LOS ANGELES — June 5 — Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and Lionsgate’s Ballerina are set to battle for the top spot at the box office this weekend, with both films aiming for a $30 million opening.
Ballerina, a John Wick spinoff starring Ana de Armas, opens in 3,400 North American theaters on Friday. It is projected to debut with $28 million to $30 million domestically, and an additional $30 million from 82 international markets. The film is set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4 and features a brief appearance by Keanu Reeves, but centers on a new character, Eve Macarro — a dancer-turned-assassin seeking revenge for her father’s death.
Although part of the John Wick universe, Ballerina is not expected to match the box office highs of the core franchise. Each installment in the series has outperformed the last, with the original John Wick opening to $14 million in 2014 and Chapter 4 earning a record $73.8 million in its 2023 debut. Despite its spin-off status, Ballerina carries a similar price tag, with production costs estimated at $90 million.
Reviews for Ballerina remain under wraps, as Lionsgate asked critics to delay full evaluations until June 4. The studio previously allowed “spoiler-free enthusiasm” to be shared on social media. Lionsgate continues to expand the John Wick franchise, with John Wick 5, a Donnie Yen-led spinoff, and an animated prequel in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, Lilo & Stitch is heading into its third weekend atop the domestic chart. The live-action remake has already grossed $280 million domestically and $613 million worldwide since its Memorial Day debut. It’s expected to earn another $30 million to $35 million, making it a strong contender for 2025’s first billion-dollar hit.
Elsewhere, Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme expands to 1,500 North American theaters after a limited release. The espionage drama, starring Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, and Benedict Cumberbatch, is expected to bring in single-digit millions this weekend.
The summer box office continues to show momentum, with revenue up 25% compared to last year, according to Comscore. However, earnings remain 27% below 2019 levels — a benchmark boosted that year by billion-dollar releases like Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame. Theater owners are now looking to upcoming tentpoles like Jurassic World Rebirth, Brad Pitt’s F1, Marvel’s Fantastic Four: The First Steps, and Superman to help return box office traffic to pre-pandemic levels.
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