As the holiday season approaches, the box office is witnessing a significant shift. Disney’s latest release, Zootopia 2, and Universal’s Wicked: For Good have both made impressive debuts, marking a much-anticipated recovery for theaters.
Zootopia 2 Achieves Notable Preview Success
Zootopia 2 premiered on Tuesday at 2 PM, earning an impressive $10.2 million in previews. This achievement places it as the second highest preview opening for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film, following only Moana 2, which grossed $13.8 million on a Tuesday.
Record-Breaking Performances
- Frozen II: $8.5 million (Thursday)
- Top animated previews ranking for Zootopia 2:
- 1. Incredibles 2: $18.5 million
- 2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: $17.4 million
- 3. Moana 2: $13.8 million
- 4. Inside Out 2: $13 million
- 5. Toy Story 4: $12 million
- 6. Demon Slayer – Infinity Castle: $11.4 million
- 7. Minions: The Rise of Gru: $10.8 million
For its domestic opening, Zootopia 2 is projected to earn approximately $125 million over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend. If it meets expectations, this would position it as the second-best Thanksgiving opener after Moana 2.
Wicked: For Good Makes Strong Debut
Meanwhile, Universal’s Wicked: For Good also saw strong numbers, generating $15.75 million on its first Tuesday. This performance marks it as the second-best Tuesday of 2025, just behind Warner Bros/DC Studios’ Superman at $17.1 million.
Historic Comparisons
- Fourth best Tuesday in November.
- Comparative earnings:
- Frozen 2: $20.7 million (2019)
- Wicked: $16.6 million (2024)
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: $15.9 million (2013)
The cumulative earnings for Wicked: For Good stand at $177.5 million, reflecting a 22% increase compared to its predecessor, Wicked’s initial five-day total during previews.
Box Office Trends This Thanksgiving
Last year’s Thanksgiving weekend saw a record-breaking total of $424.9 million, driven by Moana 2, Wicked, and Paramount’s Gladiator II. However, this year is notably lacking heavier male-oriented releases similar to Gladiator II.
Recent box office figures reveal that the top 20 titles earned a combined $21.7 million, which is a 25% decline from last year’s $29 million for the same Tuesday.
Overall, the early success of Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good indicates a positive shift in the box office landscape as the holiday season ramps up.
