The latest weekend box office results compiled by Comscore are now available, revealing that the family-friendly remake of How to Train Your Dragon has successfully topped the charts, outperforming the highly anticipated sequel, 28 Years Later, directed by Danny Boyle. This outcome aligns closely with our earlier predictions, as How to Train Your Dragon grossed an impressive $37 million, which reflects a moderate 56% decline from the previous week. With a cumulative total of $160 million so far, this film is expected to maintain its momentum throughout the summer season, appealing to families and fans alike.
In contrast, 28 Years Later earned $30 million domestically, a commendable figure for a movie that reportedly had a modest production budget of $60 million. The film’s success is further underscored by its international performance, where it also grossed $30 million, marking a significant achievement since horror films often face challenges in global markets. Notably, its largest international opening was in the UK, where it collected $6.4 million, showcasing the film’s appeal in the region.
On the flip side, the weekend witnessed a major disappointment with Pixar’s latest offering, Elio, which opened to a disappointing $21 million. This figure falls well below expectations and represents the lowest opening for Pixar ever, surpassing the prior low set by Elemental, which debuted at $29 million before ultimately reaching around $150 million. As we look ahead, it remains to be seen if Elio will gather any traction and ultimately surpass the $100 million mark. Disney has had a mixed year, struggling with Snow White and two underperforming Marvel movies, despite the considerable success of Lilo & Stitch, which secured fourth place with a robust $6.7 million and an impressive domestic gross of $386 million.
Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning surpassed the domestic earnings of its predecessor, Dead Reckoning, by securing $6.5 million this weekend and bringing its total to $178 million. The question on everyone’s mind is whether it will break the coveted $200 million mark. With Tom Cruise leading the charge, it’s certainly a possibility! Additionally, A24’s low-key success, Materialists, experienced a steeper-than-anticipated drop of 49%, resulting in a $5.8 million weekend and a total of $23 million. While it may not have achieved blockbuster status, it still performed respectably as a piece of counter-programming.
Lionsgate’s Ballerina: From the World of John Wick is concluding its disappointing run, generating $4.53 million in seventh place and accumulating a total of $51 million domestically. This outcome is far from what Lionsgate had envisioned for a potential franchise launch. Another franchise reboot, Karate Kid: Legends, similarly saw its domestic run come to an end, earning $2.4 million in eighth place, with a domestic total of $49 million. Given the lackluster performance, it seems unlikely that we will see another major Karate Kid film unless it forges closer ties to the popular Cobra Kai series.
The ninth spot was claimed by the horror sensation Final Destination: Bloodlines, which raked in $1.85 million, bringing its impressive total to $134 million (the film is now available for digital purchase). Additionally, the Indian crime drama Kuberaa managed to secure a tenth-place finish with $1.7 million. Outside the top ten, Neon’s The Life of Chuck struggled with only $1 million this weekend, reflecting a steep 57% decline from last week’s performance. Despite winning the People’s Choice Award at TIFF, Neon’s adaptation of Mike Flanagan’s gentle take on Stephen King has not resonated with audiences as hoped.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Brad Pitt’s F1 will go head-to-head with Blumhouse’s M3GAN 2.0. Which film do you think will claim victory at the box office? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
