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Show Me the Father
Show Me the Father
from Wikipedia
Show Me the Father
Show Me the Father Promotional Poster
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRick Altizer
Produced byMark Miller
Starring
CinematographyJohn Melton
Edited by
  • Mark Miller
  • Rick Altizer
  • Scott Simmonds
  • Bill Ebel
Music byKyle McCuiston
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
  • September 10, 2021 (2021-09-10)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
Box office$1.9 million[1][2]

Show Me the Father is a 2021 American Christian documentary film by director Rick Altizer, presenting five fatherhood-related stories connected with commentary by Tony Evans, produced by Mark Miller and executive produced by the Kendrick brothers. It is the Kendrick brothers' seventh film and their third through their subsidiary, Kendrick Brothers Productions. It was theatrically released on September 10, 2021.[3]

Plot

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The film covers the fatherhood stories of good fathers, absent fathers, and abusive fathers. It also details the adoption of Stephen Kendrick's daughter from China, and the blessings that the Kendrick brothers' father Larry pronounced for them at each of their respective weddings.

Cast

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With the exception of Evans, who provides Christian, faith-based commentary on topics of fatherhood, adoption, and sonship,[4] each person featured in the film relates their personal stories of experiencing fatherhood. While the five main stories focus on men, several of their mothers and wives also provide their perspectives on the events depicted, as does Larry Kendrick, Alex and Stephen's father.[5]

Theme

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Quoted in The Christian Post, executive producer Stephen Kendrick said "We want people to learn how to relate to God as the perfect Father they've always wanted and longed for, but never had," he added. "The fatherhood of God was the design for God creating fatherhood on Earth. All the roles that dad is supposed to play on Earth come from God's roles in our lives."[5]

Production

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Show Me the Father is the Kendrick brothers' seventh film and the third produced by their company, Kendrick Brothers. Their initial four films were created under Sherwood Pictures.[6]

Reception

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Box office

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Released on September 10, 2021, the film made $700,181 from 1,073 theaters in its opening weekend.[7]

Critical response

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The Christian Post positively reacted to the film.[5] Writing for Crosswalk.com, Michael Foust said that "Show Me the Father isn't a boring documentary. Like the Kendricks Brothers' feature films, it inspires and convicts you – and leaves you reaching for the box of tissue."[8] Reviewing for World Radio, Collin Garbario praised the film but suggested the filmmakers could have "broadened their interviews to include more perspectives on the importance of fathers. For example, we don't really get to hear about the legacy that a good or bad father can leave on a woman's life."[4] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare average grade of "A+", the fourth consecutive top score for a Kendrick Brothers-produced film,[9] while PostTrak reported 88% of audience members gave it a positive score, with 67% saying they would definitely recommend it.[7]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Show Me the Father is a American Christian directed by Rick Altizer and produced by the , featuring true stories that examine the profound influence of earthly fathers—both positive and negative—on individuals' identities and life paths, while highlighting biblical perspectives on as a loving Father. The film marks the first documentary project from the , renowned for their inspirational feature films such as War Room (2015), Overcomer (2019), Fireproof (2008), and Courageous (2011). Released in theaters on September 10, 2021, with a runtime of 91 minutes and a PG rating, it interweaves personal narratives, including a notable account of former player and his relationship with coach , alongside commentary from figures like pastor Tony Evans, president Jim Daly, and producer . These stories aim to inspire viewers of all ages by addressing emotional aspects of fatherhood and encouraging a deeper understanding of divine fatherly love. Critically, Show Me the Father received mixed reviews from a limited number of critics but strong audience approval, earning a 98% audience score on based on over 250 verified ratings and a 6.9/10 rating on from 10,608 users. The documentary grossed $1,803,226 domestically ($1.9 million worldwide) at the box office and became available for streaming on platforms like starting in late 2021.

Background

Kendrick Brothers' involvement

The , Stephen and Alex, established their reputation through a series of faith-based narrative films produced in partnership with , ' Christian content division, including War Room (2015), which grossed over $67 million domestically, and Overcomer (2019), emphasizing themes of identity and purpose. These projects, directed primarily by Alex and written by Stephen, focused on fictional stories rooted in biblical principles. With Show Me the Father (2021), the brothers transitioned to documentary filmmaking for the first time, serving as executive producers to present authentic, real-life accounts of fatherhood that aligned with their ongoing mission to inspire spiritual growth. This shift allowed the Kendricks to incorporate deeply personal elements into the production, driven by their desire to highlight how earthly father experiences reflect God's paternal nature. A key motivation was sharing family stories, particularly Stephen Kendrick's adoption of his daughter Mia from China in 2011, a process marked by divine guidance and challenges such as Mia's congenital heart defect, which ultimately illustrated themes of redemption and unconditional love. The brothers' involvement stemmed from their recognition of a cultural "father crisis," where millions of children grow up without involved dads—as of 2021, approximately 17.4 million children in the United States lived without a father in the home—prompting them to use the film as a platform for healing and biblical encouragement. In terms of specific contributions, co-wrote the screenplay alongside director Rick Altizer and Mark Miller, weaving in scriptural connections between human fathers and God's fatherhood, informed by the brothers' upbringing in a Georgia Christian home where their father's conversion to faith profoundly shaped their worldview. focused on thematic development, ensuring the stories—such as adoptions and reconciliations—tied personal narratives to broader spiritual insights, while both brothers appeared on screen to share reflections from their lives. This hands-on integration marked a deliberate evolution from their scripted features, prioritizing vulnerability and testimony to engage audiences on fatherhood's eternal significance.

Inspirational sources

The ' documentary Show Me the Father drew significant inspiration from their father, Larry Kendrick, whose life exemplified faith-based and the transmission of blessings across generations. Larry, a devoted Christian who battled yet remained actively involved in his children's lives, modeled authentic faith through daily prayers for his family and an emphasis on introducing them to God's love. This influence permeated the brothers' work, with characters in their prior films often reflecting aspects of Larry's resilience and guidance, and he is directly featured in the documentary as a real-life example of redemptive fatherhood. Broader conceptual influences stemmed from Christian teachings on fatherhood, particularly the scriptural mandates to nurture children in and restore familial bonds. Proverbs 22:6, which instructs parents to "train up a child in the way he should go," underscored the film's exploration of intentional, God-centered as a means to instill lasting spiritual values. Similarly, 4:6, prophesying that would "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers," informed the project's focus on reconciliation and in father-child relationships, portraying earthly fatherhood as a reflection of divine restoration without delving into detailed theological analysis. The film's creation was also catalyzed by the directors' observations of widespread in contemporary , which they viewed as a pressing cultural exacerbating generational wounds. The Kendricks felt compelled to address how God's fatherly role could fill such voids. This societal backdrop, combined with a perceived divine prompting during the , propelled the project forward as a call to recognize and emulate the Heavenly Father's perfect love amid earthly imperfections.

Production

Development

The development of Show Me the Father was initiated in 2020 by Mark Miller as lead producer under Productions, marking the team's first foray into documentary filmmaking following their narrative features like Overcomer. To helm the project, the recruited director Rick Altizer, selected for his established expertise in faith-based documentaries, including his prior work on : I Still Believe. Altizer's background in weaving personal testimonies with inspirational themes aligned with the film's vision of exploring fatherhood through authentic narratives. The pre-production research process spanned several months, focusing on the profound impact of fatherhood—or its absence—on personal identity and spiritual growth. This involved targeted outreach to a range of individuals to curate diverse, real-life stories, such as those from Pastor Tony Evans, who shares insights on biblical fatherhood, and former NFL player , recounting his experiences with paternal influences. The selection emphasized variety in backgrounds to highlight universal themes while avoiding a uniform perspective. Planning centered on a concise 91-minute runtime to maintain emotional engagement without overwhelming viewers, prioritizing unscripted, heartfelt testimonies over dramatized reenactments to foster genuine connection and reflection. This approach allowed the documentary format to shine through intimate interviews and visual storytelling, setting the stage for a that invites audiences to reconsider their own father stories in light of divine fatherhood.

Filming and post-production

Filming for Show Me the Father commenced in 2020 under the direction of Rick Altizer, executive produced by the , and focused on capturing personal interviews to illustrate five true stories of fatherhood. The production traveled across the to conduct these sessions in authentic settings, such as participants' homes and churches, allowing for intimate testimonies that emphasized emotional depth through . The documentary incorporated a mix of primary interviews—with figures including , Dr. Tony Evans, , Jim Daly, , and the Kendricks themselves—alongside archival footage and b-roll to contextualize the narratives without relying on scripted reenactments. This approach highlighted raw, unfiltered accounts, interweaving personal reflections with visual elements that underscored the stories' emotional resonance. COVID-19 restrictions posed significant challenges, particularly in scheduling and logistics, prompting the team to pivot from a planned collaboration with to this smaller-scale documentary format. Productions adhered to safety protocols, including a reduced crew size of typically one interviewer per session, mandatory masks, and temperature screenings, which enabled filming when larger ensemble shoots were infeasible. Post-production began in early , with Mark Miller overseeing the process to seamlessly blend the five distinct narratives into a cohesive whole. The timeline aligned with the film's theatrical release on September 10, , incorporating elements like uplifting tracks to amplify the inspirational tone and emotional transitions between stories. was handled by John-Clay Burnett, ensuring a polished, cinematic suitable for theatrical presentation.

Content

Overall structure and narration

Show Me the Father employs a non-linear structure that alternates between five personal stories of fatherhood and interspersed commentary segments to explore the film's central themes. The content is organized around five key elements of a father's blessing—touch, words, value, future, and commitment—with each story and commentary illustrating these aspects. This approach creates a cohesive by weaving individual experiences with broader reflections, allowing the stories to build upon one another thematically rather than following a strictly chronological order. Dr. Tony Evans serves as the primary narrator, delivering theological transitions that connect the personal stories to scriptural insights on fatherhood. His voiceovers provide a unifying biblical perspective, guiding viewers through the emotional and spiritual progression of the film without dominating the runtime. Complementing Evans, brothers Alex and contribute additional voiceovers, drawing from their own family experiences, such as the of their Mia, to add authenticity and relatability to the commentary segments. Visual motifs, including family photos and archival footage, are integrated throughout to tie together the disparate narratives and evoke a sense of intimacy and continuity. These elements serve as subtle bridges between stories, reinforcing the film's focus on legacy and influence across generations. The pacing is intentionally structured for emotional build-up, with each story and commentary segment escalating in intensity to foster viewer reflection. This culminates in a powerful invitation for audiences to reframe their understanding of as a compassionate , leaving a lasting impression through its deliberate narrative rhythm. The documentary Show Me the Father presents five personal narratives illustrating various aspects of fatherhood experiences. The first story features Jim Daly, president of , who recounts his challenging upbringing marked by an abusive alcoholic biological father who threatened his mother, followed by a harsh who abandoned the family after her death from cancer when Daly was 13. Placed in , Daly found guidance through his high school wrestling coach, Paul Morrow, who acted as a and introduced him to , ultimately leading Daly to embrace faith and later adopt four children himself while leading the organization to promote . The second narrative centers on Jonathan Evans, son of pastor Tony Evans, who describes the impact of an absent and strained relationship with both his biological father and stepfather during his youth. Evans credits a pivotal influence from his coach, whose compassionate guidance helped foster his spiritual growth and connection to , enabling him to overcome the emotional voids left by his earthly fathers. In the third story, former player and winner shares his journey through a fatherless childhood and subsequent challenges in his own role as a father. George's path to redemption is highlighted through his encounter with mentor during his time with the , where faith-based encouragement supported his efforts to rebuild family relationships and embrace responsible fatherhood. The fourth account involves filmmakers Alex and Stephen , along with their brother Shannon, who reflect on their father Larry Kendrick's enduring influence despite his battles with and a childhood in an alcoholic household lacking clear paternal guidance. Larry provided meaningful blessings to each son at their weddings, affirming their value and future, while the brothers detail their own process as a couple, describing it as a miraculous alignment that deepened their understanding of familial commitment. The fifth story encompasses broader examples of societal transformation via faith-based mentoring, exemplified by a chain involving former players and . Smith, raised by a loving and affirming , later mentored McCullough, who grew up without a and faced significant hardships; McCullough, in turn, became a coach who extended guidance to young men from , demonstrating intergenerational healing through committed, faith-driven relationships.

Themes

Biblical fatherhood

The film presents God as the "perfect Father," serving as its central motif for ideal fatherhood, drawing directly from scriptural depictions such as 68:5, which describes as "a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows," and Ephesians 3:14-15, which states that every derives its name from the from whom all fatherhood originates. This portrayal underscores 's unconditional love, provision, and restorative power, positioning divine fatherhood as the ultimate model that earthly fathers are called to emulate, free from human imperfections. Throughout the documentary, verses are strategically used to frame each personal story, reinforcing themes of and legacy as essential to godly fatherhood. For instance, passages like 4:6, which speaks to turning "the hearts of the fathers to their children," and Ephesians 1:3, blessing believers with every spiritual blessing in Christ, introduce narratives of redemption, highlighting how breaks cycles of dysfunction and establishes a lasting spiritual . These scriptural anchors not only contextualize the featured testimonies—such as stories of and —but also emphasize that true legacy flows from aligning with God's paternal character. Dr. Tony Evans, a prominent theologian featured in the film, provides commentary that bridges Old and New Testament father archetypes to contemporary applications, portraying Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 as an exemplar of blessing transfer in the Old Testament and Jesus' teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount, as fulfilling that role through redemptive love in the New Testament. Evans explains that fathers are tasked with "transferring the character, person, and purposes of God to [their] offspring," urging modern men to invoke divine blessings to counteract generational curses and foster forgiveness in daily life. This linkage illustrates how biblical ideals remain relevant, offering a blueprint for healing family dynamics today.

Earthly father influences

The film "Show Me the Father" delves into the profound impact of earthly fathers on their children's emotional and spiritual development, particularly highlighting the long-term consequences of absence or . It portrays how such paternal shortcomings can lead to deep-seated wounds, fostering issues like mistrust, identity struggles, and vulnerability to destructive behaviors such as or incarceration. For instance, the documentary connects fatherlessness to heightened risks in children's lives, noting that fatherless youth are significantly more prone to negative outcomes, based on national studies. These case studies underscore the film's emphasis on how absent or abusive fathers distort a child's self-perception and relationships, often perpetuating cycles of pain across generations. In contrast, the film also celebrates positive earthly father influences through mentoring and active involvement, illustrating how dedicated men can fill voids in fatherless homes and guide youth toward stability. It features examples of coaches and figures stepping into paternal roles, providing emotional support, , and wisdom that counteract societal challenges like breakdown. These portrayals highlight the broader societal role of such mentors in breaking cycles of , promoting resilience and healthy in environments lacking traditional father figures. The documentary argues that consistent, compassionate guidance from earthly fathers—or substitutes—can model reliability and love, influencing children to thrive despite early hardships. Central to the film's message is the potential for redemption and from earthly father wounds through , as interviewees share transformations that restore their sense of worth. It depicts how acknowledging paternal failures can lead to and renewed purpose, with serving as a catalyst for mending broken family dynamics. By drawing on spiritual adoption, the documentary shows participants overcoming trauma, emphasizing that involves reframing one's identity beyond earthly disappointments. This process not only aids personal recovery but also inspires viewers to pursue and positive fatherhood in their own lives.

Release

Theatrical distribution

Show Me the Father was released theatrically in the United States on September 10, 2021, distributed by , a division of , in a across 1,073 theaters. The film targeted faith-based audiences through strategic partnerships with churches, offering official site licenses that enabled group screenings and events to extend its reach beyond traditional cinema venues. Home media availability followed on December 7, 2021, with releases on DVD and digital platforms, and Blu-ray on March 8, 2022, including exclusive bonus content such as deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes features. It also became available for streaming on on December 6, 2021. The film later became accessible for streaming on services like , with a limited-time offering starting October 1, 2023. Internationally, the film expanded to select markets beginning in late , including a wide release in on September 30, 2021, under the title Muéstrame Al Padre, with further availability in additional territories through 2022 and 2023 via home media and streaming.

Marketing and promotion

The official trailer for Show Me the Father was released on August 12, 2021, through a press announcement by and distributed via and various Christian media outlets, generating early buzz ahead of the September theatrical debut. Promotion efforts included strategic partnerships with organizations like , where president Jim Daly, who appears in the film, highlighted its themes in a dedicated blog post to encourage family discussions on fatherhood. Collaborations with churches facilitated pre-release screenings and event licenses, allowing congregations to host viewings as early as late August 2021, often integrated with sermons or group studies on biblical fatherhood. Social media campaigns played a key role, with official accounts on platforms like , , and X (formerly ) sharing clips from the film, behind-the-scenes content, and calls to action using the #ShowMeTheFather to amplify personal testimonies about father-child relationships. Tie-in events were promoted through the ' established network, including family-oriented church movie nights and discussions designed to foster father-child bonding, such as combined screenings with Q&A sessions.

Reception

Box office performance

Show Me the Father opened in 1,073 theaters on September 10, 2021, earning $700,181 during its debut weekend and ranking ninth at the North American . The film achieved an average per-screen gross of approximately $652, reflecting solid performance for a faith-based documentary in a competitive market. Over its theatrical run, the film accumulated $1,803,226 in domestic ticket sales, with an additional $115,685 from international markets, for a worldwide total of $1,918,911. Its limited engagement, averaging 2.5 weeks per theater, occurred amid the post-COVID-19 recovery of the cinema industry, when attendance was still rebounding from pandemic-related disruptions. As the ' inaugural documentary, Show Me the Father was produced on a modest budget, contrasting with their prior narrative features that delivered substantial returns relative to costs—for instance, War Room (2015) grossed $67.8 million domestically against a $3 million budget. This project's earnings, while positive for the genre, were more restrained compared to the brothers' earlier high-grossing releases like Fireproof ($33.5 million on $500,000) and Courageous ($34.7 million on $2 million).

Critical and audience response

"Show Me the Father" received largely positive reviews from Christian media outlets, which praised its emotional depth and inspirational stories of redemption and fatherhood. Plugged In, a publication from , commended the documentary for its moving narratives of pain, healing, and hope through faith, highlighting personal testimonies like those of president Jim Daly and coach . Similarly, Movieguide described the film as a "wonderful, inspiring documentary" with emotionally powerful stories and a strong biblical , emphasizing its uplifting twists and insights from Tony Evans. The covered the film's release positively, noting its powerful testimonies of fathers embracing their heavenly Father to improve their lives. Crosswalk.com ranked it among the better productions, appreciating the interweaving of earthly father stories with spiritual truths about . Mainstream coverage was limited, with mixed feedback often noting the film's overt preachiness. awarded it 3 out of 5 stars, acknowledging heartwarming stories such as the reunion of and but criticizing its heavy emphasis on Christian , which could feel grating to non-religious viewers. Audience reception was enthusiastic, particularly among faith-based viewers. The film earned a rare A+ , a grade achieved by only a select group of documentaries and marking another such rating for productions by the . On , it holds a 98% audience score based on over 180 verified ratings. User reviews on average 6.9 out of 10 from more than 600 ratings, with many praising its inspirational message on the importance of fathers. The has had a lasting impact in communities, sparking discussions on fatherhood, , and relating to as a heavenly , with reports of viewers finding from past hurts. It received no major mainstream awards but earned recognition in Christian circles, including an International Impact Award for director Rick Altizer at the 2024 Christian Worldview Film Festival.

References

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