Unplanned

TV Networks Reject Ads for Anti-Abortion Movie - The Hollywood Reporter

Commercials for PureFlix's 'Unplanned,' arriving in 1,000 theaters on Friday, have been rejected by Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, HGTV and several other cable networks other than Fox News.

If you haven't seen a commercial for Unplanned, an anti-abortion movie critical of Planned Parenthood, it isn't for lack trying on the part of marketers, whose efforts have been consistently rebuffed by TV networks. Pure Flix, the distributor behind the box office hit God's Not Dead and other movies aimed a Christians, opens the movie in 1,000 theaters today, but outside of the Fox News Channel, every other mainstream television outlet has declined to air the ad.

Lifetime, for example, told the film's marketers that they declined to air the commercial due to the "sensitive nature of the film," the ad buyers tell The Hollywood Reporter. The marketers though, note that the network - which is owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture of Walt Disney and Hearst Communications - previously promoted an interview with Scarlett Johansson where she pitches Planned Parenthood.

The Travel Channel, Cooking Channel, HGTV and Food Network, each of which are owned by Discovery, also refused to sell ad time for Unplanned due to the "sensitive nature" of the movie, say those who tried buying air time.

Other networks that refused to advertise the movie include the Hallmark Channel and USA Network, the latter of which is owned by NBCUniversal.

In spite of the lack of exposure, "Unplanned" Takes Fifth-Place across the Country This Weekend - ChristianNewsWire

Despite Twitter Ban, Paid Media Blackout and R Rating, Abortion Biopic Earns RARE A+ Cinema Score and Highest Per Screen Average of Any Indie-Wide Release Film; Expands in 2nd Week

The controversial abortion biopic UNPLANNED overperformed its pre-release projections to become the #5 movie at the box office this weekend. The film took in an estimated $6,110,000 or a cumulative per-screen average of $5,770 on only 1,059 locations across the country. The film received a rare A+ CinemaScore.

Industry projections underestimated the film's performance, predicting $2 million to $3 million. Despite a widespread paid media blackout across mainstream and some faith-based outlets and a Saturday morning Twitter ban that was quickly lifted after online outrage, the film's strong word-of-mouth propelled audiences to fill theaters across the country. Next week the film's distributor plans to add an additional 600 screens for a count of 1,700 screens.

Partially financed by MyPillow executive Mike Lindell, the film is the true story of Abby Johnson, a former rising star in the Planned Parenthood corporation. As one of the youngest clinic directors in the nation, Johnson was involved in upwards of 22,000 abortions and counseled countless women on their reproductive choices. Her passion surrounding a woman's right to choose led her to become a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, fighting to enact legislation for the cause she so deeply believed in, until the day she saw an ultrasound guided abortion that changed everything.

"We are very happy for the success of this film," said Pure Flix president Michael Scott. "To bring the story of Abby Johnson to audiences and have them show up in such large numbers shows how the topic of abortion is so important to our nation. We hope that those on both sides of the pro-life and pro-choice debate will see Unplanned and begin to have a productive dialogue. This film can be that spark to bring more hearts and minds to understanding the value of life."