Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality is a new documentary film produced by Castletown Media in association with Jim Wahlberg. Distributed through Fathom Entertainment, the film will premiere in over a thousand theaters nationwide on April 27, 2025, the day of Carlo Acutis’ canonization. (Tickets available now at CarloAcutisFilm.com.)
In one of the opening scenes, a deeply unsettling moment unfolds. A group of high school students sits together, each absorbed by their screens. When asked how many hours a day they spend on their phones, their answers are eye-opening. One student quietly responds, “Six hours.” Another admits with embarrassment, “Seven.” A third pauses before softly confessing, “Eight.” Considering teenagers are typically awake around 16 hours a day, this means nearly half of their waking hours are consumed by screens. This reality prompted us to ask: What impact is this having on their lives, their relationships, and their spiritual well-being?
Conversations with experts have uncovered alarming realities. Neuroscientist Sofia Carroza notes that one in five American adolescents now undergoes psychotherapy, with nearly 15% prescribed psychoactive medications. Almost half report struggling with feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, or deep sadness. These aren't just numbers; they’re signs of a silent crisis unfolding among young people whose lives increasingly revolve around digital screens. Throughout filming, one truth became strikingly clear: As Monsignor James Shea observes, screens offer an imitation of the transcendent. They promise connection yet often leave us isolated and drained.
Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality isn’t just a biography—it’s a lens through which to see our world as Carlo did. Rather than simply recounting his story, we sought to journey with young people as they wrestle with the same struggles he once faced, inviting them beyond the screen and into the fullness of reality.
Carlo emerges in our film as an antidote to the struggles young people face today. As Bishop Andrew Cozzens says, “Carlo is in many ways the saint for our time.” A teenager deeply familiar with technology, Carlo instinctively understood its dangers and offered a compelling alternative. His mother, Antonia, recalled how Carlo received a PlayStation but committed himself to playing no more than one hour per week after learning about teenage gaming addiction. When Carlo became interested in computer coding, he intentionally created websites designed to guide visitors toward the mysteries of faith, especially the Eucharist. Brett Robinson from the McGrath Institute of Notre Dame captured Carlo’s insight succinctly: “Carlo is subverting the digital medium, reminding us that technology isn’t what’s enchanting; what’s truly enchanting is our Lord in the Eucharist.” Carlo knew digital interactions, despite their appeal, could never replace authentic relationships and a concrete connection to reality.
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Carlo’s life profoundly impacted those around him. His babysitter, Rajesh Mohur, shared how Carlo’s daily acts of kindness transformed his life. “He taught me how to pray, how to attend Mass. My life has completely changed.” Moments like these highlight a fundamental truth: Holiness emerges not from grand gestures but from sincere, everyday interactions.
Carlo’s message is more relevant than ever in a culture captivated by transhumanist ideals that promise technological immortality. At just 15, he faced death with extraordinary grace. As Sofia Carroza puts it, “What our hearts long for is not perpetual life on earth, but the life of a saint—Christ within us.” Carlo embraced reality, grounding himself in authentic relationships, spiritual depth, and a deep devotion to the sacraments, offering a compelling alternative to digital escapism.
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The National Eucharistic Revival has been an essential partner in this project precisely because Carlo’s life embodies its mission. The Revival aims to renew a sacramental worldview, celebrating the Incarnation and emphasizing Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. Carlo, through his life and witness, points us directly to this Eucharistic Presence. His legacy encourages us to recognize Christ as the true source of happiness and fulfillment.
Through Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality, we’ve come to see how technology, when used with intention, can serve a greater good. But true fulfillment lies beyond the screen—in real relationships, meaningful community, and spiritual depth. Our hope is that this film inspires viewers, especially young people, to reflect on their dependence on digital devices and rediscover the joy of authentic human connection. Carlo’s brief yet extraordinary life calls us beyond isolation and into the fullness of reality, where genuine joy is discovered. As Chris Stefanick notes in the film, “Carlo was online to lead people offline.” His use of technology was guided by a deeper purpose: drawing others out of the virtual world and back into the heart of reality—toward the Eucharist, the ultimate source of meaning and life.
Here are three things any of us can do when we find ourselves suffering from “digital loneliness”:
1. Set clear limits on daily screen time.
2. Make intentional time each day for real-world interactions with family and friends.
3. Dedicate time daily for spiritual reflection or prayer, most especially Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.
Tickets for Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality are available now. For theater locations and ticket purchases, visit CarloAcutisFilm.com.
