While drawing pictures of their dream children, October draws a football player with the number 74, which was Michael Oher's jersey number in the film Un sueño posible (2009). The film is a recurring joke about her character, who tries to emulate Leigh Anne Tuohy.
John McConnell and Maureen Brennan, who play Mr. and Mrs. Muskie, are actually married in real life.
Young Pete (Connor Jones) and adult Pete (Mark Wahlberg) both had many black dots drawn on their faces during filming for the football flashback in order for their faces to be matched perfectly in post-production.
The film was inspired by writer/director Sean Anders' and his family's own experiences adopting three foster children through the Seneca Family of Agencies' Kinship Center.
On November 10, 2018, it was announced the film's November 11 red carpet premiere in Los Angeles would be canceled due to the Woolsey Fire, but that a screening would take place at an evacuation center for victims of the fires. A pared down premiere did take place on November 11 however.