Soul Surfer is a 2011 American biographical sports drama film directed by Sean McNamara and based on the 2004 book of the same name by Bethany Hamilton, Sheryl Berk, and Rick Bundschuh about Hamilton's life as a surfer after losing her left arm from a shark attack and her subsequent recovery. The film stars AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, and Lorraine Nicholson with Carrie Underwood, Kevin Sorbo, Sonya Balmores, Branscombe Richmond, and Craig T. Nelson. Filming took place in Hawaii in early 2010, with additional filming taking place in Tahiti in August 2010. Released in theaters on April 8, 2011 in the United States and Canada by a partnership between FilmDistrict and TriStar Pictures, Soul Surfer became a commercial success, earning $47.1 million against its $18 million budget, but received mixed reviews from critics; some complimented the visuals, performances (particularly from Robb) and its message, while others panned the film for being melodramatic and heavy-handed.