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{{Short description|2003 film by Tom Shadyac}}{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}









| ASCAP Film and Television Music award| Most Performed Song from a Motion Picture "I'm With You"| Graham Edwards Avril Lavigne| {{Won}}| BET Comedy award| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Box Office Movie| Morgan Freeman| {{Nominated}}| MTV Movie + TV award| Nickelodeon Kid's Choice award| Favorite Movie Actor| Jim Carrey| {{Won}}| Teen Choice award| Teen Choice award| Choice Movie - Chemistry| Jim Carrey Morgan Freeman| {{Nominated}}

factoids
name	Bruce Almighty| image = BruceAlmighty poster.jpg| alt = A man with the world hanging from his finger like a yoyo | caption = Theatrical release poster| director = Tom Shadyac James D. Brubaker Michael Bostick Steve Koren Mark O'Keefe }}	Steve Koren Mark O'Keefe Steve Oedekerk {edih}	Steve Koren Mark O'Keefe {edih}	Jim Carrey Morgan Freeman Jennifer Aniston Philip Baker Hall {edih}| music = John Debney| cinematography = Dean Semler| editing = Scott Hill	Spyglass Entertainment Shady Acres Pit Bull Productions {edih}	Universal Pictures (United States/Canada)Spyglass Entertainment (International)HTTPS://VARIETY.COM/2002/FILM/MARKETS-FESTIVALS/SPYGLASS-JOINS-U-FOR-BRUCE-1117870663/	DATE=AUGUST 2, 2002,	2003	14	Hollywood, Los Angeles>Hollywood	05	United States}}	BRUCE ALMIGHTY (12A)	WORK=BRITISH BOARD OF FILM CLASSIFICATION	ACCESS-DATE=JANUARY 13, 2012, | country = United States| language = English| budget = $81 million		ACCESS-DATE=MARCH 27, 2023, yes, {{cbignore}}}}Bruce Almighty is a 2003 American fantasy comedy film directed by Tom Shadyac and written by Steve Koren, Mark O'Keefe and Steve Oedekerk. The film stars Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan, a down-on-his-luck television reporter who complains to God (played by Morgan Freeman) that he is not doing his job correctly and is offered the chance to try being God himself for one week. It co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Philip Baker Hall, and Tony Bennett. The film is Shadyac and Carrey's third collaboration, after (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective) (1994) and Liar Liar (1997). When released in American theaters on May 23, 2003, Bruce Almighty received mixed reviews from critics, and was a box-office success and grossed $86.4 million in its opening weekend, a Memorial Day record at the time.WEB, Bruce Blesses Memorial Weekend with $85.73 Million,weblink May 31, 2006,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20060614071319weblink">weblink 2006-06-14, live, The film surprised the industry's pundits when it beat The Matrix Reloaded the following weekend. It went on to gross $484 million worldwide.Evan Almighty—a spin-off sequel focusing on Steve Carell's character, with Shadyac and Oedekerk returning to direct and write, respectively, and Freeman also reprising his role—was released on June 22, 2007. Plot Bruce Nolan is a television field reporter for Eyewitness News on WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York, who usually covers mundane news stories, but desires to be the station's anchorman. When Bruce's coveted job is taken by his rival, Evan Baxter, a vulgar on-camera outburst leads to his dismissal from the station. After a series of misfortunes, Bruce complains to God that "He's the one that should be fired". Bruce receives a message on his pager, which takes him to an empty warehouse where he meets God. God offers to give Bruce his powers (in a limited section of Buffalo), under two conditions—Bruce cannot tell others he is God, nor can he use the powers to alter free will.Bruce at first uses his powers for personal gains, such as getting his job back, exacting revenge on a street gang that bullied him earlier, and impressing his girlfriend, Grace Connelly. He also causes miraculous events to occur at otherwise mundane events that he covers, such as discovering Jimmy Hoffa's body during a segment on police training, or causing a meteor to harmlessly land near a cook-off, earning him the nickname "Mr. Exclusive". Bruce also causes Evan to embarrass himself on-air, consequently getting Evan fired, and Bruce becomes the new anchor. However, Bruce also starts hearing voices in his head and re-encounters God, who explains the voices are prayers that Bruce must deal with. Bruce creates a computerized email-like system to handle the prayers but finds that the influx is far too many for him to handle, and thus sets the program to answer every prayer 'Yes' automatically.During a party celebrating his promotion, Grace discovers Bruce being kissed by his co-anchor, Susan Ortega, and quickly leaves. Bruce follows her and tries to use his powers to convince her to stay, but cannot influence her free will. Bruce later discovers that Buffalo has fallen into chaos due to his actions: parts of the city believe the Apocalypse is nearly upon Earth due to the meteor strikes, while a large number of people, all having prayed to win the multi-million dollar lottery and received only seventeen dollars in return, have started rioting in the streets. Bruce returns to God, learning he cannot solve all the problems and so must figure a way out on his own. Bruce thus starts helping others without divine powers, including giving Evan his job back. As he returns to his computer at home and goes about answering prayers, he finds one from Grace, wishing for his success and well-being. Another prayer from Grace immediately arrives, this one wishing not to be in love with Bruce anymore, to avoid further pain.Realizing his selfishness, Bruce walks alone on a highway, asking God to take back his powers and leaving his fate in his hands. Bruce is suddenly hit by a truck and meets God in the afterlife. When God asks him what he really wants, Bruce admits that he only wants to make sure Grace finds a man that would make her happy. God agrees, and Bruce is finally resurrected from the dead and taken to the hospital, where his doctors help him recover. Grace arrives at the hospital and rekindles her relationship with Bruce. Following his recovery, Bruce returns to his field reporting job and decides to take more pleasure in the simple stories. Cast Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan Morgan Freeman as God Jennifer Aniston as Grace Connelly, Bruce's girlfriend Catherine Bell as Susan Ortega, Bruce's co-anchor Steve Carell (credited as Steven Carell) as Evan Baxter, Bruce's rival Lisa Ann Walter as Debbie Connelly, Grace's sister Philip Baker Hall as Jack Baylor Nora Dunn as Ally Loman Eddie Jemison as Bobby Sally Kirkland as Anita Mann Lou Felder as Pete Fineman, Eyewitness News veteran anchorman Paul Satterfield as Dallas Coleman Micah Stephen Williams as boy on bike Tony Bennett as himself Carlos Sánchez as Juan Valdez John Murphy as himself Madeline Lovejoy as Zoe Noel Gugliemi as Hector Annie Wersching as woman at party Production File:Interior of tea house the Japanese Garden.jpg|thumb|The Shoin building at the Japanese Gardenthe Japanese GardenIn June 2000, it was announced that Universal had paid over $1 million for a spec script titled Bruce AlmightyNEWS,weblink U's 'Almighty' spec, Variety, November 15, 2022, November 15, 2022,weblink live, with the intention of positioning the script as a directing vehicle for Tom Shadyac via his Universal based production company Shady Acres. Jim Carrey signed on to star in March 2002 with Steve Oedekerk rewriting the script.NEWS,weblink Carrey takes 'Almighty' gig for U Pix, Shadyac, Variety, November 15, 2022, November 15, 2022,weblink live, Previously, Carrey had been slated to star in another comedy for Universal titled 'Dog Years' to be directed by Gary Ross, but following that film's cancellation, Universal were eager to get Carrey onto another project.Filming of Buffalo was done in the "New York Street" at Universal Studios Hollywood. The restaurant with Tony Bennett was filmed at Cicada, in the James Oviatt Building, downtown Los Angeles.WEB,weblink Filming Locations for Bruce Almighty (2003) in Los Angeles, December 22, 2020, November 28, 2020,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20201128083337weblink">weblink live, The spa scene with Jennifer Aniston was filmed in the Shoin building at The Japanese Garden in Los Angeles. Release The movie was released on May 23, 2003, by Universal Pictures. Universal handled distribution in the United States and Canada (although they were originally planned to distribute the movie worldwide) while Spyglass Entertainment handled sales rights internationally.WEB, Dunkley, Cathy, 2002-08-02, Spyglass joins U for 'Bruce',weblink 2023-11-22, Variety, en-US, Buena Vista International acquired distribution rights in a majority of regionsWEB,weblink BVI hits milestones with Pirates, Bruce Almighty, ScreenDaily, January 12, 2018,weblink January 13, 2018, live, WEB,weblink BVI goes over the top o'seas, Variety (magazine), Variety, 20 October 2003, January 12, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180113093444weblink">weblink January 13, 2018, live, except in Scandinavia, Germany and Japan, where it was handled by distributors who already held deals with Spyglass in those respective territories. United International PicturesWEB, Dawtrey, Adam, 2003-03-30, UIP to distrib Spyglass duo in Japan,weblink 2023-11-22, Variety, en-US, and Pony Canyon{{Citation |last=トム・シャドヤック |title=ブルース・オールマイティ ミラクル・エディション |date=2004-04-21 |url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Bruce-Almighty-Miracle-DVD-%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A0%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A3%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC/dp/B0000YTR6Y |access-date=2023-11-22 |publisher=ポニーキャニオン}} respectively handled theatrical and home video rights in Japan, while SF Studios handled Scandinavian distribution through subsidiaries AB Svensk Filmindustri in Sweden,WEB, Bruce Almighty (2003) - SFdb,weblink 2023-11-22, en, SF Film A/S in DenmarkWEB, Bruce Almighty,weblink 2023-11-22, www.dfi.dk, en, and FS Film Oy in Finland.WEB,weblink Fixgalleria.net, Home media Bruce Almighty was released on DVD and VHS on November 25, 2003.NEWS, Vancheri, Barbara,weblink November: Almighty month for movies,weblink October 31, 2003, April 8, 2023, April 8, 2023, 92, Post-Gazette Staff Writer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Newspapers.com, live, {{Open access}} Reception Box office Bruce Almighty earned $67.9 million during its opening weekend, which made it the highest for a Jim Carrey film, surpassing How the Grinch Stole Christmas.NEWS, 'Bruce Almighty' easily wins box office	access-date=March 20, 2022	United Press International >date=May 26, 2003	archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320011854weblink	Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (film)>Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in 2022.HTTPS://WWW.HOLLYWOODREPORTER.COM/MOVIES/MOVIE-NEWS/SONIC-THE-HEDGEHOG-BOX-OFFICE-OPENING-AMBULANCE-1235127693/>TITLE=BOX OFFICE: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 BOOMS WITH $72M BOW, AMBULANCE DOA	FIRST=PAMELA	WEBSITE=THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER	ARCHIVE-DATE=APRIL 10, 2022	URL-STATUS=LIVE, At the time, it was one of three Universal films of 2003 to make opening weekends of $50 million, joining 2 Fast 2 Furious and ''Hulk (film)	''.MCNARY	DATE=JUNE 22, 2003	WORK=VARIETY (MAGAZINE)	>URL=HTTPS://VARIETY.COM/2003/FILM/BOX-OFFICE/GREEN-MEANIE-S-NO-WEENIE-1117888287/	ARCHIVE-DATE=JULY 30, 2022	URL-STATUS=LIVE, In its first four days, the film generated a total of $86.4 million, becoming the second-highest Memorial Day weekend debut, behind (The Lost World: Jurassic Park). It opened in the number one spot at the box office, beating The Matrix Reloaded.HTTPS://WWW.LATIMES.COM/ARCHIVES/LA-XPM-2003-MAY-27-ET-WELKOS27-STORY.HTML>TITLE=WEEKEND BOX OFFICE SURPRISES EVEN 'ALMIGHTY'	LOS ANGELES TIMES>DATE=MAY 27, 2003	ARCHIVE-DATE=MARCH 19, 2022	URL-STATUS=LIVE, This would only last for a week, as the spot was taken away by Finding Nemo.BREZNICAN >FIRST=ANTHONY	TITLE='NEMO' SINKS 'BRUCE' AT BOX OFFICE	DATE=JUNE 2, 2003	ARCHIVE-DATE=APRIL 3, 2022	WORK=THE ASSOCIATED PRESS	THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER >VIA=NEWSPAPERS.COM	United Kingdom on June 27, 2003, and topped the country's box office that weekend.HTTP://WWW.25THFRAME.CO.UK/CHARTS/CHART.PHP?CHART=20030711	PUBLISHER=WWW.25THFRAME.CO.UK	ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20161230160014/HTTP://WWW.25THFRAME.CO.UK/CHARTS/CHART.PHP?CHART=20030711	URL-STATUS=LIVE, There, it made a total of $8.3 million, beating Batman Forever to have the highest opening weekend for a Jim Carrey film in the country.HTTPS://WWW.SCREENDAILY.COM/ALMIGHTY-OPENING-GIVES-CARREY-CAREER-BEST-UK-LAUNCH/4014045.ARTICLE>TITLE=ALMIGHTY OPENING GIVES CARREY CAREER BEST UK LAUNCH	ARCHIVE-DATE=JANUARY 27, 2021	URL-STATUS=LIVE, Bruce Almighty joined The Matrix Reloaded, Finding Nemo, X2 and (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) to become the first five films to earn over $200 million at the box office in one summer season.NEWS, Analysis: Hollywood's hot summer,weblink March 1, 2022, United Press International, September 2, 2003, March 1, 2022,weblink live, By the end of its theatrical run, the film had made $242 million domestically and a total $484 million worldwide, making it Aniston and Carrey's highest-grossing film worldwide, as well as the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2003. Critical response On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 48% based on 191 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Carrey is hilarious in the slapstick scenes, but Bruce Almighty gets bogged down in treacle."ROTTEN TOMATOES, {{RT data, rtid, y, Bruce Almighty, |type=m |title=Bruce Almighty |access-date={{RT data|access date|title=Bruce Almighty}} |publisher_hide=yes}}{{RT data|edit|title=Bruce Almighty}}{{cbignore}} On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".METACRITIC, bruce-almighty, movie, Bruce Almighty, March 27, 2023, yes, {{cbignore}} Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars, calling it: "A charmer, the kind of movie where Bruce learns that while he may not ever make a very good God, the experience may indeed make him a better television newsman." Ebert praised Aniston's performance: "Aniston, as a sweet kindergarten teacher and fiancée, shows again (after The Good Girl) that she really will have a movie career."WEB, May 5, 2003, Ebert, Roger, Roger Ebert, Bruce Almighty movie review & film summary (2003),weblink Chicago Sun-Times, August 31, 2020, January 31, 2020,weblink live, Variety{{'}}s Robert Koehler gave the film a mixed review: "There's remarkably little done with a premise snatched from high-concept heaven, adding yet another file to the growing cabinet of under-realized comedies."WEB, May 23, 2003, Koehler, Robert, Robert Koehler, Bruce Almighty,weblink Variety, The Los Angeles Times gave it a negative review and called it "not so mighty".WEB, May 23, 2003, Not quite divine,weblink live,weblink August 30, 2022, January 1, 2021, Los Angeles Times, Controversies The film was banned in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait & Qatar because of its portrayal of God as an ordinary man & blasphemous to Islam. Bans in both Malaysia and Egypt were eventually lifted after the nations' censorship boards gave the film their highest rating (18-PL in the case of Malaysia).WEB,weblink Middle East Online, June 24, 2007,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070930161208weblink">weblink 2007-09-30, live, WEB,weblink Malaysian Muslims call for ban on movie, AFP, Fri July 13, 2007, bot: unknown,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20081207031318weblink">weblink December 7, 2008, As God contacts Bruce using an actual phone number rather than one in the standard fictional 555 telephone exchange, several people and groups sharing this number received hundreds of phone calls from people wanting to talk to God, including a church in North Carolina, US (where the minister was named Bruce), a pastor in northern Wisconsin and a man running a sandwich shop in Manchester, England.WEB,weblink Hold the phone — that fake number works - Chicago Tribune, March 29, 2011, 2015-01-04,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121107113505weblink">weblink 2012-11-07, live, The producers noted that the number (776-2323) was not in use in the area code (716, which was never specified on screen) in the film's story, but did not check anywhere else. For the home-video and television versions of the film, the number was changed to the fictional 555–0123.NEWS,weblink Man 'shares God's phone number', 30 June 2003, 2007-04-10,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070514025219weblink">weblink 2007-05-14, live, Accolades {{Unreferenced section|date=December 2021}}{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"! scope="col" | Association! scope="col" | Category! scope="col" | Nominee! scope="col" | Results
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers>ASCAP Film and Television Music award| Top Box Office Films| John Debney| {{Won}}
Black Reel Awards>Black Reel award	Film: Best Supporting Actor)| Morgan Freeman| {{Nominated}}
JoBlo.com>Golden Schmoes award| Most Overrated Movie of the Year|| {{Nominated}}
NAACP Image Awards>Image award	Image Awards 2004>Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture| Morgan Freeman| {{Won}}
MTV Movie & TV Awards>MTV Movie + TV award	MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance>Best Comedic Performance| Jim Carrey| {{Nominated}}
MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss>Best Kiss| Jim CarreyJennifer Aniston| {{Nominated}}
MTV Movie Awards Mexico 2004>MTV Movie award, Mexico	MTV Movie Awards Mexico 2004>Most Divine Miracle in a Movie (for the chest of Grace)| Jim Carrey| {{Won}}
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards>Nickelodeon Kid's Choice award| Favorite Movie|| {{Nominated}}
People's Choice Awards>People's Choice award| Favorite Comedy Motion Picture| | {{Won}}
Teen Choice Awards>Teen Choice award	Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor – Comedy>Choice Movie Actor - Comedy| Jim Carrey| {{Won}}
Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Comedy>Choice Movie Actress - Comedy| Jennifer Aniston| {{Nominated}}

Soundtrack

factoids

{{Album ratings| rev1 = AllMusic3ID=R643556title=Review: Bruce Almighty: Original Motion Picture Soundtrackfirst=HeatherAllMusic>access-date=30 August 2009}}}}The soundtrack was released on June 3, 2003, by Varèse Sarabande. Tracks 8-13 are from the score composed by John Debney, performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony (conducted by Pete Anthony) with Brad Dechter and Sandy De Crescent.

Track listing

1. "One of Us" - Joan Osborne
2. "God Shaped Hole" - Plumb
3. "You're a God" - Vertical Horizon
4. "The Power" - Snap!
5. "A Little Less Conversation" - Elvis vs. JXL
6. "The Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim
7. "God Gave Me Everything" - Mick Jagger featuring Lenny Kravitz
8. "If I Ruled the World" - Tony Bennett
9. "AB Positive"
10. "Walking on Water"
11. "Seventh at Seven"
12. "Bruce Meets God"
13. "Bruce's Prayer"
14. "Grace's Prayer"

Related media

• Arai En 305-il Kadavul, a Tamil-language remake
• God Tussi Great Ho, an Indian remake
• The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, a spin-off documentary television series starring Morgan Freeman

Sequel

A sequel and spin-off, titled Evan Almighty, was released on June 22, 2007, with Steve Carell reprising his role as Evan Baxter and Morgan Freeman returning to his role as God. Although Shadyac returned to direct the sequel, neither Carrey nor Aniston were involved with the film, and Carrey's character, Bruce, is never mentioned in the film. The film was a critical and commercial failure.Before Evan Almighty materialized, screenwriters Steve Koren and Mark O’Keefe envisioned a sequel with the title Brucifer. The proposed sequel involved Aniston's character dying and Carrey's character, under the weight of his grief, takes on Satan's powers, which he uses to resurrect Aniston's character.WEB, Sharf, Zack, 'Bruce Almighty' Writers Detail Unmade Sequel 'Brucifer': Jim Carrey as Satan, Undead Jennifer Aniston and More,weblink Variety (magazine), Variety, Penske Media Corporation, November 22, 2022, November 23, 2022, November 22, 2022,weblink live,

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• {{Official websiteweblink}}{{deadlink|date=January 2023}}
• {{IMDb title|0315327|Bruce Almighty}}
• {{allrovi movie|278865|Bruce Almighty}}

{{Almighty}}{{Tom Shadyac}}{{Steve Oedekerk}}{{Jim Carrey}}