Lionsgate Suffers $94M Loss as 'Ballerina' Spin-Off Underperforms

In the past quarter, Lionsgate has faced a significant setback with the release of the 'John Wick' spin-off film 'Ballerina'. According to the latest financial reports, the movie made $133 million worldwide against a $90 million budget, a far cry from the $447.3 million gross of 'John Wick: Chapter 4' on a $100 million budget.

This underwhelming box office performance of 'Ballerina', along with the disappointing returns of another Lionsgate film 'Another Simple Favor', has resulted in a $94 million net loss for the company this quarter. This marks a low point for the once-lucrative 'John Wick' franchise, which had previously been a reliable source of profits for Lionsgate.

In response to these challenges, Lionsgate is taking several steps to return to solid growth. The company has divested itself from the Starz network and is promising increased investment in generative AI technology. Additionally, Lionsgate has three major tentpole film releases planned for the upcoming fiscal year, along with a doubling of the scripted television series under its production umbrella.

As CEO John Feltheimer stated, "If we execute well in these areas, we will return to the kind of growth in fiscal '27 that our shareholders expect." With a renewed focus on diversifying its portfolio and embracing emerging technologies, Lionsgate is aiming to bounce back from this recent setback and regain its footing in the entertainment industry.