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Timeline

Miracles from Heaven (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 109 min · English
Directed by
Patricia Riggen
Starring
Jennifer Garner, Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, Brighton Sharbino, Courtney Fansler
Budget
$13M

When her daughter Anna is diagnosed with a rare and debilitating illness, mother Christy desperately seeks a cure. After a dramatic accident and an unexpected recovery, Anna's case becomes a medical mystery, seemingly defying explanation. As word spreads, the family finds themselves at the center of attention, grappling with questions of faith, healing, and the possibility of a miracle, profoundly impacting their lives and the community around them.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Miracles from Heaven
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Miracles from Heaven (2016)

Where can you watch Miracles from Heaven? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on BYUtv, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Miracles from Heaven Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Miracles from Heaven (2016) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Normal Life in Burleson

    The Beam family leads a seemingly normal life in Burleson, Texas. Their weekends often revolve around church activities, where they seek guidance and community support.

    Where
    Burleson, Texas
  2. Anna's Mysterious Illness

    Kevin prepares to launch a new business but faces an unsettling turn of events when Anna starts experiencing unexplained nausea. Concerned, her parents begin consulting doctors to find the root of her issues.

  3. Harsh Diagnosis

    After initial suggestions of lactose intolerance, Christy's instincts push for further testing. The shocking diagnosis reveals that Anna suffers from a serious intestinal disorder, leading to heightened family concerns.

  4. Missed School Trip

    As Anna's condition worsens, she is unable to attend a much-anticipated school trip to the aquarium. The impact of her illness becomes a heavy burden for her family, particularly for Christy.

    Where
    School
  5. Questioning Faith

    At church, Christy faces dismissive remarks from fellow congregants regarding Anna's suffering, which leads her to question her beliefs. This emotional turmoil adds strain to her already fragile faith.

    Where
    Church
  6. A Leap of Faith

    Determined to seek help, Christy makes a daring decision to take Anna to Boston to see Dr. Samuel Nurko despite not having an appointment. She pleads with the receptionist for assistance, showcasing her desperation.

    Where
    Boston
  7. Meeting Angela

    In Boston, they encounter Angela, a friendly waitress who takes them under her wing. She shows them the city, creating a moment of joy amidst their struggles with Anna's health.

    Where
    Boston
  8. Dr. Nurko's Evaluation

    After much anticipation, Dr. Nurko evaluates Anna and delivers sobering news about her condition. This moment challenges Christy’s faith even further as she grapples with the implications for her daughter's future.

    Where
    Hospital
  9. Bonding in the Hospital

    During their hospital stay, Anna forms a friendship with Haley, a brave girl battling leukemia. Their bond provides each other with comfort and encouragement amidst their respective challenges.

    Where
    Hospital
  10. The Tragic Fall

    While playing with her sister Abbie, Anna falls from a tree, resulting in a frantic rush for medical help. In a moment of panic, Christy fervently prays for Anna’s safety, showcasing the family's deep love and anxiety.

  11. Miraculous Survival

    Miraculously, Anna survives the fall with only a mild concussion. This close call brings a renewed perspective to the family as they begin to appreciate each moment more deeply.

  12. Unexpected Recovery

    To everyone's surprise, Anna starts showing signs of improved health, leaving her parents in awe. A follow-up visit to Dr. Nurko reveals that her intestinal disorder has inexplicably vanished, sparking feelings of gratitude.

    Where
    Hospital
  13. Bonding with Aunt Angela

    Anna expresses her wish to call Angela 'Aunt Angela', solidifying a bond formed through their shared experiences. This emotional connection signifies the importance of support during challenging times.

  14. Renewed Faith

    The Beam family reestablishes their connection to faith, with Christy sharing her testimony at church about the miraculous support they received. This moment brings closure to their struggles and highlights the power of community support.

    Where
    Church
  15. Anna's Hopeful Future

    In a video diary, Anna reflects on her journey as she is now a healthy seventh grader. She shares her incredible experiences during the toughest times, infusing hope and resilience into her life story.

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 17:33

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Timeline questions answered

Miracles from Heaven Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Miracles from Heaven (2016): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

What was Anna's specific illness in the movie?

Anna was diagnosed with a serious intestinal disorder that jeopardized her health. Her mother Christy's instincts pushed for further testing after doctors initially suggested she might be lactose intolerant. The film doesn't specify the exact name of the disorder, but it was severe enough to cause constant nausea, require hospitalization, and ultimately threaten her life.

  • anna illness
  • intestinal disorder
  • diagnosis
  • rare disease
Q2

How did Anna survive falling from the tree with only a concussion?

Anna fell from a tree while playing with her sister Abbie and survived with only a mild concussion. Her mother Christy prayed fervently during the frantic moments before paramedics arrived. The film presents this as a miraculous survival given the height of the fall, which becomes a turning point in the story.

  • anna fall
  • tree accident
  • miracle survival
  • concussion
Q3

What did Anna experience during her fall in the movie?

Anna described experiencing an out-of-body moment during her fall. She claimed she saw a butterfly in Heaven and spoke with God. While she acknowledges her story may be met with skepticism, she embraces it as her personal truth. This experience profoundly impacted her perspective and faith.

  • anna heaven
  • out of body experience
  • butterfly
  • god
  • near death
Q4

What caused Anna's sudden recovery from her intestinal disorder?

After the tree fall incident, Anna began showing remarkable improvement. During a follow-up visit with Dr. Nurko in Boston, they discovered her intestinal disorder had inexplicably vanished. The film attributes this to the miracle of her survival and spiritual experience, though no medical explanation is provided.

  • miraculous cure
  • recovery
  • intestinal disorder healed
  • dr nurko
Q5

Who was Angela and what was her role in the story?

Angela was a waitress in Boston who showed kindness to Christy and Anna during their difficult medical journey. She took them around the city, including the aquarium and an art museum, bringing moments of joy during their struggles. Anna eventually wished to call her "Aunt Angela," solidifying the bond formed through their shared experiences.

  • angela
  • boston
  • waitress
  • support
  • family bond
Q6

What happened to Haley, the girl with leukemia Anna befriended?

During Anna's hospital stay in Boston, she befriended Haley, a brave girl battling leukemia. They supported each other through their respective health challenges. At the end of the film, Ben (Haley's father) acknowledges Anna's impact on his daughter during Christy's church testimony, providing closure to their story, though Haley's ultimate outcome is not explicitly shown.

  • haley
  • leukemia
  • hospital friend
  • cancer
Q7

Why did Christy struggle with her faith during Anna's illness?

Christy faced dismissive comments from fellow church congregants who suggested Anna's suffering might be a reflection of the family's sins. This, combined with the devastating diagnosis and seemingly hopeless medical situation, led Christy to question her faith. Her journey involves working through this doubt before ultimately rekindling her belief.

  • christy faith
  • questioning god
  • church
  • doubt
  • spiritual struggle
Q8

Why did Christy take Anna to Boston to see Dr. Nurko?

Christy learned about Dr. Samuel Nurko, a gastroenterologist known for treating complex intestinal disorders. Despite his schedule being fully booked and being placed on a waiting list, Christy made the desperate decision to take Anna to Boston without an appointment. She emotionally pleaded with the receptionist, showcasing her determination to find any possible help for her daughter.

  • dr nurko
  • boston
  • specialist
  • treatment
  • gastroenterologist
Q9

How did the tree accident lead to Anna's miraculous healing?

The tree fall served as the pivotal turning point in Anna's story. Immediately after surviving the potentially fatal fall with only a concussion, Anna began showing signs of improved health. The film presents the timing as connected to her survival and the spiritual experience she had during the fall, leading to her complete recovery.

  • tree fall
  • miracle
  • healing
  • accident
  • recovery timeline
Q10

Is Miracles from Heaven based on a true story?

Yes, Miracles from Heaven is based on the real-life story of the Beam family. Their daughter Anna Beam (Anna in the film) experienced a miraculous recovery after a serious fall, and the family shared their story of faith and healing. The film dramatizes these events, with the real Anna Beam appearing in the concluding video diary as a healthy seventh grader.

  • true story
  • real life
  • beam family
  • based on
Q11

What is the significance of the pizza dinner at the end of the movie?

The final pizza dinner beneath the stars represents the family's renewed appreciation for ordinary moments and their gratitude for Anna's recovery. Christy reflects that each day is a precious miracle, echoing the film's themes of faith, healing, and the importance of cherishing everyday blessings with family.

  • pizza dinner
  • family
  • ending
  • reflection
  • appreciation

Movie threads

More Movies Like Miracles from Heaven, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Miracles from Heaven tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about medical miracles and family faith like Miracles from Heaven

Stories where families find strength and hope while facing a devastating illness. If you were moved by Miracles from Heaven, explore other movies like it that focus on families overcoming a medical crisis. These similar drama films feature heartfelt stories of illness and healing, strong family bonds, and uplifting, faith-based journeys that inspire hope.

  • heartfelt
  • uplifting
  • dramatic
  • faith-based
  • emotional
  • inspiring
  • Tone: hopeful, heartfelt, dramatic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a linear path from a shattering diagnosis, through a period of struggle and doubt, toward a pivotal moment—be it a medical breakthrough, a miraculous recovery, or a profound acceptance—that leads to a positive resolution. The central conflict is often internal, grappling with faith and despair, as much as it is external, battling the illness itself.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared emotional core: a heavy subject matter handled with a hopeful tone, a steady pacing that allows for emotional depth, and a straightforward narrative that prioritizes the human experience over complex plotting. The journey from darkness into light is a unifying arc.

Inspiring true story dramas similar to Miracles from Heaven

Real-life stories of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges with resilience. Fans of the inspiring true story in Miracles from Heaven will enjoy these similar movies. This list features other drama films based on real events, focusing on overcoming adversity, community support, and uplifting journeys that celebrate the human spirit.

  • inspiring
  • based on a true story
  • uplifting
  • emotional
  • heartfelt
  • dramatic
  • Tone: hopeful, inspiring, emotional
  • Pacing: steady, factual
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows the real-life sequence of events, often starting with a normal life disrupted by a challenge. The plot documents the struggle, the key turning points, and the eventual outcome that made the story noteworthy. The focus is on authenticity and emotional truth, celebrating the real people involved.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific credibility and emotional impact derived from their basis in fact. They blend a dramatic presentation with a documentary-like respect for the source material, resulting in a viewing experience that is both entertaining and deeply moving, often leaving the audience feeling inspired and grateful.

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Movies Like Miracles from Heaven

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Every angle

Miracles from Heaven (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Miracles from Heaven in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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