As Americans still cope with the impact and ramifications of the 2024 presidential election, another winner in a tight race has the world split on its decision: People‘s Sexiest Man Alive. Started by People Magazine in 1985, the title tends to symbolize the peak in male attractiveness that encompasses both looks and personality. Past winners have included Hollywood heartthrobs like George Clooney, Hugh Jackman, Bradley Cooper, Michael B. Jordan, and Jude Law. This year’s winner was a surprise to me, John Krasinski.
People revealed that John Krasinski was People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2024. Krasinski’s win is certainly divisive, and while the actor certainly has been a popular icon, many felt this was a long time coming. Some think this win would have felt more appropriate from 2006 to 2010, at the height of The Office‘s popularity. It appears the popular vote for People‘s Sexiest Man Alive in 2024 was Glen Powell, as the star enjoyed an incredible run of Anyone but You leading into 2024 and followed it up with Hit Man and the blockbuster Twisters. Two other popular picks seem to be The Acolyte‘s Manny Jacinto and star Pedro Pascal, who, like Krasinski, will share the honor of playing Mister Fantastic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here is a small sampling of the reaction online, including a reference to the popular Randall Park as Jim meme from The Office and a relevant Conclave reference.
It is worth noting that to be People’s Sexiest Man Alive, the recipient has to choose to accept the award. There have been some cases where someone has turned down the offer. For years, many have wondered why star Ryan Gosling has never won the award. This is because Gosling has turned down the award multiple times. This isn’t to suggest that Powell, Pascal, Jacinto, or any other actor turned it down first, and then they chose Krasinski or that Krasinski was not the top choice for People, but it is something worth considering.
Ain’t Love in Oklahoma
What is notable about Krasinski’s win for People‘s Sexiest Man Alive is that, in 2024, he has largely been a behind-the-scenes talent. He produced A Quiet Place: Day One, Apartment 7A, and directed the moderate box office hit IF. While he does appear in IF, he has a minimal role in the film, so it is certainly shocking to see him beat out more prominent stars of this year, like Glen Powell or two past winners of People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds from Deadpool & Wolverine. In fact, before IF, Krasinski’s last on-screen credits were in the final season of Jack Ryan in 2023 and his cameo as Mister Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness from 2022.
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Twisters’ Glen Powell Reacts to Claims He is More Appealing Than Ryan Gosling
The response after an unnamed producer pointed to the fact that Glen Powell is now a movie star who can drive people to movie theaters.
Krasinski is keeping himself busy, for sure. He is set to reprise his role as Jack Ryan in a feature film continuation of the popular Prime Video television series. He is also set to star in Guy Ritchie’s The Fountain of Youth and is currently working on developing A Quiet Place Part III, but no release date is set for the film. In any other year, People‘s Sexiest Man Alive would be both meaningless and a bigger story for people to have fun debates over, but with the announcement coming one week after the presidential election, it doesn’t seem as fun anymore.