Disney’s Lilo & Stitch maintained its hold on the box office, claiming the No. 1 spot for the third straight weekend with $32.5 million from 4,185 theaters. The live-action reboot has now grossed $335.8 million domestically and $772 million worldwide, on track to become 2025’s first billion-dollar film.
Trailing behind, Lionsgate’s Ballerina, the first spinoff from the John Wick franchise starring Ana de Armas, debuted with a softer-than-expected $25 million from 3,409 North American theaters. This opening fell short of Lionsgate’s initial $30 million projection and is modest compared to the film’s $90 million production budget. Globally, Ballerina earned an additional $26 million from 82 international markets, bringing its worldwide total to $51 million.
Despite positive critical reception—holding a 75% Rotten Tomatoes score and an “A-” CinemaScore—and strong audience enthusiasm, Ballerina struggled to mobilize the core John Wick fanbase. The film introduces a new protagonist, Eve Macarro (de Armas), shifting focus away from Keanu Reeves, who only makes a brief cameo. Analysts note this may have contributed to the underwhelming turnout, as the character is unfamiliar to longtime fans.
Box office analyst David A. Gross called the debut “a weak opening for an action thriller spinoff,” highlighting that while audiences liked the film, attendance numbers were lower than expected. Historically, the John Wick series has seen increasing openings—from $14 million for the original in 2014 to $73.8 million for John Wick: Chapter 4 in 2023—underscoring Ballerina’s comparatively modest start.
Other notable box office results include Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning dropping to third place with $15 million in its third weekend, and Karate Kid: Legends falling 58% to $8.7 million in its second weekend. Horror sequel Final Destination: Bloodlines remains strong at No. 5 with $6.4 million.
Looking ahead, the summer lineup includes major releases such as Universal’s live-action How to Train Your Dragon, Sony’s 28 Years Later, Disney Pixar’s Elio, and Brad Pitt’s F1 racing drama. Industry experts predict these blockbusters could push the 2025 summer box office toward the $4 billion milestone, a benchmark last reached during the 2023 “Barbenheimer” season.
In summary, while Ballerina’s opening was solid for a new franchise character, it fell short of expectations and the high bar set by previous John Wick films. Meanwhile, Lilo & Stitch continues to dominate, demonstrating strong family appeal and blockbuster staying power.
Related topics:
- Ana de Armas Praises Tom Cruise for Supporting ‘Ballerina’: ‘We Are Working Together’
- Francisca Alegría’s ‘Nativity’ Unites Chile’s Madre Content and Quijote Films in Magical Realist Tale of Redemption
- ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Tops U.K. and Ireland Box Office Again, With ‘Mission: Impossible’ and ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Following Strongly
