In a thrilling start to the weekend, Sony's highly anticipated zombie adventure, “28 Days Later,” showcased a robust performance during its Thursday previews, raking in an impressive $5.8 million. In contrast, Pixar's family-friendly film, “Elio,” debuted with a more modest $3 million. The notable difference in these figures is largely due to the target audience; “Elio” caters to families who typically do not rush to theaters on weeknights.
Heading into the weekend, “28 Days Later” is projected to open with an impressive $28 million to $30 million, marking what could be the best debut ever for a film in this undead series. Meanwhile, “Elio” is anticipated to gross between $25 million to $30 million in its opening weekend. However, neither film is expected to claim the top spot at the box office. That honor is likely to go to Universal’s live-action remake of “How to Train Your Dragon,” which dominated the previous weekend with $84.6 million and is expected to maintain its No. 1 position with a projected $40 million to $43 million in its second weekend—a decline of approximately 50%.
“How to Train Your Dragon” has proven to be a significant hit for the studio, accumulating over $200 million in its first full week. This strong performance sets a competitive tone for the weekend, making it challenging for both “28 Days Later” and “Elio” to surpass its earnings.
“Elio” follows the journey of a pre-teen boy who inadvertently becomes Earth's intergalactic ambassador after a mix-up with a group of eccentric aliens. The film boasts a hefty production budget of $150 million, not including the substantial marketing expenses incurred by Disney to promote it globally. While Pixar scored last year's biggest box office hit with “Inside Out 2,” the studio has faced challenges with other recent releases such as “Lightyear” and “Elemental,” which struggled to connect with audiences. It remains uncertain where “Elio” will fit within this spectrum of success.
“28 Days Later” continues the saga of survivors navigating a society devastated by a deadly virus. The story centers on a group that has quarantined themselves on an island, only to return to the mainland and face a new mutation threatening to obliterate the remnants of humanity—or transform them into ravenous hordes of zombies. This film is intended to launch a new trilogy, spearheaded by acclaimed director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, the original creators behind “28 Days Later.”
Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes headline the cast of “28 Years Later,” which has received positive reviews from critics. The film was shot back-to-back with its sequel, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” set to premiere in 2026. A third installment is also in development, but its future may depend on the box office performance of “28 Years Later.”
