Thanksgiving Weekend Box Office Recap: 'Zootopia 2' and 'Wicked: For Good' Dominate Theaters
The Thanksgiving weekend saw Hollywood offering two major films, "Zootopia 2" and "Wicked: For Good," which drew large crowds to movie theaters. "Zootopia 2" dominated the domestic box office, raking in $156 million since Wednesday, with $96.8 million over the weekend. The film's success follows the original "Zootopia," which grossed over $1 billion globally. Internationally, "Zootopia 2" was a hit, earning $400 million, with a significant portion coming from China. The film's global earnings reached $556 million, making it one of the biggest launches in history.
"Wicked: For Good," another big-budget film, also performed well during the Thanksgiving weekend, grossing $93 million in its second weekend. While not matching the first film's debut, it has still amassed $270.4 million domestically and $393.3 million globally after 10 days in theaters. Despite the success of these films, this year's Thanksgiving lineup fell short of the record set in 2024.
"Zootopia 2" has been praised for its appeal, garnering positive reviews and strong word of mouth. The film's success is also attributed to the lack of recent family-friendly animated films, creating pent-up demand for such content. The movie's popularity in China, where a Zootopia Land theme park recently opened, has contributed significantly to its box office success. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, "Zootopia 2" follows the adventures of a rabbit police officer and a con artist fox as they tackle a new mystery.
In addition to these blockbusters, indie films like Chloe Zhao's "Hamnet" and A24's "Eternity" made their mark at the box office. "Eternity," a comedy about the afterlife, and "Hamnet," a drama about Shakespeare's son's death, opened on a smaller scale but showed promise. Netflix's "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" also made its theatrical debut, earning an estimated $4 million since Wednesday. The murder mystery, directed by Rian Johnson, will be available on Netflix in December.
Overall, the Thanksgiving weekend showcased a diverse range of films, from big-budget sequels to indie dramas, catering to various audiences. The success of "Zootopia 2" and "Wicked: For Good" highlights the enduring appeal of animated and fantasy genres in the film industry.