While moviegoers and film critics had their eyes trained on “Dumbo” and “Hotel Mumbai,” another highly anticipated movie was released last weekend. “Unplanned,” which has been in theaters since last Friday, tells the true story of Abby Johnson, a Planned Parenthood clinic director who later became an advocate for the unborn.
To many people’s surprise, the movie is a hit. During its opening weekend, “Unplanned” brought in over $6 million and scored as the No. 5 movie in the box office, drawing more than what “Captain Marvel” has made on average per theater thus far.
Despite the film’s success, “Unplanned” has only been shown in about 1,000 theaters nationwide during opening weekend, none of which happen to be in Washington, D.C.
It seems a little strange that the No. 5 movie in the United States isn’t playing in its capital. The closest theater playing “Unplanned” is in Silver Spring, Md. But the politicians would do well to pay attention, especially at a time when some of them are pushing for ever more permissive laws allowing abortion right up until birth.
According to a Marist poll from earlier this year, 75% of Americans want abortion to be restricted, at least after the first three months of pregnancy. When it comes to abortion, a screening of “Unplanned” in the nation’s capital might help connect a few politicians with the reality their constituents see and experience.
