The music stylings of ABBA, including the soundtrack of the Mamma Mia movies, have become wedding dance floor staples. But what happens when one of the cast members of the popular musical is actually in attendance when one of those catchy songs drops? Meryl Streep experienced it while attending John Krasinski and Emily Blunt’s wedding, and her reaction sounds like it was priceless.

Blunt and Krasinski’s relationship kicked off back in 2008 after Krasinski was already “obsessed” with The Devil Wears Prada. Two years after their rom-com-like meeting, they tied the knot at George Clooney’s estate in Lake Como, Italy, back in July 2010. While it was certainly a star-studded affair – with the likes of Matt Damon, Stanley Tucci and Clooney in attendance – apparently everyone was really “freaking out” over Meryl Streep being there. Here’s a funny story about one thing that happened, according to Blunt:

The anecdote came up on Jimmy Kimmel Live since the host had been at the wedding, too. Meryl Streep sounds like she was an amazing sport about the whole thing, but ultimately dancing to a song from her own movie sounds like it might have been a bit embarrassing for her.

No matter, Krasinski and Blunt’s moms have the best wedding story, and it’s kind of perfect given the movie is called Mamma Mia after all! I wonder if anyone in the Blunt and Krasinki family has pictures of the moms dancing with Streep in one of their homes?

Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt met while making 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada when Blunt was just 22 years old. The actress has previously recalled being very nervous about starring in the movie alongside the Oscar winner, but when she gave a “little chortle” at one of her line deliveries during the table read, it gave her the reassurance she needed.

Streep and Blunt recently got to reunite as their The Devil Wears Prada characters for the sequel, which was a smash hit at the box office. The movie has made $610 million globally in the past month against a reported production budget of $100 million. Worldwide, it’s the No. 5 highest-grossing movie of the year so far.

Blunt has another film on the 2026 movie release calendar on the way in June in the form of Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day. It hits theaters on June 12.

John Krasinski got ripped to play Jack Ryan, and the end result has always felt like a good fit for the Prime Video series. The actor has given Tom Clancy’s CIA analyst a steady, thinking-man's action movie hero energy that makes sense for the character and has helped the series build a loyal audience. That makes the reaction to the 2026 movie release, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War, sting a little more. This is not one of those critic-versus-audience situations, as everyone seems to be in agreement: We love Krasinski as Ryan, but hated this new Amazon movie.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the new action movie is sitting at 44% with critics and 41% with audiences, based on 39 reviews and more than 250 ratings. That is basically both sides of the aisle looking at Jack’s comeback and saying, “Yeah, this ain't it, chief.”

The setup should have worked. After retiring from the CIA, Jack Ryan is pulled back into the world of espionage when an international covert mission uncovers a deadly conspiracy. Wendell Pierce and Michael Kelly return as James Greer and Mike November, with Sienna Miller joining as MI6 officer Emma Marlowe. On paper, that sounds like the kind of “get the band back together” spy-thriller fans would happily hit play on.

One audience reviewer, Barbara B. (@RT85830823), said she liked the Jack Ryan series but felt the movie fell short because of its rushed story, distracting green screen work and artificial lighting. Another viewer, Hu B. (@RT68453707), was even blunter, saying:

That complaint lines up pretty closely with what critics have been saying, too. In our earlier coverage of Ghost War reviews, several critics praised Krasinski’s return while taking issue with the movie around him. Collider’s Tania Hussain said the Office alum was still “charming and commanding,” but argued the movie felt too safe and hollow. The Wrap’s Zaki Hasan said what fans loved about the series seemed to get lost in the shift to a feature-length format.

Jack Ryan Fans Are Not Totally United, But The Complaints Are Loud

To be fair, some audience members did enjoy the movie. One viewer called it a "full-action", "entertaining" watch and said they did not understand the negative reviews. Another said that Krasinski is perfect for the role and hoped the series would continue. Others landed somewhere in the middle, calling it a “solid watch” or saying it felt like a long episode of Jack Ryan, which they did not mind and highlighted as a positive.

Still, the harsher reactions are hard to miss. Many longtime Jack Ryan fans complained that the movie felt less like a serious spy thriller and more like an advertisement for Dubai. One reviewer called it “a good cure for insomnia,” while another said they couldn’t wait for it to be over.

That seems to be the central problem. Fans do not appear to have turned on Krasinski as the beloved character. In fact, many of the complaints are rooted in disappointment because people liked him in the role and wanted him to return to work. The issue is that Ghost War seems to have flattened what the series, streaming with a Prime Video subscription, did well: the slow-burn tension, the room for character work and the sense that Jack was thinking before firing.

For longtime fans, the reunion with John Krasinski, Pierce and Kelly may still be enough to justify pressing play, and there are certainly some high-octane twists that should have shown through. Yet those nearly matching critic and audience scores tell a pretty clear story. Critics and viewers often passionately disagree, but on Jack Ryan: Ghost War, they seem to have hit the same unfortunate target: This one is a snooze fest that may not be worth warming up the TV for.

Major spoilers for Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War lie ahead, so read on at your own risk!

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War sees John Krasinski return as the titular protagonist, who must face his most dangerous mission yet. Jack – with help from his allies – faces off with a rogue former black ops agent out for revenge against Jim Greer (Wendell Pierce). What plays out is a dangerous game that ultimately leads to the death of one of Ryan’s key allies. CinemaBlend recently spoke to Krasinski – who also co-wrote the film – and he shed light on why that character had to die.

During the film, Jack and co. pursue Liam Crown (Max Beesly), an ex-member of the since-dissolved Starling team, and he seeks to convince Greer (a co-founder of that team) to reform the brutal group. The mission to stop Crown eventually takes Jack, Greer and CIA director Elizabth Wright (Betty Gabriel) to London, where Crown is apparently planning to bomb Tower Bridge. However, in a tragic turn of events, the supposed bridge bombing proves to be a diversion, and Crowne actually detonates a car bomb that kills Wright.

Krasinski penned the script for his 2026 movie schedule entry alongside Aaron Rabin, who also wrote episodes of the Jack Ryan TV series. When I asked Krasinski about the decision to kill Wright, he had quite a few thoughts to share. All in all, he mentioned a few key reasons when explaining the importance of Elizabeth’s death:

Based on his comments the A Quiet Place helmer really wanted high stakes to be present within the story. Killing off the director of the CIA is definitely a way for Krasinski and Rabin to say, “We mean business.” Plus, Krasinski makes a good point in that some of the greatest political thrillers to ever grace the silver screen feature tragic deaths. I’d be lying if I said Wright’s death didn’t sting, considering her character’s key roles in the third and fourth seasons of the show. Even Krasinski admitted to the creative decision being tough:

As far as the future of the Jack Ryan franchise goes, it seems this explosive new movie won’t mark the end of the road for Ryan. The film ends with Ryan being named deputy director of the CIA alongside the newly promoted Greer. Specific plans haven’t been announced at this point though, at the very least, Krasinski also told me about his desire for a Tom Clancy crossover that would see Jack Ryan crossing paths with Michael B. Jordan’s John Kelly from Without Remorse. (So Krasinski may need to stick to that pilates-infused workout routine.)

Of course, watching Ryan’s further adventures will be somewhat bittersweet due to Wright’s absence. The main source of comfort I can find narrative-wise is that in whatever threats they face moving forward, Ryan and Greer may indeed look to Elizabeth’s example now that they’re running the CIA. Apart from that, I’ll also hold out hope that Betty Gabriel and John Krasinski do indeed work together in some way at some point down the road.

For now, though, see them share the screen in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War by streaming it with a Prime Video subscription. That streaming service membership also grants episodes to all four seasons of the show on which this film is based.

It’s been nearly three years since the conclusion of the Jack Ryan series on Amazon’s Prime Video, and now John Krasinski is back in fighting shape to reprise his role as the U.S. Marine-turned-CIA operative in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War. Instead of a new season, however, this time we only get him for one feature-length outing on the streamer, and reviews are in as it hits the 2026 movie schedule.

After retiring from the CIA, Jack Ryan is pulled back into the mix after the re-emergence of a black-ops network. Wendell Pierce and Michael Kelly are back, too, and while the critics generally welcome the reunion, their overall impressions are a bit mixed. Tania Hussain of Collider, for instance, rates the movie 5 out of 10 in her review of Prime Video’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War, saying it’s still slick and fast-paced, but that it’s too safe. The critic says:

Alex Maidy of Jo Blo gives it a “Good” 7 out of 10, saying viewers don’t have to have streamed any of John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan series with their Prime Video subscription to enjoy the movie, but that it does build on subplots and characters introduced on the show. Maidy likes how that heightens the stakes, and overall says:

Zaki Hasan of The Wrap says John Krasinski is a great Jack Ryan, but what fans loved so much about the series has been lost in translation when configuring the story for one feature-length product. The stakes are bigger, the canvas broader and danger more immediate, but it feels somewhat hollow — despite great performances — compared to the series. Hasan writes:

Monica Castillo of AV Club grades it a D+, calling Ghost War a straightforward spy movie “without excitement or intrigue.” The Prime Video movie feels more like a training exercise than a high-stakes mission. Castillo’s review reads:

Giovanni Lago of Next Best Picture rates it 4 out of 10, calling Jack Ryan: Ghost War a “by-the-books spy thriller that even Tom Clancy would’ve yawned at.” There are some high points, including solid action and the reunion between John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce, but they're overshadowed by an asinine plot that feels more cartoonish than grounded in realism. Lago continues:

The reviews of Jack Ryan: Ghost War are certainly more tepid than fans were hoping for, but that shouldn’t stop anyone who loves this franchise or who’s been looking forward to seeing John Krasinski back in this role from hitting Play on Amazon’s Prime Video. The movie is available to stream as of Wednesday, May 20.

John Krasinski is officially back in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War, which sees him reprise his role as the titular FBI operative. Back with Krasinski in this 2026 movie schedule entry are a few franchise veterans, including Michael Kelly and Wendell Pierce. Of course, there’s a great level of physicality to the work the actors do within this beloved franchise, so they have to stay in tip-top shape. Krasinski and Kelly recently spoke to CinemaBlend about their training regimens, and I was surprised by the fitness methods they named.

Some may imagine that Krasinski’s training for the explosive Ghost War (and the four-season TV show that preceded it) solely involved weights. However, that’s not exactly the case. I recently spoke with both Krasinski and Kelly while they were promoting their film and asked about specific techniques they’d picked up in order to stay in shape. Krasinski didn’t hold back in saying that pilates was the key and, while that may seem unexpected on the surface, it actually makes sense:

While I’ve long known that it’s important for an action star to remain nimble, I didn’t think much about whether any of them might utilize pilates to such a great extent. However, it does make sense and, considering Krasinski’s work throughout the franchise, it’s hard to argue with the results. Krasinski’s point about going from a standstill to a sprint also makes me appreciate Tom Cruise’s iconic running scenes more. As for Michael Kelly (who reprises his role as Mike November in Ghost War), he had this to say about his preparation:

Of course, the notion of any of the stars getting hurt is definitely not far-fetched, especially considering the scope of Ghost War, which is helmed by veteran franchise director Andrew Bernstein. In it, Jack reunites with Mike and Jim Greer (Pierce) to take down a rogue former operative (Max Beesly) looking to revive a dangerous task force. During our conversation, Krasinski spoke a bit about how the movie in comparison to the TV show:

John Krasinski’s last comment speaks to the light-hearted camaraderie and vibe that’s been established on the Jack Ryan sets. In all seriousness, though, I’m glad that neither Krasinski nor Michael Kelly apparently sustained serious injuries during principal photography. Whatever lies ahead for the franchise, here’s hoping they and their co-stars continue to stay healthy (especially if Krasinski wants to make that Without Remorse crossover happen).

Check out Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War when it becomes streamable on May 20. If you haven’t already, grab a Prime Video subscription so you’ll be able to check it out.

Jack Ryan may have ended its four-season run on Prime Video after four seasons, but the John Krasinski-led franchise is returning by way of a new film, subtitled Ghost War, that’s set to hit the 2026 movie schedule. The existence of the follow-up flick is a testament to the IP’s continued popularity as well as the buzz surrounding the Tom Clancy TV universe as a whole. Given that, CinemaBlend recently asked Krasinski about the notion of crossing over with Alan Ritchson’s Reacher. However, Krasinski's idea got me even more excited.

Considering the ongoing success of the Clancy shows, it would just make too much sense to have some cross-pollination. Jack Ryan and the record-breaking Reacher honestly do feel like a match made in high-octane heaven. When I spoke to Krasinski in promotion of Ghost War, he didn’t confirm whether or not he’d spoken to Prime Video about having Ryan cross paths with other do-gooders. However, he did confirm that he’d spoken to a fellow A-lister about bringing back their Clancy character:

Michael B. Jordan notably plays the role of John Kelly in 2021’s Without Remorse, and the film sees Kelly – a former Navy SEAL – on a quest for retribution following the deaths of his wife and unit cohorts. Honestly, I hadn’t even considered the notion of Jordan (a newly minted Oscar winner) reprising Kelly let alone teaming up with Jack Ryan. However, the thought of such a crossover is just too cool to ignore, and it delights me that John Krasinski has apparently even spoken to the Creed star about it.

Of course, as mentioned, Jordan’s availability is a factor, but I think this project is worth pursuing. Jordan would lend a considerable amount of star power to an already-flourishing franchise. Not only that, but he and Krasinski could make for an imposing on-screen duo. Like the A Quiet Place star, Jordan can also bring a significant level of physicality to the proceedings. After all, Jordan did have to do quite a bit of training for Without Remorse, and he even learned to hold his breath under water for nearly three minutes.

While I’d be down to see Jack to team up with John, I still wouldn’t turn my nose up if Jack Reacher were to be involved. Alan Ritchson remains a star in his own right, and I could easily see him and Krasinski standing alongside each other. I honestly still think that could happen at some point, and Krasinski seems to like the notion of more crossovers as well:

A crossover may not be announced right now, but Prime Video subscription holders still have plenty to look forward to when it comes to Tom Clancy-related content. Ghost War aside, there’s also the upcoming fourth season of Reacher, which has also been renewed for Season 5. Aldis Hodge’s Cross is also returning for a third season and, on that note, it’d be great to see Alex Cross join forces with another character as well. In the meantime, though, I just hope the producers will keep a seat warm for Michael B. Jordan.

For right now, though, look forward to streaming Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War on Prime Video, as it hits the streamer on May 20. Prepare yourself for John Krasinski's reprisal by streaming all four seasons of the show now. Also, stream Without Remorse while you're at it.

John Krasinski has officially returned to the world he helped establish as he just dropped the first set photo from A Quiet Place Part III. The actor, writer and director shared a new set photo from the upcoming horror movie release on his official social media account, and while the image itself is pretty simple, it was more than enough to get fans and some The Office alums making noise in the comments.

Krasinski posted a photo of an official production slate on the ground, with the words "Part III" clearly visible on his Instagram account. Behind it, out of focus, is a large stone archway, giving the whole thing a very ominous, very “something horrible is about to happen in a beautiful place” kind of energy. His caption, which you can see below, was short and sweet: “Here. We. Go! #Part III.”

That’s all he really needed to say. After A Quiet Place became one of the best modern horror movie surprises back in 2018, and A Quiet Place Part II expanded the world in 2021, fans have been waiting to see where Krasinski would take the mainline story next. We’ve had A Quiet Place: Day One, which stepped away from the Abbott family to explore the early days of the invasion, but Part III, with Krasinski returning in the director’s chair, means that the core lane of the franchise is back on track.

As exciting as the post and the announcement from the director are, the best part of the post is the comment section. Let’s break down some of the best responses.

Fans And Office Alums Were All Over The Comments

There were plenty of straightforward reactions from fans and friends, including some familiar Hollywood names and one sweet response from an Office alum. Anyone who caught the original run, or has revisited it countless times with a Peacock subscription, knows Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer from the beloved NBC sitcom. The redheaded funny woman showed up to support her former co-star, and she wasn’t the only one. Here are some of the standout reactions:

• @therealkateflannery: “So proud of you and your good work. ❤️❤️❤️❤️”
• @joshgad: “👏👏👏👏”
• @realmichaelkelly: “Congratulations buddy!!! Can Not Wait!!”
• @tom_cullen: “Yes John!!! 🔥”
• @gennyyy.b: “AHHH MY FAV MOVIE SERIES! You could make a million parts and I’d sit and watch all of them!”
• @556.brand0n: “Didn’t you die in the first one? Im so confused”
• @paramountscares: “🤫🤫🤫”

That last one from Paramount Scares is a nice touch, because if any franchise has earned a studio account responding with shushing emojis, it’s this one.

But because this is John Krasinski, the Office crowd was never going to let the moment pass quietly. Fans flooded the comments with Jim Halpert and Dunder Mifflin reaction memes, which somehow fit a Quiet Place announcement better than they have any right to. A few of the funniest included:

• @canaancox posting the classic “OH, MY GOD! OK, IT’S HAPPENING!” panic GIF.
• @sanjeev_sid_ram sharing Jim smiling through the blinds, the universal image for “I am watching this development very closely.”
• @actortorilane posting Michael Scott’s “OKAY, IT’S HAPPENING!” reaction.
• @jaumesegovia dropping a Jim “OH” reaction GIF.
• @feelynnelisah using Jim’s delighted, wide-eyed face.
• @heres_my_account_2003 posting Jim’s “YES!” fist-pump moment.
• @__e.m.o._19 sharing a GIF of Dwight watching from a car, which is somehow both unrelated and exactly right.

It’s funny how cleanly Krasinski’s two biggest pop-culture identities still collide. He’s the filmmaker behind one of the tensest horror franchises of the last decade, but he’s also still Jim from The Office, the guy whose face has become internet shorthand for basically every possible human reaction.

The funniest actual question in the comments might be the fan asking whether Krasinski died in the first movie. Technically, yes, Lee Abbott did not make it out of A Quiet Place alive. But Krasinski has remained one of the main creative forces behind the series, so his return on Part III does not necessarily mean Lee is coming back from the cornfield beyond. Though, honestly, in horror, never say never. If slashers can survive everything short of a tax audit, a flashback is not exactly impossible.

For now, Krasinski has only given fans a slate, a location and five words. But for A Quiet Place fans, that was plenty loud enough. Unfortunately, the next installment won’t make the 2026 movie calendar, as the beloved horror franchise is set to return to theaters next year on July 30, 2027.

It’s been five years since A Quiet Place Part II hit theaters, and fans are champing at the bit for the next installment in John Krasinski’s wildly popular horror franchise. At the end of Part II, the Abbott Family narrowly escaped death and were forced to start over once more, but were also a step closer to understanding the murderous alien species with impeccable hearing. There are still a lot of loose ends to tie up in the since-confirmed A Quiet Place Part III, and Krasinski’s wife, actress Emily Blunt, revealed the amusing way Krasinski’s writing process has impacted their home life.

Blunt, who also stars in the Quiet Place franchise as Evelyn Abbott, recently appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon and confirmed her husband was hard at work developing the upcoming horror film, which is slated for release in 2027. However, the Devil Wears Prada 2 actress admitted Krasinski’s intense creative methods have been driving her crazy at home:

The image of John Krasinski standing in front of a Quiet Place crime board of sticky notes does make me laugh. I would be a little overwhelmed looking at it, though. Of course, all the sticky notes probably only make sense to him, and I could see why it would drive Blunt a little nuts. What if she goes to get a cup of coffee in the morning and a note about a major character’s death is stuck to the cabinet?

I can’t imagine Blunt avoiding spoilers entirely though, with the writing process happening under her own roof. Besides, the couple are an excellent creative duo. It would make sense for the Smashing Machine actress to be a part of the process. On that note, Blunt revealed Krasinski does sometimes use her as a sounding board:

A Quiet Place was Krasinski's first foray into directing, and Blunt previously revealed her one moment of doubt before her husband started directing. However, Krasinski’s assurance was not in poor faith, and AQP is now considered by many to be one of the best horror films of all time.

I’m just glad to hear he’s writing A Quiet Place III’s script though, and that we finally have confirmation of production starting soon. By the time Part III will come out next summer, it will have been nearly a decade since the first installment, and eight years since A Quiet Place II filmed in 2019.

Krasinski has confirmed the returns of Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds, along with newcomers Jack O’Connell and Katy O’Brien. There's still a big question in regard to how the IF director will address the stretch of time between Part II and Part III. Both Simmonds and Jupe, who play the Abbott kids Marcus and Regan, have grown up quite a bit in the time between the two films. So a major time jump may be necessary.

Given the Abbotts successfully found the Death Angel’s weakness, there is hope that A Quiet Place Part III could open with them living in a new island safe haven. However, they're not out of the woods yet, as high frequency sound doesn’t kill the aliens, only incapacitates them. There is still so much we don’t know about these other-worldly creatures, who can hear, but not see, and the prequel, A Quiet Place: Day, One only sparked more questions. Hopefully, John Krasinski has some answers on those sticky notes of his.

A Quiet Place Part III opens in theaters on July 30, 2027. In the meantime, stream Krasinski and Emily Blunt's work in the first two movies by streaming them with a Paramount+ subscription.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is just a week away from release on the 2026 movie schedule, and apparently, you can count Emily Blunt’s husband John Krasinski in as one of the film’s biggest fans. Blunt recently shared a story about the moment she knew her guy was really into the fashion-centric comedy, and it’s just another reason why the partnership between these two feels like a real-life rom-com.

The Devil Wears Prada cast all got to reunite for a sequel from the same writer/director, along with some new big names joining – including one The Office actor. In an interview with ABC about this new movie, Emily Blunt recalled how she learned John Krasinski was super into her 2006 movie:

Now, I have to wonder what his thoughts are on the sequel, and how much he was trying to learn the secrets of all the outfits the actress and other members of the cast were trying to keep hidden while filming the movie. I especially love Stanley Tucci’s reaction to Emily Blunt’s story as she tells it. You can check out the interview clip below:

John Krasinski has made his love for The Devil Wears Prada know before. In an interview with Variety, he revealed his double-digit estimate for how many times he’s seen it. In his words:

At the time, he also said that he’s seen it a few times with his wife, but “it’s not the most comfortable thing” for her to watch herself in a movie. Apparently, he also told Blunt this when they were early in their relationship and joked that he felt “lucky” that “she stayed” and “didn’t realize that she had really married her stalker” in an interview with Glamour.

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski reportedly started dating back in 2008, while The Devil Wears Prada was relatively new. They got married in 2010 and have since had two kids together.

A couple of years ago, Blunt said she decided to let their daughters watch the original, and they thought her character was “the meanest person they’ve ever met.” It probably felt necessary to show them the classic because it’s apparently “quoted” to her “every week,” even though it's two decades old. And I'd bet her husband is one of the people who quotes it at her.

You can see Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada 2 starting May 1.

Whenever a show ends, you never know when the next time you’ll see the cast together... if it happens at all. But whenever they do get together, it’s often like no time has passed at all, and it’s even better when the reunion happens unexpectedly. It’s been almost 13 years since The Office came to an end, and recently there was a reunion with the female cast members at the Actor Awards. But this new reunion between John Krasinski and B.J. Novak on the red carpet for The Devil Wears Prada 2 was not on my bingo card.

The much-anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada is among the many movies releasing in 2026, and it’s releasing very soon. It will once again bring back Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci, as well as a new cast that includes Novak. So it only makes sense that he would attend the premiere, but it also tracks for Krasinski to go to support his wife. And seeing the two together again makes it seem like no time has passed for Jim and Ryan, per an Instagram video from New York Live:

I absolutely love seeing Krasinski and Novak reunite, and I wish it was for longer than a hug. When asked by New York Live on the red carpet what it was like reuniting with his former co-star, Novak explained just how long it had been since they’d seen each other. While it wasn’t as long as people thought, I did not predict The Devil Wears Prada 2 would be the reason for not one but two reunions, but I am forever thankful:

Knowing that, before the two reunited on the set of The Devil Wears Prada 2, the last time Krasinski and Novak had probably seen each other was when The Office wrapped is pretty crazy. Of course, it’s entirely possible they had seen each other after that, and Novak just forgot, or it was very brief. But it’s still insane to think about, especially since sometimes it feels like The Office just ended.

Whenever an Office reunion happens, whether big or small, it’s always a pleasant surprise. Sometimes they happen when some of the actors are on the same project, at events, or just hanging out, but every time it’s nice to see. And after seeing Krasinski and Novak together again, I would love nothing more than to have them be in a movie or show together because it’s been far too long. The Paper is coming back for another season with a Peacock subscription, so perhaps Jim and Ryan can make a comeback?

Meanwhile, fans can see B.J. Novak with John Krasinski’s better half, Emily Blunt, when The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits theaters on May 1. Blunt returns as Miranda’s former assistant, Emily Charlton, while Novak portrays a new character, Jay Ravitz.

When it comes to modern horror franchises, few get moviegoers more excited than A Quiet Place. Over the past decade, the two mainline films and the 2024 spinoff/prequel have left audiences in awe with frightening monsters, rich family dynamics, and some of the most unforgettable theatrical experiences in recent memory. Now, we’re going to go through it all again with A Quiet Place Part III.

If you want to learn all about what’s next for the Abbott family after the bone-chilling and heartpounding events of A Quiet Place Part II’s ending, who is involved this time around, and most importantly, when it’s coming out, stick around. I am about to break down everything we know about one of the most anticipated new horror movies on the horizon. Though I’m excited, let’s try to keep the noise down so we don’t get any of those “Death Angels” after us before the release date…

The Quiet Place Part III Release Date

So, when is A Quiet Place Part III’s release date? Well, Deadline announced in late 2025 that the third chapter in the ongoing Abbott family saga will open in theaters on July 30, 2027, after previously being scheduled to hit theaters three weeks earlier. Though I wish we would be picking up with the family at some point on the 2026 movie schedule, what’s another year after already waiting so long to have those lingering questions answered from the 2021 installment?

A Quiet Place Part III doesn’t share the date with any competition (not yet, anyway), but the summer 2027 blockbuster season is already shaping up to be one for the ages. With Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, Shrek 5, Man of Tomorrow, and the Minecraft sequel coming out between June and July, there’s going to be a lot going on.

The Quiet Place Part III Cast

Since the franchise’s frightening debut back in 2018, A Quiet Place has introduced audiences to some of the most unforgettable characters in modern horror history with the Abbott Family. While we still don’t know if John Krasinski’s Lee Abbott will appear in any flashbacks like the intense A Quiet Place Part II opening chapter, the family members who survived the second film, along with Cillian Murphy’s character, will be returning.

The returning cast members aren’t alone, as Krasinski announced on his Instagram in March 2026 that Jack O’Connell, Jason Clarke, and Katy O’Brian, all of whom have horror experience, would be joining the cast. However, their identities have not yet been revealed at the time of this writing. I’m especially interested in O’Connell’s role, as I would love to see him branch out from his trend of playing menacing villains.

Here’s the full list of everyone announced so far:

• Emily Blunt as Evelyn Abbott
• Cillian Murphy as Emmett
• Millicent Simmonds as Regan Abbott
• Noah Jupe as Marcus Abbott
• Jack O’Connell
• Jason Clarke
• Katy O’Brian

John Krasinski Is Back As Writer And Director

Though it’s still not known if he’ll appear in the movie, John Krasinski is serving as both the writer and director once again to make A Quiet Place Part III. A fixture of the franchise since the very beginning (he co-wrote the screenplay with series creators Scott Beck and Bryan Woods as well as the Day One script with director Michael Sarnoski), the Office alum has been pushing the project from behind the scenes for a number of years now, with Emily Blunt telling Collider in May 2021 that her husband and co-star had a “whole arc of ideas that could work” for the planned trilogy.

Going by Krasinski’s Instagram post mentioned above in the cast section, it seems like he’s already finished penning the script. Now the waiting game begins for word on production (more on that later).

What Is A Quiet Place III About?

Everyone involved with A Quiet Place Part III has been tight-lipped about the movie’s plot (not just because the monsters have insane hearing), but many of us want to know what’s going to go down when we pick back up with the Abbott family next summer. While details are essentially nonexistent at this point, I would be shocked if the latest installment doesn’t make use of Regan Abbott’s discovery at the end of A Quiet Place Part II.

You may recall she learned she could transmit a high-frequency radio signal with her cochlear implant to incapacitate the monsters and give her enough time to kill them. The movie ends with the family broadcasting the signal to other survivors, giving humanity hope. It would be interesting to see how this plan is carried out and where the movie picks up. I guess we’ll have to wait until next July…

Is There Any News On A Quiet Place Part III’s Production?

As far as I know, nothing has been announced about when A Quiet Place Part III will enter production. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if cameras are rolling at some point before the start of summer.

First, the script appears to be finished or at least enough for the screenplay to be given to the cast. Next, the film is set for release in July 2027, and there’s bound to be a fair amount of post-production work. Then, there’s John Krasinski’s upcoming action thriller, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War, which is slated to hit theaters on May 20, 2026. I imagine he will have some press work to do in the lead-up to the film’s release, meaning it’ll probably be this summer.

How To Watch The Previous A Quiet Place Movies

At the time of this writing, it has been just short of eight years since A Quiet Place stormed into theaters and kicked off a massive horror franchise. That said, there’s a good chance that some out there haven’t revisited the 2018 instant classic since then. If you’re in that camp and want to go back and watch the full series, all three movies are streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

• Stream A Quiet Place on Paramount+.
• Stream A Quiet Place Part II on Paramount+.
• Stream A Quiet Place: Day One on Paramount+.

Expect to hear a whole lot more about A Quiet Place Part III in the weeks and months to come.

It’s been a little while since Jack Ryan wrapped up its four-season run (which can be viewed in its entirety with a Prime Video subscription). While fans have been without John Krasinski’s version of the titular character for a few years, they’ve had the reassurance that Ryan would return in a new movie. Well, that film is officially set to hit the 2026 movie schedule, and the explosive first trailer was just released. It also reveals the official title as well as a sweet new behind-the-scenes role for Krasinski.

Tuesday marked the release of the teaser trailer for what’s now officially known as Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War. As revealed in the trailer, Jack is no longer working with the CIA and is now seemingly aiming to stay out of the line of fire. That changes, however, when his old boss and friend, James Greer (played by the returning Wendell Pierce) asks for his help in taking down a radicalized military group spreading fear and chaos. Of course, Ryan’s ultimately coaxed into getting back into the game.

While this is the definition of a “teaser trailer,” we do get some shots of Jack geared up and back in action. Hand-to-hand fights, car chases and explosions – staples of this franchise – just seem to be the tip of the iceberg for this “movie event.” And, behind the camera, Krasinski is taking on a new role, which marks a first for him in this franchise. He’s credited as a screenwriter on Ghost War, sharing that credit with Noah Oppenheim, and the actor-writer also has a story credit on this production.

It makes sense that John Krasinski is shifting into writer mode for this production. For one, he’s obviously a skilled scribe in his own right, as he held the duties on his A Quiet Place franchise. That’ll also be the case for the upcoming third installment in that series. Additionally, over the years, there have been other stars who’ve written for the TV properties they’ve starred in. I can even think back to Carroll O'Connor writing for In the Heat of the Night or David Duchovny penning some episodes of The X-Files.

Fans may also be excited to know that there are a few more familiar faces in the fold this time around as well. Both Michael Kelly and Betty Gabriel are also reportedly reprising their roles as Mike November and Elizabeth Wright, respectively. Given that neither appear in this first trailer, I’m curious as to how big their roles will be.

On the whole, this Jack Ryan follow-up movie serves as a significant expansion for the mythos, which may be welcome to fans due to at least one other project not coming to fruition. It was reported in 2022 that a spinoff series centered on Michael Peña’s Domingo Chavez was in the works and, in 2023, Peña expressed his hopes to CinemaBlend about the show happening. At this point, though, the project has reportedly been shelved.

Still, Ghost War should hopefully satisfy those who’ve been eager to see more of Ryan in action. It remains to be seen when a full trailer for the film might finally be released. In the meantime, though, this teaser is a nice little bit of promotion to set the tone for Jack’s next adventure.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War is set to be released on May 20. In the meantime, why not revisit the original series or check it out for the first time?

The Office may have ended almost 13 years ago, but the NBC sitcom remains a favorite to this day. For those with a Peacock subscription, the series is being kept alive thanks to “Superfan” episodes, and people are constantly discovering and rediscovering The Office. It also helps that the cast never seems to tire of talking about it, including Creed Bratton, who spoke about filming one of my favorite scenes with John Krasinski, and it sounds intense.

Bratton looked back at his time on The Office, which ran for nine seasons, during a chat with EW, and he revealed that he was always the most excited to work with Krasinski, Steve Carell, and Rainn Wilson from week to week. He also recalled a certain scene with Krasinski that has stuck with him over the years, and it’s arguably one of my favorites:

The underrated scene that Bratton is referring to is from Season 4, Episode 11, “Survivor Man.” The episode sees Jim trying to celebrate everyone’s birthday with one party. This leads to a talk about what kind of cake would be at the party, and Creed hilariously gets very close to Jim’s face in the break room to talk about the kind of cake that he wants. It turns into a rapid-fire Q&A that is very brief, very funny, very intense, and apparently, very wet, as the actor recalled:

One of my favorite things about The Office is that you never know what to expect. The characters are all so different; some talk with other characters more than others, and some are very passionate about certain things, like Kevin and his chili. Or, in this instance, Creed and his cobbler pie.

Knowing that Bratton and Krasinski were so close to each other that they were basically spitting on one another really makes the entire scene even better, which I didn’t think was possible. And the fact that Bratton can remember it like it was yesterday, when it was 18 years ago, truly speaks volumes to how great it was filming it.

The Office is one of the best NBC sitcoms ever, even if it did nearly get canceled, and one of the reasons is because of moments like the cobbler pie scene, where it’s just so ridiculous you can’t help but laugh. Perhaps the only thing that would truly make this better is seeing bloopers from filming. The Office does have a lot of outtakes out there, so it’s possible the cobbler pie scene made the cut, but in either case, I need to see it.

At the very least, the scene in question can be watched on Peacock, both the Superfan way or the regular way, and just hearing about it makes me want to watch the episode all over again. And maybe even look closely to see if any spittle made it into the scene.

Josh Radnor is best known for his role as Ted Mosby on the hit CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother, and fans are still streaming the heck out of it with a Hulu subscription. However, in an alternate timeline, Radnor could have landed the role of Jim Halpert on The Office, as he actually auditioned for the role in the NBC sitcom that ultimately went to John Krasinski. So what went wrong?

Both The Office and How I Met Your Mother premiered in 2005 and went on to become huge successes. Even years later, the two remain favorites among fans, and it’s hard to imagine the characters being played by anyone else. However, obviously, other actors auditioned, and when it came to Jim, Josh Radnor tried out before HIMYM came along. The Ted actor told the story behind it, too, on the podcast How We Made Your Mother, when The Office's Jenna Fisher asked about it. Recalling how it went and why it didn't go the best, he said:

He went on to explain that while casting director Alison Jones brought him on and he met with The Office's creator Greg Daniels, Radnor ultimately didn’t get a testing deal and did not move forward with the second round of auditions. He also made sure to note that it wasn’t a terrible audition; he just couldn’t land the right tone for Jim, as he said:

It’s interesting to imagine how different things would have been on both The Office and How I Met Your Mother had things played out differently for Josh Radnor. Overall, it also proves that John Krasinski was the perfect person to play Jim. Plus, Radnor’s portrayal of good guy Ted on How I Met Your Mother was pretty perfect, even if his actions in the series finale are still questionable after all these years.

It is always entertaining finding out what roles actors tried out for, especially since some things could have gone very differently had they gotten the role. The How I Met Your Mother cast was pretty fitting, as was The Office cast, and, as the actor said, everything worked out, and they all landed in the right places. It’s also hard to imagine him as Jim Halpert. Frankly, I don’t think anyone other than John Krasinski would be able to nail that role, just like I think Radnor is the only guy who could have played Ted.

Emily Blunt has done everything from fighting alien invaders as a supersoldier to stepping into the iconic shoes of Mary Poppins. However, among her best films, one of her most beloved roles remains Evelyn Abbott in A Quiet Place, the smash-hit horror movie she made with her husband, John Krasinski. The collaboration went on to define a major chapter in both their careers, proving that a marriage can survive not only Hollywood but also high-pressure filmmaking. Yet Blunt recently revealed the process started with a surprisingly candid (and hilarious) conversation about whether they could actually pull it off.

The Devil Wears Prada veteran reflected on the high-wire act of working opposite her husband for the first time while he simultaneously stepped into the director’s chair. The actress admitted to Elle she wasn’t sure how smooth the experience would be, and before filming began, she sat her husband down to make sure they both understood what they were getting into.

Even Krasinski’s own wife had questions about his jump from The Office to directing, but, as she describes, Blunt was impressed, watching Krasinski step into the role of director with unexpected confidence. Despite the film’s difficult conditions—long stretches of silence, physical tension, and an entire emotional arc communicated through looks—the pair found a rhythm that worked.

Still, the English A-lister also acknowledged the elephant in the room: What if working with your spouse goes badly? She added it could have been "an absolute disaster."

They indeed respected each other’s work, and thankfully, it paid off in a big way as A Quiet Place became a global hit. The movie showcased the real-world couple’s chemistry and revealed a new side of the longtime sitcom star as a filmmaker, earning him industry-wide respect and spawning a full-fledged franchise, with a recently announced fourth film in the series on the way. And the Smashing Machine actress makes it clear she saw that transformation firsthand, just as she’s witnessed in co-stars like Tom Cruise, Ryan Gosling, and Dwayne Johnson as they reinvented themselves in front of her.

If working with her husband for the first time came with its own nerves, it also gave audiences one of the most effective, emotionally grounded performances in modern horror. Thankfully, Krasinski did not think she was “really s--t.” In fact, the movie proved the exact opposite, as together, they’re an undeniable creative force—on-screen and off.

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s on-screen collaboration is set to continue as the fourth movie in the series, A Quiet Place: Part III was recently announced. Fans already have questions after A Quiet Place Part II, and they'll finally be answered when we get the next chapter on July 9th, 2027.

I can say from experience that, in my opinion, some of the best romantic relationships are shared by two people who love sharing moments of chills and thrills with each other. In that same vein, I have a lot of respect and admiration for couples who have joined forces to create moments of chills and thrills for others, such as the stars and co-producers of Together, Dave Franco and Alison Brie.

The husband and wife duo are far from the first real-life couple to star in a horror movie together, and, because of the genuine onscreen chemistry they bring to the new 2025 movie, I sure hope they are not the last. In fact, let's begin my little breakdown of notable Hollywood power couples who made some great scary date movies over the years with the stars of Together.

Dave Franco And Alison Brie (Together)

Recent releases like the Oscar-winning The Substance and The Ugly Stepsister have paved the way for a golden era of body horror movies that continues with writer and director Michael Shanks' Together. The new horror movie stars the aforementioned Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, who find themselves growing too close for comfort when a mysterious force causes them to be involuntarily bound by flesh.

Echoing Eric Eisenberg's Together review, Franco and Brie portray the troubling circumstances of their characters' relationship, even those existing before the supernatural starts to make things worse, so flawlessly that you can't help but wonder about the state of their actual marriage. Of course, by the end, it becomes clear they possess more than enough chemistry to make this bizarre and unsettling, but also funny and even heartwarming thriller a satisfying and touching experience.

John Krasinski And Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place)

I believe 2018's A Quiet Place boasts one of the most astonishingly unique concepts for an alien invasion movie I have ever seen: a world overrun with malevolent, non-seeing extra-terrestrials, forcing the remains of humanity to live in silence. However, I also believe the key to its unnerving effectiveness lies in the lead performances by John Krasinski (who also co-writes and directs) and Emily Blunt.

As Lee and Evelyn Abbott, the beloved power couple, who wed in 2010 and have since had two children, deliver a compelling and authentic sense of devotion to one another and desperation to protect their family at all costs. Had Krasinski not cast his own wife to play his onscreen partner, the film's man-versus-monster suspense could have easily lacked the breathless urgency that made it an instant sci-fi movie classic.

Jeff Goldblum And Geena Davis (The Fly)

Together is not the first body horror flick to star a real-life couple, but it might be the first to involve both romantic leads experiencing the same grotesque situation first-hand. In David Cronenberg's 1986 version of The Fly, Jeff Goldblum's Dr. Seth Brundle slowly becomes a half-human, half-insect hybrid while the love of his life, Ronnie Quaife (Geena Davis), only witnesses the dehumanizing process in shock and heartbreak.

Goldblum and Davis were engaged at the time they shot the revered horror movie remake, having actually met on the set of a 1985 horror-comedy movie called Transylvania 6-5000, and tied the knot the following year, only to split in 1990, according to People. Their genuine affection for each other, which appears to have survived their divorce, based on their 2024 SAG Awards appearance, explodes on the screen, cementing The Fly as one of horror's most unforgettable romantic tragedies.

David Arquette And Courtney Cox (The Scream Movies)

Watching the Scream movies in order is fascinating in the way the cleverly meta slasher franchise traces two notable timelines in pop culture. The subsequent films not only illustrate the modern evolution of the horror genre, but also that of the relationship between two of its most famous stars, David Arquette and Courteney Cox.

The Friends cast member, playing journalist Gale Weathers, and the Dewey Riley actor met on the set of the 1996 original, were dating while they shot the sequel (after some encouragement from Wes Craven), and were married during the third one, but had split before reprising their characters as husband and wife in 2011's Scream 4. However, Cox has since referred to Arquette as her "best friend "(according to People), and that shows in their willingness to reunite and play their roles as divorcees in 2022's Scream, which saw Dewey succumb to Ghostface's knife. However, Arquette has somehow been cast in Scream 7, so it looks like the reign of Dewey and Gale is, thankfully, not over just yet.

Freddie Prinze Jr. And Sarah Michelle Gellar (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

Scream is not the only '90s slasher movie favorite from which romance bloomed behind the scenes. In I Know What You Did Last Summer, Freddie Prinze Jr.'s Ray Bronson may have been dating Jennifer Love Hewitt's Julie James, but the actor really had his eye on their co-star, Sarah Michelle Gellar.

After falling in love on the set of the 1997 thriller, they would later wed in 2002, which is the same year they shared a kiss as Fred and Daphne in the first live-action Scooby-Doo movie. Since Gellar's Helen did not survive the first Summer, the couple was not able to reunite for the arguably more fun 1998 sequel, but she would make a surprise cameo in the 2025 reboot, achieved through a dream sequence, that also allowed her and Prinze the opportunity to have a fun family trip in Australia, where the legacyquel as filmed, as she shared with the country's iteration of Today.

Eli Roth And Lorenza Izzo (Aftershock)

Until their divorce in 2018 after four years of marriage, horror multi-hyphenate Eli Roth and actor and model Lorenza Izzo were one of the genre's top power couples, collaborating on projects like Netflix's Hemlock Grove, The Green Inferno, Knock Knock, and The House with a Clock in Its Walls. Their personal and professional relationship began with a disaster thriller from 2012 called Aftershock.

In addition to co-writing and producing the thriller from director Nicolás López, Roth stars alongside Izzo as survivors of a deadly earthquake in Chile struggling to make it out of the ruined city safely. The Chilean-born actor shared with WWD that she was cast in a leading role when Roth discovered she could speak English and, after spending the entire shoot together and boasting a chemistry that comes through effectively in the film, they became more than scene partners.

It is celebrity couples like these, in addition to the likes of Stranger Things' Charlie Heaton and Natalia Dyer, who prove to me that sometimes the key to a great horror movie, especially ones in which romance plays a pivotal role, is casting two people whose love offscreen is so strong, it's scary.

The horror genre continues to thrive, to the joy of fans like myself. One of the best horror movies from recent memory was John Krasinski's A Quiet Place, which has been expanded into a bonafide franchise. The actor/filmmaker just confirmed when we'll see Part III, and I have one major hope for the threequel. Yes, I'm crossing my fingers.

Fans have been eager for this information after A Quiet Place Part II's ending, which left things off on a bit of a cliffhanger. But it's been a long time coming, with the franchise instead expanding with the prequel/spinoff A Quiet Place: Day One. Krasinski posted a date announcement for the threequel on Instagram, check it out below:

It's really happening. Fans have questions after A Quiet Place Part II, and they'll finally be answered when we get the third chapter on July 9th 2027. I'm eager to see what come next for the Abbott family, I'm holding out hope that Joseph Quinn's Eric from Day One gets to pop up sometime throughout its runtime.

I know, this might might be a long shot, especially as Quinn's star power rises thanks to The Fantastic Four: First Steps. But since Day One's ending saw him leaving New York with Djimon Hounsou's Henri, who met the Abbotts in Part II, it doesn't seem impossible.

It's more than possible that this crossover won't happen, and that John Krasinski isn't invested in creating an interconnected shared universe for his horror franchise. But that is the way that studios seem to be focusing their content, so we'll have to wait and see what sort of talks are happening behind the scenes. But with A Quiet Place Part III finally given a concrete release date, the threequel has never felt more real.

Day One might have helped to satiate the fandom, but it's already been quite some time before A Quiet Place Part II (which is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription) hit theaters back in May of 2021. By the time the third movie arrives in theaters it'll be a whopping 7 years in between movies. We'll just have to wait and see if this affects audience enthusiasm about the sensory horror property.

While it's taken a while, Deadline confirms that John Krasinski will be back to direct, produce, and write A Quiet Place Part III. No casting has been announced, but fans are expecting the Abbott family to return, played by Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe. Cillian Murphy's Emmett also survived the sequel, and would presumably be back to continue the story. As for Joseph Quinn's character from Day One, that's anyone's guess.

A Quiet Place Part III is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 9, 2027. Since it's not even part of the 2026 movie release list, fans are likely going to have to be patient before getting more information.

I’m not going to take apart Fountain Of Youth, the latest in the 2025 movie schedule that you can check out with your AppleTV+ subscription. I do think it’s a fun movie, in a “movie of the week” kind of way. I love that the movie is at least trying to be something new and not relying on existing IP, something Hollywood doesn’t take enough chances on these days. The Guy Richie film delivers in being an enjoyable adventure movie perfect for a Sunday afternoon. It also tries to set itself up for a sequel, or even a franchise, and on that front, I’m not so sure it works.

Fountain Of Youth Seems To Be Inventing The Next Indiana Jones

John Krasinski and Natalie Portman star as brother and sister Luke and Charlotte Purdue, the children of a famed, late archaeologist. Luke is the charming adventurer in the family, going so far as to commit daring art heists to find the clues he is looking for to discover the mythical Fountain of Youth. Charlotte is the more pragmatic sibling, working as a curator in an art museum that Luke burglarizes.

Luke eventually convinces Charlotte to join him in his quest, and the adventure begins in full. I won’t get into too many spoilers here, but the movie trots along at a decent clip, with some completely unrealistic things happening to get to the answers they seek, very much akin to some of Indiana Jones’ adventures, especially from the last couple of movies (not a ringing endorsement, I know). Throw in a dash of The Da Vinci Code’s faux intellectualism, and it seems clear that Richie and Co. are hoping to build a franchise.

The Ending Of Fountain Of Youth Is Especially Heavy-Handed

Once the adventure is over and our heroes have saved the day by making the correct moral decision, and the villain, played Domhnall Gleeson, who is given far too little to do here, is vanquished, Charlotte and Luke have a back and forth that is about as subtle as a lost ark to the head.

Charlotte is ready to team up with her brother again to seek other lost treasures. They trade friendly barbs about what they could look for next, while giving no answers (and the cast isn’t letting on, either, about a potential sequel). There are, of course, dozens of potential artifacts or mythical places to search out in a franchise. That doesn’t mean there will be one, though.

Fountain Of Youth Just Isn’t Strong Enough To Launch A Franchise

Krasinski is great in the movie, and he’s much more realistic as a reluctant action hero than, say, as Jack Ryan in the Amazon show of the same name, which he starred in. Portman is, as always, great, but something doesn’t work here. The dialogue is a little cheesy, and the plot, while a great idea, doesn’t hold together. There is no villain that we know of until the end, and even that feels forced, despite Charlotte’s foreshadowing.

Then there is the sort of ham-fisted dialogue at the end, trying to set up a sequel. It’s all just a little too presumptive and, frankly, cheesy, the way they do it. Sure, movies have long set up franchises and sequels, but usually that’s once they are established. Fountain of Youth isn’t there yet. I’d be all for giving the characters one more chance, but will audiences and Apple agree? I just don’t know.

It’s been over 10 years since The Office ended after nine seasons, but a new series is finally on the way, either on the 2025 TV schedule or in 2026. Streaming soon for those with a Peacock subscription, The Paper will see the Dunder Mifflin documentary crew setting their sights on a dying newspaper in the Midwest. Although it will include a new cast, The Office alum Oscar Nuñez will be returning as Oscar Martinez, so there are some connections to the original.

Now, his former co-stars Steve Carell and John Krasinski are putting the work in and can’t stop advocating for the spinoff. Here's what we know.

The Advice John Krasinski And Steve Carell Gave Domhnall Gleeson

Domhnall Gleeson, who is starring in The Paper, told People he has actually received advice from Krasinski leading into the upcoming gig. The A Quiet Place star originally portrayed Jim Halpert on all nine seasons of the NBC sitcom, and more recently passed the torch to Gleeson. In fact, he gave him some simple (but honestly great) advice that really seemed to go a long way:

Krasinski is not the only person related to the original series who offered advice. After starring as regional manager Michael Scott for the first seven seasons, Carell gave Gleeson a similar note when he was considering the role. Both The Office stars basically told Gleeson not to pass up the chance.

Gleeson admitted he was “happy” he did the series, noting he thinks they have “something really lovely.” Even though doing a reboot, revival, or spinoff of a series that is so beloved and hasn’t been on for a while can sometimes be a bit risky, it sounds like everyone was really supportive from the original show.

It's a sign that hopefully The Paper is going to be special. At least I'm inclined to believe it given how much Steve Carell has been going around lately advocating for the spinoff. Someone has to do the work!

What Else Steve Carell Has Said About The Office Spinoff

On top of the advice to Gleeson, Carell has been sharing his thoughts on The Paper. Most recently, he was asked by AP what his thoughts were on The Office universe continuing, and he couldn’t help but shout out creator, writer, and director Greg Daniels.

The actor feels that anything under him is going to go well, and he seems to be as excited as ever to see how it all turns out:

Despite The Office nearly getting canceled after only six episodes, the show remains a favorite among fans today. Of course, any series, especially if it’s a reboot or revival, can be a hit or a miss. And it will be very hard to match the energy and magic that was The Office.

That being said, since Daniels is behind The Paper as well, that should bring a little bit of excitement to fans. And while I can't guarantee it will be perfect, at the very least, it’s going to be a show fans will want to take a chance on. To prepare, there are already superfan episodes of The Office on Peacock that will get anyone in the mood.

Spoilers for The Fountain of Youth are ahead! If you’d like to watch this new adventure film, you can stream it with an Apple TV+ subscription.

After a globe-trotting, action-packed adventure to find The Fountain of Youth, John Krasinski and Natalie Portman’s siblings, Luke and Charlotte, seemed like they were more than ready to go on another treasure hunt. Then, at the very end of the 2025 movie schedule entry, The Fountain of Youth, Charlotte’s son declared that he knew what they should find next.

So, with that in mind, I asked the cast of this Guy Ritchie film that’s new to streaming this week what they’d like to find next if The Fountain of Youth gets a sequel. I have to say, their answers didn’t disappoint.

Natalie Portman And John Krasinski Stayed Tight-Lipped About The Fountain Of Youth’s Next Quest

First off, we have Portman and Krasinski. When I posed this question to them, they stayed tight-lipped about what their next adventure could be. In fact, the Black Swan actress was quick to tell me:

Her on-screen brother quickly backed her up, saying that they didn’t want to give anything away. However, he also made his excitement for a potential sequel known by saying:

Obviously, I would have loved to hear their hopes and dreams for a new treasure hunt. However, this coy response tells me that there might be talks of a sequel, and that, my friends, is something I’d like to see.

However, while they didn’t tell me their grand treasure hunting aspirations, Portman ended on a joke that made me laugh. After The Office actor said he’d find anything with her, she quipped that they could find her “keys” next. Honestly, I’d watch that.

However, Domhnall Gleeson Had A Fun Pitch For A Potential Fountain Of Youth Sequel

I’d also watch the idea Domhnall Gleeson pitched when I asked him and Eiza González this question. Gleeson’s Owen Carver likely wouldn’t be in the sequel, considering that final scene in the fountain. However, the actor did have an idea for what Luke and Charlotte could hunt down next, explaining:

Tír na nÓg is an Irish myth that, as the About Time actor said, means Land of Youth. According to Irish Central, this place is a supernatural realm of “youth, beauty, health, abundance, and joy.” So, this sounds like a world where the idea of The Fountain of Youth is amped up, because it’s the “Land of Eternal Youth,” not just one singular item. So, it feels like a fun story to follow for a sequel because it would be connected to the first film while also focusing on a new myth, culture and treasure.

While Eiza González wasn’t so sure about it because of how much it rains in Ireland, Gleeson hammered home the idea, saying:

That got her on board, and it got me on board as well.

Like great adventure films like Indiana Jones, The Fountain of Youth could easily expand into a franchise that sees these characters hunting down lots of incredible treasure. These responses made me hopeful that it could happen. And who knows, if we do get a sequel, maybe they could go find Tír na nÓg or even Natalie Portman’s keys, no matter what way they go, I’ll be sat.

When The Fountain of Youth premieres on the 2025 movie schedule, I have a feeling a bunch of people are going to feel nostalgia for the adventure films they grew up on. So, with that in mind, I asked the film's stars, John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Domhnall Gleeson and Eiza González, about the most formative films from this genre. While Indiana Jones was their most common answer, the Baby Driver actress provided a solid reason for why we should add Disney movies to this list, too.

Indiana Jones Was The Common Response When I Asked About Formative Adventure Films

Growing up, adventure films like National Treasure defined my childhood, and Guy Ritchie’s The Fountain of Youth feels like it could do the same thing for a new generation. So, when I interviewed John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, who play siblings in this movie that will be streaming on Apple TV+ very soon, I asked them about the formative action/adventure films from their childhood.

The Office actor was quick to answer with some of the best action movies ever, saying:

Portman replied by saying she “couldn’t agree more” with her co-star. Like The Fountain of Youth, both Indiana Jones and The Goonies tell the stories of epic adventures and fearless heroes.

Indiana Jones turned out to be the most common film to come up among this cast, too, when asked this question. That’s because, not only did Krasinski mention it and Portman agree with him, but Domhnall Gleeson also told me:

Truly, when I think of classic adventure films, I picture Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones first, then the dinosaurs from Jurassic Park, those kiddos in The Goonies, and Nicolas Cage stealing The Declaration of Independence in National Treasure. However, those are all notably live-action films, and Eiza González told me why some animated classics need to be included here, too.

However, Eiza González Made A Great Point About Disney Movies

As I mentioned, when I asked this question to Eiza González, she took the road less traveled with her answer. While she mentioned live-action gems like The Mummy and Tomb Raider, she also noted that what makes an adventure movie an adventure movie is a story about friends who go on a journey and learn something about themselves and the world along the way. Therefore, we have to include some of the best Disney animated classics on this list, too, as she said:

Truly, Aladdin, The Lion King and so many other animated films are also wonderful adventure flicks, and as González said, they fit into this category of formative film.

For generations, these flicks have been watched by kids as they’ve grown up, and like Indiana Jones, they show us some truly epic and inspiring tales.

So, when you think back on all the magical adventure movies that defined your childhood, don’t just think live-action. Get those Disney movies in there too, and then let that reflection lead to a rewatch, I mean, all those animated flicks mentioned and the Indiana Jones movies are available with a Disney+ subscription.

Then, on May 23, make sure to use your Apple TV+ subscription to tune in for The Fountain of Youth, an epic brand-new adventure film that all the actors mentioned are a part of.

Every year as TV lovers, film fans and celeb-watching fiends wait to see who will win the top prizes at the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and all the other major award shows, we also await the winner of another big accolade: Sexiest Man Alive. A long line of stars have now held the title, and the current holder, 2025 movie schedule star John Krasinski, has now given some advice to those who will come after him.

What Advice Did Sexiest Man Alive John Krasinski Give To Future Title Holders?

While John Krasinski will always be known for his hilarious work on The Office and his massively successful efforts on the A Quiet Place sci-fi horror franchise, and in a number of action/adventure shows and movies like the upcoming Fountain of Youth, he nabbed yet another career milestone when he was named Sexiest Man Alive in 2024. When speaking with People about his new film recently, he offered some sage advice to those who will wear the crown in the future, and said:

Well, obviously, being called out on such a massive scale for how hot you are through and through, is a huge responsibility. You have to shake a lot of hands, kiss a lot of babies, and always, always bring your full sexiness to each and every moment that you’re in public. But, the certified action star knows how to stay cool under pressure, despite the “oh, shit” moment that helped him connect with his now wife and star of the upcoming The Smashing Machine, Emily Blunt (who at least one customs agent does not believe Krasinski is sexy enough to have married).

The Jack Ryan lead and I kid, of course, but many of the sexy men who’ve held this lofty honor before have spoken about what it takes to wear the crown. Former Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey was given the hotness gold medal in 2023 and weighed in on it before Krasinski was named as his successor. Dempsey noted that while it did allow him a larger platform to talk about issues that are important to him, being the Sexiest Man Alive also made him “more anxiety-ridden” because he felt he had “to stay in shape, to train more” so he could live up to his sexy moniker.

Meanwhile, other stars have been equally as game as the Something Borrowed actor to poke a bit of fun at themselves and the title. Brad Pitt and George Clooney have both been named Sexiest Man Alive twice, and Clooney had some geriatric thoughts about it just last year, with each man now in his sixties. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, for his part, apparently tells all other SMA that he’s “actually the only one who has it in perpetuity,” you know, just so no one else can feel too high and mighty about it.

Luckily for John Krasinski, a new winner won’t be named until the fall, so he’s got a few months yet to bask in the worldwide glory of his profound sexiness with his billions of fans.

The end of May is a bit of a different animal on streaming platforms. It seems like every week in recent memory, we’ve seen the beginning of some sort of high-profile dramatic series on one streaming platform or another. And while some of those shows are still ongoing, most notably Peacock’s Poker Face, there’s a bit less “new” in that regard this week.

That’s not to say there isn’t some absolutely great stuff you won’t want to miss. It’s just a fairly eclectic list, and while it’s unlikely you’ll be interested in everything debuting this week, there’s almost certain to be at least one thing to check out.

Tucci In Italy - May 19 (Disney+)

Travel shows aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but rarely have we seen one that’s hosted by somebody as engaging as the great Stanley Tucci, whose culinary expertise is also put to great use in Tucci in Italy. Available with a Disney+ subscription, the NatGeo documentary series, a follow-up to his previous Searching For Italy series, sees the actor explore the nation via its food. Get ready to be very hungry.

Untold: The Fall Of Favre - May 20 (Netflix)

Brett Favre was once one of the biggest stars in the world of professional football, but as the title suggests, The Fall of Brett Favre will be looking at a different side of the athlete, including alleged off-the-field misdeeds, including a reported mishandling of government money for his own benefit.

Nine Perfect Strangers, Season 2 - May 21 (Hulu)

The first season of Nine Perfect Strangers only got middle-of-the-road reviews, but it clearly did something right as it's back for a second season. A new star-studded cast and a new location form around Nicole Kidman as a guru with some unorthodox methods to help people heal.

Fountain of Youth - May 23 (Apple TV+)

Late May is prime summer movie season, and while that usually means having to go to a theater, one new film that seems just perfect for this time of year will only be available with an Apple TV+ subscription. Fountain of Youth stars John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as siblings searching for the fabled source of eternal youth. Guy Ritchie directed what feels like the closest thing to National Treasure 3 we’re likely to get.

Fear Street: Prom Queen - May 23 (Netflix)

It’s a good idea in general for horror fans to have a Netflix subscription, and that’s especially the case this week. In 2021, R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books were turned into three of the best horror movies on Netflix. Now, get ready for the fourth installment, Prom Queen.

Pee-wee As Himself - May 23 (Max)

A generation grew up with Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, but the actor and comedian’s untimely death robbed fans of years of fun. A new two-part documentary series, Pee-wee as Himself, available with a Max subscription, will take fans inside the head of Pee-Wee Herman, quite literally, as it will include significant interviews with Reubens made before he passed away.

The Last Showgirl - May 23 (Hulu)

Pamela Anderson was one of the hottest stars of the 1990s, but she came roaring back to the screens last year in The Last Showgirl. Anderson won numerous awards for her portrayal of an aging showgirl, showing just what a great actress she’s always been. You can now check out her performance with a Hulu subscription.

Next week sees May come to an end and June get started. If nothing else, this will mean a flood of library content hitting most streaming services, so check back here so we can help you make sense of it all.

Landing a job on one of Peak TV’s most popular comedies seems like it’d be an enviable gig no matter what the details were. And while that is likely the case more often than not, horror stories within the industry do indeed exist, with The Office alum Lindsey Broad non-enjoying a first-person experience with just how despicable fandoms can get where controversial characters are involved.

First appearing in what’s arguably The Office’s worst cycle, Season 8, Broad arrived in the seventh episode as temp worker Cathy Simms, who landed at Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch to help fill in as Pam transitioned into her maternity leave. Despite her seemingly normal behavior early on, it’s soon clear that Cathy doesn’t really mesh well with others, but harbors romantic feelings for Jim, eventually culminating in her brazen attempts to sleep with him in “After Hours.”

Viewed both at the time and in the intervening years as an awkward and ill-conceived attempt to inject drama into Jim and Pam’s picture-perfect relationship timeline, Cathy’s arc was cut short soon after, but that was only the beginning of Lindsey Broad’s years of dealing with obsessive and wildly immature Office fans who spew hateful messages online, even during her attempts to mourn her dead dog. Speaking with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey on their beloved podcast Office Ladies, Broad shared:

We all know the Internet is gonna Internet, regardless of whether there's justification for it or not. But to angrily target an F-bomb at someone mourning a dog's death due to a fictional character they did not create, but only portrayed across roughly 20-25 total minutes of screentime? That's abysmal behavior for anyone to have to deal with.

Broad previously addressed fans’ harsh treatment at a point when the online comments seemed to be more prevalent, when the show was still streaming on Netflix ahead of shifting to Peacock. And despite multiple years going by, it's still kind of shocking to hear that she's dealt with such unfiltered negativity online for such a relatively minor role in a largely forgettable season. Maybe if any of her appearances happened in the best Office episodes of all time, but that's not the case.

Thankfully, it appears as if Lindsey Broad's experiences with sour viewers has been limited to online reactions, and her daily life isn't plagued by such interactions. But part of that is because she purposefully doesn't advertise her past career heights. As she put it:

It appears as if Broad has been able to curb disturbing online reactions by limiting her social media activity, since that more easily allowed Office fans to track her down line. But the actress is more welcoming to having real-world dialogues with fans, since the very act of recognizing her in public is a sign that they're a true fan and not just a disgruntled Pam and Jen stan. In her words:

The Office's popularity reached the point just this year in 2025 where a formerly closed Chili's in Scranton, Pennsylvania reopened specifically to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the spinoff debuting on NBC. So I guess it shouldn't be surprising to hear that certain pockets of the fandom chose to go all scorched-earth anytime an obstacle (human or otherwise) got in the way of Jim and Pam's happiness. But it's been 13 years since Cathy came and went, so maybe those feelings can be put to rest.

The original A Quiet Place was such a monster box office hit that it was little shock that the movie not only got a sequel but quickly became a franchise. Now there are three movies in the series, however, none of them is actually A Quiet Place 3. That movie was supposed to be on the way, in fact, A Quiet Place 3 was supposed to come out this year, but little has been heard recently. Now producer Brad Fuller has finally explained what’s going on.

A Quiet Place: Day One and A Quiet Place 3 were both supposed to be in development around the same time, but while one movie has since been released, the other has been nowhere to be seen, which might make some wonder if Quiet Place prequel Day One ultimately is the third piece of the trilogy. Producer Brad Fuller recently confirmed to The Direct that the prequel is not part three and that Part III is now in its early stages, saying…

The entire Quiet Place franchise has had a rough road since its first entry. The second film was all set to come out just as theaters were closing down in 2020 for the global pandemic. Rather than release the film at home as so many studios did, the decision was made for A Quiet Place Part II to wait for theaters.

The delay in Part III has been much more “standard Hollywood procedure.” In this case, Fuller says the issue has been the availability of director John Krasinski. He helmed the first two entries and will direct the third as well, but due to his success as a director finding the time for him to direct the new film has apparently been more difficult. Fuller said…

The word “hopefully” certainly looks ominous. While it sounds like there’s an expectation that A Quiet Place 3 will be moving forward soon, it certainly doesn’t sound like that’s a guarantee.

However, the fact that Part III is still an active project will certainly be good news for fans, and beyond that, it sounds like there are no plans for Part III to be the end, whether that means Part IV could also be on the way and/or more spinoffs like Day One.

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are just one of those couples you can’t help but love. Based on the story of how they first met, it sounds like they feel the same about each other. Very rarely are celebrities allowed “meet cutes” due to all of the media attention, but the A Quiet Place stars’ romance sounds straight from some of the best rom-coms of all time. Well, except for the expletive that was dropped.

For both The Devil Wears Prada actress and The Office alum, their romance came out of nowhere. Yet about 10 months after meeting, they were engaged (with a little help from Blunt’s cooking skills). When asked by People how he knew Blunt was the one, Krasinski didn’t hesitate, saying:

I’m quite literally swooning. It turns out love at first sight is real, and it’s a total epiphany. I just imagine a spotlight and a chorus of cherubs suddenly appear. Just don't expect them to say, "Oh shit" too.

Luckily for the IF actor, his future wife felt the same way at that moment. A few years ago, the Oppenheimer actress recalled the same sweet story for People, but with one small additional detail:

Even though she was thriving in her single era, all it took was a single moment. That’s how you know true love is real. The Sicario actress later added she knew he was the one “disarmingly soon” into their relationship.

Clearly their feelings were very strong and genuine, and it had nothing to do with either person’s high profile status. Blunt even said she was only vaguely familiar with Krasinski when they met, not even having seen the U.S. version of The Office. However, she did admit to binge watching several seasons of the Emmy-winning workplace comedy after their initial connection. I’m sure her husband’s performance as the funny and sweet salesman Jim Halpert only helped his case. Although fans to this day are still upset to find out the Something Borrowed actor is not married to Pam’s actress, Jenna Fischer, in real life.

Thankfully, despite some wild rumors from a misinterpreted lip reading, this duo was meant to last. I love how they still keep the romance alive after all this time, whether it’s by sneaking into a movie theater or simply sharing a drink after a long day at work. The Hollywood power couple will celebrate their 15th marriage anniversary this year, and everyone deserves a partner who looks at them the way Krasinski looks at his wife after all these years. Based on their stories, it's still like the day they first met.

Honestly, I can’t blame him. The Fall Guy actress is so stunning, smart, and funny that even after finally securing the title as People’s Sexiest Man Alive, people still think Emily Blunt's out of his league. Regardless, I think they complement each other well and seem to be the perfect match. I just hope that one day they make an actual rom-com together, because unfortunately, I am not a fan of scary movies like A Quiet Place. Cheers to the happy couple, though!

Hollywood relationships can elicit a myriad of responses from the general public. John Krasinski was reminded of the sentiment while going through customs while traveling to see his wife, Emily Blunt. What the actor-director wasn’t fully prepared for was the complete ribbing from the customs agent when the employee discovered that the Mary Poppins star was married to Krasinski. Needless to say, this is quite the tale.

The IF director revealed the hilarious happening on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, after the eponymous host brought up Emily Blunt. The Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan star reacted to the crowd’s reaction, saying he was the one who married up. The Office alum then launched into the roasting airport officer, confirming his sentiment about the Oppenheimer actress’ name being mentioned. The two were working on different projects and John Krasinski was able to go visit his wife regularly, noting that most of the time it was fine until he came across one customs agent.

During his interview with Jimmy Fallon, which is on YouTube, the 45-year-old actor and director shared the fateful day when his long-commute luck changed, saying:

I don’t think that the long-held UK vs US Office conversation will ever end, especially with the new iterations popping up. It seems that John Krasinski knew from the moment they started talking he was in for a memorable moment. Following the discussion about the famed TV comedy, the topic shifted to Krasiski's reason for travel, that’s when the conversation took an interesting turn:

I think that we can all guess where this is going -- the mini and unexpected roast of John Krasinski. The exchange turned quickly as the official realized what the Aloha alum said and the query ended as quickly as it began:

Now, that's funny and surprising turn of events! Emily Blunt, of course, has had some major roles since the 2000s, but her husband is making a name for himself as a director more recently. The tables were turned for the A-List couple when Blunt leveraged Krasinski’s credits to help her land the "aspiring director" role in 2024's The Fall Guy. She also still seemingly gets a regular Office question in regard to being married to the man who played Jim Halpert. So it seems like the playing field has equaled out for the stars.

More immediately, it seems like the comedic married couple will be a part of the 2025 movie schedule. Krasinski will return later this year again as the thrilling Tom Clancy star in the upcoming Jack Ryan movie. Meanwhile, Blunt has drama, The Smashing Machine, an A24 movie wrestling biopic.

Seemingly, the days of John Krasinski being royally razzed by customs agents are over. And, even though he was blasted at that moment, he is the one who’s still fortunate enough to be with Emily Blunt.

There were probably two events anyone who follows John Krasinski couldn’t have foreseen. The first of which is despite Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan not being on the 2024 TV schedule, the series is about to pick back up with a feature film continuation. Our second event, and the one we’re about to discuss, is The Office vet’s new title as People’s Sexiest Man Alive. That’s not a knock on the man, but rather something that even late-night host Jimmy Fallon can be both sweet and snarky about in his own take on the situation.

Speaking with People itself, The Tonight Show talent has made it pretty clear that he totally buys Krasinski’s recent coronation by the popular publication. Working the more sentimental side of the coin, Jimmy Fallon offered the following:

That literally is the whole package when it comes to John Krasinski’s career and public image. I mean, I didn’t mention Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan without reason earlier, as the best-selling Boy Scout has been well suited by the Massachusetts native. Not to mention, I dare people not to feel heartbroken when that scene comes up in A Quiet Place. You know the one I’m talking about.

At the same time, we are dealing with Jimmy Fallon here. And as sure as you can bet on the SNL vet breaking into goofy laughter at the drop of a hat, he flipped the metaphorical coin and tossed out a joke connected to John Krasinski’s good fortune. Here’s how the sillier side of Fallon presented itself in the moment:

Jimmy Fallon isn’t too far off the mark with those remarks there, as he was actually nominated for “Sexiest TV Host” for this year’s honors! Come to think of it, I’m rather surprised that this was his first time being on the shortlist, as he pointed out in this Tonight Show clip from earlier this year:

While my Universal Orlando ride rankings may have Jimmy Fallon and his gang sitting toward the bottom, I can acknowledge that the man is popular. I can also see why him not scoring the prize he’s apparently seeking is a bit frustrating; even if winner Mark Consuelos rightfully won that “Sexiest TV Host” trophy fair and square. Perhaps with some training from John Krasinski, Mr. Fallon can get just that much closer to his dream.

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon airs weeknights on NBC, at 11:35 p.m. ET on the 2024 TV schedule. And don’t worry about that big Tonight Show cut down to a Monday - Thursday schedule, as Jimmy has re-upped his contract to the delight of his fans. And should you miss those new episodes (or if you want to watch Kraskinski in The Office), you can always stream them with a Peacock subscription!

The horror genre has been thriving for years now, with the renaissance bringing some of the best horror movies back to theaters with sequels. But we've also been treated to wholly original concepts, like the growing Quiet Place franchise (which is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription). The franchise was brought to life by John Krasinski, who directed and starred in the 2018 original movie. And he recently told the story behind the uphill battle he faced trying to get A Quiet Place off the ground, and how one person even said "I'm sorry, Is Jim from The Office going to direct?" Let's break it down.

While A Quiet Place recently expanded with a spinoff Day One (see CinemaBlend's review here), the original movie's success was not always a sure thing. John Krasinski was named Sexiest Man Alive, and spoke to People about how he fought to direct the horror flick. While he was originally approached to play the movie's father character, he ended up wanting to go deeper as a writer and director. As he told it:

There you have it. It seems like Emily Blunt and John Krasinski's daughters were a big reason why he connected with A Quiet Place's story. And indeed, the familial stakes gave the first two movies a ton of heart and an emotional place for audiences to land. Of course, he had to claw his way to the director's chair.

Later in that same interview, Krasinski revealed just how hard it was to convince the powers that be at Paramount that he was the right guy to direct A Quiet Place.... especially given his reputation as Jim from The Office.

In the end he was successful, and served as the director, writer, and start of the sound-focused horror flick. A Quiet Place's ending saw Krasinski's character Lee Abbott sacrifice himself to save his children, which freed him up to focus entirely on directing for the sequel. While he didn't direct or write Day One, he did help develop the prequel's story.

Fans are wondering if A Quiet Place 3 could happen, continuing the Abbott family's story in the process. While we wait for information, one thing is clear: Krasinski has proven himself as a director.

All three Quiet Place movies are streaming now on Paramount+ Check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

White smoke has been spotted billowing from the People Magazine offices. That’s right, a new Sexiest Man Alive has been chosen. Actor, director, and Mr. Emily Blunt has been selected through what I’m sure was a rigorous process of equations and people yelling at each other. Two things are certain when a new Sexiest Man Alive is picked. His friends will make fun of him, and people will have strong opinions.

Being named Sexiest Man Alive has become a surprisingly big deal over the years, so people were waiting to see who would get the title this year. A lot of people seem legitimately surprised by this year's pick, and that includes Krasinski himself.

How John Krasinski Reacted To Being Named Sexiest Man Alive

Being told that you are not simply sexy, but sexier than everybody else has to be a strange thing. Speaking with People John Krasinski is clearly a little surprised to receive the honor that has gone to the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, and most recently Patrick Dempsey. Krasinski wonders if maybe the whole thing is a joke, saying…

It’ not a joke. John Krasinski is officially, for the next 12 months, the Sexiest Man Alive. However, that doesn’t mean the internet isn’t making plenty of jokes over the situation.

How The Internet Has Responded To John Krasinski’s New Title

John Krasinski has certainly come a long way since his days as the loveable goof Jim as part of The Office cast, and yet, that’s where many of the response memes have come from. Because let’s face it, we know exactly how Jim’s co-workers would respond to this…

Of course, while John Krasinski is the Sexiest Man Alive, there are plenty of other very sexy celebrities in the world, and there will always be those who think somebody else should have been chosen. Pedro Pascal’s daddy status is well known on the internet, and so it’s not that surprising that some think the title should be his.

Another top candidate that got “robbed” is Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters star Glen Powell. There’s no question the guy is so good looking he looks like he was built in a lab. Considering the career Powell's had the last couple of years, being named Sexiest Man Alive seems inevitable.

John Krasinski is perhaps a bit of a surprising choice. In recent years people haven’t even had as much opportunity to gauge his sexiness as he’s been spending a lot of time behind the camera. Maybe that’s why many people seem to feel that somebody else should have been named.

But that’s not to say that there aren’t people who support the new Sexiest Man Alive. Some of the memes have come to Krasinski’s defense to point out that, yes, the guy is totally sexy, and anybody who doesn’t think so clearly isn’t paying attention.

If nothing else, the memes in defense of John Krasinski are getting as much, if not more, engagement online than the ones saying it should have been somebody else, so there are lots of people welcoming the new Sexiest Man Alive.

I’m not exactly sure what the duties and responsibilities of the Sexiest Man Alive are, but I’m sure John Krasinski will execute them with honor. Congratulations to him, and to everybody else, maybe next year.

It wasn’t all that long ago that we were talking about Jack Ryan being one of the best Amazon original shows, but at some point in the future, John Krasinski’s titular character will be getting the cinematic treatment. Though we don’t know when the Jack Ryan movie is happening (or how we’ll get to watch it), Amazon MGM Studios is developing a Jack Ryan movie, the first since 2014’s Shadow Recruit, ending a more than 10-year stretch of no movies based on the late Tom Clancy’s most iconic character.

If you want to get caught up to speed and know more about the movie that will see the return of two of the most beloved characters from the Jack Ryan show and further expand the story of the famous CIA analyst and the world around him, then come along. We’re about to break down everything we know about this highly-anticipated action thriller.

What Is The Jack Ryan Movie Release Date?

As much as we would love for a big surprise at the end of the 2024 movie schedule and see John Krasinski return as one of his best characters, it doesn’t look like it’s in the cards. The truth is, Amazon MGM Studios has yet to announce a release date or even a release window. However, it's possible that the upcoming action movie finds a spot somewhere in the final stretch of the 2025 movie schedule. Since it was only just announced to be happening, it's too soon to know.

Will The Jack Ryan Movie Be Released In Theaters Or On Prime?

One question that seems to come up with every Amazon release these days is whether it will have a theatrical release or go straight to Prime Video. At this time, Amazon MGM Studios has yet to announce if Jack Ryan will follow other upcoming projects like Jake Kasden’s Red One, which is going to theaters first, or if it’ll be like Without Remorse, another Tom Clancy adaptation, which skipped theaters entirely and debuted on Prime Video in April 2021.

Regardless, anyone with an Amazon subscription will likely be able to watch Jack Ryan at one point or another.

The Jack Ryan Cast

Just a few years after talking about what he’d miss most about playing the character, John Krasinski will soon be on another mission when he leads the Jack Ryan cast once again. And while it hasn’t been revealed if all the major players from the Amazon series will be coming back around, we do know that one, and maybe two, of the biggest characters from the series will be there alongside Krasinski when he suits up again.

John Krasinski as Jack Ryan

Amazon MGM Studios announced in October 2024 that John Krasinski would be returning to play Jack Ryan in the upcoming movie. The Office mainstay and A Quiet Place creator most recently appeared in IF, a movie he also wrote and directed. Per Deadline, he's also set to lead Guy Ritchie’s Fountain of Youth, though no release date has been announced.

Wendell Pierce as James Greer

At the same time Krasinski’s casting was announced, it was also revealed that Wendell Pierce, who had been a part of the original series from the beginning, would once again be playing James Greer in Jack Ryan. Pierce, who appeared in every episode of The Wire, is also set to play Perry White in James Gunn’s Superman.

Michael Kelly as Mike November

Though John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce are sure things when it comes to the Jack Ryan movie cast, Michael Kelly isn’t fully confirmed to be coming back as Mike November. However, Amazon MGM Studios has announced that the House of Cards and The Penguin actor is in talks to reprise his famous role.

What Is Jack Ryan About?

It is hard to say exactly what the Jack Ryan movie will be about, but it has been revealed that the movie will be an extension of the original series. That seems to mean the movie will pick up after the events of Jack Ryan Season 4, but there could also be a situation where the creative team could adapt one of the 36 Tom Clancy novels centering on Jack Ryan, meaning there are pretty much limitless possibilities at this point.

How Did The Jack Ryan TV Show End?

So, what kind of world will Jack Ryan enter when the movie is released? Well, Jack Ryan Season 4 ended with John Krasinski’s titular character thwarting yet another terrorist scheme (this time stopping trucks hiding explosive devices from taking countless lives on American soil) and then exposing those within the United States government who allowed such things to happen in the first place.

The acting deputy director of the CIA throughout the season, Ryan was last seen in the finale standing in front of the Capitol building with his closest allies as they looked toward the future after a job well done. But as has long been the case for Tom Clancy’s iconic character, that rest won’t last long and we’ll soon see Krasinski’s hero in the Jack Ryan movie.

Jack Ryan Season 2 Director Andrew Bernstein Is Returning To Helm The Movie

John Krasinski and other members of the Jack Ryan cast won’t be the only major players from the series coming over for the new movie. Amazon MGM Studios has announced that Andrew Bernstein, who previously helmed the show’s second season back in 2019, will be serving as the director for the film extension of the property. Since then, Bernstein has gone on to direct episodes of everything from The Right Stuff to The Outsider and Foundation to The Diplomat, one of the biggest shows on the 2024 Netflix schedule.

Aaron Rabin, who wrote the most recent season of Jack Ryan, will also be coming back to pen the script for the still-untitled film project.

This Isn’t The Tom Clancy Project In The Works

As excited as we are for the Jack Ryan movie, this isn’t the only Tom Clancy project in the works. In fact, several projects have been discussed at length in the past, and the news of John Krasinski’s character getting a movie could be a change in momentum for these spinoffs, movies, and other shows.

Back when the Jack Ryan Season 4 trailer was released, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Michael Pena’s Domingo “Ding” Chavez, who longtime fans of Clancy’s novels (and the games based on them) will remember as a key member of the Rainbow Six counterterrorism unit. There has been talk in the past of Pena leading a spinoff of his own, but it’s not known how those plans will be impacted by the new movie. Does this mean the spinoff is still happening or will he be in the upcoming movie? We’ll have to wait and see.

Around the time Jack Ryan was premiering on Amazon, there was talk of Michael B. Jordan leading a Rainbow Six movie as John Clark, the character he would go on to play in 2021’s Without Remorse. The project gained some momentum in 2023 when it was revealed that the increasingly busy Chad Stahelski was going to direct the adaptation.

We’ll have to wait and see what happens with the other Tom Clancy projects, but for now, we at least have the Jack Ryan movie to hold us over.

The 2024 TV schedule is the first since the series finale of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan was released, and until today, there’d been no sign of when or if the best-selling boy scout will return. However, I’m glad to say the wait is finally over, as John Krasinski and some of his cast members are going to be returning for a film continuation of the hit Prime Video series.

There is a catch though, as while this new development has been reported, it leaves me with some serious questions. Which means it's time to resurrect talks surrounding two of the Clancy-verse’s outstanding projects that are waiting for further updates.

A John Krasinski Jack Ryan Movie Is In Development

It looks like my question of how John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan will be remembered was a bit premature, thanks to Amazon MGM Studios issuing a press release for this new project. Slating Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan vets in some key positions, we now know that series executive producer and Season 2 director Andrew Bernstein is set to direct, with the script written by Jack Ryan Season 4 writer/co-executive producer Aaron Rabin.

Along with that news came some preliminary casting, as Krasinski is about to be joined by two familiar faces. Here’s what Amazon MGM Studios’ press release had to say who, and when, this story will focus on:

Initially adapted as a series of films that saw Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and Chris Pine playing the CIA analyst, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan took the action to streaming in a four season saga. Now it looks like that “hell of a team photo” in the series finale “Proof of Concept” has paid off, as well as that retroactively clever episode title.

With John Krasinki's return going against the previous sentiments that this was always a four-season story, there's already a lot of questions to ask. Like, say, how long until we see President Jack Ryan taking the podium? But in a more specific context, and since we now know we’ll be seeing Jack Ryan reuniting with James Greer and Mike November, I’m wondering about two projects I’ve had my eyes on since Jack Ryan wrapped.

Is The Michael Peña Spinoff Still In The Works?

Going into the final season of Amazon’s hit espionage drama, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Season 4 trailer reinforced a plan that had been announced when the series was confirmed to be ending. When John Krasinski’s tenure as Jack Ryan looked to be ending through the intended finale of Season 4, there was also news of a Michael Peña-fronted spinoff being in the works.

As his character Domingo “Ding” Chavez was a member of the international counterterrorism force known as Rainbow Six, the possibilities seemed endless. But there really hasn’t been any news about this project, or much talk about whether or not it’s still on the board.

Seeing as Michael Peña’s wishes for the Jack Ryan future already included reuniting with the confirmed trio mentioned above, it doesn't seem like a stretch to keep this bird up in the air. I really want to know if this project is still on the books, because a Ding Chavez side story could be to Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan what The Penguin is to The Batman Epic Crime Saga.

What’s Happening With Michael B. Jordan’s Rainbow Six Movie?

I’ll admit that since 2018’s Rainbow Six movie announcement, I’ve been waiting to actually see Michael B. Jordan’s John Clark assemble this team of warriors from across the globe. That hype only grew for me after Without Remorse’s ending teased us in 2021 with the first step to Clark putting the band together, potentially under a Jack Ryan presidency.

Though we’ve gotten more updates on this corner of the Clancy-verse, with Chad Stathelski being tapped to direct Rainbow Six in early 2023, this is another project that needs some updated intel. Both Stahelski and Jordan are busy creators, with the former still owing the world projects like his Henry Cavill-led Highlander reboot. Meanwhile, the Creed III director is set to stump for his vampire action thriller Sinners, as well as setting up to star and direct his remake of The Thomas Crown Affair.

While I’ve technically been waiting for both the Tom Hardy Splinter Cell movie and the Jake Gyllenhaal/Jessica Chastain led adaptation of The Division a bit longer, knowing Michael B. Jordan’s passion for Rainbow Six has me hoping we’ll hear some news sooner rather than later. However, that might be something held for the future, as this upcoming Jack Ryan movie would still have to figure out how to thread the universes of the TV incarnation and its would-be movie spinoffs in as smooth a way as possible.

For all we know, John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan movie is going to be the bridge that connects all these threads. Forming the Clancy-verse people have been asking for over decades, that dream may now become a reality thanks to this strong foundation of returning talent. Although, as with any project that's in as early a phase as this continuation saga is, anything can happen at any given moment.

Which means it's time for you fellow analysts to buckle up, as the evolution of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan doesn’t have a set timetable of progress just yet. So for now, your best option is to partake in all four seasons of John Krasinski’s world building franchise, which can be streamed in its entirety through a Prime Video subscription. While you're at it, don't forget to stream Michael B. Jordan's Without Remorse, which also calls that streaming platform home.

Even though it’s almost been 20 years since The Devil Wears Prada hit theaters, we don’t have to guess what the main cast is doing now. Particularly in regards to Emily Blunt, who has only risen in the ranks of Hollywood since playing Miranda Priestly's uppity assistant at Runway back in 2006. Recently, Blunt shared that she exposed her two daughters to what we regard as one of the best movies of the 2000s, and their reactions were sort of brutal.

Emily Blunt shares two daughters with husband John Krasinski, 10-year-old Hazel and 7-year-old Violet. When she recently decided it was time to expose them to one of her first movies, here was their reaction, per the actress:

We’d say it was harsh, but have you seen it lately? Emily Blunt’s character has some of the best quotes from The Devil Wears Prada, but they are definitely rather mean. Remember when she asked Hathaway’s character Andy if she has “some hideous skirt convention to go to”? Even though her kids had a funny reaction to the movie, it sounds like it was necessary viewing considering how often Blunt gets stopped about the movie, As she continued:

Blunt shared her recent experience with The Devil Wears Prada while talking to Page Six while attending the 18th Annual American Institute for Stuttering gala in New York City, where she was its host. The kids might be calling their mommy one of the best female villains in film history, but clearly Miranda Priestly earned the title with us all.

Hey, sometimes villains have more fun. As Blunt also shared during the interview, she and the cast had the “time of our lives” while on the set. Her sister even ended up marrying Stanley Tucci, so he is officially family. Blunt also said it was her “first big movie” that she made at a time when she didn’t understand what was a “good” box office opening weekend or anything. In terms of box office, The Devil Wears Prada definitely was a huge hit considering it made $326 million worldwide against a reported $41 million production budget.

A sequel for The Devil Wears Prada is actually in the works from the movie’s original screenwriter, Aline Brosh McKenna. The news was announced in July, and the writer is behind movies like 27 Dresses, Morning Glory and We Bought A Zoo. Right now, we have no idea whether the original cast will return, but perhaps after Blunt’s recent viewing with her kids, it’s on the mind somehow.

At this point, The Office is basically guaranteed to go down in history as not only one of the best sitcoms of all time, but also as one of the comedies that people love to rewatch and as a series that made a number of actors famous because of their roles on the nine-season hit.

Speaking of which, many of the actors we know and love from the ever-popular mockumentary about the (frequently wacky) employees at the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin paper company have starred (or popped up memorably) in a number of other movies and shows both before, during and after their time on the NBC classic. So let’s take a look at what else you can watch the cast of The Office in!

Foxcatcher

Even though Steve Carell was known as a comedic actor before he led The Office cast as the sometimes good at his job Michael Scott, it was definitely his role on the comedy that propelled him to new heights and led to opportunities for him to branch out. One such case of that was his creepy starring turn in the drama Foxcatcher, an acclaimed biographical sports thriller that saw him nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 2015.

Inside Out

It seems that 2015 was a good year for The Office cast, as this was when the Pixar mega-hit Inside Out was released, starring the voice of Phyllis Smith as Sadness. The animated film, of course, followed the personified emotions of a young girl going through a tough time, and was popular enough to get a sequel in 2024.

Away We Go

Of all The Office characters, it’s possible that John Krasinski’s Jim Halpert is the most beloved, and the actor rode that wave into 2009’s romantic road trip film Away We Go. The comedy-drama is about a couple in their early 30s trying to decide where to settle before the birth of their first child, and really should be sought out if you haven’t seen it yet.

Blades Of Glory

I know what you’re thinking, What about Pam? Well, Jenna Fischer’s Pam Beesly Halpert was, many think, the heart of the sitcom, and the actress became the heart of the ice-skating comedy Blades of Glory in 2007.

The Mindy Project

While Kelly Kapoor is one of the most memorably ridiculous staffers at Dunder Mifflin, the same can’t (totally) be said for Mindy Kaling’s OB/GYN, Mindy Lahiri, in The Mindy Project. The doctor may be analytical, friendly and good at her job, but she’s also blunt and shallow, making her fun to watch.

Bridesmaids

Because of the number of hilarious performances from the ensemble cast of the one-liner-filled comedy, Bridesmaids, you might have forgotten that Ellie Kemper (that’s receptionist Erin Hannon to you) starred in the somewhat raunchy 2011 hit as Becca, a newlywed member of the bridal party who loses some of her naivete because of the antics of the assembled group.

Parks And Recreation

Did you forget about Karen Filippelli? You know, Jim’s girlfriend who quickly realized that he was in love with Pam once they were all working together? Well, Rashida Jones was a much bigger part of Parks and Recreation, where her nurse, Anne Perkins, was a (mostly) reasonable member of the wacky ensemble.

Super

There probably aren’t a lot of us who watched the NBC workplace sitcom and envisioned any of the characters as superheroes, which is part of the point to Dwight Schrute actor Rainn Wilson taking on his reading role in Super. The dark comedy follows a short order cook who becomes a masked vigilante, and should be experienced at least once.

The Hangover

A hit comedy you’ve almost definitely seen at least once is 2009’s The Hangover, starring Ed Helms, a.k.a. Andy Bernard. Actually, no one would be surprised if you’ve seen this movie plus its two sequels multiple times.

This Is The End

Apocalyptic horror comedies don’t come around all that often, and when they do they’re rarely as insane as This Is The End. The 2013 film stars a number of notable famous folks playing versions of themselves who try to survive the Biblical event, including Darryl Philbin’s portrayer, Craig Robinson.

Leatherheads

John Krasinski also lent his talents to the George Clooney-directed, 1925-set football comedy, Leatherheads. It might not have been a big hit, but it definitely let fans see more of Krasinski’s big-screen potential early on.

Fresh Off The Boat

It hasn’t been uncommon for some of the cast to pop up on other popular shows, and that’s what we saw with Angela Kinsey (yup, she played Dwight’s eventual boo Angela) when it came to the ABC family comedy Fresh Off the Boat. Kinsey guest starred in a handful of episodes across Seasons 4 and 5 as Amy Chestnut, a nemesis for Jessica Huang.

The Lost City

It’s a bit of a wonder that Oscar managed to continue working at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, considering how professional and free of foolishness he was. But, his portrayer, Oscar Nuñez, did play an important oddball in 2022’s The Lost City, and to hilarious effect.

The Morning Show

Steve Carell continued to take on more dramatic roles after leaving The Office behind, and he kept his streak going by playing the disgraced former co-host for the first two seasons of the titular show that’s the focus of this Apple TV+ series.

The Giant Mechanical Man

While none of our beloved Office cast members have led what will come to be known as one of the best romantic comedies of all time just yet, Jenna Fischer did star in a lovely little rom-com called The Giant Mechanical Man, where she plays a struggling zoo worker who falls for a financially strapped street performer.

Family Switch

Sometimes you just need a good, fun family movie, and Ed Helms helped give us one with Family Switch. The movie, which you can watch with your Netflix subscription, gets its Freaky Friday on by having two parents (and the family dog) swap bodies with their two teens (and the baby of the family).

Galaxy Quest

Unfortunately, sci-fi and comedy simply don’t overlap that much, because when they do we end up with wondrous movies like Galaxy Quest. This now classic features Rainn Wilson as one of the decent, octopus-like Thermians, who juuuuust manage to pose as human.

Gone Baby Gone

Though she’d been a working actor for many years, most people really got to know about Amy Ryan because of her Oscar-nominated role in 2007’s Gone Baby Gone as the mother of a missing girl; a role that was quite different from her sweet Holly Flax.

The Bold Type

It’s a bad idea to get involved with your boss; that is, if your boss is like the domineering Jan Levinson, as played by Melora Hardin. However, if your boss is tough but fair and an all-around good human like The Bold Type’s Jacqueline Carlyle, then maybe things won’t go as badly for you as they did for Michael.

Silicon Valley

While Zach Woods brought even more weirdness to The Office as Gabe Woods for Seasons 6-9, he was more of a secure and stabilizing presence for the tech team on HBO’s comedy, Silicon Valley.

Ocean’s Eight

The Mindy Project hasn’t been the only way to watch Mindy Kaling outside of Scranton. In 2018 she branched out by starring as jeweler Amita in the crime comedy Ocean’s Eight, as one of the so-named group with a plan for a big jewelry heist.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Naive, nice and endlessly hopeful seems to be a specialty of Ellie Kemper. She added another such character to the one from Bridesmaids and The Office when she took on the role of former underground (literally) doomsday cult member Kimmy Schmidt as she attempted to make a life for herself in New York City after being rescued. You can watch her in all four seasons and one interactive movie on one of the best streaming services, Netflix.

The Blacklist

Anyone who enjoyed James Spader as the intimidating and mysterious Robert California, odd though he was, would probably have no problem seeing the actor as, well…mysterious, intimidating and charming criminal mastermind/FBI informant/probable sociopath, Raymond “Red” Reddington for 10 seasons of the NBC drama, The Blacklist, which wrapped its long run in 2023.

The Wire

The Wire is an amazing drama that is one of the TV shows that actually ended well, and it also made Idris Elba a household name because of his long-running role as smooth criminal Stringer Bell. Were it not for this series, we might not have gotten him as Michael’s strict (and eventually antagonistic) boss who had quite an effect on the ladies, Charles Miner. FYI, you can also see Amy Ryan in this show, beginning in Season 2.

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Few fans of our favorite mockumentary could have guessed that there would be a time when superhero fans around the world would call for John Krasinski (he of the flippy Jim haircut and consistent bemused looks to the camera) to portray Marvel icon Mister Fantastic, a.k.a. Reed Richards. Well, Disney finally gave them their wish in a wildly short-lived fashion when he appeared as a version of the Fantastic Four leader in 2022’s multiverse-hopping Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

Six Feet Under

Yet another 2000s HBO drama has delivered another way to see someone from The Office. One of the rare family shows that’s about death in a real way, Six Feet Under helped Rainn Wilson show the world a happier, though still incredibly peculiar, character in mortuary intern Arthur Martin during Season 3.

Hot Tub Time Machine

One of the stranger time travel movies in recent memory can easily be said to be Hot Tub Time Machine, where our time travelers do, indeed, trip through time via an energy drink-powered hot tub. In both this classic comedy and its sequel, you can watch Craig Robinson experience the many benefits and dangers of time travel.

The Daily Show

A number of correspondents have passed by the news desk on Comedy Central’s politically aware pop culture program, The Daily Show. From 2002-2006, Ed Helms lent his talents to segments like Digital Watch, We Love Showbiz and This Week in God. The added bonus for you? This series launched Steve Carell’s early career, as he was also a correspondent from 1999 through 2005, and has returned several times since then as a guest.

Inglourious Basterds

We’ve already come upon some surprising portrayals from our wild and wacky Office workers, and fans were treated to another one with the release of Quentin Tarantino’s Academy Award-nominated Inglourious Basterds in 2009. While B.J. Novak’s Smithson "Little Man" Utivich was simply a loyal soldier and accomplished smart-alek, the environment he thrived in was much more stressful than anything Ryan could have survived.

Upload

Remember that dutiful movie and TV viewers can easily spot one of the Scranton denizens as they pop up in any number of other well-known projects. However, when Creed Bratton (yes, that Creed) appeared in a Season 1 episode of Amazon Prime’s Upload, he probably delivered the briefest, most hilariously gruesome guest star spot of them all.

Doctor Who

If there’s any one show in the history of TV shows that continues to provide us with a near-endless stream of cameos and guest starring roles from up-and-comers, it would be Doctor Who and its 60-year, 40-season history. And, we can actually watch a whole season (the fourth modern one) plus six specials of Catherine Tate (Nellie Bertram, Seasons 7-9) as The Doctor’s companion, Donna Noble.

The White Lotus

Last but not least, we take you to The White Lotus. This Emmy-winning HBO (Should we all just stick with HBO if we want to see our Office mates?) satire has already given us innumerable memorable characters and performances, and Season 1 saw Jake Lacy (who played Pete “New Jim” Miller in Season 9) take on the role of the easily unlikable, arrogant rich guy Shane Patton.

As you can see, The Office cast has thrived outside of the comedy that made so many of them famous!

After the massive success of the first two A Quiet Place movies, John Krasinski made the decision to take a break from directing the franchise and produce a spinoff based on the sci-fi/horror world. The latest installment in the series is Michael Sarnoski’s A Quiet Place: Day One, which comes from a story that the writer/director developed alongside Krasinski. The story is unique in that it's set in New York City and solely focuses on the beginning of the alien invasion that brought blind and deadly monsters to earth. For the most part, the spinoff operates separately from its predecessors, but it does nod to the previous films And Sarnoski explained to CinemaBlend just how all of those links came together.

When our own Corey Chichizola sat down with Michael Sarnoski to talk about the one of the latest 2024 movie releases, the filmmaker spoke about including references to the movie that started it all. As Sarnoski explained, there variables that needed to be considered when placing "little homages" in his movie:

There are several cool easter eggs throughout the flick. For example, during the movie, Lupita Nyong’o’s character, Samira, hides in a fountain to avoid the creatures. This very much harkens back to a key sequence in the first movie where John Krasinski’s Lee Abbott and his son, Marcus, go to a waterfall in order to talk to each other and get away from the constant state of complete silence they must live in in order to survive. 

As Michael Sarnoski shared, he found that it was important to strike a “balance” between paying homage to the first movie and not repeating all the rules of the world that have previously been established in the first two movies. The original started with day 89 of the invasion before jumping to day 472, which is where the core story takes off. The first two installments take place in the countryside, so Day One really amps up the thrills be moving the action to New York City, which is one of the noisiest places in the world. (That info comes from NY Mag’s reporting of record noise complaints from its citizens.) As nerve-wracking as that seems, it definitely adds to the stakes and energy of this latest entry in the franchise.

This time around, Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o leads the cast as a terminally ill woman, who finds herself in an intense survival situation when aliens begin to invade the city. Also among the cast are Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou and Eliane Umuhire. Day One has left critics split over how it adds to the franchise overall. And the A Quiet Place: Day One review from our own Eric Eisenberg expressed less-than-positive sentiments. Though based on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences mostly seem to dig it. 

It's not easy to build upon an established franchise organically and put your own stamp on it. However, it seems Michael Sarnoski was able to do that and use a cerebral approach when doing so. And it makes sense because, after all, you can't move forward without acknowledging the past. 

You can check out A Quiet Place: Day One for yourself in theaters now! And stream the first two films using a Paramount+ subscription.

Acting and directing are two very different skills, and for someone to be able to do both is a mark of a hard-working and talented person. It doesn't always work out for actors, but it's remarkable how often it does. Here are 32 such examples of great actors who became great directors as well. 

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood's career has lasted an unbelievable eight decades. He started humbling with small roles in the '50s and as the decades have gone on, he's only gotten bigger and bigger. After directing his first movie, 1971's Play Misty for Me, he's gone on to helm a remarkable 39 more and has won 2 Best Director Oscars, for 1993's Unforgiven and 2005's Million Dollar Baby.

Ron Howard

Ron Howard has been in the lives and living rooms of Americans since he was just a kid as an actor on The Andy Griffith Show. He went on to star in Happy Days in the 1970s before directing his first low-budget film, Grand Theft Auto, in 1977. He's since gone on to direct such classics as Splash, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and many others. 

Bradley Cooper

If the start of Bradley Cooper's directing career is any indication, you can expect huge things. So far, the actor-turned-director has only helmed two movies, A Star Is Born and Maestro and both have been nominated for Best Picture Oscars. Not a shabby record. 

Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall got her first big break on the sitcom The Odd Couple but became a household name as Lavern in Lavern & Shirley. She didn't stay in TV though, instead, she started directing and made two of the most beloved Gen X movies of all time, Big and A League of Their Own. 

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck might not have been the first actor you picked to become a director, but his stellar career as an actor is matched by his work as a director. In fact, though he's never won an acting Oscar (something that should be remedied), he did win Best Director for Argo. 

Robert Redford

By the time Robert Redford directed his first movie, Ordinary People, in 1980, he was already one of the most legendary film stars ever. The second half of his career is as known for his directing as it is for his acting, with movies like Quiz Show and A River Runs Through It.

Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau's acting career started humbling with supporting roles in movies like Rudy and PCU. After he wrote and starred in Swingers, his star shined a little brighter. That was only the beginning though. Favreau has the honor of directing the movie that launched the most successful film franchise of all time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Iron Man and its sequel. He's since moved on to Disney live-action remakes with The Lion King and The Jungle Book. Oh, and he also directed one of the most beloved holiday movies ever with. Elf.

Mel Gibson

The controversial career of Mel Gibson began with a small movie that made huge waves in his native Australia. Mad Max made him famous and by the late late-'80s, he was one of the biggest stars in the world. He then moved into directing and reached his pinnacle early with Braveheart for which he won Best Director. 

Richard Attenborough

As an actor, Richard Attenborough starred in massive hits across generations with movies like The Great Escape and Jurassic Park. As a director, he helmed some of the best biopics of all time, like Gandhi, A Cry Freedom, and Chaplin as well a the legendary war flick, A Bridge Too Far. 

Regina King

Regina King's directorial career is only getting started, but judging by her first movie, One Night In Miami, the future is bright. So far, the Academy Award-winning actress has mostly directed TV shows, but you can be sure more films will be coming her way.

Denzel Washington

What can we say about Denzel Washington that hasn't already been said? He's a living legend at this point, as a multiple Oscar winner and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He's also one heck of a director with movies like Fences and The Great Debaters.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski became part of our collective family as Jim on The Office. Who would have thought from that role, his career in Hollywood would reach the point that he is a major power player? Now that he's moved into directing, the sky is truly the limit. The first movie Krasinski directed, The Hollars, made for a humble beginning, but his second, A Quiet Place established him as a force to reckon with and it's since become a franchise.

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks might not have been an actor you'd have guessed would go into directing, like others on this list, but she has in a big way. She has shown she can direct blockbusters like Pitch Perfect 2 and indie darlings like that one about the bear who indulges in some, uh, white powder he finds, and goes on a rampage.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig is quickly becoming a voice of a generation. Her direction and writing of Barbie has been praised far and wide for its snappy dialog and heartfelt message. Gerwig's acting career started in the mid-'00s when she was mostly in smaller, supporting roles. Since moving into directing, she's become a huge star.

Jordan Peele

Key & Peele was a huge hit for Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, and made them both stars. No one expected Peele to turn to directing horror movies, but that's exactly what he did and we should all be grateful for it. With massive hits like Get Out, Nope, and Us, the future is bright for Peele and for all of us too, who will get to watch his work.

Rob Reiner

Though he had a leg up coming from a Hollywood family, Rob Reiner has staked out a claim all his own in the entertainment business. First as an actor on the hit show All in the Family, then as the director of some of the most loved movies of all time. Starting with his first movie, This is Spinal Tap, and running through the '80s and early '90s, he had an unbelievable run that included The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Misery. Wow!

George Clooney

Not only is George Clooney one of the most bankable movie stars ever, he's also a fantastic director. His acting career is legendary and his directing career, while not quite at the level of his acting, is still fantastic. He's directed TV (Catch-22) and movies (The Boys In The Boat, The Midnight Sky, Good Night, and Good Luck, among others) and you can be sure there will be more from him.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's directing career hasn't always gotten the best reviews, but I'd say her movies are very underrated. The talented actress has an eye for behind the camera as well, and movies like Unbroken and First They Killed My Father are powerful movies.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton's acting career came on as a slow burn to fame, but his directing career started with a band. His first film was a masterpiece called Sling Blade. he followed that up with the underrated All The Pretty Horse and a few others, though his pace has slowed over the last couple of decades. Let's hope he finds that directing bug again. 

Ben Stiller

There was a time in the '90s and '00s when it seemed like Ben Stiller was in every movie released. Not only was he working hard in front of the camera, he was killing it behind the camera as well. Starting really with Reality Bites, and moving on to great movies like the controversial but hilarious Tropic Thunder, and the Zoolander movies. 

Jodie Foster

The great Jodie Foster has been an acclaimed actor and star since her teenage years and of course, that talent has translated to directing. Though lately she's done mostly TV work like directing episodes of Black Mirror and Orange is the New Black, she's done a few movies too, like Little Man Tate and Money Monster.

Kevin Costner

In addition to being one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Kevin Costner has never shied away from making epic films. Though he's only directed four movies in his career, they have all been big films. Starting with Dances With Wolves in 1990, he's since directed The Postman, Open Range, and 2024's Horizon: An American Saga.

Tim Robbins

The directing bug caught Tim Robbins in the early '90s and he directed a couple of great movies with Bob Roberts and Dead Man Walking. He's directed a smattering of movies and TV shows more recently, but he's mostly stuck to acting over the last few years. 

Sean Penn

Since the early 1980s, Sean Penn has been wowing moviegoers with his impressive acting chops and diversity. In the '90s he dipped his toe into directing with his first film, The Indian Runner and has directed a good handful of movies since, with his best being Into The Wild in 2007. 

Zach Braff

Acting-wise Zach Braff's big break came as a regular cast member of the hit sitcom Scrubs. As a directed, he burst onto the scene with his very first movie, Garden State in 2004. He's continued directing here and there over the last 20 years, including the great movie about getting older, Going In Style, and a few others, in addition to some TV work. 

Warren Beatty

In the 1970s, there was no bigger movie star than Warren Beatty. By the end of the decade, he had moved into directing as well, starting with 1978's Heaven Can Wait and continuing the '80s and '90s with acclaimed movies like Red and maybe his most remembered, Dick Tracy in 1990.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is a force of nature. For decades she's been one of the best and most popular actresses in Hollywood, and though she's only dipped her toes into directing, mostly in TV, she's on this list for one important reason. Keaton directed the music video for "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" by Belinda Carlisle and that is a stone-cold Gen X classic. 

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh might be as well known for his directing as he is for his acting, and that's really saying something. Not only has he directed some of the best Shakespeare adaptions for the silver screen, but more recently he's been killing it with his Agatha Christie adaptations. 

Leonard Nimoy

Appropriately, Leonard Nimoy's first foray into feature film direction came in the Star Trek franchise when he directed both Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Outside of the iconic franchise he helped make famous he also directed the beloved Three Men and a Baby. 

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone has always been a self-starter. His work to get the original Rocky made is legendary and after it made him a huge star, he wasted no time getting into directing, starting with Rocky II and adding Rocky III, Rocky IV, and 2006's Rocky Balboa as well. Of course, he's also directed in two other franchises he was at the center of with 2008's Rambo and the first Expendable movie. 

Helen Hunt

This one might surprise you, but Helen Hunt has had an impressive career as a director. Most of her work has been on television on shows varying from her own Mad About You and This Is Us. She also has two feature films under her belt with 2007's Then She Found Me and 2014's Ride. 

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton is seemingly everywhere these days, popping up in all kinds of movies and TV shows from Star Wars stuff to Dark Matter. He's also started directing, but his output is limited, with 2015's underrated The Gift and 2018 Boy Erased. Let's hope he finds more time to direct in his busy schedule. 

One of the latest family films to hit theaters is IF, which is directed by John Krasinski, and features the ever-charming Ryan Reynolds, and it has sparked a serious debate. Believe it or not, said disagreement seems to be between critics and general audiences. While IF hit solid numbers at the box office during its first weekend, critics aren't too impressed by Krasinski's latest. On the other hand though, audiences are flooding social media with emotional praise, showcasing a stark divide in reception.

On Rotten Tomatoes, as of this writing, IF has notched a modest 55% critic score, with the film being described as "predictable" and "overly sentimental." In stark contrast, the audience score soars at an impressive 88%, underlining a significant disparity between the two groups. So what exactly are both sides saying? Let's talk it out.

What Do Critics Have To Say About IF?

NPR's Bob Mondello didn't hold back in his critique of the film. He wrote:

Michael Phillips of The Chicago Tribune shared a similar sentiment. The critic stated in his write-up: 

Long-time film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times, Richard Roeper, also didn’t have much positive to say about the flick. He noted: 

So, as a whole, it simply seems that a number of film pundits think the movie simply lacks a number of the elements that were necessary to pull off this kind of story. It tells the story of a young girl, who discovers she can see imaginary friends (or IFs) and alongside her neighbor, she seeks to help the misplaced beings. It's fascinating to see critics' reactions, especially if you're aware of how general viewers perceive the flick.

How Do General Audiences Feel About The Film?

In stark contrast, audience members are passionately defending the film. Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), are brimming with heartfelt testimonials from viewers who found IF profoundly moving and relatable. For instance, as if explicitly responding to Bob Mondello, user @RaphaelKormos posted:

@fundraiserheidi shared an adorable gif from one of the movie’s main characters, Blue, along with a caption. Said text highlighted how the feature film “hit every emotion” for them:

In her post, @Bedatri said there should be a “rule” about making people her age as emotional as the movie did. They wrote:

These tweets capture the broader sentiment among viewers deeply connecting with the film’s emotional narrative. CinemaBlend writer Mick Joest echoed this feeling, sharing that he was emotionally devastated when he watched the film with his child. And, in her IF review for CB, our own Riley Utley praised John Krasinski's creativity in this heartwarming tale, giving the movie 4 out of 5 stars.

Clearly, there's a significant divide between critics and average viewers regarding IF. But, of course, what's most important is what you think about it when you get to screen it for yourself. If you haven't seen it, catch John Krasinski's first children's movie and join the conversation, as it's now playing in theaters. You can also check out our 2024 movie schedule to see what else is heading to cinemas near you.

Major spoilers for IF are ahead. If you haven’t seen the movie, you can check it out in theaters now. 

When I attended my screening of John Krasinski’s IF, I was taking lots of notes in preparation for the junket and to write our review for this film about imaginary friends. In those notes, I made sure to scribble down little details I picked up on that pointed to similarities between Cailey Fleming’s Bea and Ryan Reynolds’ Cal because I knew there had to be a greater meaning behind them.

Well, there was. In the end, Cal ended up being Bea’s IF. Moments like them turning the page the same way during the interviews (which was a great scene that also included Cosmo hilariously attacking Cal) helped hint at his true identity throughout the movie. So, when I interviewed Cailey Fleming, I asked her about these parallels between her character and Ryan Reynolds’ man upstairs, and she got very excited as she said:

Fleming then went on to break down some of the Easter eggs throughout the film that point to Cal’s true identity. She started by telling me about references to Reynolds’ character in Bea’s personal life. Noting a bookmark and a book that both reference the friendly clown, the actress told me:

Like a lot of details in IF – like Louis Gossett Jr.’s personal connection to his character – these moments are intentional and meaningful. Cailey Fleming explained that Krasinski added them on purpose, and there were even accidental natural parallels between her and the Deadpool actor that ended up staying in the movie to help hint at the idea that he was her IF:

She also told me that Bea and Cal’s wardrobe “kind of reflects each other.” Which I clocked as well. They wear similar colors and patterns, and it becomes obvious that these two have some sort of deep connection, which is revealed at the end of the film. 

While the IF cast is stacked, and it’s fun to watch all the animated characters, at the heart of this film is the friendship between Cailey Fleming and Ryan Reynolds’ characters. Ultimately, these little details that allude to their past and point out that he’s her IF help illuminate that and make the ending of the movie even sweeter.  

If you are looking to go back to see all these fun details for yourself, it’s your lucky day, because IF recently premiered on the 2024 movie schedule, which means it’s still playing in theaters. 

Warning! The following contains mild SPOILERS of the plot of IF. Read at your own risk!

John Krasinki's IF is now in theaters, and as CinemaBlend's Riley Utley put it in CinemaBlend's IF review, the director's creativity shines in this tale about imaginary friends. Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to read Riley's review before I took my daughter and wife to see the movie, which, in hindsight, might've been a mistake. Never in my life have I been so embarrassed for crying in a movie theater, and I'm here to warn others that this movie emotionally devastated me and several other adults in the theater.

I promise I'm not trying to protect my ego here; lots of adults were weeping by the end of this movie, and I would assume that, like me, they had no idea what they were in for. Because of that, I'm writing this to anyone who wasn't a part of IF's first strong weekend at the box office so that they can be better prepared than I was for this awesome, yet very sad movie.

IF Was Not The Light-Hearted Affair I Expected It To Be

Anyone who was blindsided by IF in theaters or shocked by the fact that it isn't what they thought it was shouldn't feel that way. Those who watch the trailer and commercials for this movie would think it's a live-action revival of the old Cartoon Network cartoon Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends. Take a look at the trailer below and tell me I'm wrong:

It looks pretty silly and fun, right? Now, what if I told you that in the opening minutes of the movie, you witness a montage in which a loving couple has a child, and that child watches her mother die from cancer over time? And then, years later, that girl goes to stay with her grandmother while her father is hospitalized to have heart surgery?

I guess putting that in the trailer isn't the best way to sell a movie, compared to leaning on the dynamic of John Krasinksi and Steve Carrell collaborating again after The Office. Still, it was quite a shock that the main plotline of this story is so sad and leans heavily on the trauma of losing someone and being left alone. It's nothing so heavy that a child can't manage it, but it's certainly not as silly as the trailers suggest.

IF Does Equal Out The Sadness With Humor And Warmth

I don't point out how sad IF is to dissuade anyone from seeing it in theaters. In fact, I say it'll stand the test of time and be remembered as a classic children's movie to this younger generation of kids and maybe one of the highlights when looking back on Louis Gossett Jr.'s past performances. Yes, this movie will make you cry both happy and sad tears, but there's so much joy packed into it as well.

A lot of that joy, as one might suspect, comes from the duo performances of Ryan Reynolds and Cailey Fleming. Reynolds does his classic comedy performance, mixing in maybe a bit more physical comedy than he has in the past. As for Fleming, her character Bea reminded me a lot of Vada in the movie My Girl. She gives a performance that highlights the ups and downs we go through as children, as well as the general helplessness when dealing with heavy situations at a young age. She's also a pretty good dancer it seems, based on one specific scene of the movie.

Those who go and see IF won't be let down with the laughs, and there are a good deal more than what is shown in the movie. I would also go a bit further to say that unlike most children's movies, the best parts of IF are not in the trailers, and that includes the sad and fun stuff. So while I would like to inform readers that this is a movie where you might cry, I also am in no way trying to convince anyone they should skip it.

Even Though I Cried My Eyes Out, I Highly Recommend It

After seeing IF, my wife asked if it was made by Pixar for two reasons. One, the movie was packed with CGI characters, and two because IF made her also cry her eyes out. Given how good Pixar films are at making audiences cry, it was an honest mistake to make, but for anyone reading who doesn't know, this comes from Paramount Pictures.

This is John Krasinski's first time directing a children's movie, but I'm hoping it is not his last. He definitely has a knack for understanding the scary things that kids go through, and the equally terrifying part of being a parent or grandparent and not wanting your child to suffer in life. It definitely feels like there's two different stories being told throughout this movie between what a kid may experience while watching and what an adult will. And yet, somehow I think both parties are on the same page at the end and it's a beautiful thing. My six-year-old daughter loved the movie, and I would love to get her take on it down the line when she is much older.

If it's any consolation to parents that are reading, my daughter did not cry nearly as much as other adults in the theater, but she did say she thought IF was sad. I was, unfortunately, seated next to a stranger away from her and my wife through the movie, so I can't attest to how many tears were shed, but like most kids, she was onto thinking about the next thing she was going to do after the movie. As far as I can tell, the movie did not traumatize her, but parents who know their children will be able to decide for themselves whether or not they're is ready for a movie with such big themes.

IF Is in theaters right now, and I highly recommend those who haven't seen it yet go and do so. Of course, there's plenty of great movies out right now as the summer season is fast approaching, so be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for more updates on what's on the way.

There were some high hopes set for John Krasinski's IF this weekend, with box office prognosticators thinking the film could draw younger audiences to theaters for some early summer big screen fun... but the imagination-fueled new feature didn't quite live up to expectations. It's the new number one movie domestically, pushing Wes Ball's Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes to second place following the franchise title's strong debut last weekend, but ticket sales didn't end up hitting the bar that experts predicted it would clear.

Check out the full Top 10 in the chart below and join me after for analysis.

IF Falls Short Of Hitting Box Office Goals In Its Opening Weekend

In the middle of last week, trades like Variety published estimations that IF would earn something in the realm of $40 million in its first three days in theaters (potentially as much as $45 million)... but it didn't take long for those numbers to reveal themselves as overly optimistic. By Saturday morning, following a slower-than-expected Friday, predictions dropped down to $30.5 million, and while the film has bounced back from that pessimism to make an estimated $35 million (per The Numbers), the title is not instantly shaping up as a box office success story.

As you may have predicted, the bugaboo is a big budget. Following the success of the Quiet Place movies (low/mid-cost features that made blockbuster money), Paramount Pictures placed a substantial bet on John Krasinski by giving him a $110 million budget to execute his vision for IF, and its not immediately on pace to be considered one of 2024's box office wins. Factoring in marketing and publicity costs, the new release has a long road to travel before its going to be considered profitable, and the studio didn't exactly pick an opening weekend that is well-suited for releases that are hoping to grow long legs.

So what went wrong? One could say that pre-release buzz didn't do any favors here. John Krasinski earned near universal acclaim for both A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II, but the filmmaker's latest has gotten a considerably more divisive response. CinemaBlend's Riley Utley gave IF a positive review, but she also concedes that the in-world rules that drive the plot don't quite work. 

It can be noted that results from CinemaScore have revealed audiences as being much more forgiving. Surveys have returned an "A" grade for the family friendly film with an all-star cast including Ryan Reynolds, Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Emily Blunt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Hader, Fiona Shaw, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. and Steve Carell.

Presently, things don't look great for IF, but there is a path for success based on precedent from last year. A lot of people wrote off Peter Sohn's Elemental as a new box office disappointment from Pixar after the animated release debuted in second place and only made $29.6 million... but it stuck around. By the end of its 15 week domestic run, the film made $154.4 million, and that paired quite nicely with $330.4 million made overseas.

The big problem for IF is the competition that is set to arrive in theaters this Friday. George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is going to steal away the attention of adults who might be drawn to see it, and Mark Dindal's The Garfield Movie is set to be the big screen attraction for kids during Memorial Day weekend. If the film drops to fourth or fifth place next Sunday, it might be in real trouble.

Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Has A Solid Second Weekend, Crosses $100 Million Domestically

With three new wide releases hitting theaters this past Friday (more on the other two in a bit), there was question about how Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes would weather the storm... and it turns out that the answer is "pretty well." Landing in second place behind IF, the film added another $26 million to its domestic ticket sales, which calculates as a 55 percent drop from last weekend. That number also pushes the blockbuster into nine figure territory, as it's now made $101.2 million in the United States and Canada.

The business that it has been doing is right in line with the performance of Matt Reeves' War For The Planet Of The Apes from back in 2017, which is encouraging for the future of the Planet Of The Apes franchise. By the end of its big screen run globally, the finale of the Caesar Trilogy made $489.6 million worldwide. To date, Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes has made $237.5 million

The movie is quickly climbing up the ranks of 2024's biggest blockbusters. It has now earned more domestically than Reinaldo Marcus Green' Bob Marley: One Love ($96.9 million), which means it is now the fifth biggest movie of the year in the region (it only needs to make $11 million more to surpass Gil Kenan's Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire for fourth place). On the worldwide chart, it has already outgrossed the most recent Ghostbusters movie and is sitting in eighth place.

We haven't gotten official word yet if Wes Ball will have the opportunity to execute his new Planet Of The Apes trilogy, but there are reasons to be hopeful at this juncture that the franchise will continue.

The Strangers: Part 1 And Back To Black Don't Put On Much Of A Show In Their Respective Debuts

Part of the reason why Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes was able to do as much business as it did since Friday is because there wasn't a whole lot of demonstrated interest in the weekend's two new wide releases not titled IF: Renny Harlin's The Strangers: Chapter 1 and Sam Taylor-Johnson's Back To Black.

The former is called "Chapter 1" because it is part of a full Strangers trilogy that has already been shot, but we'll now wait and see if distribution plans are adjusted for the sequels, because the launch title didn't exactly manage to impress. The Strangers: Chapter 1 was the recipient of a critical drubbing this past Thursday, and a "C" grade from CinemaScore surveys suggest that average movie-goers didn't love it any more than the professionals. It managed to make $12 million in its opening weekend, but don't be surprised when its ticket sales plummet during the Memorial Day weekend.

As bad as things were for 2024's latest horror release in the last three days, things went even worse for the new Amy Winehouse biopic. Back To Black got an early release internationally, which allowed bad buzz to circulate for more than a month, and the end result is the movie flopping domestically. Playing in 2,010 locations this past weekend, the movie made only $2.9 million and debuted in sixth place.

Next weekend should feature a number of interesting box office developments given the holiday and arrival of aforementioned new titles, so be sure to head back here to CinemaBlend next Sunday to see what kind of shakeup the Top 10 experiences. And for a look ahead at all of the films set to arrive in theaters in the coming weeks and months, check out our 2024 Movie Release Calendar.

It would be an understatement to say that IF boasts an impressive cast. The film features big names like Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Emily Blunt, the late legend Louis Gossett Jr, and, most notably, director John Krasinski's former The Office co-star, Steve Carrell. Krasinski’s newly released family film centers on a young girl helping a group of imaginary friends find homes. Recently, the Monsters vs. Aliens voice actor opened up about a touching experience he had with the former Michael Scott actor while working on the movie.

Steve Carrell is best known for his impeccable comedic timing, but he can also tug at the heartstrings with ease. During an interview with People, John Krasinski shared how the Dan in Real Life performer made him cry during their reunion for IF. The former Jack Ryan star told the outlet:

The duo, who first worked together on the Emmy-winning comedy series from 2005 to 2011, haven’t collaborated much since the Daily Show alum left the show. The comedian and legendary improv performer played the bumbling yet endearing paper company manager Michael Scott, while the Leatherheads actor charmed audiences as the sweet sales rep Jim Halpert. The show continued until 2013, with Krasinski remaining until its conclusion.

Although they had kept in touch over the years, Steve Carrell and the Licensed to Wed star hadn't seen each other for quite some time until the veteran comedian arrived to do voiceover work for Blue, the main imaginary friend in IF. Krasinski, who found success as a writer and director in the realm of horror movies with the A Quiet Place franchise, specifically wrote the part for the 40-Year-Old Virgin star. He was unsure if his former co-star would be able to participate due to scheduling conflicts. However, Carrell signed on, much to the filmmaker's delight. He continued: 

Steve Carrell's words of encouragement obviously moved his former sitcom co-star deeply and evoked their emotional last interaction on The Office. 

IF tells the story of 12-year-old Bea (Cailey Fleming), whose widowed father (Krasinski) is hospitalized, leading her to move in with her grandmother (Fiona Shaw) in a Brooklyn brownstone. There, she meets a neighbor, Cal (Ryan Reynolds), who, like Bea, can see imaginary friends. 

The family flick is getting mixed responses from critics, currently sitting at a right-down-the-middle 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, in Cinemablend’s review of IF, Riley Utley says the director's creativity shines in the heartwarming movie. You can judge for yourself and see if, like John Krasinski, you’re moved to tears by Steve Carrell’s performance. The family film is now playing in theaters, so check your local listings. And remember to check out our 2024 movie schedule to see what other films are coming to a theater near you.

The cast of John Krasinski’s IF is legendary. In the film about a young girl helping a bunch of imaginary friends find homes, A-listers like Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Emily Blunt and so many more voice the sweet animated creatures. However, at the heart of these IFs is a bear named Lewis, who is voiced by the late legend Louis Gossett Jr, and John Krasinski revealed the personal connection the Oscar winner brought to his movie that makes the project even more special. 

John Krasinski Reflects On Having Louis Gossett Jr. In His Moving Following The Actor’s Death

During an interview with CinemaBlend, John Krasinski reflected on working with Louis Gossett Jr. and having the movie come out about a month and a half after his death. At the heart of the film, as I mentioned in my review of IF, is the moral that nothing you love can be forgotten, and the director/writer of it told me that having Gossett verbalize this lesson was “surreal and hard to process:”

Like Lewis the Bear says in IF, which is all about remembering and harnessing your childhood, nothing can be forgotten if you love it, and people will remember Louis Gossett Jr.’s and his work forever. 

John Krasinski Explains Louis Gossett Jr.’s Personal Connection To IF 

Along with reflecting on the actor’s legacy and the timing of his passing, Krasinski also told me about the first phone call he had with the An Officer and a Gentleman star about his loveable character in IF. It turns out, Louis Gossett Jr. understood the director’s vision on a deep level, because he lived it, as The Office star explained:

In the movie, Lewis the Bear has a conversation with Bea about the power of memory and why it’s important to embrace and invite memories into our lives. They are at Coney Island at that moment, and it turns out Louis Gossett Jr. grew up around there, and that boardwalk was just as special to him as it was to Bea and the IFs:

Hearing that Louis Gossett Jr. started telling the same story his character tells in the movie before reading the script is so touching, and it adds so much meaning to his part in the film. Krasinski was blown away when he found out the parallels between Louis and Lewis, and to him, this personal connection added an immense amount of meaning to IF. He said: 

It’s so special to hear about the love and personal connection Louis Gossett Jr. brought to IF, and understanding how he related to the bear he played makes the movie even more heartfelt and special. 

To hear the late great Louis Gossett Jr. as Lewis the Bear in IF, you can catch the film in theaters now. To learn more about the making of the movie – like the time John Krasinski shoved a puppet in Ryan Reynolds’ face – stay tuned to CinemaBlend. 

John Krasinski’s movie IF stars quite the ensemble of A-list actors, however, you don’t see most of them on screen, because they are voicing the imaginary friends Cailey Fleming and Ryan Reynolds' characters are trying to help. However, the director didn’t leave it all up to his stars’ imaginations when they were filming with the IFs, he had puppets that he used to mimic how the animated characters would act. This led to a hilarious moment Fleming told me about that involved Krasinski getting up in Rynolds’ face with one of the IFs, and now I need the deleted scenes.

The moment Fleming is talking about can be seen in part in the IF trailer as well as the movie. Her character, Cal and Lewis (a bear voiced by Louis Gossett Jr.) are interviewing the IFs to start the process of matching them with humans. One of the friends is a shadowy investigator named Cosmo, and when he sees Cal at the table he attacks him. 

On set, that meant that while Kraskinski was puppeteering Cosmo, he got to shove Reynolds’ around, get all up in his face and mimic the attack. The actress who sits next to the Deadpool star in the scene recalled what it was like witnessing this silly moment, saying:

I love this for everyone involved. The scene in the movie is so funny, and it helps show the imagination that makes the movie so fun – as we mentioned in our review of IF. Knowing that they used puppets on set to help the actors have visuals for the imaginary friends is incredible. Finding out that Krasinski had a blast puppeteering them and committing to bits like attacking Ryenolds with the Cosmo puppet makes me love the movie more. 

In IF – which Krasinski wrote and directed – Ryan Reynolds’ character Cal is trying to help Fleming’s Bea work with the IFs to reconnect them with humans. Cosmo is an aggressive detective-like figure who is always jumping on Cal and scaring him, and he’s easily one of my favorite IFs. Meloni’s voice performance is fabulous, plus his Law and Order history adds to the fun of him playing a detective imaginary friend. 

Learning about how Krasinski created Cosmo’s mannerisms on set adds to that fun, and I would have cracked up just like Fleming did.

While she said she broke and she’s sure the scene isn’t in the movie, I can confirm it is. However, the moment is part of a montage and it’s quite short. So, hopefully, we get some deleted scenes where we can see more of Cosmo hilariously attacking Ryan Reynolds. 

After explaining the interview scene to me, Fleming also broke down another funny moment between Cal and Cosmo…I mean Reynolds and Krasinski, saying:

How could you not laugh at these moments? Reynolds and Krasinski – who are good friends in real life – are a fantastic duo, and if I were witnessing moments like this I would have broken too. Just watch this BTS video of the two, and I think you’ll get where Fleming is coming from:

Hopefully, after IF’s premiere on the 2024 movie schedule, we’ll get some behind-the-scenes footage of Krasinski attacking Reynolds and other deleted scenes of Cal and Cosmo’s friendship that involves a whole lot of jump scares.   

IF is a total departure from John Krasinski’s other projects, and it’s a family-friendly joy ride full of fun antics like this one between Cosmo and Cal. To see the scene Cailey Fleming told me about, and to imagine what other hilariously wholesome moments Ryan Reynolds and Krasinski had on set with the actress and the IFs, you can catch the film in theaters starting May 17. 

The world of imaginary friends has already been broached on the big screen this year with the horror flick Imaginary, but John Krasinski is here with a much more family friendly take on the matter in the upcoming movie IF, which hits theaters on May 17. The writer and director of A Quiet Place tells the story of Bea (Cailey Fleming) and Cal (Ryan Reynolds), who each have the power to see other people’s abandoned imaginary friends (aka IFs) and go about trying to find them homes. Critics have screened the movie, and while they love its creativity and heart, they find other aspects lacking.

Not only does IF reunite The Office stars John Krasinski and Steve Carell — who voices one of the imaginary creatures — but the movie features a fun cast that includes Ryan Reynolds, Fiona Shaw and The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas, as well as voices from some big names like Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Bradley Cooper, Blake Lively and many more. In the CinemaBlend review of IF, Riley Utley says Krasinski’s creativity shines in this heartwarming tale. She rates it 4 out of 5 stars, writing: 

Rachel Labonte of ScreenRant agrees that the movie’s heart and fantastical elements make up for some clunky plot mechanics, and the cast delivers some great performances —- even if all the celebrity cameos get a little distracting. The critic gives it 3.5 out of 5 stars, and says: 

However, not all of the critics are won over by the film’s emotional stories. Kate Erbland of IndieWire gives it a C-, writing that IF is tonally confusing and doesn’t seem fun enough for kids or smart enough for adults. Erbland continues: 

Frank Scheck of THR says it’s obvious how much care John Krasinski has put into the movie, and the cinematography and score show incredible craftsmanship. However, the IFs’ slapstick comedy feels generic, Scheck writes, and the world-building is a bit ramshackle. Still, if IF can be accused of trying too hard, the critic acknowledges that it’s a refreshing change from the family movies that don’t try at all. In Scheck’s words: 

Tomris Laffly of Variety says despite a classical look and big heart, the humor and animated characters in IF fall flat, failing to achieve the magic of similar films we’ve seen from Pixar. Laffly continues: 

All of the critics are finding positive and negative elements to John Krasinski’s upcoming fantasy film, though they disagree which of those win in the end. If this sounds like a movie you’d like to check out, you can do so starting Friday, May 17, and be sure to take a peek at our 2024 movie calendar to see what else is hitting the big screen soon. 

As adults, it’s hard to let our imaginations run as wild as they once did when we were kids. Pretending to have superpowers and creating fantastical worlds with friends are all things that get left behind at some point or another. However, John Krasinski’s film IF – which he both wrote and directed – is proof that you don’t have to be a kiddo to have fun using your imagination, and his joy and optimism shine so bright in this film that it's infectious.

IF follows Bea (Cailey Fleming) as she’s whisked into a world of IFs (imaginary friends) after a chance run-in with a mysterious man named Cal (Ryan Reynolds). He introduces her to all the one-of-a-kind IFs he’s helping find new homes because the kids who created them grew up. From there, the film follows our young protagonist as she helps creatures like a giant purple monster named Blue (Steve Carell), a ballet butterfly named Blossom (Pheobe Waller-Bridge) and many more find homes again. 

This film is a reminder that it’s important to keep our inner child alive, and it’s a call to action to get back in touch with imagination. All-in-all, it’s a wildly creative and optimistic tale that is equal parts moving and silly, and while it has one minor downfall, the heart and moral at the center of it makes it irresistible. 

John Krasinski’s creativity and optimism is infectious.

The primary reason IF shines lies within writer-director John Krasinski’s vision. He let his own imagination explode onto the screen, and through this colorful world he’s created, you can’t help but feel as optimistic and hopeful as the characters in this movie.

Beginning with gem-toned warm sets in Bea's home and moving into the mystical world of IFs under Coney Island, the mix of Kris Moran’s set decoration and Janusz Kaminski’s golden cinematography help welcome audiences into Krasinski's warm creation. The set decoration and photography is what makes the perfect playground for Bea and the IFs. 

Developed by John Krasinski himself, the imaginary friends are a hodgepodge of wild characters – Bradley Cooper plays a glass of ice water who is angry about living in Arizona, for example – that are irresistible to watch, and all you want to do is help them. So, when Bea and Cal set out to assist Blue and his friends, which include Christopher Meloni’s aggressive noir investigator Cosmo, Emily Blunt’s unicorn and Matt Damon’s sunflower therapist (among many others), it’s impossible not to root for this team to succeed in helping humans believe in their imaginary friends again. 

Being in this magical world Krasinski created is honestly overwhelming in the best way, as proven by a scene early in the movie when we meet all the IFs and get to know how they live. Seeing all their unique rooms – like a vivid art classroom and a blue bakeshop – ignited my imagination and left me yearning for my childhood and reminiscing about my own childhood creativity. The love John Krasinski has is apparent and painted all over this movie.

While I love the creative world of the imaginary friends, the third act and the rules surrounding IFs falls short.

It's easy to get on board with the IFs and excited about the mission to help them find new homes. Learning about how they were imagined in the first place and seeing Bea travel through New York City with Cal looking for the the right people is a blast. 

However, things got a bit muddled when it comes to IF logic. The solution to the IFs problems, generally speaking, is they are trying to reconnect with humans so they can be seen. However, most of the cases are treated differently, and it is hard to tell if the humans actually reconnect with their imaginary friend. For that reason, the third act falls a bit short and the ending isn't as satisfying as it could have been. 

Questions regarding when humans can see IFs are a bit distracting during the third act specifically. On many occasions watching the movie, I found myself not fully understanding why Bea could see all the IFs when others could only see one or none. I also couldn’t fully figure out if other humans were able to see their own imaginary friends.

While this world is supposed to be fantastical and nonsensical in a way, the first two-thirds follow a fairly strict logic: the IFs kids stopped believing in their imaginary friends, therefore the friends can't be seen. So, when it gets to the point when they figured out how IFs could interact with others, it doesn't make sense, and the film starts to fall off. 

While distracting at points, overall, this qualm is really nothing more than a minor concern. Without thinking too hard about it, the IFs mission is simple and the heart and morals make up for this critique. 

The heart and moral of the story in IF more than makes up for its lackings.

From the first minutes of IF, themes of love, imagination, hope and memory are prominent and emphasized. 

Playing Bea's dad, John Krasinski’s character tells his daughter to go out and find one “heck of a story” to tell him, and his focus on imagination and fun propels her to Cal and the IFs. Later, Lewis, a loving old bear played by Louis Gossett Jr., relays the other major message of the story, noting that anyone can be anything they want, “all you need is a little imagination.” These two great life lessons culminate with the idea that “nothing you love can ever be forgotten; you can always go back.”

The mystery of this movie revolves around memories Bea has seemingly forgotten. However, by embracing her imagination and opening her heart to others to create a big and beautiful story, she’s able to harness her old memories and find joy in them. 

That’s something everyone can learn from, and this universal lesson in IF is equally valuable for kids and adults. For the younger crowd, appreciating and harnessing that imagination while their young is vital. For adults, learning how to tap back into their inner child is what this movie encourages. 

All around, IF is a heartwarming great time steeped in care and creativity, and it’s a film that feels like it will do a lot of good as people of all ages dive into John Krasinski’s colorful world of imaginary friends. 

John Krasinski has a new movie on the horizon, and this time he’s not the star. The Office alum is the director of the new family film IF, which stars Ryan Reynolds alongside an all star cast. It’s the fourth directorial feat from Krasinski, who previously directed A Quiet Place, A Quiet Place Part II, and The Hollars. With such a strong resume, the actor is quickly becoming a highly sought after director, however he didn’t always know this was on the horizon for his career. Krasinski recently revealed that it was actually George Clooney who predicted his directorial path, before the Jack Ryan star realized it himself.

The anticipation for IF is real, and Krasinski sat down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show to talk about the project. He chatted about some of his inspirations for the film, as well as what it was work with stars like Bradley Cooper, Blake Lively, and of course, his wife, Emily Blunt. He also opened up about what set him up to venture behind the camera after spending his career acting. Krasinski revealed it was actually a seed planted by George Clooney, who saw his potential early on. The former sitcom actor said of his Leatherheads co-star:

Clooney clearly has great instincts, which is what makes him a great director himself. The Oceans 11 star has ventured behind the camera a number of times himself for movies like Good Night and Good Luck, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and most recently, The Boys in the Boat. While he was directing John Krasinski in the sports comedy, he clearly saw the director’s instincts that he also possesses. Clooney was definitely correct with his intuition, and Krasinki’s directorial run has been very successful so far, with A Quiet Place being one of the best horror movies ever. I’m looking forward to seeing if IF carries on this streak.

IF is somewhat of a risk for Krasinski, who’s prowess as a horror director seemed to be a great lane for him to continue his creative projects within. IF could not be more different from the A Quiet Place movies and is a whole new genre for Krasinski. IF is a family comedy that explores themes of childlike wonder, and mixes live action with animation. He seems to be taking a page out of Clooney’s book, who has also explored directorial projects within different genres. It’ll be interesting to see if Krasinski’s director prowess translates as well to the family film as it did with his previous, more adult work.

If Krasinski is going to model his career off of anyone, Clooney is a great candidate. The actor director has a talent for choosing great and interesting projects, ranging from rom-coms, to dramas, to thrillers. Like Clooney, Krasinski also went from being a TV star to a movie star, and has been successful in that path. If Krasinski keeps following in Clooney’s footsteps, we can look forward to a number of great and interesting projects ahead of him. Hopefully, IF is one of them.

You can check out John Krasinki’s IF when it hits theaters on May 17th, which also features voice acting work from George Clooney. You can also see his previous collaboration with Clooney in Leatherheads, which is currently available to stream now with a Max subscription. For more information on other films heading to streaming and cinemas in the near future, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule.

Steve Carell and John Krasinski go way back. The pair developed a close-knit relationship while they were part of The Office's cast, which was a huge launching pad for both of their careers. Even though Carell left the show in 2011, he still stayed close with his co-stars, including Krasinski. It's been over 10 years since the beloved sitcom aired its last episode on NBC and, now, the duo are reuniting for Krasinski’s fourth directorial film, IF. While the Jack Ryan actor expected the laughs to flow with this reunion, apparently the collaboration was quite emotional. 

The actor/director recently chatted with SlashFilm about his upcoming film, which is about Imaginary Friends, who deal with being disowned by the kids they helped.  IF has an all-star cast  that's led by Ryan Reynolds, and features voice work from actors like Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon, and of course, Steve Carell. This marks the first time Carell and John Krasinski have collaborated on a project together since The Office and, according to the A Quiet Place star, the reunion was very tearful, He spoke of the experience, which included a sweet moment initiated by Carrell:

This probably meant a lot to the A-lister to have one of his good friends and longtime collaborators sign on for the film. I wouldn't be surprised if the former Jim Halpert actor even looks up to his buddy. After all, Steve Carell had a thriving comedy career prior to The Office, where as for John Krasinski, the sitcom gave him his breakthrough role. After the NBC hit ended, Carell expanded into serious roles outside of comedy in movies with the likes of Foxcatcher, The Big Short and Beautiful Boy. Krasinski has followed suit, taking on roles like 13 Hours and A Quiet Place. He's since become a director and deserves plenty of praise from Carrell and more, as A Quiet Place is one of the best horror movies in the last decade. 

Hearing how complementary the Despicable Me star was towards his director and former co-star is sure to bring a smile to fans' faces. Krasinski’s reluctant salesman, Jim, often grew annoyed with Carell’s overly enthusiastic Michael Scott. However, over the course of the show, the two developed a unique bond, and their tearful goodbye at the end of Season 7 was one of the most emotional moments in the entirety of the show. Hearing how strong the actors' relationship is in real life is truly heartwarming. 

Another collaboration between these two mega talents is long overdue so, hopefully, IF is a launching pad for more Krasinski/Carell projects. They're both busy people, with Krasinski starring in Guy Richie’s next film, Fountain of Youth, and Carell making his Broadway debut in Uncle Vanya this spring. However, these two appear to love collaborating, and that could spark their desire to link up for another project or two down the line.

You can check out Steve Carell giving another iconic voice acting performance in John Krasinski’s IF, which releases in theaters on May 17th as part of the 2024 movie schedule. You can also check out the actors' work on The Office, which currently is available in its entirety for Peacock subscribers. 

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s new movie The Fall Guy follows a stunt performer becoming an unlikely hero in his quest to find a missing actor from his ex-girlfriend’s action movie. Emily Blunt will be the lucky lady portraying the role of the up-and-coming action director. While Blunt has no real-life directing experience, she’s made sure to credit her director husband John Krasinski for positively influencing her on how to portray a director. 

While The Fall Guy was an important film to make for shedding light on the stunt crew community, female directors will be getting their props too. After all, there are many badass action movies directed by female directors like Kathryn Bigelow, Patty Jenkins, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and more. So why not see on the big screen a female character taking on the challenge of being behind the camera? With Emily Blunt playing an aspiring director and having never been a real-life director before, she told People she used her actor/director husband John Krasinski as inspiration to draw on.

Emily Blunt was directed by husband John Krasinski in A Quiet Place where they played a married couple trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world threatened by murderous aliens. Blunt wanted to be part of her husband’s project so much that she broke her own five-months-between-movies rule for him as she was already working on Mary Poppins Returns. But when you think about it, how can you miss the opportunity to work with your life partner who looks at you like you’re the greatest person in the world? The answer is you can’t. 

Sadly, John Krasinski’s character gets killed off at the end of A Quiet Place which meant having more of a behind-the-scenes presence still being the sequel's director. While the real-life married duo only shared screen time in Part II’s opening flashback scene, The Devil Wears Prada actress said working with her husband as her director was still special to her to see what more The Office actor can do making this sequel so much bigger than the last.

While Emily Blunt’s Fall Guy character of Jody Banks places priority in making her directorial debut, it doesn’t mean we’ll see her as the serious “straight man” trope against Ryan Gosling’s comedy stylings. She continued to explain what she loved the most about her character.

I’m glad that we get to see Emily Blunt play a fun character. We tend to see in comedies the male lead telling the jokes while the female lead is the serious one trying to maintain control over the film’s hilarious situation like in Knocked Up or The Break-Up. It’s nice that we get to see the comedy chops of both leads. Based on their witty banter at the Oscars bringing on their Barbenheimer beef with each other, it’s no wonder people who first saw The Fall Guy loved Blunt and Gosling’s on-screen chemistry.

When you watch The Fall Guy and you see Emily Blunt is very impressive playing an aspiring director, you can thank her director husband John Krasinski for being a positive influence on her character building. It proves she paid very close attention to her hubby during their time on the Quiet Place movies to know how to play the talent behind the camera. The 2024 movie release will be playing in theaters on May 3rd.  

Every once in a while, a funny thing happens in Hollywood where comparable movies hit the big screen in the same year. Remember when Antz and A Bug’s Life both came out in 1998? Or how about when The Illusionist and The Prestige were part of 2006’s slate? And one cannot forget that time when Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War both pitted major heroes against each other in 2016. This year, history is repeating itself when it comes to imaginary friend movies between Blumhouse’s Imaginary and Paramount’s IF. 

With Imaginary up first among them in the 2024 movie release schedule, CinemaBlend spoke to producer Jason Blum and director Jeff Wadlow about the coincidence. Here’s what Wadlow shared about the fascinating phenomenon: 

Imaginary is among the upcoming horror movies, as it tells the story of a former imaginary friend that reemerges from the childhood home of DeWanda Wise’s Jessica when she moves back there with her husband and stepchildren. On the other hand, John Krasinski is the director behind a family-oriented fantasy about a young girl who goes on an adventure to reconnect forgotten imaginary friends “IFs.” Here’s how Imaginary’s producer Jason Blum responded: 

While it’s rather wild that there are two movies in the same year about imaginary friends, especially since we could count on one hand movies about the subject in the past, as Blum shared, they are not the same movie by any means. He explained that he ran into the IF director recently and felt that John Krasinski was “a little standoffish” with him. Of course, sometimes these things just happen, and both filmmakers must know this is likely just a massive coincidence! Wadlow also said this: 

Time will tell how the pair of imaginary friends movies stack up! This weekend, Imaginary will open next to Kung Fu Panda 4 and the second weekend of Dune: Part 2, which had a massive debut this past weekend. You can compare and contrast the Blumhouse horror movie by watching IF’s Super Bowl trailer below: 

IF has a stacked cast list that includes Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fiona Shaw. While Imaginary hits theaters this weekend, IF will come out on May 17. 

What IF the imaginary friends we grew up with were real? Well, we’ll find out in John Krasinski’s IF, as Ryan Reynolds’ Cal and Cailey Fleming’s Bea work to save all the IFs (imaginary friends). While you might not expect this family-friendly flick on the 2024 movie schedule to be from the guy who plays Deadpool and the director of A Quiet Place, it honestly looks like such a wholesome good time, and after seeing this Super Bowl trailer, I’m even more excited to see IF on May 17.

Krasinski has spoken about how he’s been developing this idea about imaginary friends for seven years in a promo for Paramount, and now the writer/director’s film is finally here, and it looks amazing. Mixing the live-action fun of movies like Free Guy and The Adam Project with the animated magic that is reminiscent of Pixar’s best movies, as Reynolds put it, this film literally brings a world of fantasy to life through movie magic.

The film follows Bae after going through a tough situation that leads to her being able to see everybody’s imaginary friends, including the ones that have been forgotten by their kids. And it follows her on her journey to help save these adorable creatures who are voiced by some massive A-listers. 

I mean it when I say massive, because IF’s cast is major! Along with Reynolds leading in live-action, the voice cast of the IFs as well as the other famous folks joining in live-action is unmatched. We got to see Steve Carell’s big purple imaginary friend in the trailers leading up to the film, now, we can’t wait to see how Krasinski, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Meloni, Awkwafina and so many more fit into this star-studded flick. 

Along with this promo, all the trailers for IF have let Ryan Reynolds' signature sense of humor shine. That was made abundantly clear in the video where they announced their Super Bowl ad and had Randall Park pretending to be John Krasinski – a callback to a brilliant joke from The Office.  Now, I can't wait to see how that humor translates to the big screen this spring.

You can feel how much fun the cast and creatives had making this film, and personally, I can’t wait to see it. It looks like we’re in for some big laughs, fantastical creatures and a heartwarming story. 

Overall, there’s a lot to get excited about when it comes to IF, and their marketing is making that clear as day. So, with all that said, and with another fun trailer in the books, it’s time to get ready for this project from Ryan Reynolds and John Krasinski that could very well become one of the best family-friendly flicks of the year.  And if you haven't gotten your fill of the former yet, be sure to check out the brand new trailer that was just released for Deadpool & Wolverine.