Summary
IFstarring Ryan Reynolds has now found success on streaming after a disappointing theatrical run. Written and directed by John Krasinski,IFtells the story of Bea (Cailey Fleming), young girl who gains the ability to see other people’s imaginary friends after she experiences personal hardship. Reynolds stars in the film as Cal, a man who has undertaken a mission to place abandoned imaginary friends with new children after their original children grow up.IF’s critic reviewswere mixed upon its release earlier this year, and the movie grossed $185.8 million worldwide.
Reelgoodnow reveals thatIFranks as the ninth most popular movie on streaming in the U.S. for the week of July 4 – 10, suggesting its now found its audience. The Krasinski film, which is available on Paramount Plus, beats only Netflix’sHit Man(2024), and falls behind titles likeA Family Affair(2024),Twister(1996), andGodzilla x Kong: A New Empire(2024). Check out the full top 10 movies list below:
IF’s Theatrical Performance Explained
John Krasinski’s Family Comedy Earned Mixed Reviews
With A Quiet Place (2018) andA Quiet Place Part II(2020), Krasinski cemented himself as a successful director in Hollywood. Both of those films earned positive reviews and were box office successes, striking a chord with viewers due to their inventive horror premises.IFwas set to be a departure from these darker stories, but potentially one with far grander commercial appeal given its genre and the impressiveIFcast, which, in addition to Reynolds, includes Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fiona Shaw, and Krasinski himself.
IF Ending Explained
IF’s ending is a genuinely sweet way to close out the film, underscoring the thematic throughline of the story and expanding on the film’s twist.
Unfortunately,IFemerged to a somewhat muted critical response.The movie was criticized in reviews for not fully exploring its unique premise and for its overly-complicated story, and its heavy sentimentality seems to have somewhat hit-or-miss with critics. The film’sRotten Tomatoesscore currently sits at a lackluster 49%, but the audience score is considerably higher at 88%.
OnMetacritic,IFscored a 46/100 Metascore and a 6.4/10 user score.
Unfortunately, this higher audience score didn’t translate into box office success.IFcaries a hefty estimated budget of $110 million, meaning it might have been looking at a break-even point as high as $275 million. Even if the real break-even point is lower,$185.8 million worldwide makes it a commercial disappointment. Evidently, however,IFis now connecting with audiences on home viewing platforms.
IF
Cast
IF, originally titled Imaginary Friends, is a comedic fantasy film written and directed by John Krasinski. A young girl who experiences a tragic moment early in her life discovers she can see the imaginary friends of others who leave them behind as they grow older.
