Lionsgate‘s first theatrical stab at spinning off the “John Wick” franchise, the Ana de Armas-led “Ballerina,” fired off $10.65 million across Friday and preview screenings from 3,409 venues.SEO
Ballerina Box Office Blow: John Wick Spin-Off Misses Mark With $10.6M Opening Day
On Friday, June 6, Lionsgate’s latest action release, “Ballerina,” hit theaters nationwide with high expectations. Starring Ana de Armas, this John Wick spin-off opened with $10.65 million in ticket sales across 3,409 theaters, including Thursday night previews. However, this opening day figure signals a slower-than-expected start for the action franchise.
Initial projections suggested a weekend debut of $28 million, but the film is now pacing behind, aiming for a total between $25.5 million and $27.5 million. That makes it the second-lowest opening day in the franchise’s history, just behind “John Wick: Chapter 2,” which earned $10.96 million back in 2017.
This lukewarm reception poses a challenge for Lionsgate, especially considering the film’s $90 million budget. With Keanu Reeves only in a minor supporting role this time, “Ballerina” was seen as a fresh start for the R-rated franchise. But the drop in box office strength is evident when compared to past entries. The original “John Wick” launched in 2014 with $43 million domestically and ballooned to $187 million by the fourth installment in 2023.
Despite the slow start, reviews for “Ballerina” have been largely positive, with Len Wiseman in the director’s chair. The audience response is even stronger, with a CinemaScore rating of A-, suggesting solid word-of-mouth could improve its long-term performance.
Still, “Ballerina” faces stiff competition. Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” live-action remake continues to dominate the box office. On Friday, it added another $9.3 million, just a 45% drop from the previous week. The film is now headed for a third consecutive weekend at No. 1, with a projected $33 million for the frame. By Sunday, it’s expected to surpass $335 million domestically and break into the top 100 all-time box office hits in North America.
Meanwhile, Focus Features expanded Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” into 1,678 theaters after a limited release in New York and Los Angeles. It earned $2.55 million on Friday and looks to hit $5.8 million over the weekend. While critically well-received, general audiences are mixed, reflected in its CinemaScore of B-.
In third place is “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” still playing in IMAX venues. The film pulled in $4 million on Friday and is expected to make $14.8 million over the weekend. Its total domestic gross through Sunday will be around $149 million. Though it’s doing better than the 2023 entry “Dead Reckoning” ($139 million), it’s still trailing behind “Fallout” from 2018, which hit $161 million. With a sky-high $400 million budget, breaking even theatrically remains a challenge.
Sony’s “Karate Kid: Legends” takes fourth place with $2.4 million on Friday. The film is heading toward $8.7 million for its second weekend, a steep 57% drop from its debut. Its domestic total after ten days will be about $35 million, which is modest but not disastrous considering its $45 million budget.
Fifth place goes to “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” with $1.9 million on Friday. The film continues to perform steadily and is crossing the $120 million domestic mark this weekend. That’s a strong result for a horror sequel.
Lower on the list, Warner Bros.’ “Sinners” is still going strong. It hit $270 million domestic on Friday and is on track to surpass “Gravity” ($274 million) soon. This will make it the highest-grossing original live-action film in North America in over 15 years — a massive achievement for director Ryan Coogler and his R-rated vampire thriller.
Also opening this weekend is “Dangerous Animals,” a shark thriller from IFC’s horror banner Shudder. Playing in 1,636 theaters, it earned $760,000 on Friday, making it unlikely to crack the top 10.
The battle for the summer box office crown is heating up. While “Ballerina” may have stumbled out of the gate, the positive audience feedback offers a glimmer of hope. Lionsgate remains committed to expanding the John Wick universe, with plans for a fifth installment, an animated prequel, and a spin-off starring Donnie Yen.
As the weekend plays out, all eyes are on whether “Ballerina” can recover, and if “Lilo & Stitch” will continue its reign at the top.
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