Thanks to an optimistic rabbit and a cunning red fox – and don’t forget the witches of Oz – the Thanksgiving box office was a necessary victory for Hollywood and theater owners.
Disney’s critic and audience favorite Zootopia 2 led the way with a record five-day Thanksgiving opening of $156 million in North America and $556 million worldwide, marking the biggest worldwide opening of all time for an animated film and one of the fourth biggest of any film. Overseas, the film soared to an astonishing $400 million, thanks in large part to China, where it had the best animated film of all time with $272 million. And the biggest launch for a Hollywood film since May 2021. Presumably Walt Disney Animation Studios has another billion dollars on its hands, considering the first Zootopia opened to just $75 million, on track to exceed $1.025 billion globally, not adjusted for inflation.
A tent pole for Thanksgiving Villain: for goodwhich opened a week ago, cobbled together an estimated $93 million for the five days, bringing its 10-day domestic gross to $270.4 million as it nears the $400 million mark globally, another key milestone.
Zootopia 2 has been doing mind-blowing business since its launch in North America on Wednesday. It topped Black Friday with $38.5 million, the second-highest gross ever for the day, behind last year’s. Moana 2 ($54.5 million). That’s after winning Thanksgiving with a near-record $19.7 million, the second-best performance of all time, also after Moana 2 ($27.8 million). It posted an opening day gross of $39.5 million on Wednesday, putting the sequel on track to open with a better-than-expected five-day holiday opening, topping $158 million, which would also be the second-best showing after Moana 2. Finally, there’s something for families to see at the multiplex after a long drought for such a price.
Zootopia 2 enjoys rave reviews and exceptional releases, including an A CinemaScore and a 95% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“The best buddy cop movie in ages has arrived in the form of Zootopia 2. This sequel to the hit, Oscar-winning 2016 animated film is well worth the long wait, knocking it out of the park with its dazzling visuals, sophisticated humor, and doses of genuine emotion,” writes THR‘s Frank Scheck in his review.
The film brings together optimistic young bunny Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and cunning red fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), who have just joined forces in the police force overseen by the intimidating Chief Bogo (Idris Elba). Despite their previous success, things don’t go well for the two men, who must track down an intrusive snake (Ke Huy Quan voices the new character).
Elsewhere, Villain: for good crossed the $200 million mark in North America on Thanksgiving Day after opening on November 21. Director Jon M. Chu’s second installment in the ambitious adaptation of the hit Broadway musical and book is also one of the best holiday grossers of all time.
The Witches of Oz film – starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande – broke numerous records in its global box office debut last weekend, including missing the first Wicked ranking as the best opening ever for a Broadway musical adaptation and one of the best showings among all musicals.
Overseas, it grossed another $29.4 million, for a foreign total of $122.8 and a worldwide total of $393.3 million, according to Sunday’s estimates.
Villain: for good is on par with Wicked.
At the specialized box office, Chloé Zhao’s Oscar contender Hamnetadapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel about William Shakespeare, opened to a promising $1.4 million in 119 theaters across 28 markets, bringing its five-day average to $11,345.
Right away – starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal – made headlines at fall film festivals, winning the Toronto Audience Awards at the BFI in London, among other festivals. Focus Features acquired the rights to the film from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin and Sam Mendes’ London production company. It will see a major expansion next weekend, going nationwide.
More to come.
