Overview
A young boy's journey through pain and music leads to unexpected redemption.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- earnest
- nostalgic
- devotional
- inspirational viewing
- music movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film's performances and hopeful storytelling stronger than typical faith-based cinema, while considering its religious and psychological treatment conventional.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bart's relationship with his abusive father drives the story's movement from trauma toward reconciliation.
The narrative follows Bart Millard's path toward creating MercyMe's influential title song.
Christian belief shapes Bart's artistic vocation and his response to family trauma.
Bart's childhood and early musical life unfold within a Texas Christian community.
Films like I Can Only Imagine, and why
Walk the Line
shared music biopic structure, faith-inflected redemption, and father son conflict
Coal Miner's Daughter
shared singer-songwriter biography, family trauma, romantic support, and inspirational musical rise
The Grace Card
shared christian music subject, uplifting faith-centered tone, and biographical drama
La Bamba
shared music career origin story, intimate family conflict, and emotionally direct inspirational storytelling
Movie Details
- Directors
- Jon Erwin, Andrew Erwin
- Release Date
- 2018-02-14
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (516)
Cast
- J. Michael Finley
- Madeline Carroll
- Dennis Quaid
- Trace Adkins
- Cloris Leachman
- Jason Burkey
- Mark Furze
- Randy McDowell
- Cole Marcus
- Alexander Dominguez
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Angel Studios, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Wonder Project Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is I Can Only Imagine about?
- A singer-songwriter's painful Texas upbringing becomes the emotional and spiritual source of his breakthrough Christian anthem.
- What is I Can Only Imagine like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of I Can Only Imagine as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is I Can Only Imagine violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in I Can Only Imagine as mild.
- What did critics think of I Can Only Imagine?
- Critics generally found the film's performances and hopeful storytelling stronger than typical faith-based cinema, while considering its religious and psychological treatment conventional.
- Which films are like I Can Only Imagine?
- Films with a similar feel include Walk the Line, Coal Miner's Daughter, The Grace Card, and La Bamba.
- How long is I Can Only Imagine?
- I Can Only Imagine runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch I Can Only Imagine?
- In United States, I Can Only Imagine streams on Angel Studios, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Wonder Project Amazon Channel.
