Thanksgiving Box Office: ‘For Good’ Wins Weekend

“Zootopia 2” Roars to $10.2 Million in previews, Boosting Thanksgiving Box Office

Disney’s highly anticipated sequel, “Zootopia 2,” is off to a strong start, signaling a positive trend for movie theaters during the crucial Thanksgiving holiday. The film earned $10.2 million during tuesday previews, establishing itself as the second-highest opening for a Disney Animation Studios film, trailing only last year’s “Moana 2.”

Did you know? – “Zootopia 2” marks the first sequel in the “Zootopia” franchise, expanding the world and characters audiences loved in the original 2016 film.

A Welcome Boost for a Struggling Market

The performance of “Zootopia 2” is particularly encouraging given recent challenges in the box office landscape. Analysts have noted a slowdown in ticket sales in recent months,making the strong debut of the animated sequel a welcome development. the film follows detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they investigate a mysterious reptile disrupting the mammal metropolis of Zootopia.

“Wicked: For Good” continues to Impress

Alongside “Zootopia 2,” Universal’s “Wicked: For Good” is also contributing significantly to the holiday’s box office revenue.The film generated $147 million during its opening week and is projected to earn between $80 million and $100 million over the five-day Thanksgiving period. Last year’s release of “Wicked” earned $118 million during the same timeframe, following a $112.5 million debut the prior weekend.

thanksgiving Box Office Outlook

Early estimates suggest the five-day Thanksgiving box office will reach approximately $300 million, largely driven by the success of “Wicked: For Good” and the promising start of “Zootopia 2.” According to Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, “‘Zootopia 2’ has a perfect release date and built-in brand recognition and a revenue enhancing PG rating so that’s a huge plus.”

Pro tip: – Family-kind films like “Zootopia 2” and “Wicked: for Good” frequently enough perform well during Thanksgiving, as schools are closed and families seek entertainment options.

though, this year’s figures are expected to fall short of the record-breaking $424.9 million generated during the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday, fueled by “Moana 2,” “wicked,” and “Gladiator II.” The previous high, set in 2018, was $315.6 million.

Despite not surpassing last year’s record, one analyst stated that this year will still rank among the top five highest-grossing Thanksgiving weekends in history. “The Thanksgiving holiday frame is one of the most important moviegoing periods of the year,” Dergarabedian added.

Looking Ahead

While “Zootopia 2” is projected to generate between $135 million and $150 million during the five-day period, it remains significantly below the $225.4 million earned by “Moana 2” last year. still, the film’s strong opening suggests a positive trajectory for Disney

Reader question: – Do you think sequels generally live up to the hype of the original films? What makes a good sequel in your opinion?

Why: The article details the strong opening of “Zootopia 2” and its impact on the Thanksgiving box office, alongside the continued success of “Wicked: For Good.” It explains the context of a struggling box office market and how these films are providing a boost.

Who: Key players mentioned are Disney (for “Zootopia 2”), Universal (for “Wicked: For Good”), and Paul Dergarabedian (Comscore analyst). The main characters of “Zootopia 2,” Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, are also mentioned.