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A Great Awakening

Play trailer 2:07 Poster for A Great Awakening PG-13 Apr 2026 2h 9m History Drama Faith & Spirituality Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 97% Popcornmeter 500+ Verified Ratings
A GREAT AWAKENING, tells the true story of an unlikely friendship between the Reverend George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin that resulted in one of the most defining moments in American history. With the colonies on the brink of collapse, the Reverend George Whitefield ignites the first Great Awakening, uniting an entire generation with his thundering and faithful sermons and proclamations of liberty. In a miraculous turn of events, one of Whitefield's closest friends and greatest promoters becomes none other than Benjamin Franklin. With the nation's freedom hanging in the balance, the founders discover true liberty cannot only be written into law -- it must be awakened in the hearts of the people.

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A Great Awakening

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Audience Says

A Great Awakening is especially powerful for those drawn to faith-driven, uplifting stories with a strong dose of history.

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Critics Reviews

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Thelma Adams AARP Movies for Grownups 5d
3/5
For fans of faith-based films, A Great Awakening provides an ideal way to celebrate a treasured holiday and the pending 250th anniversary of the United States with one theater ticket. Go to Full Review
Glenn Kenny New York Times Apr 2
It’s an earnest account of a religious movement that still resonates. Go to Full Review
Sarah Vincent Sarah G Vincent Views 6d
the story is appealing in an old fashioned, old orator declaratory fashion, but the story squints aplenty and uses the bombastic style to disguise the pacing issues. Go to Full Review
Hosea Rupprecht Pauline Media Studies Apr 7
"A Great Awakening" reminds audiences that belief in freedom is not divorced from belief in the providence of God. Go to Full Review
Joel Copling Spectrum Culture Apr 6
The message overpowers everything else in A Great Awakening. Go to Full Review
Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Apr 6
4/5
A Great Awakening arrives not merely as a historical drama, but as a cinematic excavation of a spiritual movement that helped ignite a revolution—both of the soul and of a nation ... Jonathan Blair’s [George] Whitefield is nothing short of mesmerizing. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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kimberly 4h Beautiful story. Impeccably acted. See more WDM 5h A wonderful recounting of two men who changed the course of our nation! I wholeheartedly recommend it to young and old, and anyone who wants to understand the foundations of our country. Happy 250th Birthday to the USA! See more Stacy 6h The whole family enjoyed it! A part of American history that we should all know. See more Matt 6h Extremely well done movie. Inspiring and encouraging. See more Mike 6h Melodramatic, but a good show. Costume designer should be nominated, as should the set designer. Some overacting, but to be expected in a period movie. Read up on George Whitfield in order to enjoy the movie more. See more David P 7h Outstanding film that depicted important historical events that occurred during the struggle that our Founding Fathers experienced while writing the U.S. Constitution. This film provides an honest account of the important friendship between George Whitefield & Benjamin Franklin. See more Read all reviews
A Great Awakening

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A Great Awakening

A Great Awakening: Exclusive Clip - Friendship A Great Awakening: Exclusive Clip - Friendship 1:46 View more videos

Movie Info

Synopsis A GREAT AWAKENING, tells the true story of an unlikely friendship between the Reverend George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin that resulted in one of the most defining moments in American history. With the colonies on the brink of collapse, the Reverend George Whitefield ignites the first Great Awakening, uniting an entire generation with his thundering and faithful sermons and proclamations of liberty. In a miraculous turn of events, one of Whitefield's closest friends and greatest promoters becomes none other than Benjamin Franklin. With the nation's freedom hanging in the balance, the founders discover true liberty cannot only be written into law -- it must be awakened in the hearts of the people.
Director
Joshua Enck
Producer
Steve Buckwalter, Troy Thorne
Screenwriter
Joshua Enck, Jeff Bender, Jonathan Blair
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Production Co
Sight & Sound Films
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Violence)
Genre
History, Drama, Faith & Spirituality
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 3, 2026, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 5, 2026
Runtime
2h 9m
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