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.
Cast Sarah Davenport as Jo March Aimee Lynne Johnson as Young Jo Allie Jennings as Beth March Reese Oliveira as Young Beth Melanie Stone as Meg March Taylor Murphy as Amy March Elise Jones as Young Amy Lucas Grabeel as Theodore "Laurie" Laurence Stuart Edge as John Brooke Ian Bohen as Frederick "Freddy" Bhaer Lea Thompson as Marmee March Bart Johnson as Papa March Adam Johnson as Duke Senior Michael Flynn as Mr. Laurence Barta Heiner as Aunt March
Production 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. 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. In June 2017, Sarah Davenport and Ian Bohen joined the cast of the film.
Principal photography began in June 2017, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Music Track listing Track listing adapted from IMDb +TitlePerformed bywritten/arranged byproduced byCourtesy/publishingLittle Bit of GracePerformed by Benj HeardCourtesy of The Music Bed, LLCAngels We Have Heard On HighPerformed by KayliannTraditional French Carol Lyrics written by James Chadwick, Arranged by Doug Lowe & KayliannI'm Getting Better All the Time Performed by BarbaraPittman Courtesy of The Music Bed, LLCCount Bassy Written and Performed by Matt MattsonWritten and Performed by Matt MattsonSaturday 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 NorwaySingle Performed by Sean & Blake Written by Santoy Campbell & Blake AndrewProduced by Mantra BeatsStay YoungPerformed by Sean & Blake Written by Santoy Campbell & Blake AndrewProduced by Anthony PisanoHuman Right Performed by The Str!ke Written by Chris Crabb, Jarrett Burns, Jesse Williams & Chase Baker Published by The Str!ke, LLCAuld Lang Syne Performed by Hannah MillerCourtesy of The Music Bed, LLCBeautiful Day Performed by Lucas Grabeel Written by Chris Crabb and Jarrett BurnsCourtesy of Jazzy Squares Inc. Publishing Courtesy of Banshee Inc. PublishingAlive Performed by Tyrone BiggsWritten by Tyrone Biggs, Josh Glazer, and Jonathan MuroGet Up and Go Written and Performed by Stella Mwangi Written and Performed by Stella MwangiProduced by Big City From the EP 'Stella Mwangi'Courtesy of Position Music/The Music Bed, LLC Published by Tono NorwaySwans Performed by The Format Written by Nate Ruess & Sam Means Courtesy of The Vanity Label Deck the Halls Performed by The Cast of Little WomenTraditional Welsh Carol Performed by Allie Jennings From the ballet Swan Lake Lyrics written by Thomas Oliphant Swan Lake, Op. 30 Written by Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyWhen 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 HighPerformed by Allie Jennings & The Cast of Little Women Traditional French Carol Lyrics written by James ChadwickCourtesy of Raincoat Records Courtesy of Sea Boot Cafe PublishingNo Ordinary Life Performed by Gayle Skidmore Courtesy of Nicole Sheahan MusicChapters of My HeartWritten 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 MusicHeartbeat Performed by Kayliann Written by Doug Lowe, Pete Sallis, & Kayliann All the Things Performed by Lucas GrabeelWritten by Lucas GrabeelCourtesy 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. It was released in the United States on September 28, 2018.
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. It ended up grossing just $747,000, finishing 16th at the box office.
Critical response According to the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, of critics have given the film a positive review based on reviews, with an average rating of . 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." At Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 40 out of 100 based on 11 critic reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. 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." 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."
References
External links