If I Go Will They Miss Me

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If I Go Will They Miss Me

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1h 32m

Drama

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95%

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44 Reviews

95%

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100+ Verified Ratings

In the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, twelve-year-old Lil Ant sees the world and his father the way all children should -- full of myth, wonder, and unwavering belief. If I Go Will They Miss Me is a breathtaking father-son story about imagination, family, and the grace we extend to the people we love.

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Critics Consensus

If I Go Will They Miss Me transforms the bleak realities of life in the projects into a lyrical, gravity-defying portrait of childhood wonder and communal care.

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Cortlyn Kelly

Chicago Reader

Sep 23, 2026

If I Go Will They Miss Me is motion picture poetry. Floating like a bubble, knowing this moment is fleeting, every scene transports the audience to a mythological state of mind.

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Lisa Kennedy

New York Times

Sep 17, 2026

Danielle Brooks and J. Alphonse Nicholson do deep tissue work as the parents of Lil Ant (Bodhi Dell), a 12-year-old boy whose dreams of flight and myth-infused fantasizes about his father, Anthony Sr., carry the film.

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Amy Nicholson

Los Angeles Times

Sep 11, 2026

Part of that burgeoning school that’s neither neo-realist nor magical-realist, but passionate-realist — it insists on finding wonder in places where others see only poverty and despair. (See also Sean Baker’s "The Florida Project")

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Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Cinencuentro

20 hrs ago

4.5/5

By allowing us to connect with characters who perceive the world in different ways, harbour specific yearnings, and seek freedom, the film succeeds in creating a palpable atmosphere that links the past with the present. [Full review in Spanish].

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Marlon Wallace

The M Report (WBOC.com)

Sep 30, 2026

...directs this film in a more artistic and slightly more surreal way... Thompson-Hernández doesn't dwell in the clichés of Black people and the drug trade. He expands it to be a broader conversation about masculinity and fatherhood.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Sep 25, 2026

3/4

... creates a permeable world, in which unspoken fears and dreams seep into the mundanity of everyday life.

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Neetra N

5 days ago

I loved the creative way that such a sensitive subject was presented in this film. It was definitely an emotional roller-coaster, but it was a very necessary body of work.

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Kimley

6 days ago

If I Go Will They Miss Me really hit home for me. Growing up in L.A., I always had a big imagination and dreamed of life beyond the environment around me. Even as a child, I knew I was different and wanted something different for my life. I’ve never seen a movie blend Greek mythology so beautifully with the real-life struggles people face today family, choices, circumstances, dreams, and the unconditional love we have for our children and true friends. What really stayed with me was the reminder that people are complicated, life is complicated, and we are all a work in progress. Very good movie. It made me reflect on my own journey and reminded me that sometimes our imagination and dreams are what allow us to see beyond where we are.

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Garrick

6 days ago

It’s like watching a visual painting.

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Collin

6 days ago

This is the first review I’ve done. Everyone needs to see this movie.

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Ayanna E

Oct 2, 2026

Such a symbolic and beautiful love story between a child and his parents especially his father. Beautiful display of mythology and connection to modern day.

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Antines

Oct 2, 2026

If I Go Will You Miss Me clearly struck a deep, authentic chord by capturing the true heart and beauty of growing up in Los Angeles. Its grounded storytelling and emotional honesty resonate strongly with anyone who has lived that reality.

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Walter Thompson-Hernández

Director

J. Alphonse Nicholson

Actor

Danielle Brooks

Actor

Bodhi Dell

Actor

Kelvin Adekunle

Actor

Bre-Z

Actor

If I Go Will They Miss Me: Trailer 1

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If I Go Will They Miss Me: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

In the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, twelve-year-old Lil Ant sees the world and his father the way all children should -- full of myth, wonder, and unwavering belief. If I Go Will They Miss Me is a breathtaking father-son story about imagination, family, and the grace we extend to the people we love.

Director: Walter Thompson-Hernández
Producer: Josh Peters, Saba Zerehi, Ben Stillman
Screenwriter: Walter Thompson-Hernández
Distributor: Rich Spirit
Production Co: Further Adventures, LinLay Productions, Cedar Road, Spark Features, Merino Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 11, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $752.5K
Runtime: 1h 32m

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