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Thanksgiving weekend brought a clear message to Hollywood. Audiences are ready to show up when the movies give them something to rally around. Disney’s “Zootopia 2” and Universal’s “Wicked For Good” turned a sluggish fall season into a lively holiday frame, proving that strong brands and confident storytelling still drive people to theaters.
“Zootopia 2” led the charge with a strong twenty nine point seven million on Thursday alone, which lifted its domestic run to fifty nine point two million since its Tuesday night debut. Current estimates suggest the sequel will wrap the five day holiday stretch somewhere between one hundred forty million and one hundred fifty million. That is a major win for Disney at a time when the studio has been looking to regain its footing, even though it will not match the towering Thanksgiving benchmark set by “Moana 2” in 2024.
Even so, the second “Zootopia” is showing real power overseas. It has already earned seventy four million internationally which pushes its global total to about one hundred thirty three point two million. Analysts expect another one hundred thirty five million to one hundred forty five million from international markets by the end of its first five days. China is leading the charge with more than fifty four million in two days, helped by excitement around the new Zootopia Land at Shanghai Disneyland. Few recent Hollywood releases have cracked the Chinese market in a meaningful way which makes this result stand out even more.
While “Zootopia 2” takes the top spot, “Wicked For Good” is not far behind. The musical soared to twelve point six million on Thursday which pushed its domestic total to a mighty two hundred seven point two million in less than a week. Projections point to more than ninety million added over the holiday frame which would leave the film just shy of two hundred seventy million by Sunday night. The early response makes it clear that the pairing of Elphaba and Glinda still casts a strong spell over audiences.
The strength of these two films provides a much needed reset for the box office after a bleak October. A string of underperformers such as “The Smashing Machine” and “Tron Ares” dragged ticket sales to a three decade low. The holiday rebound shows that the right films can still break through even in a crowded entertainment landscape.
Indie titles also made modest gains. A24’s “Eternity” added six hundred sixteen thousand on Thursday which brings its domestic total to roughly two point one million. Focus Features drama “Hamnet” earned one hundred sixty thousand from one hundred sixty locations. At four hundred eighty thousand total, it is shaping up as an awards season favorite thanks to praise for director Chloe Zhao and performances from Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.
Thanksgiving belonged to bold storytelling that meets audience expectations. With “Zootopia 2” and “Wicked For Good” surging ahead, the holiday box office finally feels alive again.
