If I Stay
Rent & Buy
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.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics found If I Stay manipulative and undercooked as a YA melodrama, with most agreeing the film fails to earn its emotional ambitions. The most persistent debate centered on Chloë Grace Moretz — praised by some for commitment, criticized by others for misreading the character entirely — while audiences responded far more warmly than reviewers did.
“the music is both the best and the corniest part of If I Stay, which makes excellent use of the classical cello repertoire”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
“she comes off as a bit too self-assured to play the nerdy misfit”
Justin Chang·Variety
“The saddest thing about 'If I Stay' is that it affords Moretz so little opportunity to be non-sad”
Anthony Lane·The New Yorker
Genres
Drama
Cast & Crew
R. J. CutlerDirector
Chloë Grace MoretzMia Hall
Jamie BlackleyAdam Wilde
Liana LiberatoKim Schein
Mireille EnosKat Hall
Joshua LeonardDenny Hall
Stacy KeachGramps
Gabrielle RoseGran
Jakob DaviesTeddy Hall
Ali MilnerLiz
Aisha HindsNurse Ramirez
Lauren Lee SmithWillow
Heitor PereiraComposer
Shauna CrossWriter
John de BormanCinematographyFrom the studio
If I Stay
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.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics found If I Stay manipulative and undercooked as a YA melodrama, with most agreeing the film fails to earn its emotional ambitions. The most persistent debate centered on Chloë Grace Moretz — praised by some for commitment, criticized by others for misreading the character entirely — while audiences responded far more warmly than reviewers did.
“the music is both the best and the corniest part of If I Stay, which makes excellent use of the classical cello repertoire”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
“she comes off as a bit too self-assured to play the nerdy misfit”
Justin Chang·Variety
“The saddest thing about 'If I Stay' is that it affords Moretz so little opportunity to be non-sad”
Anthony Lane·The New Yorker
Genres
Drama
Cast & Crew
R. J. CutlerDirectorChloë Grace MoretzMia HallJamie BlackleyAdam WildeLiana LiberatoKim ScheinMireille EnosKat HallJoshua LeonardDenny HallStacy KeachGrampsGabrielle RoseGranJakob DaviesTeddy HallAli MilnerLizAisha HindsNurse RamirezLauren Lee SmithWillowHeitor PereiraComposerShauna CrossWriterJohn de BormanCinematographyFrom the studio
Rent & Buy