IF: everything you need to know about John Krasinski’s magical new family adventure

You can now book your Cineworld tickets for IF, the heartfelt new family adventure that sports an all-star cast and a wondrous central premise.

Scroll to the end of this post to book your tickets, but not before we bring you up to speed on the film's story, cast and release date.

What is the story of IF?

IF is about a grieving young girl named Bea (Cailey Fleming) who, along with her neighbour Cal, discovers she can see everyone’s imaginary friends (hence 'IF'). She and Cal then embark on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.

Who stars in IF?

Deadpool himself, Ryan Reynolds (soon to be seen in this July's Deadpool and Wolverine), plays the somewhat hapless Cal and it's evidently a more family-friendly groove for the fast-talking actor.

The IFs themselves are brought to life by a star-studded array of A-list voices. This includes Steve Carell (the voice of Gru in Despicable Me) as Blue, the purple furry creature featured on the film's poster.

Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge voices humanoid butterfly Blossom and the other big names include Emily Blunt and Matt Damon (both stars of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer), Sam Rockwell (Argylle), Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians), Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids) and the late Lou Gosset Jr. (Oscar-winner for An Officer and a Gentleman).

Who directs IF?

IF is directed by John Krasinski who also appears in the film as Bea's father. Krasinski's recent directorial features include the smash-hit horrors A Quiet Place I and II, released in 2018 and 2021. Both movies take place on an Earth ravaged by terrifying sound-sensitive monsters.

IF, however, sees Krasinski switching things up a bit as he assimilates the heartwarming magic of genre masters like Steven Spielberg (IF is shot by Spielberg's regular cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and scored by Michael Giacchino, whose emotive, family-friendly work includes the Oscar-winning score for Pixar's 2009 film Up).

When is IF released at Cineworld?

IF previews on May 11th and May 12th before its general release on May 17th.

Can we use Cineworld's new Family Ticket for IF?

Yes, the Cineworld Family Ticket can be used for children up to the age of 14. Inspire your kids' imaginations when you take them to see IF on the big screen.

Remember, adults pay kids' prices, the savings are the same, and if you're used to buying our old family ticket, you now just need to book two family tickets.