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Leap of Faith

Play trailer Poster for Leap of Faith PG-13 1992 1h 48m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
64% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Touring Christian evangelist Jonas Nightengale (Steve Martin) and his cohorts tend to put on their bogus faith-healing revivals in major cities, where hefty donations flow freely. But, when Jonas and company find themselves stuck in a remote nook of Kansas, they decide to perform for the locals and take them for all they are worth. The shows go off without a hitch, until sensible lawman Will Braverman (Liam Neeson) catches on to the scam and vows to prove to everyone that Jonas is a fake.
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Leap of Faith

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Critics Consensus

Steve Martin's layered performance transcends the somewhat undercooked narrative of Leap of Faith.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek 03/04/2019
The movie is lively but half-baked: it dribbles away its promising subject. Some Christmas feast this has turned out to be: it's like munching on leftovers. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 02/13/2001
3/4
The movie itself has considerable qualities, among them Martin's performance as Nightengale. This isn't the sleek, groomed, prosperous Steve Martin we've seen in movies like L.A. Story. It's Martin as a seedy, desperate, bright, greedy man without hope. Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/13/2020
3.5/4.0
Lolita Davidovich leads a wonderful supporting cast that includes Liam Neeson, Lukas Haas, Meatloaf, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Go to Full Review
Grant Watson Fiction Machine 07/22/2019
7/10
Dances back and forth across genre lines to memorable but mixed effect. Go to Full Review
Quentin Curtis Independent on Sunday 12/12/2017
It's half a good film, only lacking the courage of its cynicism. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 06/19/2005
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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Simon T 4d For the first thirty minutes or so this is very enjoyable: it's funny, cynical, and a great showcase for Steve Martin's loopy comic talents. Here he's a travelling conman who exploits dustbelt communities with a gospel faith-healing show. Unfortunately, the screenplay takes a swerve and becomes a lachrymose TV movie about the power of lerve and redemption. Even Steve can't escape. A real shame. Debra Winger overacts with ladles of goofy 'love me' nonsense, Liam Neeson struggles with a poor American accent and is anyway upstaged by hundreds of butterflies, and Philip Seymour Hoffman hardly figures at all. See more Brent H @BrentMHinson Oct 29 It’s rare to see a mainstream or big-budget film centered around religion, but this one approaches the subject uniquely. Steve Martin leans into his con-man evangelical character perfectly, but he does it in a way that isn’t disrespectful to Christianity as a whole. Martin profits off his “marks” but justifies it as entertainment with an uplifting message. When he starts to believe he’s the one being conned, it’s fascinating to see him reevaluate what he believes. This is one of those rare movies that doesn’t require you to have strong religious beliefs going into it while also allowing room for those who do. It’s a great movie that blends the secular world with the spiritual one. It doesn’t preach to you, but there is a distinct message at the end … and it’s up to the viewer to decide how they want to interpret that message. See more Ti H. @Tisha Oct 14 Leap of Faith is a beautiful, moving story about the miracle healing of a lame boy, Lukas Haas, and the miracle healing of an unbeliever, Steve Martin. With an excellent cast of Deborah Winger, Liam Neeson, Meatloaf and fantastic music, I cry & cheer every time...it gets FIVE STARS--LET IT RAIN❣️❣️ And, music note: Don Henley sang the opening track "sit down you're rocking the boat" on leap of faith, and it had appeared on the leap of faith soundtrack, now it's no longer on the soundtrack and it's not in the iTunes Store, despite the fact it was a huge hit on the radio for Don Henley-not fair See more Derek K Sep 4 Steve Martin is fantastic in this movie. It raises legitimate questions surrounding synergistic effects of mass conformation bias and manipulation of faith seekers. One key line that sums up the movie is "Let's assume I was what you said I was. In New York, they've got Broadway shows costing $65 a pop just to walk in the door. Maybe you like the show. Maybe you don't, and you kick yourself. I give my people a good show, plenty of music, worthwhile sentiments. Most of them go home with a little hope in their lives. Now, usually, I only play towns that can afford me. But what about towns like this that really need me?" Great movie, awesome soundtrack, fantastic cast. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 19 Unfunny in 1 hour and 48 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $21,700,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Philip c Dec 28 worth it for Steve Martins performance and the incredible performances by the choir See more Read all reviews
Leap of Faith

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Leap of Faith

Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Got Trouble? Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Got Trouble? 1:56 Leap of Faith: Official Clip - You Need a Real Sinner Leap of Faith: Official Clip - You Need a Real Sinner 1:58 Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Boyd Walks Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Boyd Walks 1:45 Leap of Faith: Official Clip - All That Boy Has is Faith Leap of Faith: Official Clip - All That Boy Has is Faith 1:35 Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Scamming a Cop Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Scamming a Cop 1:58 Leap of Faith: Official Clip - The Rain Comes Leap of Faith: Official Clip - The Rain Comes 1:41 Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Why'd You Make So Many Suckers? Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Why'd You Make So Many Suckers? 1:53 Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Supercharged Grenade Launcher of Love Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Supercharged Grenade Launcher of Love 2:13 Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Butterflies Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Butterflies 1:22 Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Acting Like a Loser Leap of Faith: Official Clip - Acting Like a Loser 1:32 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Touring Christian evangelist Jonas Nightengale (Steve Martin) and his cohorts tend to put on their bogus faith-healing revivals in major cities, where hefty donations flow freely. But, when Jonas and company find themselves stuck in a remote nook of Kansas, they decide to perform for the locals and take them for all they are worth. The shows go off without a hitch, until sensible lawman Will Braverman (Liam Neeson) catches on to the scam and vows to prove to everyone that Jonas is a fake.
Director
Richard Pearce
Producer
Michael Manheim, David V. Picker
Screenwriter
Janus Cercone
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 15, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$21.7M
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Surround
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