The Secret: Dare to Dream
The Secret: Dare to Dream is a 2020 American drama film based on the 2006 self-help book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Directed by Andy Tennant, from a screenplay he wrote with Bekah Brunstetter and Rick Parks, it stars Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas, Jerry O'Connell, and Celia Weston.
The Secret: Dare to Dream | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster with original release date | |
Directed by | Andy Tennant |
Produced by |
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Screenplay by |
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Based on | The Secret by Rhonda Byrne |
Starring | |
Music by | George Fenton |
Cinematography | Andrew Dunn |
Edited by | Troy Takaki |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 107 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $9.2 million[1] |
Box office | $3.2 million[2][3] |
The film was released in the United States through video on demand, and theatrically in several countries, on July 31, 2020, by Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions and Gravitas Ventures. It received generally negative reviews from critics.
Premise
The crux of this film is the belief of one of the lead characters in positive thinking which re-ignites the spirits of the second lead character and her family. The story is set in New Orleans. Miranda Wells (Katie Holmes) is a hard-working young widow struggling to raise three children. There's a storm brewing in the area. She works for a fish shop owned by Tucker (Jerry O'Connell) who is also her boyfriend. Bray Johnson (Josh Lucas) is an engineering professor from Vanderbilt University looking to meet Miranda to deliver a package. Bray visits Miranda's house to drop off a letter but she's not home, only her son Greg Wells (Aidan Pierce Brennan), speaks and decides to come back later.
While driving back home after picking up her two daughters, older Missy Wells (Sarah Hoffmeister) and younger Bess Wells (Chloe Lee) from school, Miranda hits a truck whose driver turns out to be Bray. Bray offers to fix the broken bumper for Miranda and as they drive back realises that it is the same Miranda he came looking for. Bray and Greg fix the car bumper, the storm brewing as well.
The family readies for dinner inviting Bray as well, with the younger Bess wanting pizza and Miranda feeling bad not being able to provide it. Bray then stresses on positive thinking and its power and maybe there could be pizza. There's a knock on the door by pizza delivery, from Tucker. This event will be the first of the many positive things happening in Miranda's life.
Bray's presence and his belief in the power of positive thinking re-ignites the family's spirit, but he carries a secret, which could change everything.[4][5]
Cast
- Katie Holmes as Miranda Wells
- Josh Lucas as Bray Johnson
- Jerry O'Connell as Tucker Middendorf
- Celia Weston as Bobby
- Sarah Hoffmeister as Missy Wells
- Aidan Brennan as Greg Wells
- Chloe Lee as Bess Wells
- Katrina Begin as Jennifer
- Sydney Tennant as Sloane
Production
In August 2017, it was announced Katie Holmes had joined the cast of the film, with Andy Tennant directing from a screenplay he wrote alongside Bekah Brunstetter and Rick Parks, based on the 2006 self-help book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.[6] The book has been translated into 50 languages and appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for 190 weeks.[7] In September 2018, Josh Lucas joined the cast of the film.[8] In November 2018, Jerry O'Connell and Celia Weston joined the cast of the film.[9]
Filming
Principal photography began on October 30, 2018, in New Orleans.[10]
Release
In November 2019, Roadside Attractions and Gravitas Ventures acquired distribution rights to the film.[4] It was scheduled to be released on April 17, 2020, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was pulled from the schedule. Roadside Attractions originally stated that it would announce a new theatrical release "[o]nce clarity for a safe and comfortable moviegoing experience is established",[11] but the film's theatrical release was eventually cancelled. Instead, it debuted through video on demand on July 31, 2020.[12]
Reception
VOD sales
In its debut weekend, The Secret: Dare to Dream was the top-rented film on FandangoNow, second at Apple TV, seventh on the iTunes Store, and 10th on Spectrum.[13][14] In its second weekend the film finished second on FandangoNow's weekly rental chart, and placed on two others.[15][16]
Critical response
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 29% based on 45 reviews, with a weighted average of 4.51/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "For those who Dare to Dream of a worthy dramatic adaptation of The Secret, this sodden romance will prove a disappointment too painful to visualize."[17] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 32 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[18]
References
- "Initial Certification Search" (Type "Secret" in the search box). Fastlane NextGen. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- "The Secret: Dare to Dream (2020)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- "The Secret: Dare to Dream (2020) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- N'Duka, Amanda (November 22, 2019). "Katie Holmes & Josh Lucas Drama 'The Secret: Dare to Dream' Lands At Gravitas". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Ritman, Alex (1 November 2018). "Jerry O'Connell, Celia Weston Join Katie Holmes in 'The Secret Movie'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- Lang, Brent (August 9, 2017). "Katie Holmes to Star in Adaptation of Best-Selling Book 'The Secret'". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Stewart, John (22 November 2019). "Katie Holmes' 'The Secret' Movie Acquired by Gravitas Ventures". Slanted. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- Wiseman, Andreas (September 24, 2018). "Katie Holmes & Josh Lucas Pic 'The Secret' Gets Backing From Tri-G, Savvy Media & Shine Box Ahead Of New Orleans Shoot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Ritman, Alex (November 1, 2018). "Jerry O'Connell, Celia Weston Join Katie Holmes in 'The Secret Movie' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Lopez, Kenny (October 15, 2018). "Katie Holmes set to star in "The Secret" filming in New Orleans". WGNO.com. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Day-Ramos, Dino (March 17, 2020). "Roadside Attractions Postpones Release Of Katie Holmes And Josh Lucas Drama 'The Secret: Dare To Dream'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- Ray-Ramos, Dino (July 17, 2020). "'The Secret: Dare To Dream' Sets PVOD Release After Theatrical Date Halted By Coronavirus – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- Brueggemann, Tom (August 3, 2020). "'The Secret: Dare to Dream' Soars on PVOD as 'The Rental' and 'The Outpost' Hold Strong". IndieWire. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- Rowles, Dustin (August 2, 2020). "Box Office: 'Black Is King' And The Most-Watched Movies At Home Over The Weekend". Uproxx. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- Rowles, Dustin (August 9, 2020). "Weekend Box Office: Seth Rogen, Shia LaBeouf, And The Most-Watched Movies At Home". Uproxx. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- Brueggemann, Tom (August 10, 2020). "Shia LaBeouf's 'The Tax Collector' Scores on VOD and in Theaters; 'The Secret Garden' Strong". IndieWire. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "The Secret: Dare to Dream (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- "The Secret: Dare to Dream Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 3, 2020.