I Can Only Imagine

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I Can Only Imagine

PG

Released Mar 16, 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

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Micki S

Really great movie! Tremendously loved it . I can watch over and over. .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

Full Review

Kimberly C

Faith based and true story of Mercy Me vocalist Bart Millard. Very inspiring and a tribute to having Faith in God. Highly recommend

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

Full Review

David Lee K

I fear I'm just too secular to enjoy "I can only imagine". This movie is a rather flat and uninspiring bio-pic about the so-called hard life the main character had to endure. From the mental and physical abuse of his father, to the loss of his irresponsible mother and his childhood sweetheart, it all seems very contrived and self-absorbed. Wouldn't recommend you wasting the two hours that I spend waiting for SOMETHING worthwhile to happen.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/26/24

Full Review

Daniel S

This movie made me cry when I saw it with my grandparents, cousins, sisters and mother. Dennis Quaid was indeed the monstrous father of our Christian singer, but I loved it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/24

Full Review

Mario V

Dennis Quaid was great! A good story line & plot. I definitely recommend it

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/05/24

Full Review

Kul S

I have always loved the song! J. Michael Finley had a solid performance as Bart Millard. Dennis Quaid's Arthur Millard in the flash back scenes was played so real i hated the character. Nicole DuPort as Amy Grant was stellar and makes me want to watch a whole movie with her as the lead playing Amy Grant. Really, though I understand showing the abuse, the flash back scenes are hard to watch. Pulled me out of the movie. The story was good. Had the setup and the struggle, the lose and the redemption. I wanted to root for Bart, but because this was a Bio flick, i already knew he succeeded, it made me not feel the possible worry of failure throughout. I would recommend watching this when you want to watch a movie with a feel good ending.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/06/24

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

2:20

I Can Only Imagine: Trailer 1

2:14

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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