Despite facing mixed reviews from critics, John Krasinski's latest film, IF, has emerged as the top-grossing movie at the box office this weekend. The movie, which features Ryan Reynolds and his imaginary friends, has resonated well with audiences, reflected in its impressive Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 87% and a CinemaScore of 'A'.
IF raked in an estimated $35 million domestically during its opening weekend, with an additional $20 million from international markets. While falling slightly short of its projected $40 million debut, the film has managed to recoup half of its $110 million budget, amassing a global total of $55 million.
The storyline of IF revolves around a young girl who gains the ability to see the imaginary friends of others, leading to a whimsical and heartwarming tale.
Meanwhile, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which held the top spot previously, slipped to second place with $26 million in its second weekend. The movie has garnered $237.5 million worldwide, with $136.3 million coming from overseas markets.
Among the new releases, The Strangers: Chapter 1 managed to secure the third position with $12 million, while other newcomers like Back to Black and The Blue Angels IMAX experience also made it to the top 10.
The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, maintained its position in the top five with $8.5 million, while Challengers, featuring Zendaya, surprised many by claiming the fifth spot with $2.9 million despite being available for rent on VOD platforms.
Challengers has shown resilience in theaters, dropping only 33% from the previous weekend and accumulating $78.7 million globally against a $55 million production budget. NEON's Babes, in limited release, boasted an impressive per-theater average over the weekend.
Looking ahead, movie enthusiasts can anticipate the releases of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and The Garfield Movie over the Memorial Day weekend on May 24.
