Pixar’s Elio recorded the studio’s worst-ever opening weekend, while How to Train Your Dragon dominated.
Pixar’s *Elio*, an original sci-fi adventure, opened to a disappointing $21 million domestically and $35 million globally. This marks the lowest three-day debut in the studio’s 30-year history and falls short of *Elemental*’s $44.5 million debut in 2023.
Despite having a budget of $150 million, *Elio* earned only $14 million internationally across 43 territories. However, the film has received positive reviews, with an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore, indicating potential for recovery, similar to *Elemental*’s global earnings of $496.4 million. Upcoming releases in China, Japan, and Spain, as well as summer school breaks, may help boost its performance.
‘ELIO’ had the worst box office opening for a Pixar film ever with $21M domestically.
Read our review: https://t.co/sWEbQbysOC pic.twitter.com/woftUZVS2n
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 22, 2025Universal’s live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon maintained its position at the top of the box office, earning $37 million in its second weekend. This represents a 56% decline from its opening weekend, bringing its total domestic earnings to $160.4 million and its global earnings to $358.2 million. The film’s success is bolstered by strong word-of-mouth and an “A” CinemaScore, with a planned sequel. It outperformed competitors, including Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, which added $9.7 million to reach a global total of $910.3 million.
‘ELIO’ is on track to earn Pixar’s worst opening weekend ever domestically with +$20M.
The film had an actual budget of $150M.
Read our review: https://t.co/8SQKhYGp8w pic.twitter.com/ww8XGLOhPp
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) June 18, 2025According to Variety, Sony’s 28 Years Later, directed by Danny Boyle, debuted with $30 million domestically and $60 million globally, marking Boyle’s biggest opening. Despite a “B” CinemaScore and 67% audience score, its 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating and $60 million budget position it for profitability. The film’s success may greenlight the trilogy’s third instalment.
The weekend’s total of $126.3 million reflects an 18% revenue increase over 2024, though it is 26% below the earnings of 2019. According to IGN, Other notable films still in theatres include Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning ($540.9 million) and Materialists ($24 million).
