Thanks to a determined rabbit, a clever fox, and a touch of Broadway magic, the Thanksgiving box office delivered a much-needed win for Hollywood and theater owners.
Disney’s Zootopia 2 led the charge with a record-breaking five-day Thanksgiving opening of $156 million in North America and $556 million globally, marking the biggest worldwide debut ever for an animated film and the fourth largest of any movie. The international haul included an extraordinary $400 million overseas, with China alone contributing $272 million — the top animated opening ever in the country and the largest Hollywood release there since May 2021. Considering the first Zootopia eventually topped $1.025 billion globally, the sequel is on track to surpass the billion-dollar mark.
Wicked: For Good, which opened the previous week, pulled in an estimated $93 million over the five-day period, bringing its 10-day domestic total to $270.4 million and nearing $400 million globally.
Zootopia 2’s strong performance began with a $39.5 million opening day on Wednesday and continued with $19.7 million on Thanksgiving Day — the second-highest ever for the holiday behind Moana 2. Black Friday added another $38.5 million, the second-best total for the day, positioning the sequel for an impressive five-day total exceeding $158 million. Audience response has been glowing, with an A CinemaScore and a 95% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film reunites optimistic rabbit Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and sly fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as newly partnered officers under Chief Bogo (Idris Elba). Their latest mission involves tracking a mysterious interloping snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan), testing their skills and partnership. Critics have praised the sequel for its visuals, humor, and emotional depth, calling it a standout buddy-cop adventure.
Meanwhile, Wicked: For Good surpassed $200 million in North America on Thanksgiving, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande reprising roles as the Witches of Oz. The musical adaptation also posted a $29.4 million overseas tally, lifting its global total to $393.3 million. The film broke records as the top opening for a Broadway musical adaptation and continues to track closely with the first Wicked installment.
At the specialty box office, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel about William Shakespeare, opened to $1.4 million from 119 theaters, averaging $11,345 per location over five days. Starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, the film received critical acclaim at fall film festivals, and a nationwide expansion is planned for next weekend.