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release of the project to providential timing. Both
Stephen Kendrick and Cameron have adopted children, and Cameron's wife was herself adopted, which both cite as a motivation for their involvement with this film. Cameron publicly promoted the film and explained his motivation in a speech at the 2022
532:
criticized the film in comparison to its source material, opining that "n comparison , the movie feels like a cheap reenactment with too-well-dressed characters living in too-well-decorated houses." Kathryn Jean Lopez disagreed, stating that it overcame her skepticism that it could "captured the
404:
for $ 67,000. After the film's release, Scotton spent his time "visiting
Catholic high schools across the country, appearing on national television, showing the film to members of Congress and telling just about all who would listen about the adoption alternative." While the Kendrick Brothers
432:. For the time jump, the filmmakers chose to use two sets of actors to play David's birth parents, while de-aging techniques to depict David's adoptive parents. "Kirk Cameron looks like a 50-year-old and a (roughly) 30-year-old â all in the same film,"
311:
co-wrote the script with
Peeples and act as executive producers. It is the Kendrick brothers' eighth film, the fifth through their subsidiary, Kendrick Brothers Productions, their first adaptation of a true story and their first film since
31:
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observed. Coles was involved in the creative process, being invited by the producers to help evaluate actresses who would play her, and Long subsequently spent time with Coles preparing for the role. A novelization by Chris Fabry
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As a pregnant teenager, Melissa is preparing for an abortion to end her unwanted pregnancy, when at the very last minute she told the doctor, âI canât do this.â Instead, she chooses to deliver her son and place him for
341:, where he is adopted by the Colton family of Louisiana. Eighteen years later, Melissa reaches out to David through the adoption agency, leading to their connection on social media and ultimately meeting face-to-face.
974:
456:, executive producer Stephen Kendrick noted that "Lifemark doesnât focus in on the dark side of abortion, it focuses in on the positive beautiful side of adoption." Anti-abortion organizations such as
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after traditional distributors declined to release it. It received generally positive reviews, and its initial one-week theatrical run was extended an extra week due to its box-office success.
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475:, for a planned one-week engagement. It had its New Orleans premiere on August 28. On September 15, 2022, it was announced that the film's theatrical run would be extended for another week.
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297:. It tells the story of how a young man's mother considered aborting him, but instead made an adoption plan for him, and later reconnected with him as a young adult.
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Alex
Kendrick said that they could not secure distribution because the film concerned abortion, which Cameron attributed to studios' cowardice. In an interview with
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praised
Raphael Ruggero as "stellar" and opined that the "movie's first hour is as gripping as any Kendrick Brothers film ever." Leah Savas of
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intended to tell a pro-life story, they started adapting the story in 2019; executive producer
Stephen Kendrick attributed the post-
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1206:"Disney Movies 'Barbarian' & 'Brahmastra Part One: Shiva' Lead 2nd Lowest Weekend YTD â Saturday AM Box Office Update"
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is the culmination of David
Scotton's story, which he began telling in a 2011 "Louisiana Pro-Life Oratory Contest at
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1119:"In Theaters Fri, Sep 9, Sat, Sep 10, Sun, Sep 11, Mon, Sep 12, Tue, Sep 13, Wed, Sep 14, Thu, Sep 15: LIFEMARK"
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and applauded the film for its wholesome mood but criticized it for lack of conflict and character development.
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414:. Bloomberg noted that Cameron "acknowledged adoption doesnât always work as well as portrayed" in the film.
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763:"Kendricks' film 'Lifemark' takes bold stand for life, challenges Church to step up in post-Roe society"
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in New
Orleans." The story was picked up by Louisiana Right to Life, who funded the documentary film
503:, and made $ 855,466 from 1,560 theaters on its first day and $ 2.2 million in its opening weekend.
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1179:"Faith-Based Hit Lifemark Extended in Theaters Another Week: It's Bringing Hope to Many'"
704:"Watch: Compelling story of Metairie man's reunion with birth mom who nearly aborted him"
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Marisa
Hampton as Young Melissa, as she gives birth to David and places him for adoption.
965:"4 Things You Should Know about Lifemark, the Kendricks' Uplifting Movie about Adoption"
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1274:"'Lifemark,' The Kendricks' Latest Movie, Perfectly Captures the Emotions of Adoption"
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Dawn Long as
Melissa Cates, David's birth mother, as she makes contact with him.
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1149:"LIFEMARK Film About David Scotton '12: Special Invitation to Jesuit Community"
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896:"Kirk Cameron's Anti-Abortion Film 'Lifemark' Rides Wave of Christian Movies"
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Kirk Cameron approached the Kendricks, with whom he had previously worked on
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866:"Kendrick Brothers Team Up with Kirk Cameron to Make Pro-life Film Lifemark"
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of David Scotton, previously depicted in the 2018 short documentary film
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998:"Film based on Indiana woman's true story 'reclaims beauty of adoption'"
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1058:"Kendrick Brothers' New Film 'LifeMark' Celebrates the Gift of Life"
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have used the film as a jumping off point to criticize abortion.
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Rebecca Rogers Nelson as Susan Colton, David's adoptive mother.
428:, to produce the movie after seeing David's story depicted in
801:"Kendrick Brothers' 'Lifemark' spotlights beauty of adoption"
932:"'Lifemark' Is Welcome Testament to the Beauty of Adoption"
287:
by director Kevin Peeples, adapting the true story of the
533:
beauty of the story thatâs captured in real time by
1489:
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1304:"The World and Everything in It: September 9, 2022"
449:approximately one month before the film's release.
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324:. The film was released on September 9, 2022, via
375:Lowery Brown as Brian, David's biological father.
602:"Louisiana documentary is basis of feature film"
668:"Bozeman local lands a role on the big screen"
320:. Their initial five films were created under
1416:
8:
1204:D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 10, 2022).
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1333:Lopez, Kathryn Jean (September 19, 2022).
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29:
20:
1431:Films produced by the Kendrick brothers (
357:as Jimmy Colton, David's adoptive father.
864:Quintanilla, Milton (February 1, 2022).
761:Klett, Leah MarieAnn (August 31, 2022).
471:was released September 9, 2022, through
1347:from the original on September 28, 2022
1218:from the original on September 10, 2022
1185:from the original on September 16, 2022
1099:from the original on September 14, 2022
1038:from the original on September 23, 2022
833:Klett, Leah MaryAnn (August 18, 2022).
644:from the original on September 23, 2022
558:
381:Justin Sterner as Nate, David's friend.
1335:"After Roe, We Must Treasure Adoption"
1314:from the original on September 9, 2022
1129:from the original on September 4, 2022
1008:from the original on September 3, 2022
977:from the original on September 4, 2022
944:from the original on September 9, 2022
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872:from the original on September 5, 2022
845:from the original on September 4, 2022
811:from the original on September 4, 2022
775:from the original on September 3, 2022
742:from the original on September 4, 2022
716:from the original on September 4, 2022
678:from the original on September 2, 2022
661:
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614:from the original on September 4, 2022
307:, and Raphael Ruggero star, while the
828:
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799:Chandler, Diana (September 2, 2022).
7:
1284:from the original on August 15, 2022
1159:from the original on August 15, 2022
1068:from the original on August 30, 2022
908:from the original on October 2, 2022
894:Gilblom, Kelly (September 9, 2022).
794:
792:
790:
996:Hoefer, Natalie (August 21, 2022).
666:Sallee, Jolee (September 2, 2022).
1605:English-language independent films
1272:Foust, Michael (August 15, 2022).
963:Foust, Michael (August 26, 2022).
369:as Shawn Cates, Melissa's husband.
16:2022 American Christian drama film
14:
1087:Shaw, Tori (September 13, 2022).
1153:Jesuit High School (New Orleans)
930:Day, James (September 9, 2022).
351:Raphael Ruggero as David Colton.
1062:National Religious Broadcasters
702:Ballard, Mark (March 5, 2018).
1:
1565:2020s English-language films
494:BrahmÄstra: Part One â Shiva
378:Iain Tucker as Young Brian.
224:September 9, 2022
1621:
1575:American independent films
937:National Catholic Register
736:"I Lived on Parker Avenue"
540:National Catholic Register
177:Kirk Cameron Entertainment
316:not to be distributed by
209:August 28, 2022
35:Theatrical release poster
28:
1585:Films about Christianity
638:Plugged In (publication)
430:I Lived on Parker Avenue
401:I Lived on Parker Avenue
294:I Lived on Parker Avenue
1181:. Christian Headlines.
868:. Christian Headlines.
491:was released alongside
318:Sony Pictures Releasing
1600:Films set in the 2010s
1595:Films set in the 1990s
1560:2022 independent films
1310:. September 9, 2022.
104:Rebecca Rogers Nelson
1590:Films about religion
1580:Films about adoption
1570:2020s American films
232: (United States)
1155:. August 15, 2022.
1064:. August 18, 2022.
280:is a 2022 American
1516:Show Me the Father
1211:Deadline Hollywood
839:The Christian Post
768:The Christian Post
445:) was released by
396:Jesuit High School
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1491:Kendrick Brothers
1463:Facing the Giants
1446:Sherwood Pictures
1437:Kendrick Brothers
1433:Sherwood Pictures
1278:Baptist Messenger
610:. June 11, 2022.
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513:review aggregator
507:Critical response
322:Sherwood Pictures
309:Kendrick Brothers
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