User reviews

This movie is a sort of propaganda film, but it is also a story of one woman's struggle and growth. The IMDb rating is meaningless. Look at the distribution of ratings. Less than 200 of the over 3800 ratings to this date are within the expected range of 4 to 7 stars and another 234 are 8 stars. 2900 of the 3800 are one extreme or another, 1 or 10 stars. Except in rare cases, 1 star or 10 stars is an attempt to influence the average. This is not a 10 star movie. Nor is it, apart from a preconceived bias against the topic, a 1 star movie.

I said to my wife as we exited the theater, "if this weren't based on a true story, I would think it was" a bunch of unbelievable, unrealistic fiction. (I actually used different words outside the quotes, but they didn't accurately express my thought so at that point I paraphrase myself.)

I'd like to believe, and mostly do, that Abby Johnson has told the story with accurate facts. If there were any blatant falsehoods, I can't believe they wouldn't be plastered all over every media outlet possible. But we also can't expect that events were not presented in the best possible light to meet the Narrative. Not that I don't agree with the Narrative. I whole heartedly believe that life begins at conception and that those lives have the right to live as much as any other human being has that right. I believe that, with few or no exceptions , abortion is murder. I have also seen far too much evidence that supports much of what the movie reveals about Planned Parenthood.

Ashley Bratcher, as Abby in voice over, tells us that she was naive. It is hard to argue that Planned Parenthood does not provide many necessary reproductive services for women at low or no cost, which may be hard to find in some areas. Someone in my family has benefited from those services. But as her boss says later in the movie, abortion is their money maker. And I don't remember how exactly she answered Abby's response "But we're non-profit", but her point was that non-profit is not PP's business model. Their goal is to make money.

I read that someone or some group questioned whether Abby ever really saw the ultrasound that is so controversial but also so impactful. Abby has responded to that allegation and I personally can't believe that viewing such an ultrasound wasn't a big part of what motivated her to a 180 degree turnaround which has led to unbelievable persecution in her life. How else do you explain such a huge change of heart and the resulting dedication.

As to the movie, I would say that most of the acting is poor to fair at best. I found Ashley Bratcher's effort credible. I would question Jared Lotz's portrayal except that I have met people like Shawn. The portrayal of her boss is very one dimensional painting that woman in strokes similar to the worst movie villains we can think of. The production quality was also adequate. Judging the story is probably the most subject to the effects of bias, but I found it to be a courageous story, but one that dragged in spots. While it is a difficult story to watch, it did not get to far into what must have been a frightful aftermath of Abby's change of heart.

I would like to call this movie a 7 or 8 star movie because of the message, but then I would be falling into the same bias trap as the majority of the 2900 people I mentioned above. If I'm going to do that, then I might as well call it 10 stars because the message is that important.

Here is a takeaway from the movie for those who agree with the message. I think it is Abby who tells her new friends and allies that PP's own statistics show that when there are people praying at the entrance to a clinic, the turnaway rate jumps immensely and many of those are never known to those silent witnesses because they turn away without going near the building.

As a corollary to that, the movie accurately portrays the behavior of those people outside the fence. I've been there many times. Yes there are often very unpleasant people shouting terrible things, but in my experience those aren't the majority. There are many people who are totally silent witnesses. And there are also many people who are there to bring hope and comfort, people who offer kind words along with real alternatives.

Honestly, if you watch this film with an open mind you will be moved and frankly stunned. Every person on both sides of the debate needs to see this movie. Goes beyond hype and delivers so much truth. Isn't that what we really need? All the facts and the entire picture before taking such an important stance? As much as I love my Marvel movies, this is the tale of real life heroes and victims that needs to be seen. Most of the time movies should be escapist entertainment but in some cases certain things are too important not to shed light with this medium. Do the world a favor and see this film and judge for yourself.

I'm not sure why this movie was rated R, but it does contain about 3 sequences that will make you squeamish if you don't like the sight of blood. Pure Flix has come a long way and this movie is well produced, timely, and potent. It will make you laugh, cry, think, and maybe even squirm a little bit. Also, the content is incredibly timely. Abby's story is intense and the actress portraying her does a superb job. Very few cheesy moments in this film--it deserves to be taken seriously.

The entire movie revolves around the premise that Planned Parenthood actively pressures pregnant patients to have abortions. These clinics would be subject to massive lawsuits if they did this. In real life the exact opposite happens. Clinic counselors (not managers) check with women to be absolutely certain that no one is pressuring them into doing something they don't want to do.

I added an extra star because it's the Reefer Madness of the future. I hope I will live long enough for the satirical musical.

I came in to this movie very naive. I left with more than I bargained for. One surprising consequence of seeing the movie was a compassion I now feel for abortion workers. It was portrayed so powerful that I came away feeling that these people who do this for a living really do care about women, really believe they are helping. It also clearly showed the fallacies and errors proliferation have made in their attempts to stop abortion. Yelling at people and scaring them has never changed anyone's heart. Abortion is a violent and unnatural act which was portrayed tactfully but powerfully. You will walk into the theater thinking you have a handle on the issue but come out changed. Go see it!

Before I write this review, I want to explain a bit about my background. Unlike the target audience for this film, I am not a religious Christian. I am from a secular-Jewish family and consider myself an atheist. I've been pro-choice for most of my life, but I realized last year that I was only pro-choice by default. My opinion on the topic was based on only hearing one side of the story for my whole life. Everything I read and saw was pro-choice. Every person I knew was pro-choice. A couple of years ago, I met some pro-life women, and I was surprised that they were not the "ignorant" people I've always been told they were. These were competent, educated, professional women, some in medical fields. I was told that they were against women's rights, but they were mothers who had been through pregnancy and childbirth; they had daughters who could be affected by the abortion issue in their lifetime. They weren't "anti-woman" by any means. So, I decided to do more research and consider the other side of the story.

I encourage other pro-choice people to do the same by viewing this film. You can not have an informed opinion on controversial issues without researching both pro and con points of view. I have not read the book "Unplanned," but I have viewed several of Abby's Johnson's speeches, and this film stayed true to her account of her experience working for Planned Parenthood. Although I expect, like all biopics, some artistic license must have been taken with the story.

I'm a screenwriter who has had films optioned and I have worked in development as a full-time Story Analyst. Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman have crafted an engaging adaptation. Since I had prior knowledge of Mrs. Johnson's story, the film was predictable for me, but I was still emotionally involved in the main character's journey from start to finish. The dramatization puts you in Abby Johnson's shoes, in the way that listening to a speech can not. It's never easy to take someone's real life and put it into a three-act structure with a satisfying character arc. but Solomon and Konzelman were up to the task.

At this point, I am not going to label myself either pro-life or pro-choice. Whether you think abortion should be legal or not, Abby Johnson's story reveals that Planned Parenthood is not perfect and needs improvement. Profits from abortion are a priority, so counselors are less medical professionals than salespersons. The counselors do not always give accurate information to the pregnant women who come in, and they mislead them, or withhold information about fetal development and the actual abortion procedure. I have spoken to women who had abortions as teenagers, who now regret it, and some of them have told me that they felt Planned Parenthood misled them and did not help them make an informed decision about their pregnancy. This film is important because it brings those issues to light. You don't have to be a religious person to appreciate that no woman should undergo a medical procedure without being fully informed about it.

This one and Roe V Wade (2021) are close contenders in lies per minute and caricatural acting. See both... or maybe not, there are so many worthwhile movies out there.

We live in a society that will buy organic, free range eggs because it's kinder to animals and yet, after watching Unplanned, it became very clear to me that we are ignorant about what we are doing to our own species; we are ignorant about what actually happens during an abortion procedure and the violent, gruesome reality we would rather look away from. It's time to stop looking away. This is a movie everyone needs to see. It is the testimony of a woman who was involved in thousands of abortions but changed her stance after witnessing just one. What caused Abby Johnson to change her mind might actually change yours, too and I think that's what scares people and why this film causes such a stir.

I find it very disturbing to hear how many in the information industry such as Google, Twitter, the movie rating agency, and music label companies appear to be trying to limit the exposure of the movie Unplanned to the public by shutting down accounts, labeling the show as propaganda, not allowing musicians to contribute music, or incorrectly assigning a R rating to the movie. Whether one disagrees or agrees with the content of the movie does not matter. What matters is that these companies and groups are censoring content that should not be censored. Although I have seen this movie and think it conveys a powerful message, I realize many won't want to see it and /or disagree strongly with the movie's content That's OK. The free exchange of ideas is what we need to preserve and protect. How can we survive as a healthy society if we don't allow ideas, even disagreeable ideas, to be shared and then let us the people decide which ideas hold the most merit? Shame on those making the decisions that result in implicit censorship!

Planned Parenthood and all workers are made out to be the villains in this movie. Not the antagonist. Villains, as in comic book-esque evil and deadset on some agenda to sell abortions, which the movie tries to tell you that Planned Parenthood is focused on selling because that's their main source of revenue. Truth: It's not. Abortions only account for 3% of the services they provide and 10% of their patients receive them. So, don't go into this movie if you would like to be informed on the pro-life vs pro-choice debate and Planned Parenthood's role in it. Please do your own research after this movie because it holds many mistruths.

Now, about the movie itself, is it any good? No, not in the slightest. Script read like a brochure. Acting was dull, especially regarding Abby's husband in the film, dude can't emote to save his life and he ruined several emotional scenes due to this. The cinematography was bland. The score/soundtrack either washed away into the background or led to some rather jarring tonal shifts. A bright, poppy song would play over a montage of a busy day at the clinic when in the previous scene, Abby was experiencing inner conflict over her role there.

This movie's just a mess, man. If you want a masterclass on how to not make a movie, then by all means go out and watch this with pen and paper because there's A LOT of noteworthy material in here.

This movie tells the true story of what goes on in a Planned Parenthood clinic. Not only did Abby work as a Director of a Planned Parenthood clinic, the doctor and nurse in the scenes have also worked for many years in clinics, and they re-enact exactly what goes on behind closed doors. This gripping movie is very impactful to viewers and brings this reality into light. I strongly recommend bringing your teenagers to see this movie so they understand the truth about Planned Parenthood. If they ever find themselves in a desperate situation, there are many organizations that are ready to lovingly help them through parenting, and people who would love to adopt their child and give them a happy home.

I worked in the movie industry for over 13 years and the acting and the production quality is excellent. Unfortunately Hollywood is going to rate this as a 1 because they do not want this message out! There are many movies and shows on television that are far more bloody and disturbing, and the "R" rating for this movie is not justified.

Unplanned was the fourth-highest grossing movie in the US on its opening weekend (March 29-31), and has already received endorsements from Mike Pence, Donald Trump Jr. and Ted Cruz. The film's trailer promises viewers they will "discover the truth," but the reality is one of manipulation, misrepresentation, and the invigoration of a nationwide trend which threatens the safety of women and their rights over their bodies.

The reach of such films must not be underestimated. Another anti-abortion movie, Gosnell, was screened by the White House last week. President Trump was apparently not present, but he has already proven himself an enthusiastic proponent of blatant abortion lies for the sake of political capital - claiming in a statement in February that New York lawmakers would happily "allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth."

Planned Parenthood is depicted as "one of the most powerful organisations in the world," a ruthless machine devoted to coercing women into as many abortions as possible for profit. This is hugely misleading. Over 70 percent of Planned Parenthood's revenue comes from private contributions, government health services reimbursements, and grants. Abortions account for only 4 percent of Planned Parenthood activities, more than 90 per cent of which are preventative. These include wellness exams, contraception, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment. By default, the organisation's activities minimise abortions, by preventing unwanted pregnancies. To suggest otherwise perpetuates the false narrative of a heartless "abortion industry" beloved by the conservative press, which has already seized upon the film's spin. But the menaced threat of Planned Parenthood is far from the most dangerous message of Unplanned.The 'fighting' foetus of the 13 week abortion Johnson describes witnessesing prior to her conversion is impossible. A foetus doesn't develop the capacity to perceive pain - let alone respond to it - until at least the third trimester. The sight of Johnson first guiding people towards having abortions, then sobbing and shocked, paints women as ignorant pawns. It amplifies a message which gained traction with Kavanaugh's journey to the Supreme Court last year - that women who seek abortions must not be fully aware of what they are doing, because what they are doing is so awful that no-one in good conscience could go through with it. It is logic based in the premise that there is no distinction between a developing foetus and a functioning human. Unplanned plays into the hands of the anti-abortion lobby, making ghouls of the benign, and saints of the incendiary. In Unplanned director Chuck Konzelman's Congressional testimony last week, he claimed that since the film's release, 94 clinic workers have already sought help to leave their jobs. Irrespective of whether that bears out, direct action such as protesting outside clinics, which the film advocates, has the potential to escalate in ways which have proven deadly for healthcare providers in the past. Even where protest is relatively benign it is intimidating and upsetting, especially for patients who might already be going through one of the most difficult events of their lives.

The attention Unplanned is receiving by those in power is already marked. Ted Cruz has ordered a Senate hearing into the accidental suspension of the Unplanned Twitter account. If Unplanned nudges an attack on Roe closer to the Supreme Court, women's rights - and their lives - will be in greater danger than ever.

This movie was great. The acting, cinematography and casting was fantastic. I love that the real Abby Johnson plays the role of one of the planned parenthood staff. So moving. When my daughter is around 13 I will watch it with her. The R rating is completely bogus. I have seen more graphic images, language and sexual content on television and PG movies.

Poorly written, terrible acting, ridiculously bad propaganda from your right wing fundamentalist friends who don't believe either in abortion OR funding health care, education, child care, or food for poor people.

If I could have given it a negative number, I'd have done so.

...This movie can change your life. It will give you the most vivid and true picture of what Planned Parenthood and abortion is really about. There is no doubt that this movie has saved many lives.

Well, reality is making its way back into movies. This is sad but very honest and very necessary. You can't leave saying you enjoyed this movie. Its incredibly sad.. It is well made, well researched and worth viewing. BOTH sides of this issue should see it.

While this movie isn't going to win any major awards, it does expose the harsh, callous, brutal reality of abortion. This lady had absolutely nothing to gain by sharing her experiences behind the walls of the clinic she ran. There are some very disturbing scenes, so the 'R' rating is definitely appropriate. Unfortunately, there are folks on here who haven't even watched the movie and just gave it the lowest rating with a "propaganda" warning, because they fear the reality of what this procedure does to the babies and the after affects to the women who undergo it. This movie doesn't sugar-coat anything, nor does it sensationalize. Today, everything is about being "transparent" and that's what this movie is. It shines a light on the lies and reveals the darkest secrets of PP. "The truth can sound like hate to those who hate the truth."

This film is full of proven lies and is designed as propaganda.

I've read some reviews that this movie is a hit piece on Planned Parenthood. The problem with that is this: it was told by a woman who actually worked within the system. She, like me, believed abortion should be legal, safe, & rare. The problem is PP is a business, a multi-billion dollar a year business. This isn't an easy story to sit through. However, the truth has a way of making us uncomfortable. I think this story should be required viewing for every high school student, parent, teacher, & politician. Abortion is barbaric and the time to be apathetic about this subject is over.

The filmmaking is mediocre, but the film is worthwhile for the transformation story and for the information it imparts about the true nature of abortion and of the abortion industry. A better-made film on this topic is Gosnell: The Trial Of America's Biggest Serial Killer. People who want to seriously consider the subject of abortion should see both films.

The R-rating is totally unfounded and suggests an intent to suppress the film.

This is nothing short of propaganda. Nothing in the film is based on fact or truth. It isn't even based on a true story, as it claims. It's ridiculous to even call this a "film."