Ballerina Slips While Dragon Soars - Weeks 6 & 7

As the summer of reboots, rebrands, remakes, and side hustles continues to try and make the box-office numbers rebound, we got a classic “win some, lose some” scenario. 

First, the win. How to Train Your Dragon came roaring out of the gate with an awesome $84.6 million opening. That’s almost double what the original animated feature debuted with in 2010. Fans of the original were ready to go back to the Isle of Berk and Universal didn’t hiccup this release. 

This was an even bigger opening than Thuderbolts*, and given the way families love to flock to the theaters in the summer, this PG-hit looks to be something that could fly past the $200 million mark. I can’t predict the future, but that’s the level in my mind any film needs to pass to be a legit Top 5 contender this summer. 

Then, there was a loss. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina tumbled out the gate with a $24 million opening. Despite trying to throw every side character they could to make this feel like a an actual John Wick movie (even including John Wick!), the folks who lined-up for John Wick 4 couldn’t be bothered for something that seemed like a Peacock exclusive. Still, I’m sure they’ll try a few more John Wick adjace projects before they consider the property excommunicado. 

Meanwhile, Lilo & Stitch continued being the “film of the summer” until something comes along to knock it off the mountain. It had been the #1 film for three weeks straight and only dropped to #2 after Dragon was released. With $366.5 million in hand, it has an outside chance of getting to $400 million. Oddly, standing in its path, is the new Disney/Pixar movie Elio that opens this weekend. Well planned, everybody. Good call. 

The Final Reckoning of Mission:Impossible continues to be about the same as all of their other reckonings. They’ve chosen to accept $166.5 million so far and will likely finish around $190 million. That’s above Dead Reckoning: Part One and just below Rogue Nation. While I keep thinking they could try and spin-off M:I with a new crew of agents, its likelihood of success is probably the same as Ballerina. We go to John Wick for Keanu and we go to M:I for Tom. Replacing them with an actor from an FX show is not the same. 

This week, we’ll see if 28 Years Later can be more than a fan-boy curiosity like last year’s Furiosa and if Pixar has truly found its groove after Inside Out 2 or if it’s back to its days of Lightyear. 

The Top Five If Today Was Labor Day:

#1. Lilo & Stitch - $366.5 million

#2. Thunderbolts* - $188.5 million

#3. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - $166.5 million

#4. Final Destination: Bloodline - $130.7 million

#5. How to Train Your Dragon - $84.6 million