The Video Star

Dragons Soar, Zombies Linger, and ‘Elio’ Falls Flat: Box Office Weekend Recap

[6-22-2025]

Weekend Box Office Showdown: ‘Dragon’ Soars, ‘Elio’ Crashes, ’28 Years Later’ Splits Audiences

The June 20-22, 2025 box office weekend painted a complex picture of audience preferences, with Universal’s “How to Train Your Dragon” maintaining dominance with a $37 million second-weekend haul. The animated sequel has now amassed an impressive $358 million worldwide, cementing its position as one of the summer’s biggest hits.

Sony’s “28 Years Later,” the long-awaited continuation of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s zombie franchise, delivered a solid $30 million domestic opening. When combined with its international take of another $30 million, the horror sequel has already recouped $60 million globally. However, the film faces an interesting divide – critics awarded it a stellar 92% Rotten Tomatoes score while audiences responded with a considerably lower 65% approval rating, creating questions about its long-term prospects.

Pixar Faces Unprecedented Crisis

The most shocking development came from Disney/Pixar’s “Elio,” which dramatically underperformed with just $21 million domestically and $14 million internationally for a dismal $35 million global debut. This marks the lowest opening weekend for a Pixar film in the studio’s storied history – particularly troubling against its reported $150 million production budget.

The catastrophic launch raises several concerns: Has Disney/Pixar fatigue finally set in? Are audiences increasingly reluctant to show up for new IP rather than established franchises? Or might “Elio” follow last summer’s “Elemental,” which overcame a weak opening to build strong word-of-mouth and ultimately find success?

The stark contrast between these performances highlights emerging theatrical trends in 2025. Established franchises continue demonstrating remarkable pulling power, while even prestigious studios face mounting challenges when launching original concepts. As the summer season progresses, the industry will watch closely to see if “Elio” can find its audience over time or if these results signal deeper shifts in audience preferences that could reshape Hollywood’s future.

[BOX OFFICE]

Box Office Forecast: Will How To Train Your Dragon Prevail?

[6-20-2025]

Weekend Box Office Showdown: How Dragons, Zombies, and Space Boys Will Vie for Dominance

This weekend's box office promises a fascinating battle as Universal's "How to Train Your Dragon" defends its throne against two high-profile newcomers: Sony's long-awaited zombie sequel "28 Years Later" and Disney/Pixar's original sci-fi adventure "Elio." With three distinctly different films targeting various audience segments, the weekend presents a compelling study in franchise power, brand loyalty, and the current theatrical landscape.

The Reigning Champion: Can "How to Train Your Dragon" Hold Its Ground?

After an impressive $84.6 million domestic debut last weekend, Universal's "How to Train Your Dragon" enters its sophomore frame with significant momentum. The animated fantasy is projected to add another $40-48 million to its tally, which would push its domestic total past $130 million by Sunday evening. The film's strong word-of-mouth and appeal across multiple demographics have positioned it as the family entertainment of choice heading into the crucial summer corridor.

Danny Boyle's "28 Years Later": Can Zombies Still Infect the Box Office?

Sony's "28 Years Later" arrives as the most anticipated horror release of the summer, with Thursday previews generating a robust $5.8 million. Early tracking suggests the film could open between $35-45 million domestically, which would represent a massive improvement over its predecessors. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland have returned to the franchise they created, bringing an authenticity that fans have embraced, reflected in the film's impressive 92% critical rating.

Pixar's "Elio": Has the Animation Giant Lost Its Box Office Magic?

Perhaps the biggest question mark of the weekend is Disney/Pixar's "Elio," which generated $3 million from Thursday previews. Industry projections place the film's opening weekend between $20-30 million domestically, with a global debut potentially exceeding $50 million. These figures would represent a concerning outcome for a studio that once reliably produced $75-100 million openers, especially considering the film's reported $150 million budget.

Projected Top Five (June 20-22, 2025)

How to Train Your Dragon - $42 million
28 Years Later - $38 million
Elio - $27 million
Lilo & Stitch - $11 million
Materialists - $6 million

Filmmaking Success Stories MORE

[BOX OFFICE]

Danny Boyle’s ’28 Years Later’: A New Chapter in Zombie Cinema

[6-20-2025]

The Rage Returns: Danny Boyle's '28 Years Later' and the Rebirth of a Horror Classic

After nearly three decades of waiting, Danny Boyle's groundbreaking zombie franchise makes its triumphant return today with the release of "28 Years Later." What began in 2002 with a modest $8 million budget has evolved into a cinematic event with Sony backing a reported $60 million production—the first installment of an ambitious new trilogy that promises to redefine horror once again.

Boyle's original "28 Days Later" revolutionized the zombie genre with its frenetic infected, innovative digital filmmaking, and deeply human storytelling. The sequel, "28 Weeks Later," continued the saga without Boyle at the helm. Now, with original star Cillian Murphy returning alongside newcomers Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes, Boyle is crafting something more expansive yet intimately connected to his original vision.

A Trilogy with Purpose

Unlike many franchise revivals that simply cash in on nostalgia, Boyle's approach to "28 Years Later" reveals artistic intent. The director has outlined a three-film structure with the first and third under his direction, while the middle chapter—already filmed as "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple"—has been entrusted to Nia DaCosta, demonstrating Boyle's commitment to fresh perspectives.

Set on Lindisfarne Island off Britain's coast, the story follows survivors who have created an isolated community while mainland Britain remains overrun by the infected. The narrative explores how the Rage virus and its carriers have evolved over decades, introducing a new threat in "The Alpha"—an intelligent infected who leads a pack. This evolution reflects Boyle's interest in examining societal breakdown and rebuilding through the lens of horror.

From Rejection to Resurrection

Interestingly, Boyle's return to horror comes after famously turning down the chance to direct an "Alien" sequel—a decision that preserved his creative independence. This principled stance characterizes Boyle's career, from discovering Murphy in "28 Days Later" to pioneering "auteur horror" that prioritizes directorial vision over formulaic scares.

The timing of the trilogy couldn't be more resonant, arriving in a post-pandemic world where isolation, survival, and social reconnection aren't just horror tropes but lived experiences. Boyle has acknowledged how themes developed decades ago have gained unexpected relevance, promising that "28 Years Later" delivers not only genuine terror but profound emotional impact for today's audiences.

Director Profiles Filmmaking Success Stories MORE

[BOX OFFICE]

Mission Impossible: Analyzing the Box Office Bomb of ‘Final Reckoning’

[6-16-2025]

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning's Box Office Failure Explained

Tom Cruise's latest outing as Ethan Hunt in "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning" was supposed to be a crowning achievement for the long-running franchise. Instead, it's become something of a cautionary tale in Hollywood economics. Despite opening with a franchise-best $64 million weekend, the film quickly lost momentum, ultimately limping to around $500 million worldwide against its massive $400 million budget. In the world of modern blockbusters, that's not mission accomplished – it's mission critical.

The Numbers Don't Lie

For a film carrying a $400 million price tag (before marketing), industry experts suggest it needed to clear the $1 billion mark globally to break even – a threshold no Mission Impossible film has ever crossed. The Final Reckoning is now tracking to finish fifth among the eight films in the franchise. That places it behind recent entries like "Fallout" and ahead of only the earliest installments, including the third film which brought in $133 million domestically back in 2006.

What Went Wrong?

Several factors contributed to this underperformance. The nearly three-hour runtime limited the number of daily showings theaters could schedule, cutting into potential revenue. Critical reception, while positive at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, still ranked in the bottom half of the franchise, and audience word-of-mouth never generated the buzz of previous installments. The film also suffered from being a direct sequel to "Dead Reckoning Part One," which itself disappointed at the box office. This created a continuity barrier for casual viewers. Additionally, franchise fatigue may have set in with this being the eighth Mission Impossible film since 1996.

Stunt Spectacle Without the Hook

While Cruise's dedication to practical stunts earned him a Guinness World Record, The Final Reckoning lacked the distinctive visual hooks that defined previous entries. There was no Burj Khalifa climb or HALO jump moment that became the must-see spectacle driving viewers to theaters.

The Future of the Mission

The film's financial underperformance puts future entries in question. Industry insiders suggest a franchise reboot might emerge in about five years, possibly without Cruise as the centerpiece. For now, the most recognizable element of the franchise – Lalo Schifrin's iconic theme – continues to thrive, recently being licensed for television commercials, ensuring the Mission Impossible brand lives on, even if this particular mission failed to deliver.

Filmmaking MORE

[BOX OFFICE]

How To Train Your Dragon: A Live Action Adaptation Done Right

[6-16-2025]

How 'How To Train Your Dragon' Remade Itself the Right Way

In an industry increasingly defined by remake fatigue, Universal Pictures took a refreshing approach with its live-action adaptation of "How To Train Your Dragon" by bringing back the franchise's original visionary. Dean DeBlois, who directed the beloved animated trilogy, returned to helm the live-action version—a decision that fundamentally shaped the film's success both creatively and commercially.

Protecting the Legacy

When Universal approached DeBlois about the live-action adaptation, he was initially protective of the world he'd helped create. Rather than watching someone else reinterpret his work, DeBlois advocated to write and direct the film himself, understanding the characters and emotional core of the story better than anyone. This stands in stark contrast to Disney's approach to remakes, which typically excludes original filmmakers from the creative process. "I know these characters. I know what makes this story work," DeBlois reportedly told executives, cementing his position as the guardian of Hiccup and Toothless's journey.

Faithful with Fresh Elements

The live-action film recreates iconic scenes from the original shot-for-shot while adding approximately 27 minutes of new footage. These additions aren't superfluous—they enhance character depth, particularly in the father-son relationship between Hiccup and Stoick. DeBlois carefully balanced nostalgia with innovation, preserving what fans loved while exploring new dimensions of Berk and its inhabitants. Mason Thames steps into the role of Hiccup, the misfit Viking who befriends a feared dragon, while the production employed cutting-edge visual effects to ensure Toothless and the other dragons maintained their personality and emotional connection with audiences.

Box Office Validation

The strategy appears to be working. The film opened to strong box office numbers, projected between $67-83 million domestically. More importantly, it's achieved what few remakes manage—critical respect and audience enthusiasm that honors rather than diminishes its animated predecessor. By keeping the original filmmaker at the helm, "How To Train Your Dragon" may have created a template for thoughtful adaptations that respect source material while finding fresh ways to tell beloved stories. In an era of cynical IP exploitation, that's a dragon-sized achievement worth celebrating.

Director Profiles Filmmaking Success Stories MORE

[BOX OFFICE]

The Live-Action Adaptation of ‘How To Train Your Dragon’: Box Office Triumph and Secrets to Its Success

[6-16-2025]

[BOX OFFICE]

Weekend Box Office Analysis: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Breaks Records with $83.7 Million Opening

[6-16-2025]

Filmmaking MORE

[AWARDS SEASON]

A Deep Dive into Wes Anderson: Ranking His Films and Influence

[6-06-2025]

The Distinctive World of Wes Anderson: A Cinematic Journey

In the landscape of contemporary cinema, few directors have cultivated a visual language as instantly recognizable as Wes Anderson. With his latest offering, “The Phoenician Scheme,” making waves at the specialty box office with an impressive $95,000 per-theater average across six locations, it’s the perfect time to explore the distinctive filmography of this celebrated auteur. Anderson’s journey began with 1996’s “Bottle Rocket,” a modest debut that hinted at the stylistic flourishes that would later become his trademark. Since then, he has crafted a body of work characterized by meticulously symmetrical compositions, richly detailed production design, and deadpan humor delivered by characters navigating profound emotional landscapes beneath their often quirky exteriors.

The Anderson Aesthetic: More Than Meets the Eye

Critics often reduce Anderson’s work to its visual style—the carefully curated color palettes, the precise camera movements, the dollhouse-like set design. Yet as Anderson himself has suggested, this “handwriting” serves a deeper purpose. In his films, beauty reveals truth, with richness functioning as a conduit for exploring themes of family dysfunction, grief, redemption, and the search for connection in an often chaotic world. This is particularly evident in “The Phoenician Scheme,” which follows Anatole “Zsa-Zsa” Korda (Benicio Del Toro), a morally compromised industrialist seeking to reconnect with his estranged daughter. The film weaves Anderson’s whimsical visual approach with pointed commentary on wealth inequality and the possibility of personal transformation—proving once again that substance and style need not be mutually exclusive.

The Definitive Anderson Ranking

While every Anderson enthusiast has their personal hierarchy, our ranking places “Moonrise Kingdom” at the summit of his filmography. This tender tale of young love contains all the hallmarks of Anderson’s best work: emotional authenticity beneath stylistic precision, nostalgia tempered with melancholy, and the formation of makeshift families amid isolation. “Rushmore” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” follow closely, with the former establishing many of Anderson’s recurring themes and the latter representing perhaps his most ambitious narrative structure. As we await wider distribution of “The Phoenician Scheme” (not yet ranked), Anderson’s influence on independent cinema remains undeniable. He has created a cinematic universe entirely his own—one that continues to expand with each new release while remaining unmistakably, definitively Andersonian.

Auteur Director Profiles Filmmaking Independent Film Success Stories MORE

[FEATURES & ESSAYS]

How Disney Learned from Snow White to Make Lilo & Stitch a Hit

[6-03-2025]

From Flop to Franchise: How Disney Learned From Snow White's Mistakes to Make Lilo & Stitch a Hit

The contrasting fates of Disney's recent live-action remakes tell a fascinating story about audience preferences and studio strategy. While the "Snow White" remake struggled to justify its existence beyond mining Disney's vault, "Lilo & Stitch" connected with audiences on a level that surprised even the most optimistic industry analysts. The numbers don't lie: "Snow White" limped to a $205 million global total against its reported $240-270 million budget, while "Lilo & Stitch" earned a staggering $314.7 million worldwide, with $183 million coming from North America alone.

Legacy vs. Relevance

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" holds a hallowed place in animation history as Disney's first full-length animated feature from their Golden Age (1937-1942). This status created enormous expectations and scrutiny for any modern reimagining. The remake faced backlash over attempted modernization of its characters and themes – changes that pleased neither traditionalists nor those seeking genuine innovation. In contrast, "Lilo & Stitch" entered the arena with distinct advantages. Released during Disney's Post-Renaissance Era (2000-2009), the original 2002 film stood out for its lack of princesses, unconventional plot, and focus on found family. This originality translated into lasting cultural impact, with Disney reporting over 500 million streaming hours on Disney+ prior to the remake's release. The franchise had also generated $2.5 billion in retail sales in 2024 alone.

Different Approaches, Different Results

The production strategy for these remakes revealed telling differences. "Snow White" attempted a full translate-to-live-action approach, including the challenging task of reimagining the seven dwarfs – a choice that generated controversy. "Lilo & Stitch" embraced a hybrid approach, with the alien rendered as an animated character within a live-action world, preserving Stitch's cartoon-like expressiveness while updating other elements. The marketing also differed significantly. Where "Snow White" emphasized spectacle and nostalgia, "Lilo & Stitch" campaigns highlighted the distinctive Hawaii setting, beloved characters, and themes of chosen family that had made the original resonate. As Disney navigates its future remake strategy, the lessons seem clear: cultural relevance trumps historical importance, originality holds value, and technical approaches should serve the story rather than constrain it. The success of "Lilo & Stitch" signals a potential shift toward properties with demonstrated audience engagement rather than simply chronological mining of the Disney vault.

Auteur Collaborations MORE

[BOX OFFICE]

Lilo & Stitch Box Office Success: Memorial Weekend 2025 Insights

[6-03-2025]

An In-Depth Analysis of Lilo and Stitch’s Box Office Performance: Memorial Weekend 2025

As Memorial Weekend 2025 rolled in, nostalgia took center stage with the release of the much-anticipated Lilo and Stitch reboot. The box office performance of this animated classic not only rekindled fond memories for audiences but also set the stage for a significant financial success, bringing in a remarkable $80 million over the holiday weekend. Factors fueling this impressive turnout are steeped in strategic marketing, a robust return of family-centric films, and a culture hungry for comfort amidst modern chaos.

The Marketing Strategy

Disney’s marketing team pulled out all the stops, targeting millennial parents who fondly remember the original 2002 film while simultaneously appealing to their children. They executed a campaign that included social media teasers, nostalgic merchandise collaborations, and special screenings that brought families together, creating a buzz reminiscent of the cultural phenomenon that marked 2003—when Final Destination 2 grossed $90 million. It was a year defined not just by box office hits, but by cultural touchstones like the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts and new slang terms entering our lexicon. This year, Lilo and Stitch seemed to strike a similar chord.

Comparative Success

When comparing the performance of Lilo and Stitch to previous holiday releases, it stands tall among the ranks. The last few years have seen shifting trends, where animated family films have pivoted to dominate holiday box office standings. The strategy of releasing heartwarming stories during weekends focused on family gatherings has paid dividends, as evidenced by films like Frozen II and Raya and the Last Dragon. Both films saw similar success during Memorial Day weekends, hinting at a sustained appetite for such content among audiences.

Industry Trends and Takeaways

The Memorial Weekend box office results not only highlight the success of Lilo and Stitch, but they also reflect broader industry trends. With streaming services continuing to captivate audiences at home, theaters must adapt by focusing on exclusive experiences and community events that draw viewers back. The success of Lilo and Stitch suggests a resurgence in theatrical attendance, especially when it comes to beloved franchises that offer both nostalgia and fresh storytelling.

This Memorial Weekend, as families flocked to theaters, we saw a reaffirmation that while times may change, the magic of storytelling remains timeless. With its ability to resonate across generations, Lilo and Stitch has not only succeeded at the box office but has also rekindled the spirit of family entertainment at a time when it’s needed most.

Filmmaking Success Stories MORE