'The Unbreakable Boy' — A Heartfelt Film That Divides Critics and Audiences

The Unbreakable Boy (2025), directed and written by Jon Gunn, adapts the 2014 memoir The Unbreakable Boy: A Father’s Fear, a Son’s Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love by Scott LeRette and Susy Flory. The story follows Scott LeRette (portrayed by Zachary Levi) and his young son Austin (Jacob Laval), who lives with autism and brittle bone disease. Meghann Fahy plays Austin’s mother, Teresa, supported by Drew Powell, Patricia Heaton, and Gavin Warren .

Mixed-to-Negative Critical Reception

Upon its debut in U.S. theaters on February 21, 2025, the film met largely negative reviews. It currently holds a 43% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where critics argue:

"The Unbreakable Boy is amiable enough, but it sells its inspirational true story short by taking too many easy routes towards uplift."

Many reviews describe it as overly sentimental, faith-heavy, and lacking deeper insight into its characters.

Contrasting Reddit Perspectives

Despite poor reviews, Reddit threads reveal a contrasting sentiment among many viewers:

On r/autism, Top_Round_8086 observes:

"This movie told a realistic story of what families like mine go through every day. The financial strain, the sensory problems and meltdowns, the hospital and ER visits, the struggle with trying to find the best school, the empathy that many autistic individuals possess."

Another comment by 3monster_mama adds:

"I loved Austin and his representation. My daughter found a lot of herself in him."

Still, Reddit also hosts more tempered opinions, noting the film’s greater focus on the father: "the story was really about his dad and the battles he fought with alcoholism."

While its storytelling approach has divided opinion, The Unbreakable Boy continues to resonate with viewers who see their own experiences reflected on screen. Perhaps the real question is not how polished the story is — but whether it speaks to those who’ve lived it.