of Borderlands could not match the readers of It Ends With Us . Justin Baldoni’s adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 domestic abuse/rom-drama novel may have gotten mixed reviews from critics, but its supporters dished out another $50 million over the weekend. That is the 11th-best opening ever for a film in August, and it is the highest ever to be headlined by a woman, namely Blake Lively. Annabelle: Creation ($35 million) and Crazy Rich Asians ($26.5 million) were the previous highs. August has also been the home of previous late summer adaptations like The Help , which grossed over $169 million, and Eat Pray Love , which got just over $80 million. It Ends With Us is going to fly by the latter, and there is unlikely to be another film opening this month that will surpass it. Could it be the end-of-summer, word-of-mouth success that joins the likes of The Help and Crazy Rich Asians’ $174+ million haul? The film also grossed another $30 million overseas.

Third place belongs to Twisters this week, still doing well in its fourth weekend, at least domestically. Its 24-day total with another $15 million comes to $222.2 million. The film is actually in some pretty good company, just about $5 million off the pace of Inception , though that film had a higher $18.7 million fourth weekend. Nolan’s film also opened on the third weekend of July and cruised through August to over $281 million. Small drops over the next several weeks could find Twisters following suit and getting over $270 million. If only the film was doing as well overseas. It has earned just $87.8 million to date, putting it over $300 million globally, but it is still about $140 million away from reaching its goal of squeaking out a theatrical profit. Tornadoes were popular overseas in 1996 (or maybe it was just Bill Paxton). It’s rare to have such a major success in North America come up short like that.

Fifth place belongs to a true global success story and one that’s no surprise. Universal/Illumination’s Despicable Me 4 remained in the top five for its sixth straight week with $8 million. That puts its domestic total at $330.1 million and worldwide over $807 million. It is also now making a play to become the highest-grossing domestic release of not just the franchise but all of Illumination’s films. At 40 days of release, DM4 is only about $8 million off the pace of both The Secret Life of Pets ($338.9 million) and Despicable Me 2 ($338.4 million). The latter had just a $5.7 million sixth weekend, while the former was just over $9 million. DM4 is headed somewhere in the vicinity of $365-370 million, and while it may come up short of a billion that the third film and Minions both hit, it is without question one of the most profitable films of the year by far.

Dropping from third down to sixth this week is M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap . While the film does have its fervent defenders, reviews on the not-screened-for-press film are still middle-of-the-road, and its $6.7 million second weekend is the second lowest of his career. Behind Lady in the Water ($7.14 million) and Old ($6.86 million) and ahead of only Knock at the Cabin ($5.42 million), Trap is now at $28.6 million and still likely headed for over $40 million, but it will be Shyamalan’s third straight film to finish under $50 million. With just $16.6 million overseas so far, his latest still needs about another $45 million to break even.

However the final domestic numbers play out, Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2 is still likely to be the biggest success of the year. Another $4.9 million this weekend puts the film at $636.4 million and completely ahead of Jurassic World’ s pace. Besting that film’s ninth weekend ($1.94 million), Inside Out 2 has also passed its total at the end of the exact same weekend ($635.6 million). That should guarantee it ninth place among all-time first-run releases. Avengers: Infinity War is a bit out of its range, even with its $2.58 million ninth weekend. It had $669.5 million by the end of its second-to-last June weekend and finished with $678.8 million. Worldwide the film is $1.594 billion, the 10th best in history. Jurassic World is eighth with $1.67 billion. Inside Out 2 would need about another $70 million to catch 2019’s The Lion King for ninth.

Neon did not exactly give the kind of marketing campaign to Tillman Singer’s Cuckoo that they did for Oz Perkins’ Longlegs . It had itself a festival run that included Berlin, SXSW, and the Chicago Critics Film Festival (which I produce), but opened this weekend to just $3 million in 1,500 theaters, which only looks low compared to Longlegs’ big $22 million start, when in reality it’s the third-best start ever for Neon for its eighth initial wide release. The $7 million production opened just a bit less than Immaculate ($5.33 million) did this year. Only 17 of Neon’s platformed releases grossed as much as Cuckoo did in just three days of nationwide release. This is the way.

Speak of the devil – or the guy played by Nicolas Cage – Longlegs hung around for one last go in the top 10. Another $2 million in its fifth weekend puts the $10 million production over $71 million. It is over $90 million globally, but even if Parasite’ s $254 million global haul is unmatched for Neon, this is still quite the winner for them, as they plan on being in the Oz Perkins business in the future. Far less a success is one of Sony’s few misfires this summer in Harold and the Purple Crayon . Delayed from its original release date more than 18 months ago, the $40 million production drew up $3.1 million in its sophomore weekend for a total of $12.8 million. Sony’s victory with the $25 million production It Ends With Us this weekend, plus the $400 million line just crossed by Bad Boys: Ride or Die , practically makes this an afterthought on their books though.

A24 expanded Sing Sing again this weekend (barely) to 39 theaters where it grossed $227,000. It has grossed $822,000 in five weeks of release, but its per-theater average is falling and is now at just $5,820. A big window may have been missed here. Meanwhile, Focus got its festival-tested film Didi from Sundance into 200 theaters this weekend, where it grossed $650,000. Granted, that’s just a $3,250 PTA, but its gross is already twice that of Sing Sing with $1.63 million. Another Sundance entry this year, Kneecap , was grabbed by Sony Classics and grossed $103,000 for a total of $819,000 in its second weekend. India Donaldson’s Good One (also a part of the Chicago Critics Film Festival, along with Sing Sing ) also debuted at Sundance this year and made $30,000 in just three theaters in New York and Los Angeles.

On the Vine: Alien: Romulus Bursts into Theaters

The film that hopes to ultimately take the top spot away from Deadpool & Wolverine is Alien: Romulus . The Fede Alvarez addition to the sci-fi/horror franchise opens next weekend hoping for something closer to Prometheus rather than Covenant numbers.

Full List of Box Office Results: August 9-11, 2024

Erik Childress can be heard each week evaluating box office on  Business First AM  with Angela Miles and his  Movie Madness Podcast .

[box office figures via  Box Office Mojo ]

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‘alien: romulus’ arrives as the best-scored entry since ‘alien’.

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Alien Romulus

“Don’t f*** it up.” That’s the advice Ridley Scott gave to Fede Álvarez when he was about to make Alien: Romulus. And it appears he did not, and has made an Alien film even better than at least one of Scott’s.

With 127 reviews in, Alien: Romulus has an 83% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes, which just so happens to make it the highest scored entry in the entire, very long series since Alien. Here is how the list breaks down by score now after its arrival:

• Aliens – 94%
• Alien – 93%
• Alien: Romulus – 83%
• Prometheus – 73%
• Alien: Covenant – 65%
• Alien Resurrection – 55%
• Alien 3 – 45%
• Alien Vs. Predator – 22%
• Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem – 12%

So, a few things to note here. Even in third place it is still a large leap to the two most classic films in the franchise. But it’s also notable that Romulus beats out Ridley Scott’s own Prometheus, probably the most controversial entry of them all. I also A) did not realize critics hated Alien Vs. Predator so much and B) I have literally never heard of Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem. It appears there may be a reason for that. Finally, I also forgot David Fincher directed the “that didn’t go well” Alien 3 despite having access to Sigourney Weaver.

The Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,000: Boost Your Games For Less

These scores are certainly good enough to make me see it tomorrow, as if it was much below that I probably wasn’t going to bother. I’m not exactly some huge Alien fan outside of the originals, but if this really is as good as everyone is saying, it seems like it’s going to be worth getting out of the house for.

As for its box office? That depends. It’s R-rated and the literal ninth movie in the franchise, so we’ll see what sort of draw it is. Critical acclaim is not the giant box office indicator you may think, and it’s going to have to do well through word of mouth. This is also the second weekend of It Ends with Us, the blockbuster Blake Lively feature, and I expect that may be strong enough to hold on to the number one spot. Still, I would probably expect Romulus to do well in the long term, though I’m not sure how high budget it might be as a pretty ambitious sci-fi blockbuster.

I’ll see it tomorrow and report back if it’s as good as critics claim, and now I’m looking forward to it.

Follow me on Twitter , YouTube , and Instagram .

Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy .

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