Ordinary Angels is a 2024 American faith-based drama film. Directed by Jon Gunn and written by Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig, it is based on true events that transpired during the 1994 North American cold wave.[5] It stars Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, and Tamala Jones.
| Ordinary Angels | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jon Gunn |
| Screenplay by | |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Maya Bankovic |
| Edited by | Parker Adams |
| Music by | Pancho Burgos-Goizueta |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
Release date |
|
Running time | 118 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $12–13 million[2] |
| Box office | $19.4 million[3][4] |
The film was released by Lionsgate on February 23, 2024. It received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $19 million.
Premise edit
Inspired by a true story, in 1994 Louisville, Kentucky, a hairdresser rallies the community to help a widowed father save the life of his critically ill young daughter after Louisville is hit by a major snowstorm from the 1994 North American cold wave.[6]
Cast edit
- Hilary Swank as Sharon[7]
- Alan Ritchson as Ed[6]
- Emily Mitchell as Michelle[8]
- Skywalker Hughes as Ashley[8]
- Nancy Travis as Barbara[8]
- Tamala Jones as Rose[8]
- Drew Powell as Pastor Dave[8]
- Nancy Sorel as Virginia
- Amy Acker as Theresa[8]
Production edit
Dave Matthews pitched the story to Jon Berg who brought the story to Lionsgate who brought it to Kevin Downes and the team at Kingdom Story Company.[9] In March 2022, the film was officially announced with Swank and Ritchson starring, with Jon Gunn directing and writing the most recent draft of the script with Jon Erwin. Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig contributed an earlier draft and received writing credit.[10] [11][12] Filming occurred in Winnipeg in April 2022[13] and Albany, New York, in June 2022.[citation needed]
Release edit
Ordinary Angels was released theatrically by Lionsgate on February 23, 2024.[14] The film was originally scheduled to be released on October 13, 2023,[6] before the date was delayed to avoid competition with the concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.[15] It is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom by Columbia Pictures on April 26, 2024.[1]
Reception edit
Box office edit
In the United States and Canada, Ordinary Angels was released alongside Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training and Drive-Away Dolls, and was projected to gross $5–7 million from 2,800 theaters in its opening weekend.[16] It ended up debuting to $6.5 million, finishing third at the box office.[2][17] The film made $3.9 million in its second weekend (a drop of just 38%), finishing third.[18]
Critical response edit
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 84% of 90 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "With a dash of grace and circumstance, this sweet display of humanity is stabilized by Hilary Swank in a role that plays to the heartstrings of all Ordinary Angels."[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 57 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[20] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a rare grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale.[2]
Courtney Howard of Variety wrote, "In Swank's capable hands, the character's predictable arc is made formidable, conjuring sympathy and strength in spades. Plus, she brings a naturalism to the scenes shared with Mitchell and Hughes, rising stars in their own right, who efficiently deliver precociousness with the right amount of potency".[21] The Guardian awarded the movie three stars out of five, concluding that “Taken on its own terms as an old-fashioned character drama and showcase for Ritchson as a dramatic actor (he’s genuinely really good), it does the job it set out to do.”[22]
References edit
- ^ a b "Ordinary Angels (12A)". BBFC. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 25, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' At $120M+ WW Takes Out Three Little Birds At The Box Office – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "Ordinary Angels — Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "Ordinary Angels". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Ochoa, David (January 17, 2024). "30th anniversary of Louisville's Snow Baby". WAVE 3.
- ^ a b c Hudgins, Ryan (March 16, 2023). "Hilary Swank's 'Ordinary Angels' follows an act of heroism during a catastrophic storm". TODAY.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ King, Randall (March 24, 2022). "Hilary Swank shooting inspirational drama in Winnipeg". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Grobar, Matt (April 18, 2022). "Kingdom Story Company's 'Ordinary Angels' Adds Nancy Travis, Tamala Jones & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "Award-Winning Producer of 'Ordinary Angels' is Hoping for a Big Impact". September 14, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (March 24, 2022). "Hilary Swank & 'Reacher' Breakout Alan Ritchson To Lead Kingdom Story Company's 'Ordinary Angels'; Lionsgate Distributing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "Ordinary Angels". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (March 16, 2023). "Lionsgate Dates Ordinary Angels Drama Starring Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ McKendrick, Devon (April 25, 2022). "Where Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson have been spotted in Winnipeg". CTV News. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 19, 2023). "'Ordinary Angels' Get New Date After Moving To Dodge Taylor Swift Concert Movie – Update". Deadline. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 1, 2023). "'Ordinary Angels' Flying Away From Taylor Swift – Release Date Change". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 21, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' To Stay High As A Kite At Box Office Until 'Dune' Gang Arrives – Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ McClintock, Pamela (February 24, 2024). "Box Office: Bob Marley's One Love Still Rocking at No. 1, Madame Web and Drive-Away Dolls Spin Out". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 3, 2024). "'Dune: Part Two': How Sci-Fi Space Worm Epic Reared Head To $81.5M Opening After Strike Release Delay – Sunday Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
- ^ "Ordinary Angels". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Ordinary Angels". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ Howard, Courtney (February 20, 2024). "Ordinary Angels Review: Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson's Inspirational Weepy Tugs at the Heartstrings". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Ordinary Angels review – heartwarming rescue from the horrors of the US healthcare system". The Guardian. April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
