If? If Not?
It’s still unclear how Paramount’s “If” will do over all, but Friday night wasn’t bad. Receipts came to $8.5 million for a total including Thursday previews of $10.3 million.
The weekend total should come in around $25 million although that’s uncertain, too. Reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes were split at 50%, not exactly an overwhelming endorsement. The audience rating is 85%, or a B plus.
So there’s some interest in “If,” and if not, everyone — like John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds — will return to their regular successes.
At the very least, “If” will not be the disaster story of the weekend. That distinction goes to Focus Features’ Amy Winehouse biopic, “Back to Black.” Total for Thurs-Fri is just $1.25 million. Reviews are terrible and there’s little interest in this film here anyway. It’s already made $23 million abroad, most of that from the UK.
Amy Winehouse died too soon. She had enormous potential to be as big as Adele, but she never got the chance. She had one hit in the US, “Rehab.” Her other sales are cult only. So if “Back to Black” makes $5 million here, Focus will be lucky. Put it on Peacock and call it a day.
More tomorrow…go to the movies, there’s plenty to see this weekend…
