June 20-22 Box Office Predictions

Zombie threequel 28 Years Later from Danny Boyle and Disney/Pixar’s sci-fi adventure Elio debut this weekend and look to challenge How to Train Your Dragon from a second weekend atop the charts. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

28 Years could over perform and challenge Dragon for box office bragging rights. $40M+ isn’t out of the question, but I’m projecting low to mid 30s.

The Dragon competition could be detrimental to Elio. Pixar has had luck with recent sequels like Inside Out 2. However, original content such as Elemental has struggled out of the gate. I’m estimating Elio premieres in the mid 20s and that would probably mean third place.

If Dragon declines around 50%, low 40s is where it would land and that would mean hitting #1 again after its fiery debut (more on that below).

Lilo & Stitch should be fourth while fifth could be a photo finish between the sophomore frame of Materialists and fifth frame of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Here’s how I see the top 6 playing out:

1. How to Train Your Dragon

Predicted Gross: $41.6 million

2. 28 Years Later

Predicted Gross: $33.7 million

3. Elio

Predicted Gross: $24.5 million

4. Lilo & Stitch

Predicted Gross: $8.1 million

5. Materialists

Predicted Gross: $6.6 million

6. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Predicted Gross: $6.5 million

Box Office Predictions (June 13-15)

Friday the 13th certainly wasn’t unlucky for the live-action version of 2010’s How to Train Your Dragon. With mostly solid reviews and an A Cinemascore grade, the fourth flick in the series easily set a franchise high with $84.6 million. That’s right on track with my $84.3 million prediction and it is the fourth largest domestic kickoff of 2025. A sequel was already in the works.

Lilo & Stitch slipped to second after three weeks in 1st with $15.7 million, on pace with my $15.6 million call. The four-week tally is $366 million.

Celine Song’s Materialists with Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans slightly exceeded expectations with $12 million in third. That’s right in the neighborhood of my $11.4 million estimate as the rom com hopes to play well throughout the coming weeks. The B- Cinemascore could be cause for concern.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning was fourth with $10.5 million (I went lower at $9 million) for $166 million in four weeks.

At $9.7 million, John Wick spinoff Ballerina sputtered in weekend #2 with a 60% plummet for fifth. I was slightly more generous at $10.5 million.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

Oscar Predictions: Ballerina

Ana de Armas headlines the John Wick franchise spinoff Ballerina this weekend with Keanu Reeves appearing in the action thriller from director Len Wiseman. Other costars include Gabriel Byrne, Catalinia Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, and Wick fixtures Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, and the late Lance Reddick.

The Academy recently announced a new Achievement in Stunt Design category. However, it won’t begin until the 100th ceremony in 2028. That’s bad news for Ballerina and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in 2025. Both the Wick and Impossible series likely would’ve racked up multiple noms had that race existed over the past decade plus.

Four previous Wick pics couldn’t get into categories like Sound or Visual Effects and I doubt Ballerina will. My Oscar Predictions posts will continue…

June 6-8 Box Office Predictions

Ballerina, a spinoff of the John Wick franchise, hopes to step into the #1 spot this weekend and Wes Anderson’s latest comedy The Phoenician Scheme expands nationwide. My detailed prediction posts on the newcomers can be accessed here:

Ana de Armas headlines Ballerina (full title: From the World of John Wick: Ballerina) with series regulars appearing including Keanu Reeves. While I don’t have this approaching the heights of the previous two Wick installments, my mid 30s projection should be enough to top the charts.

As for Phoenician, it had an impressive per screen average in six venues this past frame. My high single digits estimate as it increases to around 1500 locations should mean fourth or fifth place with it performing in line with Anderson predecessor Asteroid City.

Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the 1-2 finishers for the past two weekends, should each drop a spot with percentage dips in the mid 40s. I expect Karate Kid: Legends to experience a heftier decline in the mid to high 50s during its sophomore outing.

Here’s how I have the top five playing out:

1. Ballerina

Predicted Gross: $36.8 million

2. Lilo & Stitch

Predicted Gross: $31.9 million

3. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Predicted Gross: $15 million

4. The Phoenician Scheme

Predicted Gross: $8.7 million

5. Karate Kid: Legends

Predicted Gross: $8.5 million

Box Office Results (May 30-June 1)

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch continued to reign supreme with $61.8 million, a bit under my $66.4 million call. The live-action remake of the 2002 animated feature has collected $278 million in its ten days of release.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning was runner-up with $27.2 million, on target with my $28.7 million forecast. Ethan Hunt’s final adventure stands at $122 million after two weeks in play.

Karate Kid: Legends debuted in third with $20.3 million which puts it in line with my $21.3 million prediction. The legacy sequel with Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan premiered on the lower end of its anticipated range.

Final Destination Bloodlines was fourth with $10.9 million, ahead of my $8 million projection for a three-week tally of $111 million.

Finally, acclaimed A24 horror flick Bring Her Back brought in a so-so $7 million for fifth, not matching my $8.5 million call.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

Ballerina Box Office Prediction

Ballerina looks to spin box office gold for Lionsgate when it debuts on June 6th. A spinoff of the John Wick franchise, Ana de Armas joins the world of assassins in this cinematic universe with Len Wiseman directing. Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Norman Reedus provide support. Lucky for the studio’s marketing department, so do several cast members of Wick installments including Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick (in his final feature role), and Mr. Wick himself Keanu Reeves.

Originally slated for last summer, the project was pushed back a full year. It takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4. Recent TV ads have highlighted Keanu’s involvement with the title styled as From the World of John Wick: Ballerina.

Parabellum debuted to $56 million in 2019 while 2023’s fourth installment kicked off with $73 million, Ballerina is not expected to reach those heights and its start should be more in line with John Wick: Chapter Two‘s $30 million premiere in 2017. $40 million is possible, but I’ll say mid 30s.

Ballerina opening weekend prediction: $36.8 million

For my The Phoenician Scheme prediction, click here: