Breakthrough (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Breakthrough is a 2019 biographical drama directed by Roxann Dawson, starring Chrissy Metz as Joyce Smith, Marcel Ruiz and Josh Lucas. It is based on Breakthrough by Joyce Smith and Ginger Kolbaba. It runs 1 hour 56 minutes and earned $50.4 million worldwide on a $14 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Song at the Critics' Choice 2020. Critics gave it 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 56m (116 min)
- Director
- Roxann Dawson
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox
- Budget
- $14M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Breakthrough About?
The premise of Breakthrough without spoilers, adapted from Breakthrough by Joyce Smith and Ginger Kolbaba. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
After a devastating accident on a frozen Missouri lake, Joyce Smith faces an unimaginable crisis when her adopted son, John, falls through the ice. Submerged for over fifteen minutes, John’s condition remains critical, defying medical expectations. As Joyce, her husband, and their pastor maintain a constant vigil, they desperately pray for a miraculous recovery, clinging to hope amidst the uncertainty and the fight for John’s life.
Breakthrough Themes & Keywords
· 48 tags- religious
- winter
- thin ice
- serious injury
- miracle
- hospital
- death
- singing
- choir singing
- paramedic
- doctor
- reference to the golden state warriors
+36 more Show fewer
- reference to steph curry
- reference to kevin durant
- church service
- basketball game
- falling through ice
- reference to lebron james
- medically induced coma
- reference to martin luther king jr. day
- reference to frederick douglass
- waking up from a coma
- reference to the oklahoma city thunder
- police officer
- saying grace
- basketball shoes
- church pastor
- near drowning
- st charles missouri
- fire rescue
- lake beneath ice
- prayer vigil
- family relationships
- life flight
- diabetic
- pet dog
- adopted child
- signs of life
- fever
- epilogue
- photograph of real people portrayed in film
- ends with quotation
- medical drama
- 14 year old boy
- faith
- pastor
- reference to michael jordan
- based on true story
Breakthrough Cast & Characters
Chrissy Metz leads the cast as Joyce Smith, with Marcel Ruiz as John Smith and Josh Lucas as Brian Smith. Directed by Roxann Dawson; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Roxann Dawson
-
Chrissy Metz as Joyce Smith - Marcel Ruiz as John Smith
-
Josh Lucas as Brian Smith -
Topher Grace as Pastor Jason Noble
Also Starring in Breakthrough
· 10 more- Mike Colter Tommy Shine
- Dennis Haysbert Dr. Garrett
- Lisa Durupt
- Rebecca Staab
- Sam Trammell
- Chuck Shamata
- Nancy Sorel Mrs. Abbott
- Victor Zinck Jr. Joe Marrow
- Stephanie Czajkowski Melissa
- Ali Skovbye Emma
Breakthrough Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Breakthrough 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).
Breakthrough Echo Score Breakdown
Breakthrough exhibits a compelling emotional core despite uneven craft execution. The film’s narrative balance between medical drama and spiritual themes resonates through strong performances and heartfelt story arcs. However, direction and visual presentation often feel procedural, and pacing falters in places. While its authentic characters engage viewers, the limited sensory flair and predictable faith-based elements reduce lasting appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 60
In terms of craft execution, the direction maintains a professional consistency but rarely ventures beyond procedural conventions. Cinematography offers occasional framing highlights but overall relies on standard visuals. Production design and editing support narrative clarity without introducing distinctive style. As a result, the film’s art and craft deliver functional competence but lack memorable innovation, resulting in a measured visual experience.
- Character & Emotion 80
When it comes to character development, the film benefits from committed performances and emotional authenticity. Acting contributions infuse depth into individual journeys, and chemistry between leads conveys genuine connection. Character arcs reveal personal crises that resonate through measured dialogue and nuanced portrayals. Although some arcs follow familiar templates, the ensemble’s empathetic execution sustains engagement and underpins the film’s emotional impact.
- Story & Flow 70
In terms of storytelling, the narrative combines factual events with familiar faith-based beats. Plot progression remains coherent and occasionally engaging, especially during tense hospital and community scenes. Pacing alternates between reflective moments and procedural sequences, leading to predictable resolutions. Originality is limited by conventional faith tropes, yet the emotional stakes and occasional narrative twists sustain viewer investment through to the conclusion.
- Sensory Experience 55
When it comes to sensory experience, the soundtrack and sound design support dramatic moments without distinct flair. Musical cues underscore emotional beats in a conventional manner, and ambient sound remains unobtrusive. Visual style relies on naturalistic lighting and restrained color palettes, providing cohesion but limited spectacle. This approach ensures clarity but results in a subdued audiovisual environment lacking memorable sensory highlights.
- Rewatch Factor 50
In terms of rewatch potential, the film’s earnest message and emotional turns offer occasional appeal for repeat viewings among interested audiences. The central performances sustain some rediscovery of character details, and key dramatic set-pieces retain modest resonance on subsequent viewings. However, the predictable faith-based structure and measured sensory presentation limit broader replay value, resulting in moderate long-term engagement.
-
IMDb 6.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 60% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 81%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 46 Metascore
User score 6.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 76% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.7 /5
57 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.5 /5
See on Movie Insider
Breakthrough Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Breakthrough from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
John Smith, portrayed by Marcel Ruiz, is a 14-year-old boy from Guatemala, living in Lake St. Louis, Missouri, with his adoptive parents, Brian Smith and Joyce Smith. Despite their love and support, John grapples with feelings of abandonment from his biological parents, leading to rebellious behavior against both his parents and teachers. Joyce, a devoted and deeply religious woman, recognizes John’s desire to rebel and responds with unwavering love, though it often leaves her feeling frustrated.
Full summary
The whole story of Breakthrough, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Breakthrough Box Office & Budget
Breakthrough grossed $50.4 million worldwide on a $14 million budget, 3.6 times what it cost. $40.7 million came from the US and Canada and $9.7 million (19%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$50.4M
3.6× its budget
- US & Canada
- $40.7M
- International
- $9.7M
- Budget
- $14M
Breakthrough Awards & Nominations
Breakthrough earned 1 award nomination, including Best Song at the Critics' Choice 2020.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Critics' Choice 2020 1 nomination- Nominated Best Song
Breakthrough Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Breakthrough.
How Well Do You Know Breakthrough?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What event prompts John to struggle with his identity?
Cars in Breakthrough
22 cars on screen, including the 2003 Ford Explorer and the 2001 Ford E-350.
-
2003 Ford Explorer Important role -
2001 Ford E-350 Minor role -
2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty Minor role -
1987 Ford F-800 Minor role
Breakthrough Also Known As
25 alternative titles, including “브레이크스루” and “Tilbage til livet”.
- Also known as
-
- 브레이크스루
- Tilbage til livet
- Прорив
- De l'autre côté
- 기적의 소년
- Superação: O Milagre da Fé
- Прорыв
- 不可能的事
- Przypływ wiary
- Más allá de la esperanza
- Breakthrough - Zurück ins Leben
- Uyanış
+13 more Show fewer
- 奇蹟的突破
- Un amor inquebrantable
- Atto di fede
- Zlom
- Um Acto de Fé
- Áttörés
- Пробуждане
- Izrāviens
- פריצת דרך
- Phép Màu
- ブレイクスルー 奇跡の生還
- Prasiveržimas
- Revelația
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Breakthrough FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Breakthrough, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Breakthrough?
Breakthrough runs 1 hour 56 minutes (116 minutes).
When was Breakthrough released?
Breakthrough was released on April 17, 2019.
Who directed Breakthrough?
Breakthrough was directed by Roxann Dawson.
More films by Roxann Dawson Who is in the cast of Breakthrough?
Breakthrough stars Chrissy Metz as Joyce Smith, Marcel Ruiz as John Smith and Josh Lucas as Brian Smith, among 14 credited actors.
How much did Breakthrough make at the box office?
Breakthrough grossed $50.4 million worldwide ($40.7 million domestic, $9.7 million international) on a budget of $14 million.
How is Breakthrough rated?
Breakthrough has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 46 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.
Is Breakthrough based on a book?
Yes. Breakthrough is adapted from Breakthrough by Joyce Smith and Ginger Kolbaba.
Was Breakthrough nominated for any awards?
Breakthrough received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
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