Chicago Tribune logo
ABC News logo
Associated Press logo
3 articles
·9d

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

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

  • 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.

Content generated by AI—learn more or report issue.

Pano Newsletter

Get both sides in 5 minutes with our daily newsletter.

Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

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.

Pixar's "Elio" had a tough weekend with a modest $21 million opening, the lowest ever for Pixar.

Associated Press logo
ABC News logo
2 articles
100%

"28 Years Later" opened with $30 million, marking director Danny Boyle's biggest opening weekend.

Associated Press logo
ABC News logo
2 articles
100%

How To Train Your Dragon has quickly earned $358.2 million globally.

Associated Press logo
ABC News logo
2 articles
100%

How to Train Your Dragon dominated the US box office, earning $37 million in ticket sales in its second weekend.

Associated Press logo
1 article
100%

Disney and Pixar invested over $150 million in the production of "Elio."

Associated Press logo
1 article
100%

Elio faced challenges during production, including a change in co-directors.

ABC News logo
1 article
100%

Articles (3)

Compare how different news outlets are covering this story.

Center (3)

"…A pesar de los considerables nuevos estrenos de “Elio” y “28 Years Later”, “How to Train Your Dragon” se mantuvo como la película de mayor ingreso, recaudando 37 millones de dólares en ventas de boletos en su segundo fin de semana."

“How to Train Your Dragon” lidera taquilla en EEUU; “‘Elio” marca el peor estreno para Pixar
Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune·9d·
Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.

"…The Universal Pictures live-action remake remained the top film, bringing in $37 million in ticket sales in its second weekend, despite the sizeable new releases of “Elio” and “28 Years Later.”"

‘How to Train Your Dragon’ soars ahead of 'Elio,' '28 Years Later' in box office
ABC NewsABC News·9d·
Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.

FAQ

Dig deeper on this story with frequently asked questions.

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

See how this story has evolved over time.

  • This story does not have any previous versions.