Ryan Reynolds’ Most Underappreciated Movie Is Finally Being Rediscovered With a Massive Streaming Comeback

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Sometimes, really promising movies get unfairly ignored, despite having talented people involved. A recent example is , starring Cailey Fleming – a heartwarming family film that critics largely dismissed, seemingly forgetting the joy of seeing the world through a child’s eyes. Now, two years later, audiences are rediscovering it, and it’s quickly climbing the charts on Paramount+, even competing with popular titles like The Naked Gun and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning for the number one spot.

C.S. Lewis famously wrote, in the dedication to his Narnia books, that “Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” In a culture where kids often rush to grow up, films like IF are designed for children but offer a message that resonates with adults who are open to it, and it appears many people are finally understanding that message.

Okay, so I just learned about this new movie, IF – honestly, the title is kind of silly and makes it hard to find online, which is why it’s also being called Imaginary Friends in some places. John Krasinski, who you probably know from The Office, wrote and directed it. The leads are Ryan Reynolds and Cailey Flemming from The Walking Dead, but get this – the voice cast is huge. We’re talking Steve Carell, Awkwafina, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, Sam Rockwell, Emily Blunt, George Clooney, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Bill Hader… seriously, the list goes on and on! Here’s what the movie’s about:

IF tells the story of a girl who has the unique ability to see people’s imaginary friends. She goes on a magical journey to help kids reconnect with the IFs they’ve forgotten.

‘IF’s Ironic Rediscovery Is Long Overdue


Paramount Pictures

It’s a bit ironic that IF, a movie about finding value in things people have forgotten, wasn’t a big hit in theaters – it only made $190 million worldwide and received mixed reviews (a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes). However, two years later, it’s become one of the most popular movies on Paramount+ around the world.

The movie is currently enjoying a strong 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and recent reviews are much more positive than when it first came out. It seems fitting that, like the film suggests, sometimes you need time to reconnect with your playful side, or simply appreciate how quickly children grow up.

Recent viewers have been overwhelmingly positive. Mark A. praised the film’s focus on imagination and emotion, even if the plot isn’t fully explained, urging others to see it. Johanna L. called it a beautiful movie with important life lessons, and Shelene agreed, saying it was touching and made her cry. Tyson C.’s review perfectly captures the overall feeling.

Honestly, this movie really got to me. It reminded me of what it feels like to grow up and lose that childlike wonder, and that ache you get trying to recapture those feelings. If you’ve ever felt that, or just remember being a kid, it’s a deeply emotional experience.

Many movies and TV shows these days focus on dark and violent themes, often mirroring the problems we see in the real world. But IF offers something different – a chance for adults to escape those heavy topics and simply enjoy a more imaginative and magical story.

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2026-01-14 17:06