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Exhibitors thought they’d be dancing in the multiplex aisles, but BALLERINA limped in with just $25M.

Hollywood handicappers first projected a $35M launch for Lionsgate’s R rated action thriller FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA, starring Ana de Armas & Keanu Reeves. Closer to opening they trimmed it to $30M and mid-weekend they slashed it to $25-27M.

BALLERINA, which debuted #2 at 3,409 theatres ($7,334), did $26M internationally for a worldwide cume of $51M. BUDGET BUZZ: $90M to produce (foreign sales reportedly covered about 2/3 of it).

It didn’t help BALLERINA to be competing for the adult male demo with Tom Cruise’s MI8. Arguably, BALLERINA’s in line with how female driven action movies have performed post-Covid — like FURIOSA with Anya Taylor-Joy opening 5/24/24 to $26.3M and doing $174.2M global.

Directed by Len Wiseman (TOTAL RECALL), BALLERINA’s tracking best and equally well for first choice with men & women over 25 (two points over  norm in both demos). Rotten Tomatoes critics are an okay 76%, but paying audiences are cheering at 94%, suggesting BALLERINA could have good boxoffice legs.

Between last weekend’s under-performing KARATE KID: LEGENDS and this weekend’s soft John Wick spinoff, exhibitors are smiling less than they were Memorial Day when LILO & STITCH and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING were sizzling at the boxoffice.

It’s a good reminder that although the boxoffice recovery is real, exhibition  is still a roller coaster ride. Not surprisingly, exhibs are now welcoming extra revenue producing options like the “platinum” placement ads AMC just agreed to run for NCM directly before moviegoers get to see the films they bought tickets to.

Domestic ticket sales this weekend were $113.4M, according to Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian. That’s down 23.9% from the prior weekend, but up 8% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2025 at $3.53B, up 26.08% from $2.8B in 2024. The prior weekend showed 2025 up 25.7% vs last year.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney/Rideback’s LILO & STITCH was #1 in weekend three with $32.5M (-47.42%) at 4,185 theatres ($7,766). It’s done $335.8M domestic & $772.6M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $100M to produce.

Paramount/Skydance Media’s MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING was #3 in weekend three with $15M (-44.89%) at 3,496 theatres ($). It’s done $149.2M domestic & $450.4M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $400M to produce.

Next weekend (6/13): Universal/Dreamworks Animation/Marc Platt Productions’ PG action adventure comedy HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON goes into about 4,000 theatres.

Directed by Dean DeBlois (2010’s animated HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON), its stars include Gerard Butler & Mason Thames. DRAGON’s tracking best for first choice with women under 25 (five points over norm).