Lionsgate's "Ballerina", the long-anticipated spin-off to the John Wick franchise, opened to a soft $25 million from 3,409 North American theaters, falling just short of the studio's $30 million projection. Internationally, it generated $26 million across 82 countries, marking a global debut of $51 million. With a $90 million production budget, it's a modest start for a film that hopes to launch a new branch of the action series.
Directed by Len Wiseman, "Ballerina" stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a deadly ballerina seeking vengeance. Despite positive audience response (an A– on CinemaScore) and a solid 75 % on Rotten Tomatoes, it opened behind Disney's live-action Lilo & Stitch, which earned $32.5 million in its third weekend and has now crossed $772 million globally.
"This is a weak opening for an action thriller spin-off," said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. "Audiences are enthusiastic, they just didn't turn out in strong numbers."
One challenge may be the absence of Keanu Reeves in a leading role; he makes only a brief appearance, making it harder to draw in core John Wick fans. Lionsgate's branding, "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina," aimed to clarify the connection, but may not have been enough to sell a new lead.
For comparison, Reeves' "John Wick" films have grown with each release: from $14 million in 2014 to a franchise-best $73.8 million in 2023. With more spin‑offs on the way—including one featuring Donnie Yen's character Caine and an animated prequel—Ballerina may still be key to the franchise's long-term expansion, though it faces an uphill climb.
Other Box Office Highlights:
No. 3: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning pulled in $15 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $149 million. However, its $400 million budget means a theatrical profit is far from guaranteed.
No. 4: Karate Kid: Legends added $8.7 million, a sharp 58 % drop from its debut. The film's domestic total stands at $35 million.
No. 5: Final Destination: Bloodlines continues to impress with $6.4 million. At $257 million worldwide, it's now the top earner in the horror franchise.
No. 6: Wes Anderson's spy caper The Phoenician Scheme expanded wide with $6.2 million, bringing its total to $6.5 million.
The summer box office is heating up, with upcoming releases like How to Train Your Dragon, 28 Years Later, Pixar's Elio, and Brad Pitt's F1 poised to keep momentum going.
"This year's slate has the potential to deliver a post‑pandemic box office comeback," said Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore. "The momentum is finally here—and it's not slowing down."
Tags: ballerina, lilo & stitch, disney, john wick
