As anticipated, Pixar’s Elio is emerging as a significant box office disappointment, which likely surpasses even Disney’s most pessimistic forecasts. The film is currently projected to achieve only a million opening weekend, falling short of our earlier predictions and landing in third place. This performance is notably weaker than that of Elemental in 2023, which debuted with $29 million but ultimately grossed a respectable $154 million. The critical question remains: will Elio exhibit similar longevity at the box office? It seems unlikely, especially given the intense summer competition, despite having received an impressive A CinemaScore rating. Our review, however, did not reflect the same positivity. According to Deadline’s box office analysis, the production budget for Elio is reported at $150 million, although there are whispers suggesting it may have cost as much as $300 million due to extensive reworking. Regardless, this situation marks the film as Pixar’s most significant disappointment to date.
The weekend’s other major new release, 28 Years Later, is outperforming expectations with an estimated opening of approximately $30 million. This film has earned a B CinemaScore, which is a respectable rating for a horror film. However, it remains to be seen whether Danny Boyle’s latest offering will maintain strong box office performance, particularly with a sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, scheduled for release in January. Audience reactions are polarized; while some viewers are expressing their admiration, others are voicing strong disapproval.
Currently, the How to Train Your Dragon remake is set for an effortless victory at the box office, projecting a total of $35.7 million with a 58% week-to-week decline. While this decline isn’t ideal, it’s still manageable. Meanwhile, Lilo & Stitch is anticipated to secure fourth place with approximately $10 million, while Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is poised to narrowly surpass Materialists for fifth place, projecting $6.6 million against $5.4 million. The A24 drama is experiencing a more significant than expected drop in its second weekend, with a decline of 51%.
Stay tuned for our comprehensive box office roundup tomorrow!
