'Ballerina' Decent, but Second Straight Release Below Tracking
Mixed signals the week before June's expected biggest opening.
‘Ballerina’ (Lionsgate)
For the second time in two weeks, a franchise revamp came in behind Disney’s amazing “Lilo & Stitch,” as well as opened below expectations. “Ballerina” (full title - “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina”) came in second at $25 million, at least $5 million below what was projected.
That follows the disappointing opening of “Karate Kids: Legends” (Sony) - more on that later. For Lionsgate, the investment for “Ballerina” was greater (production cost $90 million compared to $45 million), along with reported higher than usual domestic marketing expense for the company’s most thriving current franchise. (They sell off foreign rights for their films, and that revenue likely goes a long way to covering the expense).
With the summer ahead mostly comprised on similar familiar films also tweaking the formulas and hoping for success, the relative shortfalls of each remain a reason to be uncertain whether this will be a good or very good summer. Meantime, despite any relative disappointment, both films contributed to a weekend about 10% ahead of last year. Even with a smaller jump than recent weeks, it leaves the year to date improvement at a very good 26% improvement.
“Ballerina” is an off-shoot of the four film (so far?) “John Wick” franchise, with Ana de Armas in the long-gestasting female variation on the hired assassin series (six years ago initially with Lady Gaga suggested in the role) got an A- Cinemascore, a decent result for a film that had a troubled production history. Hopes though that it could be a $100 million total U.S./Canada release look shot (that came with high-end projections of $40 million to open). As of now, it looks in the $65-75 million range. Foreign opened to $26 million, with Japan and Italy ahead.
Added in to the mix with blockbusters left a positive results for theaters. That’s better than the new “Karate” will reach U.S./Canada (around $50 million). That film’s second weekend dropped to #4 with $8.7 million (about $35 million total). That’s off 55% from last weekend’s apparent $19.3 million opening. (Sony revised their initial estimate of $20.7 million to $20 million on Monday, itself an unusual overcalculation once actual numbers were known). It’s another case of a decent Cinemascore (also A-) not resulting in a decent hold.
“Lilo” is the second film for Disney this year, and the second for any distributor, to take the #1 spot three weekends in a row. “Captain America: Brave New World” did so in February with less competition, and with less than half the gross. The live-action remake grossed $32.5 million, and is at $336 million U.S./Canada, slightly behind year’s best so far “A Minecraft Movie” (at $344 million after its third weekend). It’s going to be a close race for which of them ends up better (“Minecraft” looks to finish around $425 million).
Worldwide so far “Lilo” is over $772 million, with this weekend twice the domestic take. It faces a big challenge next weekend when Universal’s animated staple “How to Train Your Dragon” goes live action, with an opening of $75-100 million anticipated.
“Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” (Paramount) continues to improve on its predecessor. #3 this weekend, down 45% with $15 million, it is now at $149.2 million. That’s compared to $131 million for the first 14 days last time. Even better news comes from foreign. Another $40.6 million came from there, with worldwide now $450 million. That gives this very expensive production a fighting chance to break even.
“Final Destinations: Bloodlines” came in fifth with $6.5 million, with its 40% drop the best top 10 hold. It stands at $123 million. “Sinners” (now on PVOD) is #9, with $273 million so far. “Thunderbolts” (Disney) is tenth, looking like it with end up a bit over $190 million, disappointing for a May Marvel.
Specialized/Specialized Companies
Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” (Focus) after the year’s best platform debut ($560,000 in six) placed #6 with $6,250,000. As was its opening, that’s off from the performance of his most recent film “Asteroid City.” This could be challenged to reach $20 million, compared to $28 million last time. It got a B- Cinemascore, although Anderson’s films tend to get divided response even at their best.
Standing out among limited openers, last year’s Toronto People’s Choice winner “The Life of Chuck” (Neon) did $216,000 in 16 theaters, $13,500 per theater. That’s not stellar for the Steven King novella adaptation (about three episodes in the life of an average guy; Tom Hiddleston stars). Among the strong line up of theaters in eight markets, at most only two had this as their top grosser (and one is a single-screen theater). It expands to over 1,000 theaters this week, which will test whether reported continued good word of mouth boosts it.
The second weekend of “Bring Her Back” (A24) dropped 50% with $3.5 million its second weekend. It is not performing as well to the directors’ earlier “Talk to Me.” That fell 40% weekend two on its way to $48 million. This will end up around $20 million.
“Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye” (GKids), a compilation of episodes from the anime series, did a decent $3.1 million in 1,085 theaters, good for #8 this weekend.
“Dangerous Animals” (IFC), a thriller about a kidnapped female surfer, got a B+ Cinemascore, fresh from its Cannes Directors’ Fortnight premiere did over $1.5 million in 1,633 theaters (under $1,000 per theater).
“I Don’t Understand You” (Vertical) an Italian-settle gay couple comedy tinged with horror elements (it played South by Southwest last year) managed $164,000 in 253 theaters.
Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” (Iconic) marked its 25th anniversary with event presentations (700 today, fewer earlier) totaling $978,000.
Top 10
1. Lilo & Stitch (Disney) Week 3; Last weekend #1
$32,500,000 (-47%) in 4,185 (-225) theaters; PTA (per theater average): $7,766; Cumulative: $335,796,000
2. Ballerina (Lionsgate) NEW - Cinemascore: A-; Metacritic: 59; Est, budget: $90 million
$25,000,000 in 3,409 theaters; PTA: $7,334; Cumulative: $25,000,000
3. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (Paramount) Week 3; Last weekend #2
$15,000,000 (-45%) in 3,496 (-365) theaters; PTA: $4,291; Cumulative: $149,217,000
4. Karate Kid: Legends (Sony) Week 2; Last weekend #3
$8,700,000 (-57%) in 3,859 (+50) theaters; PTA: $2,254; Cumulative: $35,441,000
5. Final Destinations Bloodlines (WBD) Week 4; Last weekend #4
$6,500,000 (-40%) in 2,867 (-267) theaters; PTA: $2,267; Cumulative: $123,565,000
6. The Phoenician Scheme (Focus) Week 2; Last weekend #14
$6,250,000 (+1,015%) in 1,678 (+1,672) theaters; PTA: $3,725; Cumulative: $7,000,000
7. Bring Her Back (A24) Week 2; Last weekend #5
$3,526,000 (-50%) in 2,425 (-24) theaters; PTA: $1,454; Cumulative: $14,113,000
8. Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye (GKids) NEW
$3,096,000 in 1,085 theaters; PTA: $2,853; Cumulative: $3,096,000
9. Sinners (WBD) Week 8; Last weekend #6; also on PVOD
$2,910,000 (-45%) in 1,518 (-620) theaters; PTA: $1,917; Cumulative: $272,361,000
10. Thunderbolts (Disney) Week 6; Last weekend #7
$2,500,000 (-48%) in 1,955 (-565) theaters; PTA: $1,279; Cumulative: $186,493,000
Other specialized/independent titles
Films (limited, expansions of limited) are listed by week in release, starting with those opened this week; after the first three weeks, only films with grosses over $5,000 are listed. Metacritic scores and initial film festivals recorded when available. After week two, per theater averages only listed for expanding films with under 100 theaters.
OPENING (platform/limited; 20 or fewer theaters)
The Life of Chuck (Neon) NEW - Metacritic: 66; Festivals include: Toronto 2024
$216,031 in 16 theaters; PTA: $13,502
We Are Guardians (Area 23) NEW - Festivals include: Hot Docs 2023
$6,500 in 1 theater; PTA: $6,500
The Last Twins (Abramorama) NEW
$5,370 in 1 theater; PTA: $5,370
OPENING (wider)
Dangerous Animals NEW - Metacritic: 65; Festivals include: Cannes 2025
$1,533,000 in 1,636 theaters; PTA: $922
I Don’t Understand You (Vertical) NEW - Metacritic: 59; Festivals include: South by Southwest 2024
$164,213 in 253 theaters; PTA: $649
Dogma (Iconic) REISSUE
$978,492 in 700 theaters; PTA: $1,398
ONGOING/EXPANDING
The Last Rodeo (Angel) Week 3
$1,023,000 in 1,235 (-760) theaters; PTA: $828; Cumulative: $12,957,000
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (Sony Pictures Classics) Week 3
$190,162 in 291 (-235) theaters; Cumulative: $1,446,000
Friendship (A24) Week 5
$1,089,000 in 1,072 (-221) theaters; Cumulative: $14,113,000
Secret Mall Apartment (Wheelhouse/mTuckman) Week 12
$7,815 in 11 (-13) theaters; Cumulative: $802,607