4 Reasons You’ll Love I Can Only Imagine 2
Movie Features
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Bart is a middle-aged man who has everything he once wanted—a beautiful wife, a teenage son on the cusp of manhood, and a career in Christian music he long pursued. Yet beneath the success, Bart is quietly unraveling. The career that once brought him fulfillment now brings only pressure, driven by an industry that doesn’t dwell on past success and is always asking, “What’s next?” Truth be told, it’s been a while since Bart and his band—MercyMe—have recorded a major hit.
Bart’s struggles at home run even deeper. When his wife talks, he’s easily distracted. When his teenage son speaks, he doesn’t relate. Bart and his son, Sam, rarely see eye to eye—partly because of Sam’s immaturity and the daily challenges of managing his diabetes—but also because of the baggage Bart carries from his own past. Bart didn’t grow up in a healthy home. His father was abusive, and just as their relationship began to turn a corner, his father passed.
“No one taught me how to be a dad,” Bart tells his wife, Shannon. “Mine died when he was getting good at it.”
Perhaps a new perspective on life can benefit Bart. That opportunity arrives when a rising star in CCM, Tim Timmons, joins the band on tour. He’s Bart’s opposite—outgoing, joyful, and relentlessly optimistic. In many ways, he’s who Bart used to be. Tim has the insight Bart needs. But will he listen?
The new faith-based film I Can Only Imagine 2 (PG) follows the true-life story of Bart Millard, Tim Timmons, and their families. It’s one of the best family movies of the year.
Here are four reasons you’ll probably love it:
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Terry Wyatt / Stringer
1. It’s Not Your Typical Sequel
The first I Can Only Imagine film (2018) was an instant hit, opening No. 3 in theaters and grossing $83 million domestically—good enough to place it among the Top 40 grossing movies for the year. The film traced a young Bart Millard’s journey from an abusive childhood to a career in music. In its closing moments, his father comes to faith in Christ—a turning point that inspires Bart to write the song that bears the film’s title.
Although the first film closed with a “happily ever after,” I Can Only Imagine 2 wastes little time disrupting the celebration. It opens in the years following that first film, but then jumps forward a decade to a time when the band is struggling, and Bart is searching for purpose and inspiration.
Thematically, the two films take different paths. While I Can Only Imagine was undeniably moving, its focus on abuse made it a difficult watch and rewatch -- especially for younger viewers. I Can Only Imagine 2 mostly sidesteps those heavy elements, making it more accessible for families.
2. Familiar Faces Return and New Ones Step In
John Michael Finley reprises his role as Millard, while Dennis Quaid and Trace Adkins return as Bart’s father (seen via flashbacks—most of them positive) and MercyMe’s manager, Scott Brickell. The cast also includes several new names. Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us, Gilmore Girls) portrays Timmons, while Sophie Skelton stars as Shannon Millard and Arielle Kebbel as Hilary Timmons—the two men’s wives. Sammy Dell portrays Sam Millard.
Andy Erwin and Brent McCorkle co-directed it. Meanwhile, the film includes a handful of cameos from Christian artists—both from the past and present — who fill the roles of extras. Watch closely—you might see a well-known face.
Photo credit: ©Kingdom Story
3. It’s a Powerful Story of Gratitude in the Midst of Grief
The plot shifts when Sam joins the tour as a crew member—a decision meant to strengthen the father-son bond while giving Sam, who dreams of a music career, firsthand experience on the road. Unfortunately, though, it leads to further friction.
The story shifts again when Bart, pouring out his grief to Tim, discovers that Tim is quietly battling a form of cancer that could claim his life. Both men are facing deep trials -- Bart haunted by his past and Tim confronting an uncertain future with chemo -- but they respond in strikingly different ways.
Tim shares that his grief carries another layer. His wife is expecting their first child -- and he may not be there to experience that life unfold. “I just want to finish strong,” he says, reminding Bart that “every moment” he’s granted is a blessing.
Referencing his gratitude and his grief, he quickly adds, “I'm finding a way to hold them both together. God is in the fire, bro, and it is beautiful.”
Eventually, the two pair up to write another powerful faith anthem, Even If.
It’s a Moving Tale of Family and Fatherhood
Of course, Bart does rebuild his bond with Sam—much like the reconciliation he experienced with his own father years earlier.
“Fight for your son,” Shannon tells Bart early in the film, delivering a message that, no doubt, our broader culture needs to hear. In recent years, Americans have grown skilled at “fighting” -- sparring with ideological opponents, arguing with strangers online, and trading barbs over issues that will carry little weight in eternity. But how often do we fight for what truly matters? For what Scripture actually calls us to defend? For our own families?
“Keep fighting,” she tells him later, underscoring the message.
Marriage isn’t easy. Neither is parenting. But I Can Only Imagine 2 reminds us that both are worth the fight -- and that perseverance, not retreat, is what God desires.
I Can Only Imagine 2 is a sequel every bit as good as its predecessor, with a plot that draws you in, a score that tugs at your heart, and performances from Finley, Ventimiglia, and others that ground the story in authenticity.
It’s an uplifting celebration of faith, gratitude, and family.
I Can Only Imagine 2 is rated PG for thematic elements and some language. Note: Despite the rating’s warning, the film contains no coarse language, with only a few uses of words such as “suck” and “freakin’.”
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Family-friendly rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Photo credit: ©Kingdom Story
