John Krasinski’s ‘IF’ Shocks with Epic $35M Debut – You Won’t Believe It!

John Krasinski’s fantasy film “IF” took the number one spot at this weekend’s box office, based on studio estimates released on Sunday. The film’s $35-million debut in North America was slightly below some expectations.

Does this mark a letdown? A worrying indication of the current box office climate? Or is the final chapter of “IF” still unwritten? This isn’t mere speculation: Amid the shaky start to the 2024 summer box office season, where no movie has emerged as a runaway hit and every new release faces increasing pressure to perform, “IF” has struck a chord.

The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Cailey Fleming, and a host of big-name voice actors including Steve Carell, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Louis Gossett Jr., Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Maya Rudolph. “IF” is a brainchild of Krasinski, who served as the writer, director, and co-star.

The film, which reportedly cost $110 million to make, was launched by Paramount in 4,041 locations across North America. Internationally, it generated an estimated $20 million from 56 markets, amounting to a global debut of $55 million.

“The movie drew large numbers of families who really enjoyed it,” stated Chris Aronson, the head of Paramount’s domestic distribution.

There are a number of slightly conflicting narratives surrounding its performance as well. With its PG rating, “IF” is the first major family-oriented film to hit theaters in weeks. Unlike the typical superhero or horror film that starts strong but quickly fades, family movies tend to have more of a long-distance runner’s pace. Last June, Pixar’s “Elemental” was initially written off when it debuted with $29.5 million domestically. However, it continued to earn throughout the summer, eventually raking in nearly $500 million globally.

While “IF” received lukewarm reviews from critics (it currently has a “rotten” 49% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences gave it a solid A CinemaScore this weekend, much like “Elemental”. The studio views it as a successful launch and is hopeful for its longevity as summer truly kicks off for school-age kids.

“I think it’s a positive sign for the overall moviegoing experience as we head into the summer season,” Aronson said. “School is out starting this week and I can’t think of a better film to have in theaters right now: It’s new, it’s fresh, its original, and it’s such a heartfelt film.”

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” continues to shine. In just 10 days, it crossed the $100 million mark domestically and $237 million globally. It secured second place in its second weekend with $26 million (a respectable 55% drop).

However, there hasn’t been a major film event like last year’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Barbie,” or “Oppenheimer” for some time. Last year at this time, “Fast X” opened to over $60 million.

“This summer is quite unusual. It started off unusually without a Marvel movie,” noted Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “The box office is down 20% from last year.”

“IF” wasn’t the only new movie to launch this weekend. Lionsgate’s horror flick “The Strangers – Chapter 1” exceeded expectations with a $12-million debut from 2,856 locations. The innovative marketing campaign created some viral moments by bringing the “strangers” to major events, from former President Trump’s hush money trial to Coachella.

The Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black,” featuring Marisa Abela, debuted in North America with an estimated $2.85 million from 2,010 screens.

The IMAX-exclusive documentary “The Blue Angels” also earned $1.3 million this weekend from 227 screens. It will run on premium large format screens until Wednesday before landing on Prime Video on Thursday.

The summer, which officially starts the first weekend in May for Hollywood, could gain momentum next weekend with the release of “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “The Garfield Movie.”

Dergarabedian pointed out that Memorial Day weekend is a time when moviegoers can catch up on films they’ve missed and heard about. For a film like “IF,” which gained traction over the weekend through word-of-mouth buzz, this could be a good sign. However, it’s clear that the 2024 box office won’t surpass 2023’s numbers.

“This summer is non-traditional in almost every aspect, from the lineup of films to the trajectory of the box office,” Dergarabedian stated. “But collectively, these films should have a strong Memorial weekend.”

Below are estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

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,” $2.94 million.

6. “Back to Black,” $2.85 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.

Bahr is an Associated Press correspondent.