Summer Blockbusters: New Films Aim for Big Debuts

The Juneteenth holiday weekend saw a flurry of activity in movie theaters. How to Train Your Dragon, a live-action remake of a popular animated film, took the lead with nearly $10 million in ticket sales. This film is expected to maintain its top spot despite the arrival of two highly anticipated movies: Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later and Pixar's Elio. Boyle's zombie sequel, distributed by Sony, had a strong preview with $5. 8 million in sales. This places it in a good position for the weekend, though predictions vary widely. Some expect it to open with around $28 million, while others are more optimistic, suggesting it could reach $40 million to $45 million. However, the film has received mixed reviews from audiences, despite critical acclaim. 28 Years Later marks a reunion between Boyle and writer Alex Garland, 25 years after their initial collaboration on 28 Days. The film features a talented cast, including Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes. It is set nearly three decades after the events of the first film, continuing the story in a new era. Pixar's Elio, an original film about a young boy's adventure in outer space, also had a notable preview with $3 million in sales. Tracking suggests it could open with around $30 million in North America. However, there are concerns that it might face a challenging start, similar to Pixar's previous film, Elemental. Despite a disappointing opening, Elemental went on to become a sleeper hit, earning nearly $500 million globally. Pixar and Disney are hopeful that Elio will have a similar trajectory, especially with kids out of school for the summer. Pixar has faced challenges in recent years, with original animated stories not performing as strongly as they once did. During the pandemic, Disney's decision to release several Pixar films straight to Disney+ may have conditioned audiences to wait for home viewing. However, Pixar and Disney have since returned to focusing on theatrical releases, mixing original stories with known intellectual property. Last year's Inside Out 2 was a massive success, becoming the top-grossing film of 2024 and the highest-grossing title for Pixar. The film industry is always evolving, and these new releases will test the waters for summer blockbusters. With varying predictions and mixed audience reactions, it will be interesting to see how these films perform in the coming weeks. The success of these movies could set the tone for future releases and the direction of the industry.