Box Office Breakdown: ‘28 Years Later’ Haunts with $30 Million Opening, While ‘Elio’ Suffers Historic Low with $21 Million Debut

A spunky, alien-loving preteen and a zombie army couldn’t compete with a fiery dragon at the box office this weekend. Universal’s remake of “How to Train Your Dragon” held onto the top spot in North America, despite two newcomers: Disney and Pixar’s “Elio” and Sony’s “28 Years Later.”

“Elio” flopped, opening in third place with just $21 million from 3,750 theaters. This is the worst debut in Pixar’s history, especially given its hefty $150 million budget. The film tells the story of a young boy mistaken for Earth’s ambassador to aliens, but it only made $14 million overseas. That brings its worldwide total to a disappointing $35 million.

David A. Gross, a movie consultant, remarked, “This is a weak opening for Pixar. These numbers would be fine for any other animated film, but for Pixar, it’s well below average.” Previously, Pixar’s lowest was “Elemental,” which started with $29.6 million but managed to gain traction later on, eventually earning $155 million domestically.

Pixar has faced challenges lately. Following significant ticket sales for “Inside Out 2” ($1.69 billion) last year, original animated films like “Elio” have struggled. During the pandemic, many families became accustomed to watching Pixar films at home. This shift may have impacted ticket sales as audiences now expect to see these animations on streaming platforms. Movies like “Lilo & Stitch” and the new “How to Train Your Dragon” have thrived, suggesting that recognizable brands draw larger crowds.

In second place, “28 Years Later” opened with $30 million, also meeting expectations. It added the same amount overseas, totaling $60 million worldwide. This marks the highest debut in the “28 Days Later” series, which began with “28 Days Later” in 2002. The new installment aims to launch a new trilogy with two more films planned.

Meanwhile, “How to Train Your Dragon” took in $37 million in its sophomore weekend, bringing its domestic earnings to about $160 million. Despite a 56% drop from its opening, it managed to fend off the competition.

Another noteworthy film, A24’s “Materialists,” earned $5.8 million in its second weekend. This film, which explores modern dating and finances in New York, has drawn plenty of conversation, racking up $24 million so far.

While Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” earned $9.5 million, Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” garnered $6.55 million in their respective fifth weekends. Both movies have performed well, with “Lilo & Stitch” reaching $386 million in the U.S. alone.

In terms of box office comparisons, it’s challenging to find a direct match from last year, as “Inside Out 2” debuted with $154 million. Before this weekend, revenue numbers were 23% higher than last year, but that increased to 18%, according to Comscore. The upcoming releases, including Brad Pitt’s racing drama and a new “Jurassic World,” are hoped to uplift summer ticket sales.

Paul Dergarabedian, a senior Comscore analyst, commented, “The last three weeks haven’t been stellar. However, we have numerous notable summer films releasing until Labor Day weekend.”

Cinema history shows that even in tough times, a few big hits can turn the tide. The box office landscape is unpredictable, but audiences continue to show strong preferences for familiar titles.



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