WHAT / IF (2019)
A sleek Netflix neo-noir thriller that dares to ask how far ordinary people will go when tempted by an extraordinary offer.
WHAT / IF - Series Information
- Original Title: WHAT / IF
- First Air Year: 2019
- Last Air Year: 2019
- Created by: Mike Kelley
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (60 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 10
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: May 24, 2019 (United States - TV-MA), May 24, 2019 (United Kingdom - 15), May 24, 2019 (Germany - 16), May 24, 2019 (Australia - MA15+), May 24, 2019 (Brazil - 16), May 24, 2019 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: Netflix
- Alternative Titles: What if (2019) (US), 如／果 (CN), Δίλημμα με τη Ρενέ Ζελβέγκερ (GR), What/If (FR)
- Production Companies: Atlas Entertainment, Compari Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television
- Production Countries: United States of America
WHAT / IF - Plot
A pair of cash-strapped newlyweds accept a lucrative but morally dubious offer from a mysterious female benefactor.
WHAT / IF - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the dangerous bargain at the heart of the story unfold:
Fate is a lie. There is only choice.
Where to Watch WHAT / IF
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WHAT / IF - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Mike Kelley
Main Cast
- Renée Zellweger
- Jane Levy
- Blake Jenner
- Keith Powers
- Samantha Marie Ware
- Juan Castano
- John Clarence Stewart
- Louis Herthum
- Dave Annable
- Daniella Pineda
Writers
- Mike Kelley
- Brenna Kouf
- Blair Singer
- David Graziano
- Robin Wasserman
Executive Producers
- Melissa Loy
- David Graziano
- Robert Zemeckis
- Jack Rapke
- Mike Kelley
WHAT / IF - FAQs
What makes WHAT / IF stand out as a series?
WHAT / IF distinguishes itself through its neo-noir atmosphere and a magnetic central performance by Renée Zellweger as the enigmatic Anne Montgomery. The series leans into morally complex territory, exploring how far ordinary people will go when tempted by wealth and power, wrapped in a stylish, San Francisco-set thriller package.
Is WHAT / IF based on a true story?
WHAT / IF is not based on a true story. Creator Mike Kelley crafted an original neo-noir narrative inspired by classic Hollywood thriller conventions. The series draws thematic influence from films like Indecent Proposal, exploring moral compromise and the corrupting allure of money through entirely fictional characters and events.
Where can you stream WHAT / IF?
WHAT / IF is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. Both options give you access to all 10 episodes of the single-season series. Availability may vary slightly depending on your region, so check your local Netflix library for the most current information.
Who plays Anne Montgomery in WHAT / IF?
Anne Montgomery is played by Renée Zellweger, the Academy Award-winning actress known for Bridget Jones's Diary and Chicago. Her portrayal of the calculating, morally ambiguous billionaire benefactor is the centrepiece of the series, and Zellweger brings an icy charisma to the role that drives the show's tension throughout.
How was WHAT / IF received by critics?
Critical reception was mixed. Reviewers largely praised Renée Zellweger's commanding screen presence but found the plotting uneven and the twists overwrought. Rotten Tomatoes reflects a divided response, with many critics acknowledging the show's guilty-pleasure appeal while noting that its ambitions occasionally outpace its execution.
Will there be a second season of WHAT / IF?
WHAT / IF concluded after a single season and has not been renewed for a second. Netflix cancelled the series following its 2019 debut, leaving it as a self-contained, 10-episode miniseries. The story wraps up within its one season, so viewers can enjoy it as a complete narrative without an open-ended cliffhanger.
What themes does WHAT / IF explore?
At its core, WHAT / IF interrogates the price of ambition and the moral compromises people make for financial security. Themes of power, desire, marriage, and capitalist manipulation run throughout. The series asks how much of one's integrity can be traded away before identity itself is lost — a question it pursues with gleeful, noir-tinged excess.
What shows are similar to WHAT / IF?
If WHAT / IF hit the right notes for you, try Why Women Kill for its darkly comedic take on domestic intrigue, Fatal Attraction for morally charged thriller drama, or BEEF for a tightly wound exploration of obsession and consequence. Good Girls also blends domestic life with moral compromise in an equally bingeable format.
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