![Things get real as imaginary friend flick 'If' tops N.America box office](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/d9/82/8c/Things-get-real-as-imaginary-friend-686661.jpg)
-
Concern grows as Venezuela blocks election observers
-
'Massive attack' on French rail threatens more chaos
-
'We did it!': France breathes sigh of relief after Olympics ceremony
-
Blinken, in Laos, set for talks with Chinese foreign minister
-
Regional concern grows as Venezuela blocks vote observers
-
Historic river parade, Dion show-stopper ignite Paris Olympics
-
Rainy Paris Olympic parade dampens many spectators' spirits
-
G20 pledges to work together to tax ultra-rich
-
The one of a kind Paris opening ceremony: five memorable moments
-
Justin Timberlake seeks to dismiss DUI case
-
Warner Brothers Discovery sues NBA over Amazon rights deal
-
Kobe Bryant locker, Maradona jersey up for auction in New York
-
Historic river parade launches Paris Olympics
-
Stocks rise as US inflation data boosts rate cut hopes
-
New York family of Holocaust victim reclaims Nazi-looted art
-
NASA Mars rover captures rock that could hold fossilized microbes
-
Thousands evacuate season's biggest wildfire in northern California
-
Sinaloa Cartel co-founder pleads not guilty after stunning US capture
-
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
-
Lady Gaga adds sparkle to star-studded Olympic show
-
Airbus and Boeing supremacy secure despite turbulence
-
Teams sail down Seine in rain-soaked Olympics opening ceremony
-
Norris hoping for more after topping Belgian practice times
-
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
-
Trump slams rivals as he meets Netanyahu in Florida
-
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
-
Mott's England future uncertain as ECB chief fails to offer support
-
Trump meets Israeli PM Netanyahu in Florida
-
S.African police say 95 Libyans detained at suspected military camp
-
Blinken set for talks with Chinese counterpart in Laos
-
Norris heads Piastri in McLaren one-two at Belgian GP practice
-
G20 seeks common ground on taxing super-rich
-
European medicines watchdog rejects new Alzheimer's drug
-
Harris gets vital Obama backing in battle against Trump
-
Habib, Ebden eye Alcaraz and Djokovic shocks at Olympics tennis
-
Stocks rise as inflation data boosts rate cut hopes
-
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
-
Two Sinaloa Cartel leaders face US charges after stunning capture
-
Spain train driver jailed for 2.5 years over deadly 2013 crash
-
Paris poised for Olympic opening ceremony spectacular
-
Judoka fails doping test in first case at Paris Olympics
-
Holder and Da Silva keep England at bay after West Indies collapse
-
Alpine F1 boss Bruno Famin to leave in August
-
Ethiopia declares three days of mourning after landslide tragedy
-
Brazilian dunes dotted with dazzling pools make UNESCO heritage list
-
Rain, cooling slow huge blaze in Canada's Jasper park
-
French Rugby's Jaminet suspended 34 weeks after racist video: Federation
-
Osaka looking to turbo-charge comeback at Paris Olympics
-
Stock markets climb as US inflation rate drops
-
Russian central bank hikes key rate to fight inflation
![Things get real as imaginary friend flick 'If' tops N.America box office](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/d9/82/8c/Things-get-real-as-imaginary-friend-686661.jpg)
Things get real as imaginary friend flick 'If' tops N.America box office
Paramount Pictures' imaginary friend film "If" debuted atop the North American box office this weekend, taking in an estimated $35.0 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
The John Krasinski-directed family comedy stars Cailey Fleming as a young girl who -- along with neighbor Ryan Reynolds -- embarks on an adventure to reconnect forgotten made-up playmates with their children.
"This is a good opening for a live-action/animation hybrid, at above average levels for the genre," said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research, adding the film should "translate in foreign markets and do well abroad."
It snatched top spot from Twentieth Century's action sci-fi "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," which dropped to second place with $26.0 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, still boasting an impressive $101.2 million made since its release earlier this month.
In third was new horror film "The Strangers: Chapter 1," at $12.0 million, which follows a young couple terrorized by masked strangers at a remote cabin in an eerie small town.
Fourth place at $8.5 million went to Universal's action-comedy "The Fall Guy." Ryan Gosling plays a stuntman working on a film directed by his ex-girlfriend Emily Blunt.
And in fifth at $2.9 million was tennis-based romance "Challengers," starring actor/singer Zendaya as an athlete-turned-coach, which kept its top-five Box Office status for a fourth consecutive week.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
"Back to Black" ($2.9 million)
"Tarot" ($2.0 million)
"Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire" ($1.7 million)
"The Blue Angels" ($1.3 million)
"Unsung Hero" ($1.1 million)
O.Krause--BTB