John Krasinski’s latest directorial effort, IF, starring Ryan Reynolds and Cailey Fleming, clinched the top spot at the box office with a $35 million opening weekend. Despite falling short of the projected $40 million, the film marked one of the highest openings for an original live-action PG film, driven by a strong family turnout on Saturday.
A Strong Showing Despite Challenges
IF, a live-action/CGI hybrid, faced a challenging summer box office but managed to outperform early estimates, which had predicted a grim $30 million to $31 million opening. Paramount insiders consider the film’s performance a win for original content. Critics were harsh, but audiences awarded IF an A CinemaScore, boosting its prospects for a sustained run as children start their summer vacations. The film also drew an ethnically diverse audience, with families making up 56% of viewers and a slight female skew at 54%.
International and Domestic Performance
Internationally, IF garnered $20 million from 52 markets, contributing to an early foreign total of $24 million and a global tally of $59 million. While these figures are modest, especially compared to animated hits, they highlight the challenge of achieving high box office numbers with original live-action PG films. Krasinski’s effort to innovate, much like he did with the Quiet Place franchise, received commendation even from critics who found flaws in the film.
Plot and Cast
IF explores the world of discarded imaginary friends, following a young girl (Cailey Fleming) and her neighbor (Ryan Reynolds) as they attempt to reunite these imaginary friends with their former human companions. The film features a star-studded voice cast, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, and more, alongside a notable live-action ensemble.
Box Office Rivals
Disney and 20th Century Studios’ Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes claimed the second spot with $26 million, pushing its domestic total past $100 million in ten days. Internationally, it brought in $40.6 million from 52 markets, achieving a global total of $237.5 million.
Lionsgate’s The Strangers: Chapter 1 exceeded expectations with a $12 million debut, outpacing its projected $7 million to $9 million range. Universal’s The Fall Guy placed fourth with $8.1 million, accumulating $63 million domestically and $127.6 million globally.
New Releases and Specialty Box Office
Studio Canal and Focus Features’ Back to Black, the Amy Winehouse biopic, struggled with a $2.85 million opening, contending closely with Amazon MGM Studios’ Challengers, which earned $1.9 million. Despite its limited commercial appeal and critical panning, Back to Black was acquired for under $20 million by Focus/Universal from Studio Canal.
In the specialty market, Neon’s Babes opened with a solid per-location average of $14,277 across 12 locations. The R-rated comedy, directed by Pamela Adlon and starring Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau, showed promising returns. Amazon MGM Studios’ documentary The Blue Angels debuted in 227 locations, earning $1.3 million with a per-location average of $5,774.
Wrapping Up
IF‘s $35 million opening is a testament to the appeal of original family-friendly content, even in a challenging box office climate. As summer progresses, IF and its competitors will continue to vie for audience attention, setting the stage for an exciting season at the movies. For more insights and updates on the latest box office hits, visit Hitplay.
Tags: John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds, Cailey Fleming, Paramount Pictures, IF, box office, summer movies, original film, family film, live-action, CGI
