| Director | Dan Fogelman |
|---|---|
| Budget | $10 million |
| Box office | $10.8 million |
Aging 1970s rocker Danny Collins cannot give up his hard-living ways, but his manager Frank Grubman uncovers a 40-year-old undelivered letter to him from John Lennon. After reading the letter, Danny decides to change his way of life. He travels to New Jersey to attempt to connect for the first time with his grown son, Tom Donnelly, born from a casual relationship with a woman who died 10 years earlier. Tom has a wife, Samantha, and seven-year-old daughter Hope, and is expecting a second child.
Seeking a new start, Danny forswears touring and checks into a Hilton hotel in New Jersey, much to the delight of the young staff. He begins to woo the hotel manager Mary, and tries to set up her assistant Jamie on a date.
Tom initially rejects the father who he believes abandoned him, but Danny persists, arranging for Hope, who has ADHD, to be accepted into an exclusive school for children with special needs. He learns that Tom has what doctors say may be terminal leukemia, inherited from his mother, and he begins to attend doctor's visits with him. Tom's dislike of his father gradually gives way to the need for his support.
Inspired by his feelings for Mary and his happiness from having a family, Danny begins to write new songs, and he books a one-night performance at a small club. However, when the audience demands that he play his old material, Danny loses his nerve and gives a rote performance. Ashamed, he resumes doing drugs, damaging his relationship with Mary and his family. Tom confronts him, causing Danny to angrily reveal Tom's leukemia diagnosis, something of which Samantha had not been aware. Feeling betrayed, Tom tells Danny never to bother his family again.
Danny learns from Frank that his finances are in danger due to his excessive habits, and that he needs to go on tour again. Danny goes to the hotel to mend his relationship with Mary. Tom is visited by Frank, who tells him that his father, despite many flaws, is a good man. Tom finds Danny waiting at the doctor's office so that he can hear his diagnosis. Danny reassures him that everything will be all right and says that the doctor always addresses him as "Mr. Donnelly" before giving him bad news and "Tom" before giving him good news. The doctor arrives, calling him "Tom".