Let’s be real for a second. When the news broke that John Krasinski was the 2024 People Sexiest Man Alive, half the internet cheered while the other half collectively scratched their heads. It wasn’t that people didn’t think he was attractive. I mean, it’s Jim Halpert. He’s the guy who invented the "look into the camera" vibe that defined a generation. But in a year where Glen Powell was literally everywhere and Jonathan Bailey was stealing every scene in Bridgerton, the choice felt… safe. Maybe a little too safe?
Krasinski himself seemed to think it was a prank. When the magazine called him up, he admitted his mind went totally blank. "Just immediate blackout, actually," he told People. He figured there was no way he was actually getting the crown. Honestly, that self-deprecation is probably why he won. He’s the guy who’s ripped enough to play Jack Ryan but still jokes about having to do more chores now that he’s officially "the sexiest."
Why John Krasinski? The Strategy Behind the 2024 Pick
People magazine isn't just throwing darts at a board of handsome actors. There’s a science to this, or at least a very specific marketing strategy. While social media was screaming for someone like Pedro Pascal or Paul Mescal, the magazine’s core demographic often skews a bit older. They like the "husband" energy. Krasinski is the ultimate "Internet's Husband."
He’s been married to Emily Blunt for 14 years. They have two kids. They seem genuinely happy. In the 40th anniversary year of the award, picking a guy who feels stable and "attainable" (even if he has 8-pack abs) makes a lot of sense for a brand that lives in grocery store checkout lines.
The Career Pivot That Sealed the Deal
It’s easy to forget that Krasinski isn’t just the "floppy-haired paper salesman" anymore. Since The Office ended, he’s undergone a massive transformation:
- The Action Star: He got incredibly shredded for 13 Hours and spent four seasons as Jack Ryan.
- The Director: He turned a low-budget horror flick, A Quiet Place, into a billion-dollar franchise.
- The Family Man: His 2024 film IF was basically a love letter to childhood and his own daughters.
Basically, he’s the guy who can do it all. He’s the action hero who still puts his kids to bed and binges Netflix documentaries with his wife. That’s a very specific kind of "sexy" that People loves to capitalize on.
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The Benny Blanco Confusion and Other 2024 Snubs
Before the official announcement on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, things got weird. A "leak" started circulating on social media showing a picture of Benny Blanco—producer and boyfriend of Selena Gomez—with the Sexiest Man Alive branding. People lost their minds.
It turned out Benny was featured in the issue, just not as the winner. He was part of a new "Sexiest Handyman" or "Sexiest TikTok Star" type category. But for a few hours there, the internet was convinced the magazine had gone in a wildly different direction.
Who Else Was in the Running?
The 2024 "snub" list was long. If you spent five minutes on X (formerly Twitter) that night, you saw these names on repeat:
- Glen Powell: The man was in Anyone But You and Twisters. He was the undisputed "It Boy" of 2024. Rumor has it he might have even turned the title down, though that’s never been confirmed.
- Jonathan Bailey: With Wicked on the horizon and Fellow Travelers still fresh in everyone's minds, he was a huge fan favorite.
- Pedro Pascal: The internet’s collective "Daddy" somehow still hasn't won this thing.
- Paul Mescal: Between the Gladiator II trailer and his indie darling status, he was the Gen Z pick.
The "Curse" of the Title
Let’s talk about the pressure. Winning Sexiest Man Alive is kind of a double-edged sword. You get the title, but you also get a year of your friends roasting you. Krasinski joked that his brothers would probably wonder how this was possible for years.
Even George Clooney, a two-time winner, chimed in recently. He joked that AARP should start a "Sexiest Man Still Alive" category for the older crowd. It’s a title that carries a lot of baggage. You have to be humble about it, but you also have to do the shirtless photoshoot. It’s a delicate balance.
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The Legacy of the 40th Anniversary
Since Mel Gibson won the first ever title in 1985, the award has changed. It used to be about pure movie star power—think Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in the 90s. Now, it’s about "the package."
John Krasinski follows a recent trend of "The Nice Guy" winners. We saw it with Paul Rudd in 2021 and Patrick Dempsey in 2023. These aren't just "hot" guys; they’re guys people actually like. They’re guys who seem like they’d be fun to grab a beer with or who would actually listen to your problems.
How the Selection Actually Happens
Contrary to what many think, it’s not a public vote. While People runs "Reader’s Choice" polls for categories like "Sexiest Tattoos" or "Sexiest New Dad," the big one is decided by the editors. They look at data, but they also look at who is willing to play ball.
The winner has to agree to a cover story, a photo shoot, and a late-night appearance. If your favorite actor didn't win, there's a decent chance they were asked and simply said, "No thanks, that sounds embarrassing."
What’s Next for Krasinski?
Don’t expect the title to change him much. He’s already moved on to his next project, Fountain of Youth, starring alongside Natalie Portman. He’s also busy with the Jack Ryan movie in development.
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If anything, the 2024 Sexiest Man Alive title is just another line on a very impressive resume. And as he told the magazine, it probably just means he’s going to be doing more dishes at home in Brooklyn.
Your Takeaway on the 2024 Reveal
If you're looking for lessons from this year's pick, here they are:
- Consistency is Key: Krasinski has been a household name for nearly 20 years. Longevity matters.
- The "Girl Next Door" Equivalent: Men who are perceived as "good husbands" are currently dominating the cultural zeitgeist.
- The "Snub" is Good PR: The fact that everyone was arguing about Glen Powell and Pedro Pascal only helped the magazine get more clicks.
To keep up with how these titles age, you can look back at the 2025 winner, Jonathan Bailey, who finally broke the "safe husband" streak by becoming the first openly gay man to take the title. It just goes to show that while the 2024 pick was a nod to the classic "Office" nostalgia, the magazine is slowly starting to reflect a much broader version of what "sexy" actually looks like.
Go back and re-watch A Quiet Place or some old Office clips. You’ll see it. The charm was always there; it just took forty years for People to give him the official stamp of approval.