In the latest box office rankings, Disney’s "Lilo & Stitch" has outpaced the competition, including the newly released action film "Ballerina," a spin-off from the popular John Wick franchise. "Lilo & Stitch" has now topped the charts for three consecutive weekends, proving to be a strong box office draw.
Recently released estimates from studios show that "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" earned around $25 million from over 3,400 theaters in the U.S. and Canada. Initial projections had placed the film’s opening closer to $35 million, but those expectations were scaled back. Despite receiving positive reviews from critics and audience-goers, "Ballerina" didn’t quite soar as anticipated. Directed by Len Wiseman, the film stars Ana de Armas and touches on events surrounding “John Wick 3.”
Interestingly, analysts note that while "Ballerina" garnered good reviews, the traditional opening weekend is not as decisive as it once was. Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst, remarked that although it’s part of a larger franchise, the film stands out as somewhat original, which might not appeal to all audiences in the same way as major blockbusters like “Mission: Impossible.”
Despite a substantial production cost of around $90 million, much of that has already been taken care of through international pre-sales, with the film grossing $26 million in 82 countries, bringing its total global opening to $51 million.
As the second entry in the franchise to open relatively low, "Ballerina" still has the potential for a sustained box office presence in the weeks to come. Dergarabedian suggests that being an R-rated film might work in its favor for a strong second weekend, especially as it competes with family-focused films like “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Meanwhile, "Lilo & Stitch" continues to dominate with an additional $32.5 million this weekend, lifting its total domestic earnings to $335.8 million and an impressive $772.6 million globally, surpassing the entire run of last year’s live-action "The Little Mermaid."
The box office landscape shows resilience with an increase of over 26% compared to this time last year, signaling a positive trend for theatergoers.
Here’s a quick look at the top five films by domestic box office:
- Lilo & Stitch – $32.5 million
- Ballerina – $25 million
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – $15 million
- Karate Kid: Legends – $8.7 million
- Final Destination: Bloodlines – $6.5 million
As audiences continue to flock to theaters, the competition remains fierce, but classics like "Lilo & Stitch" are proving their lasting appeal.
