Lionsgate’s latest faith-based offering, I Can Only Imagine 2, opened in North American theaters this Friday, but it is currently pacing behind the breakout success of its 2018 predecessor. The sequel, directed by Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle, earned approximately $3.7 million on its first day from 3,105 locations. While this figure includes a healthy $1.8 million from preview screenings, it fell short of the original film’s $6.2 million opening day.
Current industry projections place the sequel’s three-day opening weekend between $7 million and $10 million. In contrast, the 2018 original defied early tracking to debut at $17.1 million before leveraging an A+ CinemaScore to reach a massive $83.4 million domestic total. Despite trailing the first film, the sequel—which stars Milo Ventimiglia and explores the story behind the hit song “Even If”—could still provide a much-needed win for Lionsgate following several early 2026 underperformers.
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Friday/Opening Day: $3.7 million (including previews).
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Previews: $1.8 million (higher than the original’s $1.3 million).
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Weekend Projection: $7 million – $10 million.
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Original (2018) Opening: $17.1 million.
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Theater Count: 3,105 (nearly double the original’s starting count).
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Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, John Michael Finley, and Dennis Quaid.
