Breakthrough
"Based On The Impossible True Story"
On a bitter winter afternoon, Joyce Smith watches as her 14-year-old son disappears beneath a thin layer of ice and vanishes from sight. He remains submerged far longer than anyone expects, and the emergency team fights to bring him back. At the hospital, Joyce, her husband, and their pastor hold... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: January 21, 2026
About Breakthrough
On a bitter winter afternoon, Joyce Smith watches as her 14-year-old son disappears beneath a thin layer of ice and vanishes from sight. He remains submerged far longer than anyone expects, and the emergency team fights to bring him back. At the hospital, Joyce, her husband, and their pastor hold vigil, tracing prayers for a second chance while medical alarms pulse in the background. The film follows a family pulled into a shared crisis that tests faith, faith in medicine, and faith in miracles. As the community gathers, the boy's struggle becomes a focal point for belief, doubt, and the power of steadfast love. The story centers on the resilience of a mother who refuses to give up. For families.
Directed by Roxann Dawson, Breakthrough adapts Joyce Smith's life story with a focus on family, faith and hope. The cast includes Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, and Mike Colter. The release underscored its status as a faith oriented adaptation.
With a budget of 14 million, the drama earned about 49.2 million worldwide, signaling solid appeal for inspirational true story cinema and a solid return on investment. The result demonstrates the public appetite for hopeful, faith centered storytelling on screen.
Breakthrough sparked conversations in faith communities about prayer and resilience in crisis. It resonated with viewers who value real life miracles and family devotion, turning Joyce Smith's story into a reference point for discussions on hope and healing in contemporary cinema. It sparked church screenings. It also sparked healing discussions.
Critics generally praised the film for its sincere portrayal of a mother's commitment and a community rallying around a family in need, while noting its conventional approach to faith drama. The performances, especially Metz's, were highlighted as a strength, and the narrative emphasizes courage, compassion, and shared belief. Worldwide audiences.
Details
- Release Date
- April 10, 2019
- Runtime
- 1h 56m
- Rating
- PG
- User Ratings
- 1,131 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Drama
- Country
- United States
- Studio
- Fox 2000 Pictures +1 more
- Budget
- $14,000,000
- Box Office
- $49,200,000
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Chrissy Metz
Joyce Smith
Josh Lucas
Brian Smith
Topher Grace
Pastor Jason Noble
Mike Colter
Tommy Shine
Marcel Ruiz
John Smith
Sam Trammell
Dr. Kent Sutterer
Dennis Haysbert
Dr. Garrett
Maddy Martin
Abby Sutterer
Isaac Kragten
Josh
Nikolas Dukic
Reiger
Director: Roxann Dawson
Written by: Grant Nieporte, Joyce Smith