MOVIE REVIEW: CONCEIVABLE

4 days ago

5 min read

A faith-centered drama about surrender when God's plans upend your own.

2026; PG-13105 minutes; Hawk Hill Pictures; Drama, Faith

THE VERDICT: What our ratings mean →

WAIT FOR HOME

ENTERTAINMENT QUALITY★★★★3 / 4: Thoughtful and sincere, but slow-paced.

FAMILY CONTENT: Discernment−1 on the +4 to −4 scaleFrank talk about abortion and tense clashes between mother and daughter make this one best for adults and older teens.

CONTENT LEVEL: SNONE → HEAVY

Language: LIGHT

Violence: LIGHT

Sex: LIGHT

Nudity: NONE

BEST FOR: Best for adults and older teens ready for mature conversations about abortion, faith, and family conflict.

NOT FORYoung children, since the movie tackles abortion, doubt, and complicated family dynamics head on.

CONTENT IN ONE LINEStrong Christian themes of prayer, Scripture, and trust in God; frequent discussion of abortion and an unexpected pregnancy; emotional family conflict; and mild language.

Should You Watch It?

This movie has a meaningful story at its heart. Its premise will resonate with many Christian families who have faced unexpected life changes. Scripture and faith take center stage as Brielle struggles with an unexpected pregnancy, forcing her to confront the tension between her plans and God’s will and learn what it truly means to trust Him.

It's beautifully filmed, with strong visual storytelling, clear dialogue, and genuine conversations about fear, disappointment, faith, and God’s will. The story also delivers a touching payoff at the end.

The biggest challenge is the slow pacing and emotional restraint. Major developments, arguments, and joyful moments often lack the weight they deserve. The story also jumps between family, career, ministry, and pregnancy conflicts, which can make it feel uneven. Some characters and situations need more development.

For viewers who want a story of faith about trust in God when life veers off course, this movie offers plenty to love. Its heartfelt message shines through despite the room for growth in a promising story.

The Story

NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISES

At 45, Brielle Burns thinks she has finally reached the season of life she’s been waiting for. A married mother of two teenagers, she is pursuing an education in ministry, working toward ordination, and working on a ministry project in an unexpected place.

Then, a routine doctor’s appointment takes an unexpected turn. What she thinks is just a case of poison ivy leads to an even bigger surprise: she’s pregnant.

For Brielle, that news is anything but simple. This isn’t the future she planned for herself, and suddenly the freedom and opportunities she thought were ahead of her look very different. What happens when the future you’ve carefully planned collides with something you never planned for?

Is It Any Good?

Three stars for its beautiful cinematography, meaningful story, and clear dialogue. The movie looks excellent, with strong lighting, camera angles, and close-ups that give the story a polished visual style. The dialogue also moves the story forward clearly.

However, the movie looks better than its emotional storytelling feels. The actors communicate the basic emotions, but their performances often feel restrained. Anger doesn’t feel especially angry, and joy doesn’t feel especially joyful. Uncertainty comes through most effectively. The soundtrack is pleasant and calming, but it often feels too quiet to heighten the more emotional moments.

The gentle pace invites reflection, though a few stretches could move more quickly. Frequent shifts between storylines, family members, and locations give the movie a somewhat disjointed rhythm. Just a bit more emotional energy could help its most powerful moments land even deeper.

The Worldview

This story presents a clear Christian worldview. Brielle serves in her church, leads ministries, studies at seminary, and pursues ordination. Characters pray and quote Scripture often. Faith forms the foundation for how Brielle and those around her respond to crisis.

An unexpected pregnancy forces Brielle to ask the central question: How do I hear God's plans when they differ from my own? The movie addresses abortion openly from several viewpoints.

Overwhelmed, Brielle considers termination because she fears the pregnancy will steal her freedom and upend her plans. Some characters support that choice. Others call children a blessing from God and suggest this baby may mark her next chapter. The movie never treats the decision as easy.

The tension deepens when Brielle's angry daughter asks whether her mother even believes in God. Still, the movie points Brielle back to prayer, Scripture, and surrender rather than control. That emphasis reflects the biblical call to trust God's wisdom even when we cannot see His work. In the end, the movie argues that surrender to God brings a freedom no plan of our own can match.

Movieguide® worldview codes: BB, CC, L, V, S, MM — preserved for our database, awards research and the annual Report to the Entertainment Industry. What the codes mean →

The Content Guide

The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.

Content Summary

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements

A Strong Biblical and Christian Worldview. Faith and trust in God are at the forefront of this story. Scripture is often quoted with passages including Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 55:8, and Romans 8. The overall story encourages Brielle to surrender to God and follow his plans

Foul Language

Light foul language with one "a" word and a dermatologist is referred to as a skin Nazi

Violence

A scene depicts a violent car wreck

Sex

No sex. However, there are multiple insinuations within the friend group about marital sex, one character says “Bill and I had sex on the pool table last night”

Nudity

No nudity

Alcohol Use

No alcohol use

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse

No smoking. Prescription drugs including Ambien are mentioned;

Miscellaneous Immorality

Repeated abortion discussions, including consideration of termination, along with some anger, selfishness, dishonesty, and family conflict. One character questions whether she believes in God.

Talk About It

Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.

Brielle spends much of the movie struggling because her pregnancy doesn’t fit the future she had planned. What can make it difficult to surrender our plans to God? Isaiah 55:8-9

Brielle's pregnancy brings fear, financial strain, and exhaustion. How can we value each life and still admit real hardship? Psalm 127:3

Brielle repeatedly asks God where He is and what He is doing. What does it look like to trust God even when you don’t have the answers? Romans 8:28

Brielle hears conflicting advice about her pregnancy from friends and family. How can we tell godly counsel apart from voices that simply echo our fears? James 1:5

The Final Word

A meaningful story of faith lies beneath CONCEIVABLE, though the movie does not always give that story the emotional depth it deserves. Still, it faces the hard reality of an unexpected pregnancy and the messages the world sends about it. Brielle's struggle invites viewers to consider what happens when unforeseen circumstances test our faith. Save it for a quiet afternoon when you’re ready for something filled with faith and scripture.