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Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions (Erwin Brothers)

I Can Only Imagine

The story behind the MercyMe song: Bart Millard grows up in Greenville, Texas, under an abusive father who is changed by faith when he becomes terminally ill. Their reconciliation becomes the song that made the band known.

ProvisionalFilm & seriesBroadly evangelical
Where to watch

Why this is listed

The Angel page confirms the film is available there to Guild members, PG, 1 hour 50 minutes. JustWatch US at check time also lists it free on BYUtv, in the Lionsgate+ Amazon channel, and to rent for $3.99 or buy for $14.99 on Amazon, Apple TV and Fandango at Home.

Before you press play

The story behind the MercyMe song, dramatised and compressed for film. Rated PG-13: scenes of a father's physical and verbal abuse, alcoholism and a terminal illness. Teens and adults; preview for younger viewers.

Suited to Teens. Age judgements are ours, not a rating board’s — you know your own family.

How to start

  1. Open angel.com (opens an external site) and read what Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions (Erwin Brothers) says about itself before you read anything else.
  2. Read the note above first. It is there so an evening does not go wrong twenty minutes in.
  3. Watch it yourself before you watch it with children, if there are children.
  4. Read the passage it dramatises alongside it. The point is to send you back to the text, not to replace it.
  5. Afterwards, ask what the story added and what it left out. That conversation is worth more than the film.

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