Little Women is a 2018 American drama film directed by Clare Niederpruem, from a screenplay by Niederpruem and Kristi Shimek. The sixth film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's 1868–69 two-volume novel of the same name, it is a modern retelling of the original story and marks the 150th anniversary of the release of the book's first volume. The film stars Sarah Davenport, Allie Jennings, Lucas Grabeel, Ian Bohen, and Lea Thompson. It was released in the United States on September 28, 2018, by Pinnacle Peak.
Plot
Set in the early 2000s, four sisters grow up together. Jo is an aspiring writer who travels to New York and eventually marries her professor, Freddy Bhaer. Beth plays the piano, has a battle against cancer throughout the movie, and eventually dies of leukemia. Amy becomes an internationally renowned painter and marries Theodore Laurence (Laurie). Meg, who struggles with wanting to be happily married versus being able to help with her family's finances, marries Laurie's former tutor and has twins.
In April 2017, it was announced Lea Thompson and Lucas Grabeel had joined the cast of the directorial debut of Clare Niederpruem, directing from a screenplay she wrote alongside Kristi Shimek, based upon the novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott.[2] Maclain Nelson and Stephen Shimek will serve as producers on the film, while Chris Donahue and Marybeth Sprows, will executive produce the film under their Main Dog Productions and Paulist Productions banners, respectively.[3] In June 2017, Sarah Davenport and Ian Bohen joined the cast of the film.[4]
Traditional French Carol Lyrics written by James Chadwick, Arranged by Doug Lowe & Kayliann
I'm Getting Better All the Time
Performed by Barbara
Pittman Courtesy of The Music Bed, LLC
Count Bassy
Written and Performed by Matt Mattson
Written and Performed by Matt Mattson
Saturday Night
Written and Performed by Stella Mwangi
Written and Performed by Stella Mwangi
Produced by Rumblin Music Courtesy of Badili Akili From the album Living for Music Published by Tono Norway
Single
Performed by Sean & Blake
Written by Santoy Campbell & Blake Andrew
Produced by Mantra Beats
Stay Young
Performed by Sean & Blake
Written by Santoy Campbell & Blake Andrew
Produced by Anthony Pisano
Human Right
Performed by The Str!ke
Written by Chris Crabb, Jarrett Burns, Jesse Williams & Chase Baker
Published by The Str!ke, LLC
Auld Lang Syne
Performed by Hannah Miller
Courtesy of The Music Bed, LLC
Beautiful Day
Performed by Lucas Grabeel
Written by Chris Crabb and Jarrett Burns
Courtesy of Jazzy Squares Inc. Publishing Courtesy of Banshee Inc. Publishing
Alive
Performed by Tyrone Biggs
Written by Tyrone Biggs, Josh Glazer, and Jonathan Muro
Get Up and Go
Written and Performed by Stella Mwangi
Written and Performed by Stella Mwangi
Produced by Big City From the EP 'Stella Mwangi'
Courtesy of Position Music/The Music Bed, LLC Published by Tono Norway
Swans
Performed by The Format Written by Nate Ruess & Sam Means
Courtesy of The Vanity Label Deck the Halls Performed by The Cast of Little Women
Traditional Welsh Carol
Performed by Allie Jennings From the ballet Swan Lake
Lyrics written by Thomas Oliphant Swan Lake, Op. 30 Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
When I Go
Performed by Jessica Frech
Written by Russell Dixon (BMI) & Scott Krippayne Pirk Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Seven Stories Entertainment Inc.
Angels We Have Heard On High
Performed by Allie Jennings & The Cast of Little Women Traditional French Carol
Lyrics written by James Chadwick
Courtesy of Raincoat Records Courtesy of Sea Boot Cafe Publishing
No Ordinary Life
Performed by Gayle Skidmore
Courtesy of Nicole Sheahan Music
Chapters of My Heart
Written and Performed by Nicole Sheahan
Written and Performed by Nicole Sheahan
Courtesy of Lost Slipper Music Courtesy of Prize Pig Music Courtesy of Shakes Spear Music
Heartbeat
Performed by Kayliann
Written by Doug Lowe, Pete Sallis, & Kayliann
All the Things
Performed by Lucas Grabeel
Written by Lucas Grabeel
Courtesy of 14341 Music Courtesy of Naked Banshee Publishing
Release
Release
In June 2018, it was announced Pinnacle Peak and Pure Flix Entertainment would distribute the film.[7] It was released in the United States on September 28, 2018.[8]
Box office
In the United States and Canada, Little Women was released alongside Smallfoot, Night School and Hell Fest, and was projected to gross $3–5 million from 643 theaters in its opening weekend.[9] It ended up grossing just $747,000, finishing 16th at the box office.[10]
Critical response
According to the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 30% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 4.9/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "This updated version of Little Women may hold some appeal for newcomers, but fans of the classic source material have far better adaptations to choose from."[11] At Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 40 out of 100 based on 11 critic reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[12] Nell Minow of RogerEbert.com gave it 3 out of 4 stars and wrote, "For devotees, the essence of the Little Women story remains, and, for newcomers, it is a sweet film that should inspire them to explore the book and the more traditional adaptations."[13] But Elizabeth Weitzman of The Wrap gave it low marks, writing, "The girls in this contemporary retelling ... are not messy and complex human beings but Hallmark Channel characters, two-dimensional symbols of virtuous nostalgia."[14] Faith-based reviewers were more generous. Kristin Smith of Plugged In said the film "illustrates the importance of loving one another, of practicing forgiveness and of moving forward despite difficult times."[15] Michael Foust of Crosswalk wrote that "unlike other modern-day film adaptations that spoiled a classic, Little Women is an updated version that doesn’t ruin what made the original great. ... Here’s hoping [Niederpruem] makes many more like this one."[16]
