I Can Only Imagine ( film ) - wikipedia I Can Only Imagine ( film ) I Can Only Imagine Theatrical release poster Directed by Erwin Brothers Produced by Cindy Bond Kevin Downes Daryl Lefever Mickey Liddell Pete Shilaimon Raymond Harris Joe Knopp Screenplay by Jon Erwin Brent McCorkle Story by Alex Cramer Jon Erwin Brent McCorkle Based on The life story of Bart Millard Starring J. Michael Finley Madeline Carroll Trace Adkins Priscilla Shirer Cloris Leachman Dennis Quaid Tanya Clarke Music by Brent McCorkle Cinematography Kristopher Kimlin Edited by Andrew Erwin Brent McCorkle Production companies Kevin Downes Productions Mission Pictures International Distributed by Lionsgate Roadside Attractions Release date March 16, 2018 ( 2018 - 03 - 16 ) Running time 110 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $7 million Box office $85.4 million I Can Only Imagine is a 2018 American Christian drama film directed by the Erwin Brothers and written by Alex Cramer, Jon Erwin, and Brent McCorkle, based on the story behind the MercyMe song of the same name, the best - selling Christian single of all time. The film stars J. Michael Finley as Bart Millard, the lead singer who wrote the song about his relationship with his father ( Dennis Quaid ). Madeline Carroll, Priscilla Shirer, Cloris Leachman, and Trace Adkins also star. I Can Only Imagine was released in the United States on March 16, 2018. It grossed $85 million worldwide against a production budget of $7 million, and is the third highest - grossing music biopic of all - time in the United States. Some critics praised it as inspiring and noted it as an improvement compared to other faith - based films, while others called it flat and by - the - numbers. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 4.1 Box office 4.2 Critical response 4.3 Home media 5 References 6 External links Plot 10 - year - old Bart Millard lives with his mother and abusive father Arthur in Texas. One day his mother drops him off at a Christian camp where he meets Shannon. Upon his return from camp, Bart finds his mother has left and movers are removing her belongings. He angrily confronts his father, who denies that his abusiveness was the reason she left. Years later, in high school, Bart and Shannon are dating. Bart plays football to please his father, but is injured, breaking both ankles and ending his career. The only elective with openings is music class, so he reluctantly signs up. Initially, Bart is assigned to be a sound technician, but after overhearing him singing, the director casts him in the lead role in the school production of Oklahoma. Bart overcomes his reluctance and gives an impressive performance, but does not tell his father, who finds out the night of the show when he happens to see a flyer for the show in a diner. Arthur suddenly collapses in pain, and finds out he has cancer, which he hides from Bart. The following morning, Bart antagonizes his father, who smashes a plate over his head. At church, Shannon sees the blood and presses Bart to open up, but he responds by breaking up with her, and leaves town to seek his fortune in the city. He joins a band in need of a singer, and convinces Christian music producer Scott Brickell to manage the band and secure a showcase in Nashville. Bart surprises Shannon and invites her to tour with the band, and is confused when she flatly refuses. In Nashville, Brickell introduces Bart to established artists Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, but is unable to convince several record execs to sign the band, who do not believe the band, now performing as `` MercyMe '', is good enough. Devastated, Bart quits the band, but Brickell perceives that Bart needs to resolve issues in his personal life, so Bart reconciles with the band and asks them to wait for him, and leaves to return home. Bart returns home late at night and is confused to find that his father has prepared breakfast for him the next morning. His father claims to have become a Christian, but Bart is skeptical and refuses to forgive him, and leaves. In anger and despair, Arthur smashes his old Jeep, which he had asked Bart to help him restore. Bart attempts to drive away in his father 's pickup, but discovers the terminal cancer diagnosis, and returns to his father. He finally forgives his father, and the two form a deep bond, but Arthur soon dies of his illness. After Arthur 's funeral, Bart rejoins the band and writes `` I Can Only Imagine '', and also calls Shannon and apologizes for the first time since their breakup. Brickell sends the demo tape to several artists, including Grant, who, deeply moved by the song, asks to record it herself as her next single, and Bart, who just wants the song to be heard, accepts. Grant begins the song, but ca n't bring herself to sing it, and calls Bart on stage from the audience to sing it himself. Bart 's performance earns an enthusiastic ovation, and he reunites with Shannon, who was also in attendance. The band releases the song as their first single, achieving success on both Christian and mainstream radio. Cast This list is incomplete ; you can help by expanding it. J. Michael Finley as Bart Millard Brody Rose as Young Bart Dennis Quaid as Arthur Millard, Bart 's father Tanya Clarke as Adele Cloris Leachman as Meemaw, Bart 's grandmother Madeline Carroll as Shannon, Bart 's girlfriend Taegen Burns as Young Shannon Trace Adkins as Scott Brickell, MercyMe 's manager Priscilla Shirer as Mrs. Fincher, Bart 's teacher Nicole DuPort as Amy Grant Jake B. Miller as Michael W. Smith Mark Furze as Nathan Production This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( March 2018 ) The film was announced in December 2016. Dennis Quaid joined the cast in January 2017. Broadway actor J. Michael Finley makes his film debut as Bart Millard. The same month, it was announced that the film was slated for release in the spring of 2018. In August 2017, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions signed on as distributors for the film for a nationwide release in the United States. Reception Box Office As of June 24, 2018, I Can Only Imagine has grossed $83.4 million in the United States, and Canada and $1.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $85.2 million, against a production budget of $7 million. It is the third - highest grossing music biopic of all - time in the United States, behind Straight Outta Compton and Walk the Line. It is also the highest - grossing independent film of 2018. I Can Only Imagine was released on March 16, 2018, alongside Tomb Raider and Love, Simon, and was originally projected to gross $2 -- 4 million from 1,620 theaters in its opening weekend. However, after making $6.2 million on its first day ( including $1.3 million from Thursday night previews ), weekend estimates were increased to $14 million. It ended up grossing $17.1 million, exceeding expectations and finishing third at the box office behind Black Panther and Tomb Raider. 67 % of the opening weekend audience was female while 80 % was over the age of 35. It was the fourth best - ever opening for a faith - based film, following The Passion of the Christ ( $83.8 million ), Son of God ( $25.6 million ) and Heaven Is for Real ( $22.5 million ). In its second weekend the film was added to 624 additional theaters and dropped just 19 % to $13.8 million, again finishing third. It was added to another 395 venues and finished fourth in its third weekend, making $10.4 million ( including $3 million on Easter Sunday ). Critical response On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 65 % based on 26 reviews, and an average rating of 5.9 / 10. The site 's critical consensus reads, `` I Can Only Imagine 's message will have the most impact among Christian audiences, but overall, its performances and storytelling represent a notable evolution in faith - based cinema. '' On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 30 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating `` generally unfavorable reviews ''. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of `` A + '' on an A+ to F scale, one of fewer than 80 films in the history of the service to earn such a score. The Arizona Republic 's James Ward gave the film 4 / 5 stars and wrote, `` Too often faith - based films -- say anything with Kirk Cameron or the terrible God 's Not Dead series -- tend to preach to the choir or hector their audience. The Erwins ' films -- I Can Only Imagine definitely among them -- are more inclusive, charitable of spirit and hopeful, all qualities that are always appreciated, be they rooted in Christian faith or otherwise. '' David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a `` C -- '' saying : `` There 's a reason why all of these movies are so amateurishly made ; why they all end with links to religious websites ; why they all look like they were shot on an iPhone by a Walmart - brand Janusz Kaminski who lit each interior like the white light of heaven was streaming through every window... Art can be affirmation, but affirmation can not be art. '' Home Media The film was released on iTunes and Google Play on June 5, 2018, and on DVD and Blu - ray on June 12, 2018. References ^ Jump up to : Anita, Busch ( August 14, 2017 ). `` Faith - Based ' I Can Only Imagine ' Picked Up By Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions ''. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 19, 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` I Can Only Imagine ( 2018 ) ''. The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2018. Jump up ^ Ryan, Patrick ( March 13, 2018 ). `` How did ' I Can Only Imagine ' become the biggest Christian hit ever ( and inspire a movie ) ? ''. USA Today. Retrieved April 18, 2018. Jump up ^ Staff Reports ( December 2, 2016 ). `` MercyMe hit song turning into Okie production ''. NewsOK. Retrieved March 19, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Busch, Anita ( January 5, 2017 ). `` Faith - Based Film ' I Can Only Imagine ' With Dennis Quaid, Cloris Leachman And Trace Adkins Eyes Spring 2018 Release ''. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 19, 2018. Jump up ^ Galuppo, Mia ( August 14, 2017 ). `` Lionsgate, Roadside Acquire Faith - Based Drama ' I Can Only Imagine ' ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 19, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Biopic - Music Movies at the Box Office ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 20, 2018. Jump up ^ Erbland, Kate. `` The 20 Highest Grossing Indies of 2018 ( A Running List ) -- IndieWire ''. IndieWire. Retrieved June 24, 2018. Jump up ^ Fuster, Jeremy ( March 13, 2018 ). `` Will ' Tomb Raider ' Be the Movie to Finally Knock ' Black Panther ' From Box Office Perch ? ''. TheWrap. Retrieved March 19, 2018. ^ Jump up to : D'Alessandro, Anthony ( March 16, 2018 ). `` ' Black Panther ' Poised For $460 M+ In Profit ; ' I Can Only Imagine ' Surprises -- Box Office Update ''. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 17, 2018. Jump up ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony ( March 18, 2018 ). `` ' Black Panther ' Keeps B.O. Treasure From ' Tomb Raider ' ; How ' I Can Only Imagine ' Hit A $17 M High Note ''. Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 18, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Box Office : ' I Can Only Imagine ' Revives Faith - Based Genre ''. The Hollywood Reporter. March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018. Jump up ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony ( March 25, 2018 ). `` Does ' Pacific Rim : Uprising ' Break Even At The Global B.O. ? ; ' Black Panther ' Sets Marvel Record -- Sunday Postmortem ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 25, 2018. Jump up ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony ( April 1, 2018 ). `` How Warner Bros. Sold ' Ready Player One ' On The Spielberg Spirit & Beat Tracking With $53 M+ 4 - Day -- Sunday Postmortem ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 4, 2018. Jump up ^ `` I Can Only Imagine ( 2018 ) ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved August 14, 2018. Jump up ^ `` I Can Only Imagine Reviews ''. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 14, 2018. Jump up ^ Ward, James ( March 15, 2018 ). `` Faith - based drama ' I Can Only Imagine ' does n't just preach to the choir ''. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 22, 2018. Jump up ^ Ehrlich, David ( March 21, 2018 ). `` ' I Can Only Imagine ' Review : A Christian Rock Biopic Shows Why Faith - Based Films Struggle to Convert Secular Audiences ''. IndieWire. Retrieved March 22, 2018. Jump up ^ June 5 Blu - ray, DVD, and Digital Releases Comingsoon.net, Retrieved June 22, 2018 Jump up ^ I Can Only Imagine Blu - ray Blu-ray.com, June 22, 2018 External links 2010s portal film in the United States portal Official website I Can Only Imagine on IMDb I Can Only Imagine at the TCM Movie Database I Can Only Imagine at AllMovie I Can Only Imagine at Box Office Mojo I Can Only Imagine at History vs. Hollywood Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Can_Only_Imagine_(film)&oldid=856208158 '' Categories : 2018 films English - language films American films American drama films 2010s drama films Drama films based on actual events Films based on actual events Roadside Attractions films Films shot in Oklahoma Hidden categories : Incomplete lists from March 2018 Articles to be expanded from March 2018 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Articles containing potentially dated statements from June 2018 All articles containing potentially dated statements Talk Contents About Wikipedia فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia 日本 語 Edit links This page was last edited on 23 August 2018, at 16 : 33 ( UTC ). 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Question: who plays burt in i can only imagine
Answer: J. Michael Finley