Missed ‘If I Go Will They Miss Me’ in theaters? Here’s how to watch at home

After making $1 million in theaters, Danielle Brooks and J. Alphonse Nicholson’s “If I Go Will They Miss Me” will be available digitally.

“If I Go Will They Miss Me” first captivated audiences as a short film at the Sundance Film Festival, then through its theatrical release in select theaters and, beginning October 23, viewers at home. After grossing $1 million at the domestic box office in five weeks, the film, directed by Walter Thompson-Hernandez and starring Danielle Brooks, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Myles Bullock, and Bodhi Dell, will soon be available digitally for rent or purchase. 

“If I Go Will They Miss Me” first appeared years ago as a 12-minute short film, inspired by a 2020 incident in which a Delta jet dumped fuel over southeast Los Angeles neighborhoods and schools. That short won an award at Sundance in 2022, and Thompson-Hernández returned to the festival in January 2026 with the expanded feature.

Exploring myth, wonder, and unwavering belief, “If I Go Will They Miss Me” is a coming-of-age story set in Watts, California. The film follows 12-year-old “Lil Ant,” played by Dell, as he attempts to connect with his distant, formerly incarcerated father, Big Ant, played by Nicholson. Throughout the film, audiences watch the family try to rebuild a fractured relationship. Weaving in themes of Greek mythology and flight, the film bridges a unique gap between reality and fantasy. 

“The story is a love letter to Watts and a love letter to fathers and sons,” Brooks, who also executive produced the film, told “The Breakfast Club.” “If you love cinema, this movie is for you. If you got a child, if you are a child, this movie is for you.”

“I’m a father first, so to step into the role of a father seems easy until you have to put the mirror on yourself and realize how much you’ve messed up,” Nicholson said, reflecting on the film, per Sundance. “I hope this film puts a mirror on every man in here, every father in here, every cousin, every son, to say, you know, I can do better. I can show up in a better way.”

Viewers can now explore the film’s tender, moving storytelling at home. Starting October 23, 2026, “If I Go Will They Miss Me” will be available for purchase via iTunes, YouTube, Amazon, and Fandango. It will remain in a select few theaters due to its strong showing.