IF’s disappointing box office performance is a blow to Paramount, which had high hopes for the film directed by John Krasinski and starring Ryan Reynolds. The movie’s $31.5 million opening weekend fell well short of its projected $40 million, putting it behind other 2024 releases like “Dune: Part Two” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” Despite an A-list cast of voice actors, including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Bradley Cooper, the film failed to attract audiences and received poor reviews from critics.
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave “IF” a 49% rating, with Metacritic scoring it even lower at 46/100. While audiences generally enjoyed the movie, giving it an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.1/10 on Metacritic, the critical consensus was less favorable. The New York Times praised Krasinski’s efforts to create a children’s movie with prestige but criticized the lack of transcendence in most scenes. NPR criticized the plot for lacking coherence, while The Chicago Tribune dismissed the film as overly saccharine and ineffective.
The disappointing box office results for “IF” add it to the list of 2024’s biggest flops, alongside films like “Bob Marley: One Love” and “Mean Girls.” With a production budget of $110 million, the film’s $31.5 million opening weekend gross falls far short of expectations. Despite the star-studded voice cast and the directing talent of Krasinski, the film failed to resonate with audiences, leading to its lackluster performance at the box office.
As the latest box office disappointment, “IF” joins a string of underperforming films in 2024, including “Civil War” and “Argylle.” While the movie may not have lived up to its financial expectations, it still garnered support from some viewers who appreciated its family-friendly appeal. Whether the film will be able to recoup its production budget remains to be seen, but its lackluster performance in its opening weekend does not bode well for its overall box office prospects.
Paramount’s hopes for a successful family fantasy film with “IF” have been dashed by its underwhelming box office numbers. Despite the star power of Ryan Reynolds and the creative vision of John Krasinski, the film failed to connect with audiences and fell short of projected earnings. As the latest in a series of box office flops in 2024, “IF” serves as a cautionary tale for studios looking to capture the hearts of viewers with a magical adventure.
