Here's the awkward truth: most blockbusters drop hard after opening. But “Dragon” dropped 56%—from $84.6 million down to $37 million. That's not disastrous, but it's no storybook victory lap, either. Sure, it's ahead of every animated “Dragon” ever made: of the three originals, none crossed $100 million by their tenth day, and the remake already left that mile marker in the dust. Even the 2019 finale, “The Hidden World,” is about to get leapfrogged by a fire-breathing Oscar winner in two weeks, tops.
Yet, $160 million domestic and $358 million worldwide after just two weekends puts it on a collision course with box office history—just not fast enough to guarantee a global crown. For that? It needs to cross $614.6 million globally, so it can't coast. July's on the horizon, and with it, juggernauts like “Superman” and “Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Dragons don't breathe easy in superhero season.
28 Years Later — The Comeback Nobody Expected (Except the Zombies)
Okay, let's be honest: Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's “28 Years Later” could've landed anywhere from sensation to sad punchline. But here it is—$30 million domestic, $60 million worldwide, and just about matching its entire reported production budget in one go. That's a franchise-best opening, with warm critical noise (a five-star review from CinemaBlend, plus a solid “B” Cinemascore) and none of the sequel fatigue that usually infects horror.
Most fascinating: the trilogy isn't locked. Boyle and Garland want three. The next one (“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”) is shot, slated for January. Beyond that? Up to the powers that count cash, as always. But at least for now––the zombies have outpaced Pixar.
Pixar's Elio: The Kid Left At The Starting Line
Look, Pixar's had an insane decade. From the surprise survival of “Elemental” (2023) to the atomic blast of “Inside Out 2” (2024). But “Elio”? Brutal. $21 million—Pixar's lowest debut ever, even less than “Toy Story” in 1995. Critics aren't savaging it, but reviews aren't glowing, either. I mean, swear I heard a parent mutter, “At least it's short.”
Here's some context: “Elemental” started weak, built long-term momentum, and nearly hit half a billion worldwide. “Elio” could, in theory, have legs. Or… not. With “Dragon,” “Lilo & Stitch,” and no sign of the schedule slowing, what's left is hope—Pixar's least marketable commodity.
Things End, But Not Like You Think
Some will call this weekend a disappointment––for “Dragon” (drop too big), for “Elio” (just a drop, no splash), for the industry (no $100M weekends after July 4th?). But I love this chaos. The shuffling order, the shock of “28 Years Later” leapfrogging years of zombie apathy, the reminder that even a sure-thing dragon can skid on a slick summer weekend.
And next Friday? Brad Pitt goes full throttle in “F1,” “M3GAN 2.0” starts dancing, and A24 crashes the party with “Sorry, Baby.” No rest for the brave or the box office-obsessed.
On weeks like this, I don't trust the numbers. I trust the noise.
Weekend Box Office Results (U.S.)
| Rank | Title | Weekend Gross | Total Gross | Last Week | Theaters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How To Train Your Dragon | $37,000,000 | $160,485,000 | 1 | 4,373 |
| 2 | 28 Years Later | $30,000,000 | $30,000,000 | N/A | 3,444 |
| 3 | Elio | $21,000,000 | $21,000,000 | N/A | 3,750 |
| 4 | Lilo & Stitch | $9,700,000 | $386,749,181 | 2 | 3,375 |
| 5 | Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning | $6,550,000 | $178,379,000 | 4 | 2,603 |
| 6 | Materialists | $5,815,506 | $23,920,137 | 3 | 2,844 |
| 7 | Ballerina | $4,535,000 | $51,118,000 | 5 | 2,537 |
| 8 | Karate Kid: Legends | $2,400,000 | $49,376,000 | 6 | 2,006 |
| 9 | Final Destination: Bloodlines | $1,885,000 | $134,804,000 | 7 | 1,342 |
| 10 | Kuberaa | $1,750,000 | $1,750,000 | N/A | 500 |
