Breakthrough poster

Breakthrough

"Based On The Impossible True Story"

Movie PG 2019 1h 56m 7.6 /10
Directed by Roxann Dawson

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

Chrissy Metz

Joyce Smith

Josh Lucas

Josh Lucas

Brian Smith

Topher Grace

Topher Grace

Pastor Jason Noble

Mike Colter

Mike Colter

Tommy Shine

Marcel Ruiz

Marcel Ruiz

John Smith

Sam Trammell

Sam Trammell

Dr. Kent Sutterer

Dennis Haysbert

Dennis Haysbert

Dr. Garrett

Maddy Martin

Maddy Martin

Abby Sutterer

Isaac Kragten

Isaac Kragten

Josh

Nikolas Dukic

Nikolas Dukic

Reiger

Director: Roxann Dawson

Written by: Grant Nieporte, Joyce Smith

Frequently Asked Questions

Breakthrough is not currently available on streaming subscription services, but you can rent or buy it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Video, and Vudu.

Yes, you can rent on Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Video or buy on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

With a rating of 7.6/10 from 1,131 viewers, Breakthrough is well-regarded and recommended by viewers.

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...

Breakthrough stars Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, and Marcel Ruiz.

Breakthrough was directed by Roxann Dawson.

Breakthrough was released on April 10, 2019.

Breakthrough is a Drama film.

Yes, Breakthrough is based on the real life story of Joyce Smith and her son John Smith. The film follows their family's crisis after John is submerged in icy water for more than 15 minutes and their prayers for a miracle. Chrissy Metz stars as Joyce Smith and Marcel Ruiz plays John Smith.

Chrissy Metz plays Joyce Smith, the mother at the center of the story who leads her family through the crisis with faith.

Marcel Ruiz plays John Smith, the 14-year-old boy who falls through the ice and becomes the focal point of the film.

Breakthrough is a drama about Joyce Smith and her family as they cope with John Smith's near drowning and await a miracle. The story centers on faith, perseverance, and the support of their pastor Jason Noble as they seek healing.