Filmmakers behind the faith-based film I Can Only Imagine made headlines recently as their latest project scored a perfect A+ on CinemaScore, marking a significant achievement in the movie industry. This makes it the fourth time they have secured such a rare audience rating.
Andy Irwin has done this before, receiving an A+ for his earlier works, Woodlawn (2015), I Can Only Imagine (2018), and American Underdog (2021), all co-directed with his brother John. The recent film, co-directed with Brent McCorkle, joins the ranks with the same score.
Historically, only two other directors in Hollywood have directed four films that earned an A+ rating: Alex Kendrick, known for Overcomer, War Room, Courageous, and Forged, and John Irwin with Woodlawn, I Can Only Imagine, American Underdog, and Jesus Revolution.
Interestingly, all three of these directors largely work within faith-based genres.
The late Rob Reiner directed three films that received A+ scores, including The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), and A Few Good Men (1992).
Steven Spielberg also has two films with A+ ratings: E.T. (1982) and Schindler’s List (1993).
CinemaScore assigns grades based on surveys taken from opening-day moviegoers, with scores ranging from A+ to F.
The PG-rated I Can Only Imagine debuted at No. 3 at the box office and chronicles the life of MercyMe frontman Bart Millard as he deals with personal struggles, mends a rocky relationship with his teenage son, and creates a meaningful bond with fellow musician Tim Timmons. They ultimately co-write a successful song titled Parable.
Despite his usual reservations about sequels, Irwin felt compelled to share Millard and Timmons’ story.
He noted that “Bert and MercyMe continue to lead fascinating lives.” Irwin expressed that he deeply understands the narrative behind Parable and what emerged from it. The story, which delves into a touching father-son dynamic between Bart and his son, greatly resonated with him.
Irwin described the first film as somewhat optimistic, while this new project challenges the idea of what follows those “happy days” and concludes with a tone of gratitude. “It’s a beautiful story,” he stated.
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Photo courtesy: ©Kingdom Story
First publication date is February 24, 2026.
