I Can Only Imagine

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2:20

I Can Only Imagine

PG

2018

1h 50m

Biography

Drama

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Growing up in Greenville, Texas, Bart Millard suffers physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father, Arthur. When Arthur becomes terminally ill, he finds redemption by embracing his faith and rediscovering his love for his son. Years later, Bart's troubled childhood and mended relationship with his dad inspires him to write the hit song I Can Only Imagine as singer of the Christian band MercyMe.

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Critics Consensus

I Can Only Imagine's message will have the most impact among Christian audiences, but overall, its performances and storytelling represent a notable evolution in faith-based cinema.

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

[A] slickly assembled tale of redemption and reconciliation.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 8, 2018

Full Review

David Ehrlich

IndieWire

Art can be affirmation, but affirmation cannot be art.

Rated: C-

Mar 21, 2018

Full Review

Peter Debruge

Variety

The movie works for the same reason the song does: It lightens the burden of the pain people are shouldering today, and gives them something to look forward to.

Mar 18, 2018

Full Review

Hosea Rupprecht

Pauline Media Studies

Fortunately, this trend in faith-based filmmaking seems to be shifting to a more real, lived faith. I Can Only Imagine is a good example of this shift...

Aug 24, 2021

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

An inspirational drama that, unlike most faith-based endeavors, at least looks like a real movie rather than something even Ed Wood would have rejected.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 10, 2021

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

This is exactly what a faith-based film should be.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 11, 2020

Full Review

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Mario

We need more spiritual movies at the theaters. Loved it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/25

Full Review

Josiah H

Bart Millard's story is very inspiring! I had no idea!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

Naomi B

"I Can Only Imagine" expresses the almighty power of God. This story is filled with a relatable moral about forgiveness. The character development that each person holds is inspiring and shows that even the people that hurt us the most can change for the better. I found this movie absolutely stunning. The actors, the plot, the lesson that forgiveness is such a powerful thing. God forgives us everyday when we repent our sins, seeing that happen between two people in a broken relationship is astonishing. To conclude, this movie is one that has changed my life, and view on humanity.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

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Ed R

As someone who is not highly religious, this movie hits a 10/10! A very powerful, moving story!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie for me had me in drowning tears and also had me heartbroken,because it's a movie I can relate too in my own personal life as I was also abused as a child by my own dad who struggled with drugs , who had also abused my own mother, My mom also left my dad too but my mom took me with her. By the time I became a Christian and had tried to reach out to my dad for Jesus and invite him to church and had learned to forgive him. It was too late he had committed suicide and killed himself with drugs and he was found dead in his car. So the pain and the guilt is real of not being able to see my dad saved before he died still hurts today and that's what this movie meant to me. Don't wait too forgive your loved ones because it might be too late when you decide to forgive.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/24/25

Full Review

Stephen C

1 hour and 50 minutes of real musicians. Rated PG for Thematic Elements and Some Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/24/25

Full Review

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Andrew Erwin

Director

Jon Erwin

Director

John Michael Finley

Bart

Madeline Carroll

Shannon

Dennis Quaid

Arthur

Trace Adkins

Brickell

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I Can Only Imagine: Trailer 2

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I Can Only Imagine: Trailer 1

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I Can Only Imagine: Teaser Trailer 1

1:56

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Synopsis

Growing up in Greenville, Texas, Bart Millard suffers physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father, Arthur. When Arthur becomes terminally ill, he finds redemption by embracing his faith and rediscovering his love for his son. Years later, Bart's troubled childhood and mended relationship with his dad inspires him to write the hit song I Can Only Imagine as singer of the Christian band MercyMe.

Director: Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin
Producer: Kevin Downes, Cindy Bond, Daryl C. Lefever, Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon
Screenwriter: Jon Erwin, Brent McCorkle
Distributor: Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Kevin Downes, Mission Pictures International, city on a hill productions
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Violence)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 16, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 5, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $83.5M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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