If I Stay (2014)

Kernel Score: 83% · 4,281 ratings · Rated PG-13

Genres: Drama

Released: 2014-08-21

Runtime: 106 minutes

Is If I Stay worth watching?

Worth watching. A teenage cellist in a coma weighs whether to live or die after a crash. It's a tearful teen romance with good music, and it works if you want a cry, but it is soft and predictable.

Watch it if you

  • like teen weepies
  • enjoy music-led love stories
  • want a good cry

Skip it if you

  • dislike sentimental dramas
  • want depth

Best for: Cry-at-home night

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch If I Stay

  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-25.

Overview

Mia Hall, a talented young cellist, thought the most difficult decision she would ever have to make would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at prestigious Juilliard or follow her heart to be with the love of her life, Adam, a rock singer/guitarist. However, a car wreck changes everything in an instant, and now Mia's life hangs in the balance. Suspended between life and death, Mia faces a choice that will decide her future.

If I Stay parents' guide: ages 11+

Parents need to know that If I Stay involves a serious car accident and a teen girl's near-death experience.

  • Violence & scariness: Some — Depicts a serious car accident and the protagonist's coma, handled emotionally rather than graphically.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like If I Stay

If you liked If I Stay, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Clouds (2020) — 89%: Music-led story of a teen facing death.
  • Now Is Good (2012) — 82%: Teen drama about love and mortality.
  • The Vow (2012) — 81%: Romance built on a car accident and memory.
  • Before I Fall (2017) — 75%: Teen drama about a second chance.
  • The Lovely Bones (2009) — 81%: Moving story of a girl in the afterlife.
  • Awakenings (1990) — 88%: Moving true story of waking from a long sleep.

Director

R. J. Cutler

Cast

If I Stay FAQ

Is If I Stay worth watching?

Worth watching. A teenage cellist in a coma weighs whether to live or die after a crash. It's a tearful teen romance with good music, and it works if you want a cry, but it is soft and predictable.

Where can I watch If I Stay?

In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is If I Stay OK for kids?

If I Stay is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that If I Stay involves a serious car accident and a teen girl's near-death experience.

What movies are like If I Stay?

If you liked If I Stay, try Clouds, Now Is Good, The Vow and Before I Fall.