Lilo & Stitch Cruises To No1 Again at Box Office
NEW YORK – The battle for box office dominance between a chaotic CG alien and a deadly assassin ended with “Lilo & Stitch” holding the edge. The Disney hit celebrated its third consecutive weekend as No. 1, while the John Wick spinoff “Ballerina” landed below expectations.
According to sources, “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” brought in $25 million from 3,409 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Initial projections predicted an opening between $35 and $40 million but were lowered multiple times, resulting in a debut below forecasts. Directed by Len Wiseman, the film centers on Ana de Armas, a sideline character during the events of “John Wick 3,” rather than Keanu Reeves’ John Wick himself.
Despite strong critic reviews and positive audience feedback, “Ballerina”’s box office results puzzled analysts. Normally, good word of mouth boosts weekend earnings, but in today’s market, the opening weekend isn’t always decisive. Industry experts say “Ballerina” may still build momentum over time.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst, noted, “Even though it’s part of the John Wick franchise, it’s playing like a true original. And that’s not a bad thing. This wasn’t a movie expected to open like a ‘Mission: Impossible’ or another mega-franchise.”
Production Costs and Global Performance
Produced by Lionsgate, Thunder Road Films, and 87Eleven Entertainment, “Ballerina” reportedly carried a hefty $90 million production budget. However, much of this has been offset by international pre-sales. The film earned $26 million from 82 countries, pushing its global total to $51 million.
As the franchise’s first spinoff, “Ballerina” had the second-lowest opening weekend among the five films, only surpassing the original 2014 “John Wick” which opened with just over $14 million (unadjusted for inflation). Still, the franchise has grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
Dergarabedian added that the R-rated “Ballerina” might see a stronger second weekend, especially as it faces family-friendly competition like “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Box Office Top Performers This Weekend
Once again, “Lilo & Stitch” topped the charts with $32.5 million domestically, raising its North American total to $335.8 million and its global haul to $772.6 million. In just 17 days, it has already surpassed the entire domestic run of the live-action “The Little Mermaid,” which made $298 million.
“Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” slipped to third place, earning $15 million and bringing its worldwide total to $450.4 million. “Karate Kid: Legends” followed with $8.7 million, securing fourth place. “Final Destination: Bloodlines” rounded out the top five with $6.5 million.
Expanding beyond New York and Los Angeles, Wes Anderson’s new film “The Phoenician Scheme” opened in 1,678 theaters nationwide. The Focus Features release starring Benicio del Toro earned an estimated $6.3 million, landing in sixth place.
The R-rated anime “Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye” also made an impressive debut, earning $3.1 million across 1,080 theaters and securing a spot in the top 10.
Overall, the box office is showing a strong 26% increase compared to this time last year.
Top 10 Domestic Box Office This Weekend
1. “Lilo & Stitch” – $32.5 million
2. “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” – $25 million
3. “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” – $15 million
4. “Karate Kid: Legends” – $8.7 million
5. “Final Destination: Bloodlines” – $6.5 million
6. “The Phoenician Scheme” – $6.3 million
7. “Bring Her Back” – $3.5 million
8. “Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye” – $3.1 million
9. “Sinners” – $2.9 million
10. “Thunderbolts” – $2.5 million
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