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Ballerina's Box Office Worldwide Figures: A John Wick Spinoff’s Global Dance Falls Short

Jun 16

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Ballerina's Box Office Worldwide Figures: A John Wick Spinoff’s Global Dance Falls Short

Ballerina's box office worldwide figures tell a story of high expectations and modest returns for the John Wick spinoff. Despite a star-studded cast led by Ana de Armas and a $90 million production budget, "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" has struggled to match the franchise’s previous successes.


With $41,832,471 domestically (45.7%) and $49,700,000 internationally (54.3%), the film’s global total of $91,532,471, as reported by Box Office Mojo, reflects a soft debut for a movie banking on the John Wick legacy. This article dives into the numbers, analyzes the performance, and explores why Ballerina didn’t quite pirouette to the top of the charts.


Highlights of Ballerina’s Box Office Performance


  • Domestic Earnings: $41,832,471, accounting for 45.7% of the total gross.

  • International Earnings: $49,700,000, making up 54.3% of the worldwide total.

  • Worldwide Gross: $91,532,471, falling short of the franchise’s expectations.

  • Opening Weekend: $24,501,663 domestically, the lowest for a John Wick-related film since the original.

  • Production Budget: $90 million, with an additional $45 million in domestic marketing costs.

  • Audience Reception: Strong audience scores (87% positive on PostTrak, 79% definite recommend), but unable to overcome competition.


What Were Ballerina’s Opening Weekend Numbers?


Ballerina kicked off with a domestic opening weekend of $24,501,663 across 3,409 theaters, averaging about $7,187 per theater. This marked the weakest debut for any John Wick-related film since the original’s $14.4 million start in 2014.


Globally, the film earned $51 million in its first five days, including a $26 million international opening across 81 markets. While this outperformed the first two John Wick films internationally, it fell short of John Wick: Chapter 3’s $35.2 million and Chapter 4’s $64 million overseas debuts.


The $10.65 million earned on its domestic opening day (including previews) signaled early trouble, as it trailed pre-release projections of $25.5–$27.5 million.


How Did Ballerina Perform Domestically?


Domestically, Ballerina’s $41,832,471 gross through June 16, 2025, reflects a struggle to capture audiences. The film held the #2 spot at the domestic box office in its first week, earning $1.3 million on its seventh day (a 15.3% drop from the previous day), outperforming the original John Wick’s $1.1 million on its first Thursday.


By its second week, it had cumulated $32.4 million domestically, positioning it just $10.7 million shy of surpassing the original John Wick’s $43.03 million total domestic haul. However, competition from Disney’s Lilo & Stitch ($32.5 million in its third weekend) and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning ($15 million) kept Ballerina from the top spot.


Audience reception was strong, with a 79% definite recommend score on PostTrak, particularly among women over 25 (90% positive), but the crowded summer market diluted its momentum.


How Did International Markets Contribute to Ballerina’s Gross?


International markets provided the lion’s share of Ballerina’s box office worldwide figures, contributing $49,700,000 (54.3%). The film’s $26 million five-day international opening across 81 markets was solid but trailed John Wick: Chapter 3 and 4. In France, Ballerina drew 28,500 spectators on its opening day, averaging 14 admissions per screening, compared to John Wick: Chapter 4’s 71,000 spectators and 34 admissions per screening.


While specific market breakdowns are limited, posts on X suggest strong audience scores in China, indicating some global appeal. However, the international performance wasn’t enough to push the film past the $100 million mark, a threshold many expected given the franchise’s global fanbase.


Why Did Ballerina Underperform at the Box Office?


Several factors contributed to Ballerina’s lackluster performance. First, the crowded June 2025 release schedule pitted it against blockbusters like Lilo & Stitch (nearing $800 million globally) and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which dominated premium large-format screens like IMAX.


Ballerina secured fewer than 1,000 PLF auditoriums, limiting its high-ticket sales. Second, its $90 million production budget (up from an initial $80 million due to Lionsgate’s push for quality) and $45 million domestic marketing spend raised the break-even bar. Marketing may not have effectively distinguished Ballerina from the mainline John Wick series, causing audience confusion.


Finally, despite positive audience scores (87% positive on PostTrak), the film’s B CinemaScore and 85% Rotten Tomatoes audience score suggest it didn’t fully resonate with casual viewers, unlike the franchise’s earlier entries.


How Does Ballerina Compare to Other John Wick Films?


Ballerina’s box office worldwide figures pale compared to the John Wick franchise’s highs. The original John Wick (2014) grossed $43.03 million domestically and $88.8 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) earned $92 million domestically and $171.5 million globally.


Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) soared to $171 million domestically and $326.7 million worldwide, while Chapter 4 (2023) hit $187.1 million domestically and $440.1 million globally. Ballerina’s $91.5 million worldwide gross aligns closer to the original’s modest start but lacks the cultural impact and legs of its predecessors.


Its domestic opening ($24.5 million) was a franchise low since the first film, and its global debut ($51 million) couldn’t match the explosive growth of later entries.


What’s the Financial Outlook for Ballerina?


With a $90 million production budget and $45 million in domestic marketing, Ballerina’s $91.5 million worldwide gross is concerning. Theatrical revenue typically splits 50/50 with theaters domestically and less favorably internationally, meaning Lionsgate likely recouped around $20–$25 million domestically and $20–$25 million internationally.


This falls short of covering the $135 million production and marketing costs, let alone global marketing expenses. Ancillary revenue (streaming, Blu-ray, TV rights) may help, but the film’s theatrical run suggests a loss unless it gains traction in secondary markets. Posts on X note the budget ballooned to ensure quality, which may pay off in audience goodwill for future spinoffs, but the immediate financial picture is grim.



Some Closing Thoughts


Ballerina’s box office worldwide figures reveal a film caught in the shadow of its franchise’s giants. Despite a promising cast, strong audience scores, and a global gross of $91,532,471, the John Wick spinoff couldn’t break through a competitive summer market or justify its $135 million production and marketing budget.


While international markets provided a slight edge, the film’s domestic struggles and high costs paint a challenging financial picture. Still, its connection to the John Wick universe and positive audience reception suggest potential for a second act in streaming or home media.


For now, Ballerina’s dance at the box office is a reminder that even beloved franchises face tough crowds.

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