Sony’s latest horror-thriller 28 Years Later, directed by Danny Boyle, began its theatrical run with a solid $14 million opening from Friday and early preview screenings. Meanwhile, Universal Pictures’ animated blockbuster How to Train Your Dragon continues to soar, holding the number one position at the U.S. box office for the second consecutive weekend.
According to industry insights reported by Variety, 28 Years Later is now on course to exceed $30 million in its debut weekend, slightly surpassing initial predictions. The film, which cost $60 million to produce, reunites Boyle with writer Alex Garland, two decades after the original 28 Days Later became a cult classic in 2002. The sequel stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and emerging talent Alfie Williams. Sony has already wrapped filming on a follow-up, The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta and slated for a January 2026 release. A potential third film is likely dependent on this installment’s final box office performance. Though critics have praised the film, general audiences rated it a modest “B” on CinemaScore.
On a less positive note, Pixar’s latest original feature Elio struggled with just $9 million in earnings from 3,750 screens, putting it on track to become one of the weakest opening weekends in the studio’s history. This performance falls well below Pixar’s 2023 film Elemental, which initially underperformed but eventually grossed over $484 million globally thanks to positive word-of-mouth. Elio has received an encouraging “A” grade from viewers on CinemaScore, suggesting it may have a chance to bounce back in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, How to Train Your Dragon continues its strong performance with an additional $10.8 million earned on Friday alone. Its second weekend is projected to total approximately $35.7 million, marking a 58% decline from its opening weekend but still keeping it atop the domestic charts. With these figures, the film is expected to surpass the $160 million milestone in just ten days, placing it among the year’s top earners.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch live-action adaptation secured $3 million on Friday and is eyeing a $10 million weekend. With a cumulative gross nearing $387 million, the film is about to surpass Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II on the list of highest-grossing films in North America.
Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is heading toward a weekend total of $178.9 million. A24’s romantic satire Materialists maintains a respectable sixth-place position with $6 million, while Rebel Wilson’s action-comedy Bride Hard is expected to slip out of the top ten entirely.
