Sony's latest film '28 Years Later' had a successful opening weekend at the box office, bringing in $14 million from Friday and preview screenings. On the other hand, Disney's animated movie 'Elio' is facing the possibility of the lowest debut ever for a Pixar production. Meanwhile, Universal's 'How to Train Your Dragon' continues to dominate the North American charts for the second weekend in a row.

'28 Years Later' Success

'28 Years Later' is on track to exceed $30 million in its opening weekend, surpassing initial projections. The film, which cost $60 million to make, won a bidding war at Sony and reunites director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland for a long-awaited sequel to '28 Days Later' released in 2002. A sequel to '28 Years Later' titled 'The Bone Temple' has already been filmed and is scheduled for release in January 2026, with a third installment dependent on the box office performance of this film.

• The sequel has received positive reviews, introducing a new cast that includes Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and newcomer Alfie Williams.
• General audiences have given the film a mixed response, with CinemaScore polling early viewers to a 'B' grade, which is typical for horror films.

'Elio' Struggles

On the other hand, 'Elio' earned $9 million during its opening weekend, a disappointing figure for Pixar. The studio, known for hits like 'Inside Out 2,' is projecting its lowest domestic debut with 'Elio,' falling short of the performance of 'Elemental' in 2023.

• 'Elemental' eventually became a modest success despite a slow start, grossing $484 million globally with positive reviews and an 'A' grade on CinemaScore.
• Unless 'Elio' sees a turnaround, it may face challenges in reaching a similar level of success.

Top Box Office Rankings

'How to Train Your Dragon' remains at the top of the box office in its second weekend, earning $10.8 million on Friday and projecting a total of $35.7 million for the weekend. The film is on track to become one of the top-grossing releases of the year domestically.

Other films like 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' are also holding strong at the box office, while new releases like 'Bride Hard' are facing challenges in attracting audiences.