IF (also marketed internationally as Imaginary Friends) is a 2024 American live-action/animated fantasy comedy written and directed by John Krasinski. It was released theatrically in the United States by Paramount Pictures on May 17, 2024, after being pushed back from an original November 2023 date. The film has now been out for well over a year, so this page reflects its actual release, box office, and reception rather than treating it as “upcoming.”
The story follows Bea (Cailey Fleming), a 12-year-old girl who begins seeing “IFs” — imaginary friends left behind by grown-up children — and teams up with her neighbor Cal (Ryan Reynolds) to reunite them with the adults who once imagined them.
Quick Facts
| Title | IF (Imaginary Friends) |
| US Release Date | May 17, 2024 |
| Studio | Paramount Pictures |
| Director/Writer | John Krasinski |
| Composer | Michael Giacchino |
| Budget | $110 million |
| Worldwide Box Office | $190.3 million |
| Main Cast | Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. |
Score & Composer
The original score for IF was composed by Michael Giacchino, the Oscar-winning composer behind Up, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Inside Out, Doctor Strange, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and multiple Star Trek and Spider-Man films. Krasinski announced Giacchino’s involvement in January 2024. The official score album, IF (Music from the Motion Picture), was released digitally by Sony Classical on May 17, 2024, and runs 24 tracks, including “The IF Suite,” “A Room with a Blue,” “Flowers for Benjamin,” and “The ALTERNATIVE IF Suite.”
Beyond Giacchino’s score, the film’s soundtrack also incorporates a handful of licensed needle-drops, including Tina Turner’s “Better Be Good to Me,” Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E,” and the “Adagio for Spartacus and Phrygia” from Aram Khachaturian’s ballet Spartacus. We were not able to verify any officially credited original vocal song beyond these licensed cues in trade press or the official soundtrack listing — if you’ve seen a specific original song attributed to the film elsewhere, treat it with caution unless it appears on the official Sony Classical release or Paramount’s own materials.
Box Office & Reception: What Happened Since Release
IF opened to a lower-than-projected $33.7 million domestically against a $110 million budget, prompting some outlets to call it an early-summer underperformer. It went on to gross $111.1 million in the US and Canada and $79.2 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $190.3 million. Critical reception was mixed: 51% on Rotten Tomatoes (213 critics) with a 5.8/10 average, and a 46/100 “mixed or average” score on Metacritic. Audiences were notably warmer than critics, handing the film an A CinemaScore and an 84% positive score on PostTrak.
Despite its theatrical performance, IF found a strong second life on streaming, later cracking Prime Video’s top 10 rankings. The film was released digitally on June 18, 2024, began streaming on Paramount+ on July 9, 2024, and arrived on Blu-ray/DVD on August 13, 2024.
Where to Stream
IF is available to stream on Paramount+ and for digital purchase/rental on major platforms including Apple Music and Amazon. The score album can be streamed on Apple Music and Spotify.
Cast
Cailey Fleming leads as Bea, with Ryan Reynolds as Cal and John Krasinski as Bea’s father. Fiona Shaw plays Bea’s grandmother. The IFs themselves are voiced by an ensemble that includes Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. (the film is dedicated to his memory, as he died before release), Steve Carell, Awkwafina, Emily Blunt, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Blake Lively, Sebastian Maniscalco, Christopher Meloni, Matthew Rhys, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amy Schumer, and Jon Stewart, with an uncredited Brad Pitt cameo as the invisible IF “Keith.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for IF (2024)?
Michael Giacchino composed the original score for IF, released as a 24-track album by Sony Classical on May 17, 2024.
Has IF been released yet?
Yes. IF was released theatrically in the US by Paramount Pictures on May 17, 2024, and is no longer “upcoming.” It has since released digitally, on Paramount+, and on Blu-ray/DVD.
Did IF include an original song called “Steve’s Song”?
We could not verify an officially released song by that title in IF’s credited soundtrack. The confirmed soundtrack consists of Michael Giacchino’s score plus licensed tracks from Tina Turner, Nat King Cole, and Aram Khachaturian. We’re disclosing this rather than guessing, since we couldn’t confirm it through the official soundtrack listing or trade press.
How much did IF make at the box office?
IF grossed $190.3 million worldwide against a $110 million budget, opening to $33.7 million domestically and later becoming a streaming hit on Prime Video and Paramount+.
Where can I watch IF (2024)?
IF streams on Paramount+ and is available for digital rental or purchase on most major platforms.
Related reading: Movie Soundtrack hub | Paramount+ | Streaming hub