Zootopia 2" and "Wicked: For Good" Dominate Thanksgiving Box Office: A Revitalizing Success Story
The Thanksgiving box office was dominated by "Zootopia 2," the Disney animated sequel that raked in $19.7 million on Thursday and has amassed $59.2 million domestically since its Tuesday night debut. The film is projected to earn between $140 million and $150 million over the five-day holiday period. Following closely behind is "Wicked: For Good," which earned $12.6 million on Thursday and has already collected an impressive $207.2 million in less than a week. It is expected to add over $90 million during the holiday weekend, bringing its domestic total to nearly $270 million.
These two films are revitalizing a box office that had been struggling, with October ticket sales hitting a three-decade low. The disappointing performances of films like "The Smashing Machine," "Tron: Ares," and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" contributed to the slump, while big-budget releases like "One Battle After Another" failed to meet expectations. Despite its success, "Zootopia 2" falls short of the record set by Disney's "Moana 2" in 2024, which earned $139 million over the weekend and $225 million over the five days.
Internationally, "Zootopia 2" is also a hit, earning $74 million and pushing its global total to $133.2 million. The film is expected to bring in an additional $135 million to $145 million from foreign markets during its first five days of release. Notably, the film is performing well in China, where it has grossed over $54 million in just two days, thanks in part to the recent opening of Zootopia Land at Shanghai Disneyland. The movie's success in China is significant, as tensions with the U.S. have led the country to favor local-language productions over Hollywood films since the onset of COVID.
Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, "Zootopia 2" follows the adventures of a rabbit police officer and a con artist fox as they team up to investigate a new reptilian resident. In the indie film scene, A24's "Eternity," a rom-com set in the afterlife starring Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner, earned $616,272 from 1,348 screens, bringing its domestic total to $2.1 million. Meanwhile, Focus Features' "Hamnet," a drama about William Shakespeare's son's death, collected $160,000 from 160 locations, bringing its gross to $480,000. "Hamnet" is generating Oscar buzz, with director Chloe Zhao and stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal receiving critical acclaim.
In conclusion, "Zootopia 2" and "Wicked: For Good" have injected new life into the box office, offering audiences a diverse range of entertainment options during the holiday season. With strong performances both domestically and internationally, these films are setting the stage for a successful year-end for the film industry.