‘Zootopia 2’ Shatters Box Office Records, Leading a Strong Thanksgiving Weekend for family Films
Despite falling short of last year’s record-breaking holiday frame, the Thanksgiving box office delivered a much-needed win for theater owners and animated family films, fueled by the phenomenal success of Disney’s zootopia 2.
Disney’s Animated Sequel Dominates Global Charts
Disney’s Zootopia 2 stormed the box office, securing a near-best five-day North American debut of $156 million and an remarkable $400 million overseas. This translates to a record-smashing global start of $556 million – the biggest worldwide start of all time for an animated film and the fourth-best opening of any film in history. According to a Disney release, “The incredible response to Zootopia 2 reflects both its worldwide appeal and the remarkable work of our filmmakers and cast.”
The film’s success was especially pronounced in China, where it achieved the top animated opening of all time with $272 million, surpassing even Avengers: Endgame‘s $300 million debut in 2019. It also marked the biggest launch for a Hollywood title in China since May 2021, and secured the biggest Saturday of all time with $104 million in revenue.
Analysts predict Zootopia 2 is on track to become another billion-dollar hit for Walt Disney Animation Studios, building on the success of the original Zootopia, which grossed over $1.025 billion globally. The sequel boasts an A CinemaScore and a 95 percent audience ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating strong word-of-mouth.
‘Wicked: For Good’ Continues to Enchant Audiences
Simultaneously occurring, Wicked: For Good, which opened a week prior, added an estimated $93 million to its coffers over the five-day Thanksgiving period.Its 10-day domestic cumulative gross now stands at $270.4 million, with a global total approaching $400 million. The film, based on the hit Broadway musical, has already broken numerous records, including ranking as the top opening of all time for a Broadway musical adaptation. Overseas, it earned an additional $29.4 million over the Thanksgiving weekend, bringing its foreign tally to $122.8 million and its worldwide total to $393.3 million.
Thanksgiving Box Office Performance & industry Outlook
while this year’s Thanksgiving box office didn’t match the record-breaking numbers of last year – which benefited from the simultaneous releases of Wicked, Moana 2, Red One, and Gladiator – it still represented a solid performance for movie theaters. One analyst noted that the industry is currently at a razor-thin 1.3% year-over-year advantage compared to 2023 and will need to generate another $1.2 billion through January 31 to reach the $9 billion threshold for annual domestic box office revenue.
other Releases & Specialty Films
Several other films also made their mark during the holiday weekend. Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery earned an estimated $2.3 million despite limited theatrical release due to distribution issues. At the specialty box office, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s novel about William Shakespeare, opened to a promising $1.4 million from 119 theaters, averaging $11,345 per location. The film, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, garnered critical acclaim at fall film festivals. Lionsgate’s holdover Now You See Me: Now You Don’t rounded out the top three, earning $49.7 million domestically and $187 million globally.
The success of Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good signals a strong demand for high-quality family entertainment and demonstrates the continued resilience of the theatrical experience.
