‘Zootopia 2’ Triumphs with $156 Million Thanksgiving Box Office Debut

Walt Disney Animation’s “Zootopia 2” has made a significant impact at the box office with a remarkable debut of $156 million over the Thanksgiving weekend. This five-day opening, which started on Wednesday, marks the second-best Thanksgiving debut ever, following Disney’s “Moana 2,” which brought in $225 million in 2024.

Zootopia 2 Breaks Records

“Zootopia 2” has become a holiday favorite, captivating audiences of all ages. Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, noted the deep connection families have with this film, highlighting its success as part of Disney’s annual Thanksgiving tradition.

Box Office Performance

• Total domestic gross for “Zootopia 2”: $156 million
• Ranked second for Thanksgiving openings, behind “Moana 2.”
• Aspiring to beat the poor numbers from the previous October.

Alongside “Zootopia 2,” Universal’s “Wicked: For Good” also exceeded expectations with a domestic opening of $150 million, followed by another $62.8 million during the weekend. This brings its total to $270.4 million domestically. Both films together achieved a staggering $249 million domestically over the holiday period.

International Earnings

“Zootopia 2” also performed well internationally, totaling $400 million, which leads to a global gross of approximately $556 million. Meanwhile, “Wicked: For Good” reported global earnings of $393.25 million since its release.

The Impact on Hollywood’s Box Office

The late-year holiday season is just as critical for Hollywood as the summertime blockbuster season. The success of both films confirms the continuing power of family-friendly, female-focused stories in cinema.

• Combined earnings for “Zootopia 2” and “Wicked: For Good”: $249 million domestically.
• Overall global total for “Zootopia 2”: $556 million.

Other box office contenders included Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” which earned $7 million. Disney’s “Predator: Badlands” and Paramount’s “The Running Man” followed with $4.8 million and $3.7 million, respectively. A24’s “Eternity” saw a modest reception with $5.2 million, showcasing the declining popularity of romantic comedies.

Future Predictions

Analysts are optimistic, projecting that Hollywood may reach a remarkable $9 billion in domestic box office revenue by the year’s end. Currently, earnings are up 1.24% year-to-date, with another $1.2 billion needed to meet this target.

The industry’s hopes largely hinge on upcoming releases, particularly Disney’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” scheduled for December 19, further contributing to expectations of a strong finish for 2023 at the box office.