Box Office: Lionsgate's Ballerina eyes USD 35M plus opening in promising start for John Wick spinoff
Lionsgate's From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is tracking toward a strong USD 35 to 40 million opening weekend, positioning the Ana de Armas-led spinoff for a solid debut on June 6. With its intense action sequences and connection to the billion-dollar John Wick franchise, Ballerina is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated R-rated action releases of the summer.
Directed by Len Wiseman, Ballerina underwent additional photography helmed by John Wick creator Chad Stahelski to maintain continuity with the franchise's signature style. The film marks the fifth installment in the universe and serves as a standalone tale set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4. De Armas plays Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin on a revenge mission under the deadly supervision of the Ruska Roma.
Initial tracking shows strong interest from male audiences over 25, with high awareness among the broader 25-plus demographic, the same group that powered John Wick: Chapter 4 to a franchise-best USD 73.8 million opening in 2023. While Ballerina is not expected to reach those numbers, its projections already place it ahead of John Wick: Chapter 2 (USD 30.2 million).
In fact, the film is aligning with other successful franchise offshoots like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Both titles opened to USD 44.6 million and USD 42.1 million, respectively.
With a reported budget between USD 80–90 million, including reshoots, Lionsgate has once again employed its proven strategy of selling foreign rights to finance the project while retaining key markets like the US and UK. The promotional push began in full force at CinemaCon in April, with de Armas backing it up through social media campaigns and behind-the-scenes teases.
The John Wick franchise has grossed over USD 1.03 billion globally, with Chapter 4 alone bringing in over USD 440 million. Ballerina also features franchise regulars, including Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, and the late Lance Reddick in his final screen role.
Releasing alongside Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme, which doesn't pose much threat, Ballerina is well-positioned to dominate its launch weekend. If audience reception mirrors the franchise's momentum, the film could very well dance past projections.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pink Villa
4 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Housefull 5 Worldwide Screen Count: Akshay Kumar starrer set to release on 7000 screens in 85 countries
The much-anticipated Housefull 5 is gearing up to hit theaters tomorrow, June 6, 2025, with a staggering 7,000 plus screens worldwide. It is Akshay Kumar 's widest release as a lead hero. The killer-comedy directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, will roll out across 5,000 screens in India and 2,000 screens internationally. The film releases in 85+ countries internationally, at 1,300 different locations. While Akshay's widest release to date remains 2.0, where he played a pivotal supporting role alongside Rajinikanth, Housefull 5 marks a new milestone for the actor in a leading role. With exhibitors very much on board for this laugh riot and advance bookings picking up well on the final day, all eyes are on this fifth installment to deliver to the franchise standards of unadulterated fun and comedy. The makers of Housefull 5 have gone all out to ensure a grand release for their film. The decision to opt for such a massive screen count reflects their confidence in the film's appeal, magnified further by a star-studded ensemble that also features Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez and Sonam Bajwa among others. The advance bookings of the comic caper in India began on a decent note and there is a noticeable uptick in ticket sales today. If this momentum continues, an opening day figure of Rs 20 crore net will be breached. Internationally, Housefull 5 is making waves, though the bookings haven't quite matched the initial buzz. Still, the film is poised for a good performance with advance bookings suggesting a gross of USD 3.5 million over its three-day opening weekend. Markets like the UAE, UK, and Australia, New Zealand and Fiji are expected to contribute significantly to this total. The stakes are high for Housefull 5. The comedy-ensemble genre, known for its high budgets due to the star-studded cast and the high production value, relies heavily on strong box office returns to justify the investments. The Housefull series hasn't had a theatrical miss so far. However, a misstep in the post-pandemic setting could make producers wary of backing similar projects. Industry insiders are watching closely, as the film's performance could change their decision on green-lighting certain films for the good or for the worse. Will Housefull 5 deliver the laughs and the box office collections? We shall know that soon. Have you booked your tickets for Housefull 5 yet? If yes, which version have you chosen to watch? A or B?
Pink Villa
5 hours ago
- Pink Villa
IU defamation case: Woman accused of slander faces additional 3 million KRW fine for repeated offence
In a recent court ruling, a woman in her 40s was held accountable for her actions against IU, which included posting defamatory comments about her. While presenting the verdict, the court took into consideration the woman's prior conviction for a similar offense against the singer in 2022. As a result, the offender was ordered to pay a hefty fine. The latest development in the case was reported by K-media outlet The Korea Herald on June 5. IU's second-time offender slapped with 3 million KRW fine The Seoul Central District Court found the defendant, referred to as Kim, guilty of the crime of slander and ordered her to pay a fine of 3 million KRW (2,200 USD). The charges against Kim stemmed from her alleged posting of s*xually offensive comments about IU, and accusing that IU's agency, Edam Entertainment, bribed judges to rule in favour of them in the previous case. Kim however, claimed that she did not mention any names in the concerned comments, and argued that they were too vague to be linked to IU and did not damage her reputation. However, the court ruled against her, taking into account her similar previous offence three years ago. The court offered IU's defamor leniency The Seoul Court issued a lenient sentence for Kim due to her being already indicted with similar charges and facing legal consequences for the same. Kim received the same fine for her current offense as she did for her previous offense against IU in 2022. As for IU's side, they revealed that the When Life Gives You Tangerines actress did not forgive her offender and thus, the court hearing proceeded as scheduled. Kim's previous offence against IU Kim's previous online attack against IU was in April 2022, and it involved posting derogatory comments about her singing and fashion sense. Despite Kim's claim that her comments were merely a reflection of her personal taste and that her language skills were limited due to a mental health issue, the court found her guilty and imposed a fine of 3 million KRW in December 2023. From then till date, Edam Entertainment has been vigorously taking legal action against individuals who post malicious comments about IU. By November, the agency had initiated criminal proceedings against 180 individuals.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Karrion Kross WWE exit rumors grow louder amid contract silence
Image via WWE WWE Superstar Karrion Kross could be on his way out of the company later this year, as reports suggest the Stamford-based promotion has yet to enter contract renewal discussions with the former NXT Champion. According to a recent report from Fightful Select, WWE has not approached Kross regarding an extension, despite his contract being set to expire in the coming months. This comes at a time when several veteran stars, including R-Truth and Carlito - have exited under the current Triple H-led regime after their deals were not renewed. With no talks in progress, speculation is mounting that Kross could be the next to follow. Karrion Kross struggles for spotlight despite growing popularity Kross, also known as 'The Herald of Doomsday,' has seen a noticeable uptick in fan support recently, especially due to his backstage segments with top names such as AJ Styles and Sami Zayn. Yet, despite the buzz, he was snubbed for a spot in this year's Money in the Bank qualifiers and hasn't appeared in a televised match since before WrestleMania 41. He's had a string of wins in non-televised matches and has maintained an active presence on social media, which many believe has boosted his popularity. Still, WWE's creative direction hasn't fully capitalised on his growing momentum. Vince McMahon's new company is inevitable? Veteran wrestling writer Vince Russo added to the drama this week by advising Kross to let his WWE contract expire. Speaking on Sportskeeda Wrestling's BroDown, Russo said Kross could earn significantly more on the open market. 'If I'm Kross, I'm letting the contract expire because this dude could make a fortune,' he said, hinting at Kross's potential outside WWE. Kross, alongside his wife Scarlett, previously wrestled in promotions like Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling before rejoining WWE in 2022. Fans voice support amid WrestleMania frustration Adding to his frustrations, Karrion Kross recently opened up about being left off the WrestleMania 41 card - a sore point considering the event took place in his hometown of Las Vegas. In a candid post-show discussion, Kross said he was hurt by the decision, especially after generating genuine crowd reactions and building an organic feud with Randy Orton. 'It's all about viral moments now,' he lamented. 'As soon as I become undeniable, they ignore it. ' Fans, too, have echoed his disappointment. Social media has been buzzing with reactions, with many users calling WWE's creative choices "tone-deaf" and accusing the company of ignoring talent that fans genuinely want to see succeed. One fan even wrote, "If they don't re-sign Kross, we riot," while others compared the handling of Kross's contract to the recent releases of R-Truth, Dakota Kai, and Braun Strowman - painting a broader picture of frustration with the current regime. Support for Kross has grown steadily thanks to his dark, cinematic promos, unique in-ring presence, and his chemistry with Scarlett. Despite limited TV time, he remains a constant topic among wrestling forums and fan debates. His absence from key storylines hasn't weakened his appeal - if anything, it has made fans rally behind him even harder. Now, with only a few months left on his contract, the spotlight is firmly on WWE and Triple H. Will the company respond to the growing support and finally give Kross the push many feel he deserves? Or will he become yet another missed opportunity in the post-Vince McMahon era? As of now, Karrion Kross's future hangs in the balance - but his fanbase is louder than ever, and they're not backing down.
