‘Dragon’ Slaying ’28 Years Later’ And ‘Elio’

How to Train Your Dragon is projected to top the domestic box office again ahead of newcomers 28 Days Later and Elio.

The live-action version of the 2010 animated hit How to Train Your Dragon is projected by Deadline to earn $35.2 million in its second-weekend frame from 4,373 theaters, which is below the trade publication’s forecast of $40 million earlier this week. If Deadline’s projection holds, it will up Universal Pictures’ How to Train Your Dragon’s domestic tally to $158.6 million through Sunday.

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Meanwhile, director Danny Boyle’s zombie thriller 28 Years Later is projected by Deadline to gross $28 million to $30 million from 3,444 theaters through Sunday, which is in line with the trade’s projections earlier this week.

The projected weekend domestic tally is on the low end, however, of Box Office Pro’s long-range tracking for 28 Years Later, which on June 7 was forecasting a $30 million to $40 million opening.

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Released by Sony Pictures Entertainment, 28 Years Later — which stars Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson — had a production budget of $60 million before prints and advertising, Deadline reported.

‘Elio’ Tops Projections But Has A Lot Of Ground To Make Up

Disney and Pixar’s animated sci-fi adventure Elio is projected by Deadline to earn $22 million to $24 million from 3,750 million in its opening weekend frame, which is ahead of the trade’s $20 million-plus forecast from earlier this week.

Still, an opening weekend tally of $24 million domestically falls far short of Box Office Pro’s long-range tracking forecast from May 31, which pegged the film to open in the $35 million to $45 million range.

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Elio a lot of ground to make up in the long term, since the film cost $150 million before its marketing spend, Deadline noted. By contrast, Disney’s Pixar’s Inside Out 2 opened with $154.2 million from 4,440 North American theaters a little over a year ago.

There’s also one other newcomer this week — Bride Hard — though it’s not opening nearly as wide as 28 Years Later or Elio. Directed by Con Air and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider helmer Simon West, Rebel Wilson and Anna Camp’s action comedy Bride Hard is debuting in 2,000 theaters domestically.

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Bride Hard is the product of Magenta Light Studios, which distributed last summer’s indie serial killer thriller Strange Darling.

Note: This box office report will be updated throughout the weekend with the most current numbers as they become available. The final numbers for this weekend’s box office will be released on Monday.

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