IF Tops Box Office with $35 Million Debut
By Movieguide® Contributor
John Krasinski’s new family movie, IF, made its debut last weekend and secured a total of $35 million at the box office.
Movieguide® praised IF’s “strong moral worldview [that] celebrates imagination, creativity, love, family, and having a youthful attitude.” Part of Movieguide®’s review reads:
IF is a comical fantasy written and directed by John Krasinski of A QUIET PLACE and THE OFFICE. He stars as the widowed father of a 12-year-old girl, Bea. Shes staying with her grandmother while her father prepares for heart surgery in the hospital. One day, Bea finds a cartoon insect named Blossom and a large furry blue creature named Blue lurking around the building. They are friends of a man named Cal. Bea decides to help Cal find new children for them and other Imaginary Friends who’ve been forgotten.
IF is beautifully shot and performed. It also has some fun adventures and humorous situations, with lots of creativity. However, what’s most surprising about the movie are its heartfelt dramatic moments, which are emotionally powerful. IF is a celebration of imagination, creativity, love, and family. The movie promotes the idea that adults should maintain a youthful attitude and not abandon the imagination and love they had as children. IF is relatively family friendly. However, it’s marred by some meandering moments, four light obscenities and 15 light profanities. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older pre-teen children.
“Families came out in force and they loved the film,” said Chris Aronson, head of Paramount’s domestic distribution.
“I think it bodes well for moviegoing in general as we move into the summer movie season,” he expressed. “Kids are out of school starting this coming week and I couldn’t think of a better film to be in the marketplace than this one: It’s new, it’s fresh, it’s original, and it’s such a heartwarming film.”
IF stars “Ryan Reynolds, Cailey Fleming, and an army of A-list voices including Steve Carell, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Louis Gossett Jr., Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Maya Rudolph.”
Krasinski wrote and directed the movie and co-starred as Bea’s father.
“#1 Movie in America,” he posted on Instagram. “And it’s all thanks to YOU! To everyone seeing this movie and sharing this movie with friends and family… and IFs… I cannot thank you enough for all the love!!!”
Many fans commented on the post with their love for the film.
“This movie is so special. Beautiful from start to finish and Cailey Fleming is a talent like no other….I curse you John Krasinski for making me cry in public before noon,” one person wrote.
“It was so amazing that we might go see it again!!!! ??? also, after the movie, my nine-year-old boy said mom is it OK that I cried a little in the movie and I was like, of course, buddy! Made me so happy that my little boy felt comfortable, knowing it was OK to feel emotional,” another fan commented.
The movie is personal for Krasinski as he made it for his kids. Movieguide® reported:
Actor John Krasinski recently spoke on why his new movie IF is “his most personal movie yet.”
“I made this movie for my kids,” THE OFFICE actor shared. “I’ve always wanted to make a movie for my kids, but I wasn’t sure what to do. And I had this idea to do something with imaginary friends, but I wasn’t sure what my take on it would be.”
Krasinski explained how he and his wife Emily Blunt would watch their daughters “go into this magical world that as parents were not invited into” and that “they were themselves and they were fearless, and they were doing all these amazing things doing all these amazing voices.” This inspired him to create a film about this world.
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