According to the producers of the pro-life movie “Unplanned,” Canadian movie theaters have banned the film from its theaters. During a news conference in Ottawa on May 8, producer Lisa Wheeler said this means that they “have been effectively blocked” from distributing the film in Canada.
Based on the pro-life conversion of former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson, the film has done well in the United States, surpassing expectations to earn about $18 million and change hearts and minds about abortion.
“This is a powerful and eye-opening film that has been piercing through the abortion narrative in the United States,” said the National Campus Life Network on a CitizenGo petition for the movie. “‘Unplanned’ has actively moved individuals to the pro-life perspective. Most notably, in the first two weeks of the movie release, 94 Planned Parenthood workers have contacted Abby Johnson’s organization, And Then There Were None. Also, ‘Unplanned’ brought in over $6 million US in its opening weekend, far exceeding Hollywood expectations.”
According to Chuck Konzelman, writer/producer/director of the film, the two largest film distributors in Canada are citing “content” as the reason for banning the film rather than a “lack of consumer demand.” He explained that every Canadian distributor that they approached regarding the film rejected it. The film was even unable to receive a rating in the country because of it, but after the May 8 press conference, the Alberta government gave it a 14A rating that came with a warning of disturbing content.
“I would like to say I’m surprised, but I’m not,” Abby Johnson said at the conference. “I have to wonder what they’re afraid of.”
There are two ways that Canadians who want to see the film can view it, said Wheeler. They can either rent buses to take a large group to the United States to see it in areas where it may still be playing or they can obtain a license for a private screening by an independent group. Interested groups can contact chuck@unplannedmovie.com for more information.
“Given the censorship in place, indivdual sponsorship is the only way in which we will be able to show in Canada,” said Konzelman. “We will be granting licenses for indiviual showings, at a time and place of the sponsor’s choosing – which can be a theater, if desired, or a parish hall, or any other venue.”
Canadians can sign this petition to help get the film to Canada.
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