Unplanned

The plot closely follows the account found in Abby Johnson's memoir, Unplanned.Lauren Cavalea and Chris Francescani, [https://abcnews.go.com/US/unplanned-tells-story-youngest-planned-parenthood-employees-clinic/story?id=62008079 'Unplanned' tells the story of the one of the youngest Planned Parenthood employees to become a clinic director ... and the event that she says changed everything], abcnews.go.com, USA, March 28, 2019 The film opens with a depiction of Johnson's home life with her husband, Doug, and daughter, Grace. In voice-over, Abby Johnson says she was tricked into participating with Planned Parenthood and the scene shifts to a time in 2009 when she claims she was asked to assist in an ultrasound-guided suction aspiration abortion at thirteen weeks gestation. During the procedure, Abby seems to witness the fetus showing distress as it is aborted. The scene ends with Abby leaving in tears.{{cite news|last1=Mulderig|first1=John|url=https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/unplanned.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223022418/https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/unplanned.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2020|title=Unplanned|date=March 25, 2019|work=Catholic News Service|access-date=23 February 2020}} Johnson then describes, in voice over, that her story started her junior year at Texas A&M. The scene is depicted in flashback of a Planned Parenthood booth at a career fair. Johnson agrees to volunteer after the representative in the booth says to her that their ultimate goal was to reduce the number of abortions. As a clinic escort, she meets director Cheryl and witnesses anti-abortion protesters being verbally confrontational towards the women going in.{{cite news |last1=North |first1=Anna |title=Unplanned, the anti-abortion movie that's getting mainstream attention, explained |url=https://www.vox.com/2019/4/17/18306100/unplanned-movie-abby-johnson-planned-parenthood-abortion |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=Vox |date=17 April 2019 |language=en | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504060903/https://www.vox.com/2019/4/17/18306100/unplanned-movie-abby-johnson-planned-parenthood-abortion | archive-date=2019-05-04 | url-status=live }} One protester, Marilisa, is depicted as being kinder to women than the other protestors and says that those from her organization, "Coalition for Life", are "not here to hurt them or condemn them".

A flashback within a flashback then happens to when Abby had her two abortions, the first as a college student and the second after she marries then divorces.{{cite news |last1=Kingston |first1=Anne |title=I watched Unplanned so you don't have to - Macleans.ca |url=https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/anne-kingston-unplanned-film/ |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=Maclean's |date=July 15, 2019}} During the second abortion, for $400.00, she is given mifepristone at the clinic and is told there will be "a little bleeding", but the experience is depicted as being excruciatingly painful, over twelve hours and then followed up with "eight weeks of blood clots and excruciating cramps" causing her to fear for her life.

The film then cuts back to Abby's continuing work at the clinic, and she recounts in voice-over that it became "my career, despite the disapproval of virtually everyone in my life". The film flashes forward to her second marriage to Doug, a man who proclaims love while, like her parents, disapproving of her career on religious and moral grounds.{{cite news|last1=Scheck|first1=Frank|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/unplanned-1198201|title='Unplanned': Film Review|date=March 29, 2019|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=23 February 2020|language=en}} Abby describes starting her life with Doug and attending a church with him that is decidedly opposed to abortion even while she continues to work at Planned Parenthood.

Abby becomes pregnant by Doug and, feeling secure in her life and marriage, chooses to carry the pregnancy. In the meantime, a scene is depicted of a botched abortion taking place at the clinic where Abby is told not to call an ambulance because of the way it would "look".{{cite news |last1=DeSanctis |first1=Alexandra |title='Unplanned' Movie Exposes Grisly Reality of Abortion |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/04/unplanned-review-nobody-ever-said-abortion-was-pretty/ |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=National Review |date=2 April 2019}} Abby gives birth to Grace and is promoted to director when Cheryl is transferred to Houston. Before Hurricane Ike strikes, Abby coordinates all of the abortions to happen beforehand, anticipating that it will not be possible to perform the procedures for a while after the hurricane. Abby wins Employee of the Year while also being told by Cheryl that she should double the number of abortions. Cheryl explains that "Non-profit is a tax status, not a business model!",{{cite news |last1=Hoffman |first1=Jordan |title=Unplanned review – anti-abortion propaganda is a gory mess |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/28/unplanned-review-anti-abortion-propaganda-is-a-gory-mess |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=29 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424054006/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/28/unplanned-review-anti-abortion-propaganda-is-a-gory-mess | archive-date=2019-04-24 | url-status=live }} and says the organization makes its money off of abortions the way that fast food restaurants make money off fries and soda.{{cite news|last=Knight|first=Chris|date=July 11, 2019|title=Anti-abortion film Unplanned is useless propaganda and poorly made cinema packed with lies|language=en-CA|work=National Post|url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-useless-propaganda-and-poorly-made-cinema-packed-with-lies|access-date=February 23, 2020}} Abby is scolded for objecting to this, and then eventually reprimanded by Cheryl for insubordination after which the first few moments of the film are repeated just prior to Abby's participation in the procedure.

Abby is then depicted going to the office of 40 Days for Life, run by Marilisa and her husband, Shawn, and tearfully telling them that she cannot stay in her job after what she has seen. They offer to help her find employment. Abby formally resigns from Planned Parenthood and begins to help with the 40 Days for Life campaign, to the point of being on the other side of the clinic fence encouraging women not to go through with their abortions. Planned Parenthood sues Abby for leaking confidential information about their operations, and Shawn convinces his laid-back lawyer friend Jeff to defend her. On the day of the trial, Jeff proves Abby is innocent in court.

In 2013, the clinic Abby worked at closes, and she organizes a celebration at the abandoned building in which she expresses regret for performing abortions as well as having two. The closing captions say that Abby continues to work with the ministry "And Then There Were None", helping other abortion clinic workers leave and find employment elsewhere.

Several outlets—including Variety,{{cite magazine|last=Glieberman|first=Owen|date=March 29, 2019|title=Film Review: 'Unplanned' - The memoir of a Planned Parenthood worker turned anti-abortion activist isn't good drama but it's effective propaganda (if you're part of the choir).|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/unplanned-review-1203175761/|url-status=live|magazine=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403002028/https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/unplanned-review-1203175761/|archive-date=2019-04-03|access-date=2020-08-05}} The Globe and Mail,{{r|GaM_2}} The Guardian, and the Toronto Sun{{r|TS}}—described the film as "propaganda".

The New York Times reported on an evaluation of the film's first scene:

{{blockquote|In that first scene, teased in the trailer and on posters as "the moment that changed everything", Abby, played by Bratcher, witnesses an ultrasound-guided termination of a pregnancy at 13 weeks. The ultrasound, as depicted onscreen, shows a fetus with a discernible head, torso and limbs frantically squirming away from a doctor's probe—an action that Abby later describes as "twisting and fighting for its life"—before being liquefied by suction.

Given a description of this scene, Jennifer Villavicencio, a fellow with the nonpartisan American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists who performs ultrasound-guided abortions but has not seen the film, said that while an ultrasound of a 13-week-old fetus may show a visible head and body, the notion that it would be "fighting for its life" is misleading.

"If you watch an ultrasound, certainly there is movement, but it's not kicking its legs or recoiling", said Villavicencio. She noted broad scientific consensus that fetuses cannot experience pain, and therefore would not recoil from it, until well after 13 weeks. "There is no neurological capability for awareness of danger—that part of the brain is simply not there yet", she said.{{cite news|last1=Ugwu|first1=Reggie|date=8 April 2019|title=With 'Unplanned,' Abortion Opponents Turn Toward Hollywood|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/movies/unplanned-movie-abortion.html|access-date=31 August 2019}}}}

Villavicencio explained to the HuffPost that most abortions last three to ten minutes and are "well tolerated".

The film has been criticized for uncritically portraying events as Johnson claims they occurred in spite of a variety of journalists casting doubt on the veracity of her account.{{cite magazine|last=Elbein|first=Saul|date=2010-01-28|title=Conversion Story – How Bryan's Planned Parenthood director became a pro-life celebrity.|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/conversion-story/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217162821/https://www.texasobserver.org/conversion-story/|archive-date=2012-12-17|access-date=2020-05-28|newspaper=Texas Observer}}{{cite magazine|last=Blakeslee|first=Nate|date=February 2010|title=The Convert – Former Bryan Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson's abrupt change from pro-choice activist to pro-life spokesperson turned her into a talk show sensation. But is her story true?|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/the-convert/|url-status=live|magazine=Texas Monthly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817063759/https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/the-convert/|archive-date=2015-08-17|access-date=June 30, 2011}}[https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/fact-fiction-pro-life-celebrity-abby-johnson-unplanned/ Sorting Fact From Fiction in the Story of Pro-life Celebrity Abby Johnson]. Texas Monthly, April 16, 2019{{cite web|author=Amanda Marcotte|date=January 7, 2010|title=The Earth-Shaking Abortion That Never Happened|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2010/01/the-earth-shaking-abortion-that-never-happened.html|access-date=March 16, 2019|publisher=Slate}}

Johnson stated that the patient whose abortion led to her decision to leave Planned Parenthood was a black woman. Based on reporting by Texas Monthly (which relied on Planned Parenthood clinic records), only one patient served by Johnson's then-employer on September 26, 2009, was black, and she was in the sixth week—not the 13th week—of her pregnancy.{{r|TexasMonthly}}

The film depicts Planned Parenthood as promoting abortion for the sake of profit.{{r|HuffPo|p=1|q=Planned Parenthood is falsely depicted as a for-profit abortion business }}{{r|NP_1|p=1|q=When Abby asks why the clinic is pushing to double the number of abortions it provides – which also happens to be a falsehood about the way the non-profit, reproductive health care provider operates – Cheryl explains that it's like the fries and soft drinks that fast-food restaurants use to turn a profit. "Abortion is our fries and sodas", she hisses. "Abortion is what pays for our salaries."}}{{r|HuffPo}}{{cite web|author=Amie Newman|date=November 3, 2009|title=Planned Parenthood Director's Holes in Story Revealed In Recent Radio Interview|url=https://rewire.news/article/2009/11/03/planned-parenthood-directors-holes-story-revealed-in-recent-radio-interview/|access-date=March 16, 2019|publisher=Rewire News}} A character, Cheryl (Robia Scott), claims that Planned Parenthood makes its money off of abortions the way that fast food restaurants make money by selling French fries and soda.

Anna North of Vox criticized the film for depicting abortion as very dangerous, noting that within the United States, it is significantly safer than childbirth.{{r|Vox|p=1|q=Meanwhile, Sisson and others question whether the approach of Unplanned is really so different from that of the protesters it decries. In the film, the peaceful Coalition for Life members distance themselves "from the pictures of bloody fetuses, but then the movie itself is a larger piece of propaganda that's so bloody and so reliant on fetal imagery," Sisson said. Indeed, the film includes many scenes of blood gushing through tubes and onto women's clothes, painting a picture of abortion as extremely dangerous. In fact, according to one recent study, complications occur in about 2.1 percent of abortions, with major complications — defined as hospitalizations, surgeries, or transfusions — happening in 0.23 percent. The procedure is significantly safer than childbirth.}}

{{Cast listing|

• Ashley Bratcher as Abby Johnson
• Brooks Ryan as Doug
• Robia Scott as Cheryl
• Jared Lotz as Shawn
• Emma Elle Roberts as Marilisa
• Robin DeMarco as Kathleen
• Robert Thomason as Mike
• Tina Toner as Renee
• Sarah Hernandez as Elena
• Maura Corsini as Megan
• Lezl Gonzales as Taylor
• Kaiser Johnson as Jeff
• Andee Grace Burton as Grace
• Alexander Kane as Mark
• Stacey Bradshaw as Karen
• Mike Lindell as Foreman}}

{{multiple image

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| image2 = Ashley Bratcher "Unplanned" interview.jpg

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| footer = Abby Johnson (left) is portrayed in the film by Ashley Bratcher (right).

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In September 2018, it was announced that principal photography on a new Pure Flix film with a working title of Redeemed had been completed. Out of fear for potential protests due to the subject matter, everyone involved with the project signed a confidentiality agreement, whereby they agreed not to engage in social media posts about the film nor any press interaction.{{cite web | url=https://stream.org/unplanned-film-planned-parenthood-abby-johnson/ | title=Major Film on Planned Parenthood Clinic Director Who Left Abortion Industry Slated for 2019 | publisher=Stream | access-date=January 21, 2019 |author=Josh Shepherd |date=September 19, 2018}} Additionally, the film was secretly shot in Stillwater, Oklahoma.{{cite web | url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2019/february/unplanned-directors-explain-great-irony-of-films-r-rating| title='Unplanned' Directors Explain Great Irony of Film's R-Rating| publisher=Christian Broadcasting Network| access-date=March 2, 2019|author=Carly Hoilman|date=February 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt9024106/|title=Unplanned|via=www.imdb.com}}

Based on Johnson's memoir of the same name,{{cite web|url=http://www.abbyjohnson.org/thanks-for-stopping-by-1|title=Abby Johnson - Thanks for Stopping By|access-date=March 16, 2019|author=Abby Johnson|date= March 16, 2019}} Unplanned was produced on a $6 million budget.{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/unplanned-planned-parenthood-documentary-works-gods-not-dead-writers-1144994 | title="God's Not Dead" Writers Making Planned Parenthood Movie | publisher=The Hollywood Reporter | access-date=January 21, 2019 |author=Paul Bond|date=September 19, 2018}} Mike Lindell, founder and owner of My Pillow, was a major backer of the film, contributing $1 million to production and having a cameo.{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/my-pillow-founder-michael-lindell-jumps-film-financing-1163209| title=Multimillionaire Trump Fan and Fox News Advertiser Jumps Into Film Financing | publisher=The Hollywood Reporter | access-date=January 21, 2019 |author=Paul Bond |date=November 21, 2018}}

Directors Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon sent a draft of their script to Johnson for review. Upon reading, Johnson reacted, "I read the script. And in the first 15 pages, I hated me. Then I got to the end of the script, and I loved it. It was me!" During casting, producers warned potential cast members that their participation in the film might result in their not getting future roles in the film industry due to the film's subject matter. Unlike the upcoming Roe v. Wade – which had some crew who quit once they learned of the film's subject matter – Unplanned did not suffer from the same fate since those involved knew about the film's focus when hired.

Music labels denied the rights to use such songs as The Fray's "How to Save a Life", "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper, One Direction's "Story of My Life", Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party" and "The Guardian Suite" by Trevor Rabin.{{cite web | url=https://www.spin.com/2019/01/anti-abortion-film-music-licensing-rights-denied/ | title=Cyndi Lauper, One Direction, The Fray Licensing Rights Denied to Anti-Abortion Film | publisher=Spin | access-date=January 21, 2019 |author=Tosten Burks |date=January 18, 2019}} Christian singer Matthew West wrote a song for the film called "Unplanned", posting its music video a week before the film's release.{{cite web|url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2019/march/christian-singer-matthew-west-drops-music-video-for-new-lsquo-unplanned-rsquo-song|title=Christian Singer Matthew West Drops Music Video for New 'Unplanned' Song|author=Tré Goins-Phillips|publisher=Christian Broadcasting Network|date=March 30, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}}

Unplanned was given an R rating (the first for any Pure Flix film) by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), with the rating descriptor being "for some disturbing/bloody images", citing the graphic abortion-related scenes as the reason for the rating, and notified the film's producers that it would remain R-rated unless those scenes were removed. The MPAA denied allegations that it had assigned the rating due to political bias.{{cite web | url=http://fortune.com/2019/02/22/mpaa-pure-flix-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-r-rating/| title=MPAA Gives Controversial Anti-Abortion Film 'Unplanned' Surprise R Rating| publisher=Fortune| access-date=March 2, 2019|author=Brian Raftery|date=February 23, 2019}} Pure Flix, which had been expecting a PG-13 rating, decided not to contest the MPAA's action due to concerns that such conflict could delay the film's release.

In response to the film's rating, the MPAA was sent a complaint signed by twenty-nine people uninvolved in the production of the film. The signers include former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, political commentator Glenn Beck, actor Kevin Sorbo, and Academy Award-winning film producers Gerald R. Molen and Gray Frederickson.{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/christian-groups-criticize-mpaa-anti-abortion-film-r-rating/|title=Christian Groups Criticize MPAA For Giving Anti-Abortion Film R-Rating|publisher=Screen Rant|author=Helen Armitage|date=March 17, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mpaa-criticized-by-christian-groups-r-rated-anti-abortion-movie-1195158|title=MPAA Criticized by Christian Groups Over R-Rated Anti-Abortion Movie|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Paul Bond|date=March 15, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019}} Despite this, the MPAA did not revoke the rating, saying that "[t]he filmmakers did not make use of the rating appeal process."

Johnson subsequently wrote an open letter addressed to parents, stating that the film contained no nudity, sex or profanity.{{cite web|url=https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/nation-and-world/an-open-letter-from-abby-johnson-regarding-unplanned-r-rating/|title=An open letter from Abby Johnson regarding 'Unplanned' R rating|author=Catholic News Service|publisher=The Catholic Spirit|date=March 28, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}} A second open letter, signed by the same twenty-nine people from the MPAA complaint, encouraged faith communities to ignore the rating and turn out for the film as they did for The Passion of the Christ, another religious movie that received controversy from the evangelical community for receiving an R rating for its graphic violent content.{{cite web |title=An Open Letter to the Faith Community in America |url=https://www.unplannedfilm.com/openletter |website=Unplanned Movie |access-date=7 April 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Tomeo |first1=Teresa |title=Open Letter About R Rating of Pro-life 'Unplanned' Movie Exposes Media Bias: Media Expert Teresa Tomeo says R Rating is 'Sabotage' |url=http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/2937582432.html |access-date=7 April 2019 |work=Christian Newswire |date=28 March 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Deffner |first1=Elisabeth |title=Unplanned Opportunity: How a Movie's Unexpected Success Is Reinvigorating Pro-Lifers |url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/unplanned-opportunity-how-a-movies-unexpected-success-is-reinvigorating-pro |access-date=7 April 2019 |work=National Catholic Register |date=6 April 2019}}

Unplanned was released in the United States on March 29, 2019. The film received a pre-screening on February 21, 2019, in lower Manhattan,{{cite web|url=http://cny.org/stories/pro-life-movie-unplanned-carries-redemptive-theme,18715|title=Pro-Life Movie 'Unplanned' Carries Redemptive Theme|publisher=Catholic New York|author=Christie L. Chicoine|date=March 1, 2019|access-date=March 5, 2019}} and again on March 28, 2019, in Indiana, one day before its release date.{{cite web|url=https://www.eaglecountryonline.com/news/local-news/pro-life-activist-hopes-unplanned-film-screening-will-change-hearts/|title=Pro-Life Activist Hopes "Unplanned" Film Screening Will "Change Hearts"|publisher=Eagle Country News|author=Mike Perleberg|date=March 5, 2019|access-date=March 5, 2019}}

Many media outlets declined to air advertising for the film on account of the controversial subject matter and/or the film's R rating, including A&E Networks, Discovery, Inc., Hallmark Channel, NBCUniversal, and Christian radio network K-Love.{{cite web |last1=Bond |first1=Paul |title=TV Networks Reject Ads for Anti-Abortion Movie |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/networks-reject-ads-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-1197928 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=31 March 2019 |language=en |date=29 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://world.wng.org/content/k_love_mum_on_new_pro_life_movie|title=K-Love mum on new pro-life movie|author=Mary Jackson|publisher=World News Group|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019|archive-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407092219/https://world.wng.org/content/k_love_mum_on_new_pro_life_movie/|url-status=dead}} Only Fox News (who also did editorial coverage of the production){{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2019/04/19/Fox-News-gave-anti-abortion-film-Unplanned-over-1-million-in-free-promotion-this-year/223503|title=Fox News gave anti-abortion film Unplanned over $1 million in free promotion this year|publisher=Media Matters For America|author=Madelyn Webb|date=April 19, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019}} and the Christian Broadcasting Network agreed to air ads.

During the opening weekend, the film's official Twitter account was suspended (reportedly because it was linked to another account that violated Twitter's code of conduct). It was soon reinstated, gaining thousands of additional followers within several hours, with the follower count briefly appearing to shoot up as high as 200,000.{{cite news |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |title='Unplanned' Anti-Abortion Film Has Twitter Troubles, But Account Now Restored |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/unplanned-anti-abortion-film-has-twitter-troubles-but-account-now-restored-1202585667/ |access-date=March 31, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 30, 2019 |language=en}} Twitter was then accused of dropping followers of the film's account from over 200,000 to approximately 16,000.{{cite web |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/04/unplanned-movie-twitter-suspension-followers-removed/ |publisher=Heavy.com |title=Unplanned Movie: Twitter Suspension, Followers Removed |date=April 1, 2019 |author=Jessica McBride |access-date=April 3, 2019}} US senator Josh Hawley accused Twitter of censoring conservative views, and in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, requested that an outside independent audit be made into Twitter's speech policies. Twitter responded and "said follower counts can often take up to 24 hours to stabilize following a suspension and that any issues with page follows should also be resolved shortly"; the next day, according to Newsweek, "the official account for the film appeared to confirm Twitter's statement" in a tweet.{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/unplanned-movie-twitter-censorship-abby-johnson-suspended-anti-abortion-1381695|newspaper=Newsweek|access-date=April 24, 2019|date=April 1, 2019|title=Is Twitter Censoring Anti-abortion Movie Unplanned? Website Denies Account Tampering After Conservative Outrage|first=Jason|last=Murdock}}

Mark Cavaliere, an executive director of a local Coalition for Life,{{Cite web|url=https://southwest.life/team/mark-cavaliere/|title=Mark Cavaliere | Biography|website=Southwest Coalition of Life}} dressed in a 40 Days for Life shirt like those seen in the film and recruited volunteers at some showings.

No distributors in Canada were initially interested in the film, which prevented movie theaters from picking it up. In June 2019, the small distribution company Cinedicom agreed to make it available to the Canadian market, its president stating the decision to distribute the film was based on divine inspiration. The producers accused Canada's dominant movie theater chain Cineplex Entertainment of effectively banning the film in the country by not showing it in its theaters. The company usually only considers films if their distributor presents a marketing plan and obtains a rating from a provincial ratings board.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/unplanned-anti-abortion-movie-canada_ca_5d013ab0e4b0985c4196e665|title=Is Anti-Abortion Movie 'Unplanned' Really Coming To 100s Of Theatres In Canada?|last=Kappler|first=Maija|date=June 14, 2019|website=Huffington Post Canada|access-date=June 17, 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-controversial-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-heading-to-canadian/|title=Controversial anti-abortion film Unplanned heading to Canadian theatres|last=Hertz|first=Barry|date=June 12, 2019|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=June 17, 2019}} Christian activist Faytene Grasseschi participated in organizing a petition threatening to boycott Cineplex unless it agreed to screen the film.

Cineplex later reversed its decision, opting to show the film in 14 locations. The competing chain Landmark Cinemas also show the film at 10 locations.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/cineplex-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-screening-1.5204611 Cineplex defends decision to show anti-abortion film Unplanned (CBC, July 8, 2019)] Released onn July 12, 2019, the film took in $352,000 during its opening weekend, with the screen count variously reported as 49 or 56.{{cite web|url=https://grandinmedia.ca/pro-life-movie-enjoys-unplanned-success-during-its-brief-run-in-canadian-theatres/|title=Pro-life movie enjoys 'Unplanned' success during its brief run in Canadian theatres|last=Conlon|first=Mickey|date=June 23, 2019|website=Canadian Catholic News|access-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724213540/https://grandinmedia.ca/pro-life-movie-enjoys-unplanned-success-during-its-brief-run-in-canadian-theatres/|archive-date=July 24, 2019|url-status=dead}} Unplanned made $643,000 CAD at the Canadian box office in its one week of release.

Unplanned premiered exclusively in SM Supermalls cinemas in the Philippines on August 21, 2019.{{cite news|last=Aguilar|first=Krissy|title=Anti-abortion film 'Unplanned' to screen in the PH|url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/342043/anti-abortion-film-unplanned-to-screen-in-the-ph|access-date=October 7, 2020|newspaper=Inquirer Entertainment|publisher=INQUIRER.net|date=August 14, 2019|location=Manila, Philippines|quote=After its success in North America, anti-abortion film "Unplanned" will debut to Filipino audiences on Aug. 21.}} Felicidad Tan-Sy, the widow of SM founder Henry Sy, cried during its local premiere and stated that "Every Filipino, every person needs to see this movie."{{cite news|last=Bernardo|first=Deni Rose M. Afinidad|title=Controversial anti-abortion movie 'Unplanned' now showing in the Philippines|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2019/08/23/1945780/controversial-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-now-showing-philippines|access-date=October 7, 2020|work=Philstar.com |publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=August 23, 2019|location=Manila, Philippines}}

Unplanned was released on DVD and Blu-ray in August 2019.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Unplanned grossed $19 million in the United States and Canada, and $2.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide $21.3 million, against a production budget of $6 million.

In the United States, Unplanned was released alongside The Beach Bum and Dumbo, and based upon tracking was projected to gross $3–5 million from 1,060 theaters its opening weekend.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-dumbo-hopes-take-flight-50m-1197606|title=Box Office Preview: 'Dumbo' Hopes to Take Flight With $50M-plus|website=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Pamela McClintock|date=March 28, 2019|access-date=March 28, 2019}} The film made $3 million on its first day, including $700,000 from Thursday night previews. The film played best in conservative-leaning states in the Midwest and South. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare average grade of "A+".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-dumbo-flies-26m-previews-1198097|title=Weekend Box Office: 'Dumbo' Disappoints With $45M U.S. Debut|website=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Pamela McClintock|date=March 31, 2019|access-date=March 31, 2019}} Deadline Hollywood said the opening was "remarkable considering that the film was rated R [and was] boxed out from running TV spots on most major cable networks and Christian radio."{{cite news |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title='Dumbo' Hovers Low With $46M+ But Hopes On Matinees; Matthew McConaughey Hits Bottom With $1.7M 'Beach Bum' |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/dumbo-box-office-results-disney-us-jordan-peele-weekend-1202584883/|access-date=March 31, 2019|work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 31, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/unplanned-box-office-anti-abortion-pic-opens-strong-6m-1198369|title='Unplanned' Box Office: Controversial Anti-Abortion Pic Surprises With Strong $6M Debut|author=Pamela McClintock|date=31 March 2019 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 1, 2019}} It was reported that churches across the country had bought out entire screenings for the picture.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/unplanned-anti-abortion-pro-life-movie-box-office-success-1202585875/|title=Anti-Abortion Pic 'Unplanned' Battles To $6.1M; 2nd Best Opening For Faith-Based Studio Pure Flix|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2019-03-31|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-04-03}} In its second weekend the film was added to 456 additional theaters (for a total of 1,516) and made $3.2 million.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/shazam-opening-weekend-box-office-the-joker-pet-sematary-1202589627/|title='Shazam!' Shoots To Super $53M+ Opening, $56M+ With Previews; 'Pet Sematary' Purrs $25M – Sunday AM B.O. Final|website=Deadline Hollywood|author=Anthony D'Alessandro|date=April 7, 2019|access-date=April 7, 2019}}

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads: "A dramatic approach to a hot-button topic whose agenda is immediately clear, Unplanned will only reinforce the feelings of viewers on either side of the issue."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/unplanned|title=Unplanned (2019)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 10 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/unplanned|title=Unplanned reviews |website= Metacritic |access-date= April 11, 2019 }}

Religious publications were mostly positive about the film. Writing for the National Catholic Reporter, Rose Pacatte said that "Unplanned is an important film, a designation that directors hate to hear. It is not entertaining (until the cheesy lawyer shows up) but tells an emotional story with wide-ranging implications."{{cite web |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/media/unplanned-important-not-exactly-entertaining|title='Unplanned' is important, but not exactly entertaining|website=National Catholic Reporter|author=Rose Pacatte|date=March 28, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}} The Deseret News's Josh Terry wrote that the film "...may not bridge the divide between the different sides of the abortion issue, but it will provide some food for thought for the undecideds", ultimately concluding that "Unplanned has room for praise and criticism."{{cite web |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900063389/movie-review-unplanned-pureflix-a-planned-parenthood-supervisor-changes-her-mind-pro-life-abortion.html |publisher=Deseret News |title=Movie review: In graphic 'Unplanned,' a Planned Parenthood supervisor changes her mind |author=Josh Terry |date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405035431/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900063389/movie-review-unplanned-pureflix-a-planned-parenthood-supervisor-changes-her-mind-pro-life-abortion.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 5, 2019}} According to Catholic Herald's Sohrab Ahmari, Unplanned "reveals the culture of death that lies at the core of our secular-liberal modernity".{{cite web |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2019/04/09/unplanned-is-this-generations-matrix/ |magazine=Catholic Herald |title=Unplanned is this generation's Matrix |first=Sohrab|last=Ahmari |date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520133535/https://catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2019/04/09/unplanned-is-this-generations-matrix/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 20, 2019}}

In contrast, The Hollywood Reporter's Frank Scheck criticized Unplanned as "proselytizing agitprop" comparable to a "basic cable television movie in its mediocre production values and subpar performances". Similarly, Owen Gleiberman of Variety said the film "isn't good drama but it's effective propaganda"{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/unplanned-review-1203175761/|title=Film Review: 'Unplanned'|website=Variety|author=Owen Gleiberman|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=April 1, 2019}} and The A.V. Club{{'}}s Vadim Rizov stated that "[while Unplanned] has greater technical finesse than its foundational forebears. [...] But there's not a single scene that speaks to characters with lives outside their streamlined narrative function; they're performers in a parable traced over a Chick tract, filmed with a bland competence at odds with the true perversity of the material".{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/unplanned-is-an-abortion-about-abortion-1833646797|title=Unplanned is an abortion about abortion|website=The A.V. Club |author=Vadim Rizov|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2019}} Writing for Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Philip Martin said that "Unplanned is a competently made film that has some moments of genuine grace and a winning lead performance by Ashley Bratcher".{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Philip |date=2019-03-29 |title=Unplanned |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/mar/29/unplanned-20190329/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Arkansas Democrat Gazette |language=en}}

The Canadian media was generally critical of Unplanned. The Globe and Mail,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-a-disgusting-piece-of-propaganda-that/|title=Anti-abortion film Unplanned is a disgusting piece of propaganda that may endanger the health of women|last=Hertz|first=Barry|date=July 10, 2019|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=July 10, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815163856/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-a-disgusting-piece-of-propaganda-that/ | archive-date=2019-08-15 | url-status=live}} the Ottawa Citizen{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Chris |title=Movie review: Anti-abortion film Unplanned is useless propaganda and poorly made cinema packed with lies {{!}} Ottawa Citizen |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/movies/anti-abortion-film-unplanned-is-useless-propaganda-and-poorly-made-cinema-packed-with-lies/wcm/2b2b90a2-4f9f-4d27-8ce8-466c454ce50b |website=Ottawa Citizen |access-date=July 16, 2019 |date=July 11, 2019}} and the Toronto Sun{{cite news |last1=Braun |first1=Liz |title=Anti-abortion movie 'Unplanned' social and political propaganda |url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/braun-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-social-and-political-propaganda |newspaper=Toronto Sun |access-date=July 16, 2019 |date=July 9, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716165724/https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/braun-anti-abortion-movie-unplanned-social-and-political-propaganda | archive-date=2019-07-16 | url-status=live }} all described the film as dishonest religious, social, and political propaganda. Christian news programs such as Salt + Light Hour were supportive of it.{{cite web |title=SLHour: Unplanned {{!}} A Featured Interview with Abby Johnson |url=https://saltandlighttv.org/blogfeed/getpost.php?id=90404 |website=Salt and Light Media |access-date=July 16, 2019 |date=March 30, 2019}}

Shortly before release, the American division of Planned Parenthood stated that the claims in the movie were false and that the movie promotes falsehoods.

A soundtrack album was released on March 22, 2019, with the title track being performed by Matthew West. Blake Kanicka, the music supervisor for Unplanned, failed in attempts to license songs from more established mainstream artists and from a half dozen of the largest music companies.{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/movies/8494552/anti-abortion-movie-major-label-music|author=Paul Bond|title=$6 Million Anti-Abortion Movie Seeks Major Label Music, But Finds No Takers|publisher=Billboard|date=22 January 2019|access-date=24 July 2019}}

• Abortion in the United States
• Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer, a 2018 film about abortion provider Kermit Gosnell
• 180, a 2011 anti-abortion documentary
• The Silent Scream, a 1984 anti-abortion documentary by Bernard Nathanson describing the abortion process via ultrasound
• Roe v. Wade, a 2020 dramatization of the 1973 US Supreme Court legalization

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Official|https://www.unplannedfilm.com/}}
• {{IMDb title|9024106}}

Category:2019 films

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