‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ Film Review (2026): Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle’s jointly directed ‘I Can Only Imagine 2‘ premiered in Music City Nashville on February 12, followed by its scheduled release in the United States by Lionsgate on February 20, 2026. This faith-based sequel has continued the real-life-inspired journey of singer-songwriter Bart Millard, who is best known as the frontman of MercyMe. As an emotionally complete first film, this chapter tries to justify its existence as it explores the backstory behind another hit song and the personal struggles that followed success.
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‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ Plot
‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ plot picks up after the massive breakthrough of MercyMe. Bart is a well-known musician, and he is married and raising a family and continues to tour across the country. However, despite professional success, he remains emotionally burdened due to the memories of his abusive father.
The central emotional conflict is about Bart taking his 17-year-old son Sam on tour to make sure that the teenager is properly able to manage his type 1 diabetes. Their relationship is tense, and Bart is shown struggling to become the kind of father he never had.
Things take a different turn, especially when the touring singer Tim Timmons joins the group. At this time, Bart is shown wrestling with writer’s block and emotional exhaustion. Tim’s personal health crisis becomes the unexpected trigger for a new song that is now more focused on faith and perseverance. That song eventually became the well-known MercyMe single Even If.
The film builds toward a large concert finale at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and here Bart performs the new song and publicly reconnects with his son.
Cast and Charector
- John Michael Finley as Bart Millard
- Milo Ventimiglia as Tim Timmons
- Sophie Skelton as Shannon, Bart’s wife
- Sammy Dell as Sam, Bart’s son
- Trace Adkins as the band’s sharp-tongued manager
- Dennis Quaid appears in flashbacks as Bart’s father
Positive Aspects
- Milo Ventimiglia’s performance is easily the film’s strongest element. He was effortless in his role of Tim Timmons because he adds the much-needed humour, warmth and emotional balance to an otherwise heavy narrative.
- The on-tour scenes are smooth to bring much-needed energy and provide lighter moments that briefly lift the film’s tone.
- The final concert sequence is visually impressive and emotionally accessible for viewers.
- Trace Adkins has delivered a bunch of very memorable one-liners in I Can Only Imagine 2.
Negative Aspects
- The film relies heavily on emotional beats, and it was already resolved in the original story. Bart’s continued fixation on his father feels dramatically repetitive.
- The subplot in ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ that involved Sam’s medical irresponsibility lacks emotional nuance, and it becomes frustrating rather than moving.
- There are several conflicts that feel manufactured purely to extend the story rather than to deepen character development.
- The pacing becomes sluggish in the middle portion during extended scenes of personal reflection and songwriting struggles.
Direction and Screenplay
The film is directed by Andrew Erwin & Brent McCorkle, and it also has McCorkle, who handled the screenplay.
The direction remains polished and visually clean, but it rarely tries to push beyond the familiar structure of modern faith-based cinema. The storytelling leans heavily on inspirational formulas such as personal crisis, musical breakthrough and spiritual affirmation, and it doesn’t really offer a genuinely fresh narrative angle.
Final Verdict
All in all, ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ is a competently made sequel, and it manages to deliver heartfelt performances and strong musical moments, but it somehow fails to match the emotional weight of its predecessor.
Watch I Can Only Imagine 2 Trailer
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