Sony's 28 Years Later has made a strong start at the box office, earning $14 million through Friday and preview screenings. That puts the long-awaited follow-up to 28 Days Later on track for a domestic debut north of $30 million, a promising launch for the $60 million film that Sony snagged in a fierce bidding war. The film reunites director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, nearly 23 years after their original zombie thriller terrified audiences.
While critics have been largely enthusiastic about 28 Years Later, which features Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and breakout star Alfie Williams, audience reactions have been more tempered. The strong critical response could fuel word-of-mouth in the coming weeks.
A sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta, has already wrapped and is scheduled for release in January 2026. A third instalment to close out the trilogy is reportedly in development, though it hinges on the commercial success of this entry.
Meanwhile, Disney and Pixar’s Elio is stumbling out of the gate, taking in just $9 million from 3,750 locations on Friday and previews. That sets the original animated feature on course for the lowest domestic opening in Pixar’s history, a sharp contrast to last year’s Inside Out 2, which debuted with $155 million and went on to become the second-highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Though Elio has received positive reviews, its $150 million price tag makes the slow start a tough pill to swallow. Optimists may look to 2023’s Elemental, which also opened softly but legged out to a solid $484 million global run. For now, though, Eliohas an uphill battle.
At the top of the chart, Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon is still breathing fire in its second weekend, adding $10.8 million on Friday alone. It’s now headed toward a $35.7 million sophomore frame, a 58% dip from its debut, and should reach $160 million domestically by Sunday, putting it among the top 10 releases of the year so far.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake continues to impress in its fifth weekend, bringing in $3 million on Friday and eyeing $10 million for the weekend. That would push its domestic total to around $387 million, surpassing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II to become the 55th-highest-grossing North American release of all time.
Paramount’s Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is holding steady in its fifth frame, dropping just 33%. With a projected weekend total of $178.9 million domestically, it’s now outpacing its 2023 predecessor, Dead Reckoning, which ended its run with $171 million.
In sixth, A24’s Materialists is showing respectable staying power, heading for a $6 million second weekend and a 10-day total of $24 million.
Outside the top 10, Rebel Wilson’s action-comedy Bride Hard, released in 1,165 locations by Magenta Light Studios, is struggling to make an impact. After lukewarm reviews, the film is expected to fall short of $1 million in its debut.