For Good’ lead Thanksgiving box office

Box Office Buzz: Thanksgiving Weekend Sees Strong Opening for “Zootopia 2” and “Wicked: For Good”

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is shaping up to be a great time for moviegoers, with several highly anticipated films hitting theaters. Disney’s “Zootopia 2” is among the most buzzworthy, with the animated sequel following detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they investigate a mysterious reptile that’s turning the mammal metropolis of Zootopia upside down.

According to box office analysts, “Zootopia 2” is off to a strong start, with $10.2 million in Tuesday previews – the second-highest haul for a Disney Animation Studios film ever. This bodes well for the film’s overall performance, with predictions suggesting it will generate between $135 million and $150 million during the five-day Thanksgiving period. While this is significantly lower than the $225.4 million taken in by “Moana 2” during the same period last year, it’s still a welcome boost for a box office that has struggled in recent months.

Competition from “Wicked: For Good”

Another major player in the Thanksgiving box office is Universal’s “Wicked: For Good”, which debuted last week with an impressive $147 million. The film is expected to bring in between $80 million and $100 million over the five-day holiday, although some analysts predict it could perform even better, given the success of the original “Wicked” film last year. With both “Zootopia 2” and “Wicked: For Good” performing well, the Thanksgiving holiday frame is shaping up to be one of the most successful in recent years.

According to Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, the combination of “Wicked: For Good” and “Zootopia 2” is powering an impressive five days of box office revenue for movie theaters, with predictions suggesting a total haul of around $300 million. While this is lower than the record-breaking $424.9 million domestic five-day score seen in 2024, it’s still a solid performance that will likely rank among the top five performing Thanksgiving frames of all time.

A Strong Holiday Season for Movie Theaters

Overall, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is looking like a great time for movie theaters, with a range of films offering something for everyone. With “Zootopia 2” and “Wicked: For Good” leading the charge, it’s likely to be a strong holiday season for the box office, even if it doesn’t quite match the record-breaking performance of 2024. As the holiday season gets underway, moviegoers can look forward to a range of exciting new releases, making it a great time to get out and enjoy the magic of the movies.