Imaginary Friend movies to watch based on John Krasinski's IF

This weekend saw the release of John Krasinski's IF, a fantasy comedy about imaginary friends. The concept itself is familiar as there have been many films featuring imaginary friends in the past. Hollywood has explored the idea in various ways over the years, although not always in the same lighthearted, family-friendly tone. So if you left IF wanting a deeper or darker exploration of the concept of the imaginary friend, you've come to the right place.

Read on for ten movies to watch after IF. Note that not all of these are family adventures.

The most obvious comparison to IF is Steven Spielberg's 1982 classic ET, a story about a young boy named Elliot (Henry Thomas) who befriends a stranded alien. The concept arose from Spielberg's personal experience. After his parents divorced, the very young Spielberg imagined a best friend who would accompany him through the painful process, which is why he deserves a place of honor in our best imaginary friend films. ET explores this idea by having its kind-hearted alien interact only with the children in the film, effectively hidden from Elliot's mother. Ultimately, Elliot's friendship with ET helps the child navigate a turbulent time and prepares him for the journey ahead.

Fight Club (1999)

David Fincher's Fight Club is at the opposite end of the IF and ET spectrum. This incredibly dark satire follows a suicidal recluse (Edward Norton) and his imaginary pal Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) as they attempt to destroy the establishment that oppresses the world. Of course, we don't learn the truth about Tyler until the final film, even though Fincher sprinkles subliminal hints throughout the picture. Finally, in his own sick way, Durden helps our protagonist solve his problems, leaving him in a better state of mind than when we first met him. I find.

Cloak and Dagger (1984)

A few years after ET, Henry Thomas starred in another family adventure with a pretend boyfriend. Only this time the friend in question, action hero Jack Flack (the late, great Dabney Coleman), is actually imaginary. Darker and more violent than your typical family film, Cloak & Dagger follows Thomas' Davey Osborne as he evades spies searching for a top-secret device in his possession. Exciting, well-acted and reasonably entertaining, this fantasy drama plays out like an '80s mixtape, clunky technology and all. The story goes deeper than it deserves and leads to a surprisingly emotional finale.

Inside Out (2015)

Pixar's “Inside Out” remains one of the studio's best offerings, a creative, colorful journey through the mind of a child that grapples with the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence. Here we follow the five “emotions” that lurk in the mind of a young girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Davis), namely Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness ( Phyllis Smith). Riley has just moved to a new city and is suddenly confronted with complex feelings that weaken Joy's impact and pave the way for even more sadness. Joy runs through Riley's mind, hoping to revive her happiness. On this wild journey, she encounters relics from the child's past, including her old imaginary pal Bing Bong (Richard Kind).

Like all of Pixar's early works, “Inside Out” is an emotional hit. Yet the film is also clever, beautifully animated and often hilarious – a modern classic and a fitting addition to our list of imaginary friend films.

The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick's horror classic The Shining delves back into darker territory and delves into the concept of the imaginary friend – with horrifying results. In this case, young Danny (Danny Lloyd) conjures up a fictional sidekick named Tony to deal with the anxiety and stress caused by his father (Jack Nicholson). Typically, Kubrick's image lends itself to many theories about its deeper meaning. Each conclusion leads to a pitch-black ending with axes, dead people and a thrilling chase through a snow-covered labyrinth.

The Shining will shake you to your core. You can move on to Mike Flanagan's equally disturbing sequel, Doctor Sleep. You're welcome.

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Taika Waititti writes, directs and co-stars in this dramedy about a Hitler Youth named Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) who discovers that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in her basement. This realization causes Jojo to reconsider his beliefs, including his friendship with an imaginary (and free-spirited) Adolf Hilter (Waititti). Despite being darkly comedic, incredibly entertaining and profound, Jojo Rabbit has received many well-deserved awards and accolades. It's the kind of film that stays with you forever.

Hide and Seek (2005)

John Polson's unforgettable early 2000s thriller finds a few new ways to use the concept of the imaginary friend. After the death of his wife, David Callaway (Robert DeNiro) moves to upstate New York with his daughter Emily (Dakota Fanning). There, Emily begins to imagine a friend named Charlie. At first this new character seems benevolent, but eventually violent events occur, leaving David to investigate whether it is Charlie or not A real person.

“Hide and Seek” is the kind of B-movie trash you wouldn't buy from Blockbuster until all the top-tier rentals are gone, but it's still worth a look. The cast is Greatand although the twist is easy to deduce, there are enough shocking moments to ensure a moderately entertaining evening.

Harvey (1950)

In this light-hearted romp, Jimmy Stewart's Elwood P. Dowd seemingly befriends an imaginary rabbit named Harvey, much to the chagrin of his family. Viewers are left to decide whether Elwood is actually crazy or is literally seeing a six-foot-tall rabbit. Stewart is great as always, wholeheartedly selling the absurd premise with typical charismatic zeal. For some the image might be too dated or outdated. Still, those willing to give it a chance will enjoy a quirky, often hilarious comedy.

Drop Dead Fred (1991)

Phoebe Cates stars in this offbeat comedy about a woman who releases her imaginary friend “Drop Dead Fred” (Rik Mayall) to help her through a difficult time. Drop Dead Fred was a flop upon its release and has rightly achieved cult status. It's weird, dumb fun and the kind of movie only the early '90s could produce. Cates shows great comedic timing, underlining the madness with a natural innocence that somehow makes her more appealing, earning her a spot on our list of the best imaginary friend movies.

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Ron Howard takes the idea of ​​imaginary friends to the extreme with the Best Picture winner “A Beautiful Mind.” Except here, the concept is more frightening than imaginative, as Russell Crowe's John Nash deals with characters born out of schizophrenia. A brilliant mathematician, Nash must discover what is real and imagined in order to fulfill his quest for a great idea.

Crowe and co-star Jennifer Connelly deliver amazing performances, and Howard effectively conveys the horrors of Nash's disease. Even if the real events are much less depressing than the picture suggests, “A Beautiful Mind” remains a powerful look at a fascinating individual.

Other films about imaginary friends Worth seeing

Swiss army man: Paul Dano, stranded on a desert island, uses Daniel Radcliffe's corpse in a thousand different ways, ultimately leading to an unlikely (and bizarre) friendship.

Throw away: Stranded on a desert island, Tom Hanks befriends a volleyball he effectively names Wilson, forming an unlikely friendship that allows him to survive his ordeal.

Donnie Darko: Jake Gyllenhaal imagines a man in a large rabbit costume that tricks him into committing terrible crimes.