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Moviegoers kept the multiplexes lively by buying DRAGON tickets, but they slayed ELIO at the boxoffice.

Disney/Pixar’s PG animated sci-fi comedy adventure ELIO was Pixar’s lowest modern day launch. ELIO opened third to $21M at 3,750 theatres ($5,600), per Comscore. Hollywood handicappers expected a $30M+ launch, but the Pixar brand isn’t firing up on all cylinders and original animation is a tough sell today. BUDGET BUZZ: $150M to produce.

Directed by Adrian Molina (COCO co-director), Madeline Sharafian (first time feature director) & Domee Shi (TURNING RED), its voice stars include Zoe Saldaña. ELIO’s tracking for first choice below norm with all demos. However, Rotten Tomatoes critics love it at 84% and audiences are applauding at 91%, which could mean good boxoffice legs.

Hollywood buzz-ards thought Sony’s R rated zombie thriller 28 YEARS LATER would bite off $30-35M. It opened #2 to $30M at 3,444 theatres ($8,711), per Comscore. 28’s tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (five points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics say it’s great at 89%, but paying audiences are an unhappy 65%. BUDGET BUZZ: $60M to produce.

28 is directed by Danny Boyle, who directed the franchise’s first episode, 28 DAYS LATER, which opened 6/27/23 to $10.1M and went on to do $74.9M on a production budget of $8M.

Domestic ticket sales this weekend were $126.3M, according to Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian. That’s down 13.7% from the prior weekend and down 18% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2025 at $3.94B, up 18.05% from $334.B in 2024. The prior weekend showed 2025 with a much stronger 23.1% vs. last year.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Universal/Dreamworks Animation/Marc Platt Productions’ HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON easily stayed #1 in weekend two with $37M (-56.28%) at 4,373 theatres ($8,461), per Comscore. It’s done $160.5M domestic and $358.2M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $150M to produce.

Next weekend (6/20): Universal/Atomic Monster/Blumhouse Productions’ PG-13 action horror thriller 🐝🐝🐝🐝 M3GAN 2.0 is dancing into about 3,000 theatres and looks like the frame’s power player.

Directed by Gerard Johnstone (M3GAN), it stars Allison Williams. M2’s tracking best for first choice with women under 25 (three points above norm). In M2 the murderous doll returns to take down Amelia, a military grade weapon from a defense contractor who stole M3GAN’s own tech.

NWF1, from Warner Bros./Plan B Entertainment/Apple Original Films & Jerry Bruckheimer Films, starring Brad Pitt & directed by Joseph Kosinski (TOP GUN: MAVERICK), will speed into about 3,800 theatres.

F1’s tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (three points above norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are a cheerful 88%.