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Miracles from Heaven

Miracles from Heaven is a 2016 American Christian drama film directed by Patricia Riggen and written by Randy Brown.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Miracles from Heaven is a 2016 American Christian drama film directed by Patricia Riggen and written by Randy Brown. Based on Christy Beam’s memoir, it dramatizes the Beam family's experience with their daughter Anna’s serious illness and reported recovery after a near-death incident.

Plot

The film centres on Christy Beam, whose daughter Anna develops a severe, hard-to-treat illness. After a major accident, Anna later reports a near-death experience, and the story follows the family’s response and her apparent recovery.

Production and release

Miracles from Heaven was directed by Patricia Riggen and written by Randy Brown. It was released in the United States on March 16, 2016, and is adapted from Christy Beam’s memoir.

Reception

The film received mixed critical reviews, with praise frequently directed toward Jennifer Garner’s performance. Despite this, it became a box office success relative to its modest production budget.

Historical basis

The film is presented as being inspired by the real-life experiences of the Beam family in Burleson, Texas. Its central claims are framed through the memoir and the family's account of Anna Beam’s illness and recovery.

Key facts

  • The film is based on a memoir by Christy Beam and presents the Beam family's story as a true story.
  • It follows Christy Beam as she seeks treatment for her daughter Anna, who is diagnosed with a rare, incurable digestive disorder.
  • The plot includes a fall from a tree and Anna’s reported experience of visiting heaven.
  • Jennifer Garner plays Christy Beam, and Kylie Rogers plays Anna Beam.
  • The film was released by Columbia Pictures in March 2016 and performed well commercially.
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Canadian context

The film is available to Canadian audiences through mainstream home-entertainment and streaming channels, and it is part of the wider English-language North American faith-based film market.

Frequently asked questions

Is Miracles from Heaven based on a true story?
Yes. It is based on Christy Beam’s memoir about her daughter Anna Beam and the family’s account of her illness and recovery.
Who directed Miracles from Heaven?
Patricia Riggen directed the film.
When was Miracles from Heaven released?
It was released in the United States on March 16, 2016.
Who stars in Miracles from Heaven?
The cast includes Jennifer Garner, Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, John Carroll Lynch, Eugenio Derbez, and Queen Latifah.
What genre is Miracles from Heaven?
It is generally classified as a Christian drama film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracles_from_Heaven
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, release date, basis on Christy Beam's memoir, plot overview, box office, and production background.
  2. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/miracles-from-heaven-2016
    Supports: The film’s memoir basis and premise involving Anna Beam’s illness and recovery.
  3. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80081151
    Supports: Genre classification, synopsis, and principal cast.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/miracles_from_heaven
    Supports: Release date, runtime, rating, synopsis, and box office gross.