What If
''What If'' may refer to various works and concepts in film, television, comics, literature, music, science, philosophy, business, and technology.Film
Feature Films
The 2010 American drama film What If..., directed by Dallas Jenkins, explores themes of faith and life choices through the story of Ben Walker (played by Kevin Sorbo), a successful but unfulfilled businessman who receives a divine opportunity to glimpse an alternate life where he pursued his youthful dreams of ministry.[1] The film, produced by Pure Flix Entertainment, features a supporting cast including Kristy Swanson, John Ratzenberger, and Debby Ryan, and emphasizes moral reflection on priorities and redemption. In 2012, the Greek drama What If... (original title: An...), written and directed by Christoforos Papakaliatis, depicts a young man's fateful night in crisis-era Athens, where a simple decision to go out or stay in determines whether he meets the love of his life, Christina.[2] Starring Papakaliatis alongside Maria Zorou and Notis Pitsilos, the film blends romance and social commentary on economic uncertainty, earning acclaim for its sound design at the Hellenic Film Academy Awards. The 2013 Canadian-Irish romantic comedy What If (also known as The F Word in some regions), directed by Michael Dowse, follows Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe), a med school dropout sworn off romance, who develops feelings for his best friend Chantry (Zoe Kazan), an animator in a committed relationship, testing the boundaries of platonic friendship.[3] Adapted from the play Toothpaste and Cigars by T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi,[4] the film includes supporting performances by Adam Driver, Mackenzie Davis, and Rafe Spall, and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews for its witty dialogue and relatable exploration of unrequited love.Short and Documentary Films
The short and documentary films titled What If often explore hypothetical scenarios, personal reflections, and societal challenges through concise, experimental formats that blend narrative drama, animation, and factual inquiry, typically running under 60 minutes to emphasize intimate, thought-provoking storytelling.[5][6] These works distinguish themselves by prioritizing educational depth or artistic innovation over extended plots, drawing on "what if" premises to examine human potential, social inequities, and cultural histories.[7][8] One prominent example is the 2012 short film What If, directed by Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini, which adapts Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—" into a dramatic narrative following a young boy navigating life's trials to embody virtues like patience and resilience.[5] Clocking in at approximately 10 minutes, the film uses minimalist production by BBC Films and Film4 to create an experimental visual poem that encourages viewers to contemplate personal growth amid adversity, earning praise for its inspirational tone at short film festivals.[9] Its educational aspect lies in translating literary hypotheticals—such as maintaining composure in crisis—into accessible, motivational cinema.[10] In the documentary realm, What If (2019), a 15-minute short directed by Noah Berlow, tackles the "what if" of stable housing by profiling families affected by homelessness in Southern California, produced in collaboration with the Illumination Foundation.[6] The film experimentally interweaves personal testimonies with data on childhood trauma's long-term health impacts, advocating for preventive interventions to break cycles of instability, and screened at festivals like the Santa Fe International Film Festival to raise awareness on urban social issues.[11] This work highlights documentary filmmaking's role in educational advocacy, using concise runtime to challenge stereotypes and propose actionable solutions.[12] Another influential entry is What If…? A Film About Judith Merril (1998), a 60-minute documentary directed by Helene Klodawsky, which examines the science fiction genre's "golden age" through the life of pioneering author and editor Judith Merril.[7] Filmed shortly before Merril's death, it features her interviews reflecting on using speculative "what if" narratives to critique McCarthy-era politics and envision gender equality in space exploration, produced by Imageries and broadcast on Canadian television.[7] The film's experimental structure blends archival footage, expert commentary, and Merril's personal archives to educate on sci-fi's socio-political roots, securing awards including the Gold Prize at the 1999 Chicago International Television Festival and Best Portrait at the 17th International Festival of Films on Art in Montreal.[7] More recently, WHAT IF? (2022), a 7-minute short documentary directed by Cali Gilbert under Tower 15 Productions, poses post-pandemic questions about global unity and equity, featuring interviews with diverse voices on overcoming social divides to foster a "New Earth."[8] This experimental piece, which premiered at the MY HERO International Film Festival, uses quick-cut visuals and real-world testimonials to educationally explore hypothetical societal resets, emphasizing themes of equality and opportunity amid crisis.[13] Its brevity amplifies impact, aligning with the genre's tradition of prompting viewers to reimagine collective futures.[14]Television
Series
The "What/If" miniseries, created by Mike Kelley for Netflix, premiered on May 24, 2019, and consists of a single 10-episode season exploring interconnected moral dilemmas through hypothetical scenarios posed by a mysterious venture capitalist, Anne Montgomery, played by Renée Zellweger.[15] Each episode runs approximately 40-50 minutes and presents alternate outcomes to ethical quandaries faced by young professionals, blending thriller elements with anthology-style storytelling that ties back to Montgomery's manipulative influence.[16] The series features a supporting cast including Jane Levy as Lisa Donovan, Blake Jenner, and Keith Powers, and received mixed critical reception, with praise for Zellweger's charismatic yet sinister performance but criticism for its convoluted plot and soapy tone; it holds a 44% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 32 reviews.[17][18] In contrast, "What If...?" was an American animated anthology television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on Disney+, created by A.C. Bradley and produced by Marvel Studios Animation, which debuted on August 11, 2021, and reimagines key MCU events in multiverse timelines narrated by the omnipotent Watcher.[19] Jeffrey Wright voices the Watcher across all seasons, with MCU actors reprising roles such as Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter (Captain Carter), Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, emphasizing stylistic variety from noir to cosmic horror in episodes typically lasting 25-40 minutes.[20] The series draws brief inspiration from Marvel Comics' "What If?" anthology, adapting its concept of alternate histories to the MCU framework.[19] Season 1 comprises nine episodes, including the premiere "What If... Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?," where Peggy Carter receives the Super Soldier Serum instead of Steve Rogers, leading to a divergent World War II narrative and the formation of an alternate Avengers team.[21] Season 2, released December 22-30, 2023, also features nine episodes with bolder premises like "What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?" and introduces holiday-themed multiverse crossovers, earning acclaim for its animation and voice performances with an IMDb rating of 7.3/10 overall.[19] The third and final season, airing December 22–29, 2024, consists of eight episodes directed by Bryan Andrews and Stephan Franck, exploring scenarios such as "What If... The Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?" and concluding major arcs like the Watcher's trial, while incorporating voices from Sebastian Stan, Ming-Na Wen, and others to tie into broader MCU lore; it received generally positive reviews, holding an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[22][23][24]Specials and Episodes
"What If..." is a ten-part web series produced by ABC, serving as a crossover between the soap operas General Hospital, All My Children, and One Life to Live. Executive produced by Jill Farren Phelps and directed by Frank Valentini, it premiered on ABC.com and SoapNet.com on July 12, 2010, with the final episode airing on August 30, 2010. Each short episode, typically 5-7 minutes long, presented hypothetical scenarios where characters from the different shows interacted in unexpected ways, blending drama and lighthearted "what if" premises to appeal to fans of the interconnected ABC soap universe. The series concluded with a finale featuring John McBain from One Life to Live and Sam McCall from General Hospital. It received the 2011 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Approaches - Daytime Entertainment, recognizing its innovative use of web content to expand soap opera storytelling.[25] Key episodes included "Pilot," where Erica Kane (All My Children, played by Susan Lucci) encounters Sonny Corinthos (General Hospital, played by Maurice Benard) in a tense bar meeting; "Take Me There," featuring Todd Manning (One Life to Live, played by Roger Howarth) crossing paths with Carly Corinthos (General Hospital, played by Laura Wright); and "Learning to Fly," in which Maxie Jones (General Hospital, played by Kirsten Storms) teams up with Rex Balsom (One Life to Live, played by John-Paul Lavoisier) for a comedic adventure. Other installments explored pairings like Greenlee Smythe (All My Children) with John McBain (One Life to Live) and Krystal Carey (All My Children) with Lucky Spencer (General Hospital). These vignettes highlighted character chemistry across shows, often resolving in humorous or dramatic twists without affecting the main series' continuity.[26][27] In the realm of educational television, PBS Digital Studios produced several standalone specials under the Space Time banner that delved into hypothetical scientific and historical questions. The August 24, 2023, episode "What If Space is Not Empty?" examined quantum foam theories, proposing that spacetime at the Planck scale might consist of fluctuating black holes and wormholes rather than a smooth vacuum, hosted by physicist Matt O'Dowd with visuals from Digital Studios. Similarly, the January 4, 2024, special "What if Humans Are Not Earth's First Civilization?" explored the Silurian hypothesis, suggesting evidence for pre-human industrial societies through geological anomalies like carbon isotope spikes, challenging conventional human history narratives while emphasizing the lack of direct fossil proof. These episodes, each around 15-20 minutes, prioritize conceptual explanations backed by peer-reviewed physics and paleontology, airing on PBS platforms and YouTube without ongoing serialization.[28][29] Notable pilots and holiday specials titled "What If" have also appeared in limited formats. For instance, the 2019 Netflix limited series What/If began with a pilot episode introducing a thriller anthology structure, where each installment posed moral "what if" dilemmas, such as a biotech entrepreneur (Renée Zellweger) offering a Faustian bargain to a couple, written by Mike Daniels and directed by Adam Bernstein. Though structured as a 10-episode arc, its standalone episode conceit influenced later hypothetical-driven TV. In a holiday context, Marvel's What If...? featured the December 24, 2023, episode "What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?," a self-contained animated special depicting security chief Happy Hogan (voiced by Jon Favreau) thwarting a holiday heist at Avengers Tower, blending action with festive themes in a multiverse variant. This episode aired as part of Disney+ programming, emphasizing whimsical alternate realities without tying into broader arcs.[30]Comics
Marvel Series
The Marvel Comics "What If?" series, launched in February 1977 and edited by Roy Thomas, explores hypothetical alternate universe scenarios diverging from key events in the Marvel Universe, narrated primarily by the cosmic entity Uatu the Watcher.[31] Thomas conceived the anthology format to delve into "what if" questions that fans often pondered, such as alterations to major storylines involving iconic characters, allowing creators to experiment beyond main continuity while maintaining ties to established lore.[31] The debut issue, "What If Spider-Man Had Joined the Fantastic Four?", reimagines Peter Parker's decision after the events of The Amazing Spider-Man #112, where he accepts Reed Richards' offer to join the team, leading to the formation of the "Fantastic Five" and subsequent conflicts with villains like Doctor Doom and Namor. This story, penciled by Jim Craig and inked by Joe Sinnott with contributions from John Romita Sr., set the tone for the series' blend of adventure, tragedy, and multiversal exploration. John Byrne inked some early issues, such as #5. The series' first volume ran from 1977 to 1984, producing 47 issues that covered divergences like "What If the Hulk Had Become a Hero?" and "What If Phoenix Had Not Died?", often featuring artwork by notable talents such as Mike Nasser, who contributed to issues exploring high-stakes alternate outcomes for characters like the Hulk.[32] Volume 2, published from 1989 to 1998, expanded to another 47 issues, revisiting and revising earlier concepts while introducing new ones, such as "What If the Alien Costume Had Possessed Spider-Man?" and "What If Venom Had Possessed the Hulk?", with a focus on darker, more mature themes amid Marvel's evolving editorial landscape.[33] Subsequent iterations under Volume 3 in 2005 shifted to a miniseries and one-shot format, releasing five key issues that interrogated post-Civil War scenarios and other modern arcs, emphasizing consequences of major crossovers.[34] These volumes collectively established "What If?" as a cornerstone of Marvel's multiverse storytelling, influencing later imprints like the Ultimate Universe and inspiring the Disney+ animated series through its framework of narrative divergence.[35] Following a hiatus, "What If?" resumed in 2006-2007 with additional one-shots and limited series, such as explorations of Iron Man's origins and X-Men divergences. Recent iterations include the 2022 miniseries What If...? Miles Morales (5 issues), which explores Miles gaining powers from Captain America, Wolverine, Hulk, and Thor; What If...? Dark (6 one-shots, 2023), revisiting stories with darker twists like Loki wielding Mjolnir; What If...? Venom (5 issues, 2024), depicting the symbiote bonding with hosts like She-Hulk and Doctor Strange; and Marvel & Disney: What If...? (7 issues, July 2024–July 2025), crossing over Disney characters (e.g., Donald Duck as Wolverine) with Marvel elements, underscoring the enduring appeal of speculative storytelling in comics.)Other Comic Works
DC Comics' Elseworlds imprint, launched in 1989, serves as an occasional series of standalone stories exploring hypothetical scenarios outside the main DC Universe continuity, akin to alternate history narratives in superhero comics. These tales reimagine iconic characters in unconventional settings or with altered origins, emphasizing creative divergences from canon. For instance, the 1991 one-shot Batman & Dracula: Red Rain depicts Batman transforming into a vampire to combat Dracula's invasion of Gotham City, blending gothic horror with superhero action in a three-part trilogy that continued with Bloodstorm (1994) and Lord of the Vampires (1998). The imprint's revival was announced in 2023, with new titles like Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age (6 issues, August 2024–January 2025) expanding the gothic world with elements involving Superman in a steampunk era, signaling ongoing interest in such speculative storytelling.[36] Independent creators have also utilized "What If" titles to delve into personal and societal hypotheticals through visual narratives, often in self-contained graphic novels that prioritize emotional introspection over genre tropes. In What If We Were... (2019), French cartoonist Axelle Lenoir illustrates the imaginative game of two teenage best friends, Nathalie and Marie, who pose "what if" questions about alternate lives—such as becoming animals or historical figures—to cope with boredom and explore identity, published by Graphic Universe as a young adult graphic novel blending humor and whimsy. Similarly, Barrie Arliss's What IF: An Infertile Graphic Novel (2019), self-published through her personal imprint, chronicles her real-life fertility struggles, framing IVF treatments and emotional turmoil as a series of "what if" reflections on family and resilience, offering a raw, autobiographical lens on reproductive challenges.[37] Post-2015 webcomics and graphic novels under "What If" banners have increasingly embraced anthology formats and speculative fiction to address contemporary issues, often through crowdfunded or small-press efforts. The UK-based What If? Stories collective released Hendricks (2022), a horror-mystery graphic novel series starting with Issue #1 via Kickstarter, following a small-town deputy's supernatural investigations into "what if" scenarios involving folklore and hidden truths, emphasizing indie horror with contributions from multiple artists.[38] In a more politically charged vein, 1/6: The Graphic Novel (2023), written by Alan Jenkins and Gan Golan with art by Will Rosado and published by OneSixComics, poses the dire hypothetical of a successful January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection, using stark illustrations to warn of authoritarian consequences in a dystopian America.[39] These works highlight how non-corporate creators leverage the "what if" premise for diverse, impactful visual storytelling.Literature
Books and Anthologies
The "What If?" series of anthologies edited by Robert Cowley presents counterfactual explorations of historical events through essays by leading historians, emphasizing military and political turning points. The first volume, What If? The World's Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, published in 1999 by G.P. Putnam's Sons, features twenty original essays and fourteen sidebars examining alternate outcomes in global military history spanning over 2,500 years. Contributors such as Stephen E. Ambrose, John Keegan, and David McCullough analyze scenarios like "What if the Japanese had won the Battle of Midway?" by Theodore F. Cook, which posits a prolonged Pacific War and potential shifts in postwar Asia.[40] Other essays cover events from the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem in 701 B.C. to Cold War crises in Berlin and China. The series continued with What If? 2: Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, released in 2001 by Putnam, expanding to twenty-five essays on non-military contingencies across world history. Edited by Cowley, it includes contributions from historians like Caleb Carr and Cecelia Holland, addressing questions such as "What if Franklin D. Roosevelt had been assassinated in 1933?" which speculates on altered U.S. responses to the Great Depression and World War II.[41] The volume broadens the scope beyond warfare, incorporating political and social divergences like the survival of Socrates or a different outcome in the 1521 conquest of the Aztecs.[42] A third installment, What Ifs? of American History: Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, published in 2003 by Putnam, narrows the focus to seventeen essays on U.S.-centric counterfactuals, maintaining the series' emphasis on expert analysis. Cowley curated pieces from authors including James M. McPherson and William L. Shirer, exploring pivotal moments like "What if the South had won the Civil War?" and the implications of Robert E. Lee's lost Special Order 191 during the Antietam campaign.[43] This volume highlights the series' impact on popularizing alternate history, with essays drawing on primary sources to assess long-term societal changes.[44] In recent years, similar anthologies have emerged, such as the What If… Book of Alternative American History published by Future Publishing as part of the All About History series, with editions released in 2023 and a third edition in 2025.[45] This collection compiles speculative essays on U.S. events, including "What if China had discovered America first?" and "What if John F. Kennedy had survived his assassination?", using visual aids and historian insights to illustrate divergent timelines in politics, exploration, and civil rights.[46] It reflects ongoing interest in counterfactual narratives for understanding American exceptionalism and policy decisions.[47]Short Stories
One of the most notable standalone short stories titled "What If—" in the science fiction genre is Isaac Asimov's 1952 work, first published in the Summer issue of Fantastic magazine. The story centers on Norman, a professional science fiction writer, and his wife Livvy, who are traveling by train to New York City. Struggling with writer's block, Norman discusses his difficulty in generating fresh ideas for his next tale. To alleviate the boredom of the journey, the couple engages in a playful game of speculation, pondering alternate outcomes to key moments in their shared history—such as what if they had never attended a particular party where they met, or what if Norman had pursued a different career path. These hypotheticals gradually reveal deeper philosophical layers about choice, regret, and the nature of reality, ultimately inspiring Norman with a concept for a story involving branching timelines. Asimov uses this simple premise to explore the core appeal of science fiction as a literature of imaginative possibility, blending domestic dialogue with speculative introspection in a concise narrative that runs under 5,000 words. The story's publication history reflects its enduring place in Asimov's oeuvre. Originally appearing in Fantastic—a Ziff-Davis pulp magazine known for its mix of science fiction and fantasy—"What If—" marked an early example of Asimov's shift toward more introspective, idea-driven shorts following his Foundation series. It was later reprinted in Asimov's 1969 collection Nightfall and Other Stories (Doubleday), where it appeared alongside classics like "Nightfall" and "The Last Question," cementing its status as a representative piece of mid-20th-century speculative fiction.[48] Further inclusions came in The Complete Stories, Volume 1 (1990, Doubleday), the latter compiling over 60 of his early works and earning a 1992 Locus Award for best collection.[49] Critics have praised the tale for its economical style and meta-commentary on the genre, with Asimov himself noting in the foreword to Nightfall and Other Stories that it captures the "what if" essence that fuels all science fiction. Though not among Asimov's most famous works, "What If—" exemplifies how short fiction can distill complex themes like alternate histories into accessible, character-focused narratives, influencing later writers in the alternate-reality subgenre.Music
Albums
Several albums have been released under the title "What If" or close variants, spanning genres from jazz fusion to pop and rock, often exploring themes of introspection and possibility through their song selections. These works highlight diverse artistic visions, with instrumental prowess in fusion albums and vocal-driven narratives in pop and rock releases.[50] The Dixie Dregs' What If, released in March 1978 by Capricorn Records, is a seminal jazz-rock fusion album featuring intricate instrumental compositions by the Georgia-based band, known for blending southern rock, progressive elements, and virtuosic guitar work from Steve Morse. Produced by the band with engineering by Rodney Mills, it peaked at No. 98 on the Billboard 200 chart, establishing the group's reputation in the fusion scene. The album's eight tracks emphasize technical improvisation and melodic exploration, without vocals.[51][52]| Track | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take It Off the Top | 4:07 |
| 2 | Odyssey | 7:38 |
| 3 | What If | 5:03 |
| 4 | Travel Tunes | 4:38 |
| 5 | Sunset Road | 4:25 |
| 6 | G. G. Train | 3:49 |
| 7 | Little Maggie | 5:32 |
| 8 | Hamba Sa | 4:48 |
| Track | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jealousy | 4:47 |
| 2 | Remo's Theme (What If) | 4:23 |
| 3 | Reach for the Bottle | 5:45 |
| 4 | Friendly Advice | 3:27 |
| 5 | This Is Not a Test | 3:34 |
| 6 | See Me Now | 4:02 |
| 7 | True Confessions | 3:52 |
| 8 | Count on You | 4:26 |
| 9 | Love You Like I Never Loved Before | 3:58 |
| 10 | Only the Strong Survive | 4:02 |
| Track | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What If | 4:48 |
| 2 | If This Is Love | 4:04 |
| 3 | Perfect World | 4:36 |
| 4 | One Look | 3:36 |
| 5 | Ride the Hurricane | 3:49 |
| 6 | She Rocked My World | 4:08 |
| 7 | Love Is a Fire | 5:19 |
| 8 | When Right Is Wrong | 4:48 |
| 9 | Turn and Walk Away | 4:21 |
| Track | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Undertow | 4:48 |
| 2 | American Beauty | 3:44 |
| 3 | Stranger in My Life | 4:25 |
| 4 | Nobody Left to Blame | 4:20 |
| 5 | Still Ain't Enough for Me | 3:04 |
| 6 | Once Upon a Time | 4:10 |
| 7 | As Far as I Can Tell | 4:24 |
| 8 | The Long Way Down | 4:11 |
| 9 | Things I Never Said | 3:07 |
| 10 | Around the World | 3:37 |
| 11 | I'll Never Get Over This | 4:44 |
| 12 | All the Way to the Gutter | 6:08 |
| Track | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cave Bop | 4:27 |
| 2 | Unfolding | 5:05 |
| 3 | 2:19 | 4:30 |
| 4 | What If | 5:33 |
| 5 | Hey Joe | 4:56 |
| 6 | Battle Stick | 3:58 |
| 7 | Go Ahead and Leave | 4:13 |
| 8 | Butcher Boy | 3:50 |
| 9 | Someday | 4:32 |
| 10 | Little Georgia Rose | 4:05 |
| 11 | Road to Medina | 4:21 |
| Track | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not Ready Yet | 2:45 |
| 2 | Let Me In | 3:02 |
| 3 | Friends Don't | 2:58 |
| 4 | The Way a Heart Breaks | 3:10 |
| 5 | Pathetic | 2:50 |
| 6 | Scared of Myself | 3:15 |
| 7 | Blame It on the Alcohol | 2:55 |
| 8 | Say You'll Stay | 3:08 |
| 9 | If I Die Tonight | 3:20 |
| 10 | Out of My Mind | 2:48 |
| 11 | What If? | 3:05 |
| 12 | Forever | 3:12 |