The Disney parade carries forthright, while a spinoff from the Baba Yaga universe is not enough to dethrone (I’m sorry, slaughter) it. Lilo & Stitch earned $32.5 million in its third weekend, marking a 47% drop. Unfortunately, that is sharper than the likes of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, so this one may have to settle closer to $425 million domestically. Again, we’re still talking about a Disney remake folks wanted to see that has grossed $772 million globally, and isn’t losing much momentum until Elio drops later this month. It should be passing $800 million sometime by Wednesday, and it’s too nigh on early for this writer to comment if it’ll make the stretch for $1 billion. But Disney savored this moment and had its cake and ate it, too.
Moving back over to Baba Yaga, much like Karate Kid: Legends, the launch of the spinoff to your thriller assassin universe that features (almost) too much of said assassin to take away from the newcomer, whipped up $25 million for its launch. Ballerina did open lower than Chapter 2‘s $30.4 million, but higher than Charlize Theron’s Atomic Blonde ($18.2 million in 2017). The Ana de Armas-led spinoff is getting mostly positive reviews and an A- from CinemaScore, so it should have some legs to branch out and kick someone in their groin to keep this series going (especially if a sequel is on the way). Might I remind everyone that such complacency could have snagged a lower debut had it not been interwoven with the inter-universe connections with Keanu Reeves/Ian McShane? Arguments presented or not, let’s see how the show goes on.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning has passed $450 million globally, earning $15 million domestically in its third weekend. The numbers presented mean it will gross closer to its predecessor than a number that would suitably have this capper break-even. It may be enough of Paramount’s loss to realize that while Tom Cruise remains a bona-fide action star that can put butts in seats, you can’t justify a heavy price tag when your budget gets exponentially higher for every passing title. Yes, COVID and strikes put a damper, but there has to be some semblance when dropping your film in the biggest spotlight of the year.
Karate Kid: Legends earned $8.7 million in its second weekend, bringing it to $35.4 million domestic and $74 million globally. Even with the added elements of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, this is not going to end up in a leisurely spot when it wraps up, as it’s a far cry from the 2010 remake’s performance, which had Jaden Smith enrapture younger folks and Jackie Chan as a different take on Pat Morita’s Miyagi. Might not be worth it to announce a 7th one, as folks seem to have gotten their fill for the past seven years with a fantastic TV series that honored the legacy of Mr. Miyagi and “Cobra Kai Never Dies!” mantra.
Final Destination: Bloodlines has passed $257 million globally, Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme earned $6.25 million, Bring Her Back took home $3.52 million, and Dan Da Dan: Evil Eyes took $3.096 million.
Sinners has passed $357 million globally while Thunderbolts* will pass $375 million sometime tomorrow morning.
Next weekend sees the release of How to Train Your Dragon (2025), Materialists, Diablo, and The Unholy Trinity.
