Production notes

On May 13, 2015, it was announced that Hugh Jackman and Rooney Mara would star in the New York-set drama Collateral Beauty, to be directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and written by Allan Loeb. Loeb wrote the script on spec, saying, "It's something that I've meditated on for a couple of years, the idea of someone who's been through a terrible loss and was angry and twice destroyed and wrote letters to the Universe. I didn't know why or how or what that meant for years, but it wouldn't leave me alone." Michael Sugar and Bard Dorros were set to produce through their Anonymous Content banner. On June 9, 2015, PalmStar Media's Kevin Frakes came on board to produce and fully finance the film, and Likely Story was also on board to co-produce the film, with Loeb also producing. On June 15, 2015, Variety reported that Jason Segel was in talks to join the cast. On July 15, 2015, it was announced that Jackman had exited the project due to his commitment with 20th Century Fox's Logan, and producers were eyeing Johnny Depp to star instead. On August 4, 2015, Will Smith was cast to play the lead, replacing Jackman, while Smith's Overbrook Entertainment was set to also produce the film. On September 8, 2015, it was announced that New Line Cinema had come on board to handle worldwide distribution for the film, while Mara had left the project. On October 5, 2015, Gomez-Rejon exited the film due to creative differences with the studio. On November 10, 2015, it was announced that David Frankel was nearing a deal to direct the film. On December 1, 2015, Variety reported that Helen Mirren was in early talks to join the cast, with filming expected to begin early 2016 in New York City. On January 14, 2016, The Wrap reported that Edward Norton, Michael Peña, and Naomie Harris were cast in the film, while Rachel McAdams was in negotiations to join as well. Village Roadshow Pictures was set to co-finance the film. On February 9, 2016, Keira Knightley joined the film, and Kate Winslet was also cast the next day. Enrique Murciano was spotted filming along with Winslet, while Jacob Latimore also joined the film. On March 10, 2016, Ann Dowd signed on to co-star.

Principal photography on the film began on February 22, 2016, in Queens in New York City and Manhattan. On March 10, 2016, filming took place at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

The soundtrack includes five songs in addition to the original score by Theodore Shapiro:

"Way Down We Go", performed by Kaleo, written by Jakull Juliusson "Looking Too Closely", performed by Fink, written by Finian Greenall, Timothy Thornton, and Guy Whitaker "World of Love", performed by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, written by Franklin Stribling "Oh What a Beautiful City", performed by Bryan Terrell Clark and Mykal Kilgore, arranged by Dave Van Ronk "Let's Hurt Tonight", performed by OneRepublic, written and produced by Ryan Tedder and Noel Zancanella "Let's Hurt Tonight" was confirmed to be on the soundtrack album in November 2016. A music video for the song, featuring scenes from the film, was released on December 6, 2016.