Sony's highly anticipated horror sequel "28 Years Later" is off to a robust start at the box office, generating preview grosses well north of $5 million on Thursday night, according to early industry estimates. The film marks the long-awaited return to the dystopian, rage-virus-infested world first introduced in "28 Days Later".
While the film is generating solid early traction, box office analysts caution against comparing its preview performance too closely to recent horror success "Final Destination: Bloodlines", which took the industry by storm with a franchise-best $5.5 million in previews and a $51.6 million opening weekend. When it comes to Horror, big preview numbers don't always translate into sustained weekend momentum.
Critical reception for "28 Years Later" has been overwhelmingly positive, with the film currently holding a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest rating yet for any film in the 23-year-old franchise. However, audiences appear more divided, with the film currently scoring 67% among them. Additionally, previews for "28 Years Later" began at noon on Thursday, giving the film a longer-than-usual runway into the weekend.
Current tracking indicates the film could see an opening in the $28 million to $30 million range, a significant leap from the franchise's previous entries. For context, "28 Days Later" opened in 2002 with $10 million from just 1,261 theaters, while 2007's "28 Weeks Later" debuted with $9.8 million from 2,303 locations. The latest installment benefits from not only franchise recognition but also the return of its original creative duo, which is giving longtime fans a strong reason to return.
Meanwhile, over at Disney and Pixar, the original animated feature "Elio" is aiming for a solid debut. After two nights of previews, the sci-fi coming-of-age story has earned between $2.5 million and $3 million. That puts it roughly on par with last summer's "Elemental", which opened with $2.6 million in previews and went on to a $29.6 million opening weekend.
Critically, "Elio" is faring better than "Elemental" did at this stage, scoring a strong 86% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to "Elemental's" 73%. While audience scores have yet to post for "Elio", Pixar is hopeful that positive word-of-mouth and the film's emotional storytelling will result in a similar trajectory to "Elemental", which went from a soft opening to a remarkable $154.4 million domestic run thanks to excellent audience reception and long legs.
Industry projections suggest "Elio" could land in the $20 million to $25 million range for its three-day debut. If audience reactions are similarly warm, it could prove to be another slow-burning Pixar success story.
Holding strong at the top of the box office is Universal and DreamWorks Animation's live-action adaptation of "How to Train Your Dragon", which is expected to retain its No. 1 position in its second weekend. The beloved animated trilogy, directed by Dean DeBlois, is on track to earn over $40 million. As of Wednesday, it has already amassed $113.7 million domestically, making it one of the summer's major family hits.
Tags: 28 years later, box office, elio, how to train your dragon