According to studio estimates Sunday, John Krasinski’s imaginary friends movie “IF” claimed the top spot at the box office this weekend with a $35 million North American debut, which was slightly lower than some projections had anticipated.
It’s uncertain whether this is a disappointment or a sign of the times for the box office. With the 2024 summer box office season off to a rocky start where no movie has truly stood out, “IF” has sparked interest.
Featuring Ryan Reynolds, Cailey Fleming, and a star-studded cast of A-list voices including Steve Carell, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Louis Gossett Jr., Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Maya Rudolph, “IF” was an original concept from Krasinski, who also wrote, directed, and co-starred in the film.
The movie, produced at a cost of $110 million, premiered in 4,041 locations in North America. Internationally, it earned around $20 million from 56 markets, totaling a $55 million global debut.
“Families turned out in big numbers and they really enjoyed the film,” said Chris Aronson, head of Paramount’s domestic distribution.
There are conflicting views on the film’s performance. With its PG rating, “IF” was the first major family-friendly movie to hit theaters in weeks. Family films typically have a longer run compared to superhero or horror movies, exemplified by Pixar’s “Elemental” last June, which started slow but performed well over time, ultimately grossing nearly $500 million globally.
Despite mixed reviews from critics (currently at 49% on Rotten Tomatoes), “IF” received an A CinemaScore from audiences this weekend, similar to the trajectory of “Elemental.” The studio views this debut as successful and is hopeful about its longevity, especially with the start of summer.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore, noted that this summer is somewhat unconventional compared to previous years. He mentioned that there hasn’t been a major movie moment like last year’s high-earning releases. However, there is anticipation for upcoming releases like “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “The Garfield Movie” next weekend.
The Memorial Day weekend is seen as an opportunity for moviegoers to catch up on films they may have missed, which could benefit word-of-mouth buzz for a film like “IF.” Despite the challenges faced by the 2024 box office, the collective lineup of films is expected to have a solid Memorial weekend.
Estimated ticket sales for U.S. and Canadian theaters from Friday to Sunday, according to Comscore, are as follows:
1. “IF,” $35 million.
2. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” $26 million.
3. “The Strangers—Chapter 1,” $12 million.
4. “The Fall Guy,” $8.5 million.
5. “Challengers,” $2.9 million.
6. “Back to Black,” $2.9 million.
7. “Tarot,” 2 million.
8. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” $1.7 million.
9. “The Blue Angels,” $1.3 million.
10. “Unsung Hero,” $1.1 million.
