I Can Only Imagine 2 (2026) [Film Review]: A Heartfelt Sequel Sometimes Trips Over Its Ambitions

I Can Only Imagine, the follow-up to the surprise 2018 hit, returns to the life of the man behind the song, exploring fame, family, and faith in quieter, sometimes messier ways. Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle direct the film and pick up after the reconciliation and success that closed the first movie, asking what happens when life’s wins are met with new, stubborn problems. The picture I Can Only Imagine 2 is officially billed as a sequel and opened in U.S. theaters in February 2026.

Plot & Pacing

Family, illness, and the pressure to create

At its center is the family strain that comes when Bart — the songwriter whose ballad became a cultural touchstone — must choose between touring and home life. The film introduces the couple’s son, Sam, and the heart-wrenching diagnosis that forces the family into daily medical vigilance and emotional strain; those developments power much of the movie’s tension. Critics have noted the film’s leap forward in time and its focus on the hazardous balancing act between career and parenting.

Performances

Voices and instincts carry the film

Returning to the role of Bart is John Michael Finley, whose theatrical background gives the musical moments real resonance. New additions raise the emotional stakes: Milo Ventimiglia brings warmth and steady empathy as Tim, a fellow musician who becomes an unlikely mentor, while Dennis Quaid provides the gruff, lived-in presence familiar to audiences. Sophie Skelton and Sammy Dell (as the son) round out the core family ensemble, and real-life country star Trace Adkins supplies a textured supporting turn as the band’s manager. Multiple reviews single out Ventimiglia and Finley for giving the film its most affecting moments.

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Themes & Faith Angle

Deep sincerity, shallow exploration

The movie is sincere about faith, gratitude, and the redemptive power of song — especially songs tied to the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” and the story behind later MercyMe material — but it rarely digs into theological complexity. Fans of the music and the tradition will find comfort and encouragement; viewers hoping for a probing examination of belief or a nuanced look at spiritual wrestling may feel the script opts for broad inspirational strokes over gritty specificity. The sequel is very much written for viewers who came to care about the characters the first time around; it harmonizes more than it converts.

(Note: MercyMe’s original single “I Can Only Imagine” remains the touchstone behind both films, long celebrated as one of the best-selling Christian singles.)

What Works & What Doesn’t

Strong music and performances; cluttered plotting

Strengths: the singing is heartfelt, the central performances sell the emotional beats, and a few scenes — especially those that show small acts of presence and gratitude — land with real impact. Weaknesses: the screenplay piles on personal, medical, and professional crises until the story feels crowded; at times, plot points appear to exist mainly to nudge the protagonist toward songwriting, which undercuts the movie’s emotional authenticity. Critics have described the film as uneven: moving in parts, cluttered in others.

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Final Verdict

For the faithful fanbase — a reward; for newcomers — hit or miss

I Can Only Imagine 2 will most reward viewers who already love the music and the message: they’ll leave comforted, moved by the performances and the musical passages. For a broader audience, the film’s sincere heart is sometimes undermined by a busy script and surface-level treatment of faith. On balance, it’s an affectionate, well-sung sequel that occasionally overreaches — a 3.5 out of 5 is a fair measure for a movie that aspires to uplift and often does, even when it stumbles.

Rating: ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)