Disney and Pixar's latest animated adventure, "Elio", has had a challenging debut at the box office, earning a mere $14 million overseas and a total of $35 million globally. These figures mark the lowest opening for Pixar, the renowned animation studio celebrated for iconic films like "Toy Story," "The Incredibles," and "Finding Nemo." Prior to this, the title of the lowest-grossing Pixar debut was held by 2023’s "Elemental," which managed to earn $14.9 million internationally and $44.5 million worldwide.
Despite its rocky start, "Elio" has received favorable feedback from audiences, leading Disney to remain optimistic about its potential for longevity in theaters. The film follows a young boy who unintentionally becomes Earth’s ambassador after a mix-up with aliens. This storyline, coupled with positive word-of-mouth, could help the film maintain momentum over the coming months. This is crucial, especially considering that the production budget for "Elio" was a hefty $150 million, not including significant global marketing expenses.
While "How to Train Your Dragon" has likely attracted the same family-friendly audience as "Elio," there is limited competition in the animated genre until Paramount's "Smurfs" hits theaters on July 18. In its second weekend, "How to Train Your Dragon" soared to the top of international charts, bringing in $53.5 million from 81 markets. After two weekends, the live-action adaptation has grossed $197 million overseas and $385 million globally, demonstrating a strong and sustained enthusiasm for the beloved characters Hiccup, Toothless, and the enchanting world of Berk.
In a surprising twist, second place at the box office was claimed by Sony's zombie adventure "28 Years Later," which earned $30 million from 59 markets during its opening weekend. When combined with its $30 million debut in North America, the film's global earnings stand at $60 million. The top territories for "28 Years Later" include the United Kingdom ($6.4 million), Mexico ($2.7 million), Australia ($1.7 million), and South Korea ($1.5 million).
"28 Years Later" serves as a sequel to the earlier films "28 Days Later" and "28 Weeks Later." Set nearly three decades after a devastating rage virus wreaked havoc on the world, the narrative follows a group of isolated survivors venturing into the mainland, where they encounter a new mutation that threatens the remaining population. The film, with a production cost of $60 million, is expected to become the highest-grossing installment in the franchise, surpassing "28 Days Later", which grossed $75 million globally. Sony aims to spark a new zombie trilogy with this installment, with the original creators, Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, at the helm. Notably, this new film was filmed back-to-back with its sequel, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," set to release in 2026.
Despite the dismal start of "Elio," there are positive developments for Disney. The live-action remake of "Lilo & Stitch" has garnered an impressive $523.6 million overseas, contributing to a remarkable global total of $910 million after five weekends. This film is projected to become the first billion-dollar release of the year, showcasing that not all is lost for Disney as it navigates the current box office landscape.
