Paramount’s family comedy “IF” tops the domestic charts in its opening after earning $10.3 million from 4,041 locations throughout Friday and preview screenings. But the John Krasinski-directed fantasy has certainly missed its expectations heading into the weekend, which originally expected its debut to reach around $40 million. The film is now looking to finish near $31.5 million.
It’s a remarkably poor performance for a PG-rated family film, which had a hefty $110 million production budget. Ratings were mediocre, but audience sentiment became more positive with audience polling company Cinema Score receiving a glowing “A” from the first group of ticket buyers. This stamp of approval could represent some salvation for IF, which will have to continue to attract families while allowing schools to summer to justify its price. Paramount will face competition for younger viewers when Sony’s animated film “The Garfield Movie” hits theaters next weekend.
Leaping from the alien invasion scares of the A Quiet Place series to more friendly, furry creatures, Krasinski is writing and directing IF, which stars Ryan Reynolds and Cailee Fleming as two neighbors who spot abandoned imaginary friends, along with a slew of imaginary friends. Voice cast of CG creatures including Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Awkwafina, Amy Schumer, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Lionsgate will also open this weekend, rolling out the horror prequel “The Strangers: Chapter 1” to 2,856 venues, with plans to release the next two entries in the coming months. The Renny Harlin-directed film is eyeing a third-place finish after earning $5.1 million during its opening day and previews. That’s a solid start considering the production budget of just $8.5 million; The film is now looking to surpass previous expectations for a $9 million debut for an arc north of $11.5 million.
Reviews were very poor for The Strangers, and audience sentiment was low (‘C’ cinema rating) – no unusual traits for a horror film, nor are they an impediment to a healthy weekend. It will be interesting to see if Lionsgate can continue to draw audiences back to the brand with impending follow-ups.
Focus Features is releasing the Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” in approximately 2,010 theaters. The Sam Taylor-Johnson-directed film is now looking to earn $3 million in its first domestic weekend, good for fifth place but below modest debut expectations of north of $4 million. It has already grossed $36 million internationally, including $14.1 million in Winehouse’s native Britain. Stars Marissa Abella. Reviews are not positive, although a “B+” Cinema Score indicates it is satisfactory to most early moviegoers.
Disney’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” dropped to second place, earning $6.8 million on Friday, down 70% from its opening day. The sci-fi entry is looking to surpass the $100 million domestic gross over the weekend, making it only the fifth film of 2024 to achieve the feat. The Wes Ball-directed sequel cost $165 million to produce, although international numbers ($72 million already) are expected to boost its fortunes.
Fourth place goes to Universal’s The Fall Guy, which is looking to take in $8.1 million for its third weekend, down 41% from its sophomore year. The David Leitch-directed action film has held up modestly, though it’s never really recovered from its disappointing opening at the beginning of May. The domestic total must pay $62 million through Sunday.