‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ Director Makes Movie History with Fourth A+ CinemaScore
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
A filmmaker behind the new faith-based film I Can Only Imagine 2 made movie history over the weekend when his latest project earned a perfect CinemaScore grade, marking the fourth time he has achieved the rare audience score.
Andy Erwin previously achieved an A+ CinemaScore for movies Woodlawn (2015), I Can Only Imagine (2018), and American Underdog (2021) – all co-directed with his brother Jon Erwin – and added a fourth to the list when audiences gave I Can Only Imagine 2 the same score. He co-directed it with Brent McCorkle.
Only two other directors in Hollywood history have helmed four movies that achieved A+ grades: Alex Kendrick (Overcomer, War Room, Courageous, The Forge) and Jon Erwin (Woodlawn, I Can Only Imagine, American Underdog, Jesus Revolution).
Notably, all three directors with four perfect CinemaScore grades work primarily in the faith-based genre.
The late Rob Reiner directed three films that were given A+ grades: The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), and A Few Good Men (1992).
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has directed two movies that received an A+ score: E.T. (1982) and Schindler’s List (1993).
CinemaScore surveys opening-night moviegoers and assigns films a letter grade from A+ to F.
I Can Only Imagine 2 (PG), which opened at No. 3 at the box office, follows MercyMe frontman Bart Millard as he battles lingering personal wounds, navigates a tense relationship with his teen son, and forms a life-changing friendship with fellow singer Tim Timmons. Eventually, the two co-wrote the hit song Even If.
Andy Erwin said he typically isn’t fond of sequels – but believed the story of Millard and Timmons needed to be told.
“Bart and MercyMe keep living an interesting life,” Erwin told Crosswalk Headlines. “ … We found out the story behind the song Even If and all the things that kind of came out of it. And it was such an amazing story, and involved Tim Timmons and this amazing father-son story with Bart and his son and the writing of that song.
“The first movie kind of had the happily ever after. On this one, we break the happily ever after, and we ask: What is life after that? And this one ends with this idea of gratitude. And it's a beautiful story.”
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Photo Credit: ©Kingdom Story
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
