


Box Office Showdown: Pixar's 'Elio' Struggles as 'How to Train Your Dragon' Soars
Pixar's 'Elio' records the studio's lowest opening at $21 million, while 'How to Train Your Dragon' leads with $37 million in its second weekend.
Overview
- Pixar's 'Elio' opened with $21 million, marking the studio's lowest box office debut ever.
- '28 Years Later' debuted with $30 million, achieving the biggest opening weekend for director Danny Boyle.
- 'How to Train Your Dragon' earned $37 million in its second weekend, dominating the US box office.
- The film 'How to Train Your Dragon' has grossed $358.2 million globally, outperforming its competitors.
- Production issues plagued 'Elio', which cost over $150 million and reflects a challenging period for Pixar.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the box office results as a stark contrast between the success of "How to Train Your Dragon" and the struggles of "Elio." They emphasize the financial implications and production challenges of "Elio," reflecting a critical perspective on Pixar's recent performance while celebrating the triumph of the former film.
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Center (3)
FAQ
Pixar's 'Elio' experienced troubled production including extensive rewrites, a director swap from Adrian Molina to Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian, and delays from its original March 2024 release to June 2025. These issues, along with a budget that reportedly ballooned to $300 million, significantly affected the film's performance.
'How to Train Your Dragon' earned $37 million in its second weekend, topping the US box office and outperforming 'Elio,' which opened with $21 million, marking Pixar's lowest opening ever.
'Elio' had the lowest opening weekend for Pixar at $21 million and faced significant financial pressure due to its high production cost, reportedly over $150 million to $300 million, marking a challenging period compared to recent successes like 'Elemental' and 'Inside Out 2'.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions for Pixar, leading some films such as 'Soul,' 'Luca,' and 'Turning Red' to skip theatrical releases and premiere directly on Disney+, while others like 'Lightyear' were commercial disappointments, contributing to a rough stretch for the studio before recent moderate successes.
Audience reception was lukewarm, with some critics noting the film felt like a rehash of previous works and lacked innovation, while promotion efforts were minimal in markets like Mexico, contributing to low public awareness and poor box office turnout.
History
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