IF starring Ryan Reynolds has now found success on streaming after a disappointing theatrical run. Written and directed by John Krasinski, IF tells the story of Bea (Cailey Fleming), young girl who gains the ability to see other people’s imaginary friends after she experiences personal hardship. Reynolds stars in the film as Cal, a man who has undertaken a mission to place abandoned imaginary friends with new children after their original children grow up. IF‘s critic reviews were mixed upon its release earlier this year, and the movie grossed $185.8 million worldwide.

Reelgood now reveals that IF ranks as the ninth most popular movie on streaming in the U.S. for the week of July 4 – 10, suggesting its now found its audience. The Krasinski film, which is available on Paramount Plus, beats only Netflix’s Hit Man (2024), and falls behind titles like A Family Affair (2024), Twister (1996), and Godzilla x Kong: A New Empire (2024). Check out the full top 10 movies list below:

IF’s Theatrical Performance Explained

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With A Quiet Place (2018) and A Quiet Place Part II (2020), Krasinski cemented himself as a successful director in Hollywood. Both of those films earned positive reviews and were box office successes, striking a chord with viewers due to their inventive horror premises. IF was set to be a departure from these darker stories, but potentially one with far grander commercial appeal given its genre and the impressive IF cast, which, in addition to Reynolds, includes Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fiona Shaw, and Krasinski himself.

Unfortunately, IF emerged to a somewhat muted critical response. The movie was criticized in reviews for not fully exploring its unique premise and for its overly-complicated story, and its heavy sentimentality seems to have somewhat hit-or-miss with critics. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score currently sits at a lackluster 49%, but the audience score is considerably higher at 88%.

Unfortunately, this higher audience score didn’t translate into box office success. IF caries a hefty estimated budget of $110 million, meaning it might have been looking at a break-even point as high as $275 million. Even if the real break-even point is lower, $185.8 million worldwide makes it a commercial disappointment. Evidently, however, IF is now connecting with audiences on home viewing platforms.

Source: Reelgood