The 2018 sleeper I Can Only Imagine rocked the faith-based movie world and became a huge hit, earning $83 million domestic on only a $7 million budget. Naturally, Lionsgate and the Kingdom Story Company, with which it has a deal to make movies in this genre, would think about a sequel, except that first film ended on such a high, it seems to stand alone. It was about the writing of a smash song that would resonate high atop the Christian music industry and become the impetus for the equally successful movie about how it came about. What more is there to tell? Well, plenty, as it turns out.
In the sequel arriving years later, the task is a little more difficult as it deals once more with Bart Millard (played again by John Michael Finley), frontman for the Christian music group MercyMe. The first film saw him dealing with an abusive and unsupportive dad (Dennis Quaid), which ultimately led to forgiveness and the creation of the chart-topping sing “I Can Only Imagine.” The new film darts back and forth in time as Millard is married to Shannon (Sophie Skelton) and they have a young son, Sam (Sammy Dell), who has a serious diabetes condition and nearly died — a development that caused lots of grief for Bart, who is also trying to deal with his overnight success and life on the road.
Cut to 10 years later, and Sam is a bright teenager with an eye toward a music career like his dad’s. But as the overprotective father, Bart only is concerned with Sam getting his shot every day just to stay healthy and alive and does not give him any encouragement, similar to how his own late father acted (Quaid appears in several brief flashbacks). Also, manager Scott Brickell (country star Trace Adkins, returning in the role) has lined up the biggest road tour ever for MercyMe, and that includes a spot for Sam to tag along but not perform, if Bart has his way.
Hired as the opening act is Tim Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia), a low-key but deeply religious man who performs his own songs he likes to call “prayers.” Traveling on the bus with Bart and his band, he serves up his unique brand of inspiration through a book of hymns he uses as his own bible. He has reason to believe, as we eventually learn he has been diagnosed with cancer and not given a hopeful prognosis. At the same time, his wife Hilary (Arielle Kebbel) springs the news that he is about to become a father.
If directors Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle (the latter also credited with the screenplay) were concerned about not having enough human drama for a second time around, they need not worry. It is all based on actual events, though somewhat fictionalized (the end credits emphasize this is not a documentary) and driven by a new MercyMe song, “Even If,” which Timmons created and wrote with Bart, that would go on to spend 19 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian chart in real life and become the foundation for this sequel, just as “I Can Only Imagine” did in 2018 for the first film.
Considering MercyMe has recorded hundreds of songs, we can only imagine that if this movie works, there will be a whole franchise built on them. The filmmakers say no. This is a two-off, a reason for a follow-up that makes sense and a winning way to bring cinematic completion to Bart Millard’s unique life and career.
As with many movies in the faith genre, there is lots of talk about the power of God and prayer in getting through this thing we call life. But, like the first film, all the trials and heartache seem to work without preaching to the choir just like a country song — or in this case a Christian song. Finley does well returning to his signature role but plays it a bit too glum too much of the time due to the circumstances he finds himself in with Sam and Tim, among other worries. It is Ventimiglia (This Is Us) who steals the film lock, stock and barrel as the affable and relatable Timmons, whose strong beliefs and the “X” he draws daily on his pulse serve as the truly inspiring part of this story (in 2001, Timmons was given just five years to live, but 25 years later he is still with us and still performing).
Ventimiglia, in prepping for the role, took up guitar and singing and is completely authentic here. Adkins adds much-needed wisdom and humor as the longtime manager who has written a book no one reads, and Dell is perfect as the ever-hopeful Sam. Both Skelton and Kebbel lend some nice warmth in supportive wives roles.
I Can Only Imagine 2 doesn’t hide what it is, and in fact held early-access “Worship Screenings” on Valentine’s Day with the ad line, “Imagine what God can do … even In Your Theatre.” So it probably is safe to say this a movie for believers, as are most entries in the faith-based genre. But the sheer power of the hope-and-love message it is selling seems welcome and a nice tonic in these dark times, believe it or not.
Producers are Erwin, Kevin Downes, Cindy Bond, Millard, Daryl Lefeverand Joshua Walsh. The rating is PG, which is this case in addition toParental Guidance also might mean Pro God.
Title: I Can Only Imagine 2
Distributor: Lionsgate
Release Date: February 20, 2026
Directors: Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle
Screenwriter: Brent McCorkle
Cast: John Michael Finley, Milo Ventimiglia, Sophie Skelton, Arielle Kebbel, Sammy Dell, Trace Adkins, Dennis Quaid
Rating: PG
Running time: 1 hr 50 mins
English (US) ·