Hold on to your hats, movie fans! Zootopia 2 is poised to absolutely EXPLODE at the box office, giving theaters a much-needed jolt of energy. Initial projections are already being blown out of the water, and it looks like the film will rake in at least $150 million domestically over this holiday weekend. That's a whopping $10 million MORE than previously predicted! Black Friday shoppers flocked to theaters in droves, giving Zootopia 2 a significant boost.
But here's where it gets controversial... it's the international numbers that are truly mind-boggling. Zootopia 2 shattered records in China, raking in an astonishing $104 million in a single day. Imagine that! By Monday, the Disney sequel is projected to amass a staggering $525 million internationally. You can practically hear the champagne corks popping at Disney headquarters already! What do you think? Is this level of success good for the film industry, or does it further solidify Disney's dominance?
Meanwhile, Wicked: For Good isn't doing too shabby either, eyeing a strong $93.5 million over the extended five-day weekend. That's a fantastic number, proving that the interest in the Wicked franchise is still strong. However, and this is the part most people miss..., it's falling short of the original Wicked's debut, which grossed $118 million during the same period last year. The second weekend is also showing a steeper decline than expected, dropping a substantial 57% to $63.3 million. While Wicked: For Good is still making a killing and is undoubtedly a welcome hit for exhibitors, it might not have the same staying power as its predecessor. Is this a sign of changing audience preferences, or just a case of heightened expectations?
In short, theater owners are likely sending thank-you notes to Disney and Universal. Outside of these two powerhouses, the box office is relatively quiet. Now You See Me: Now You Don't is projected to earn around $10 million over the five-day weekend. The weekend box office take of $6.9 million is only down 22% from last week, which is pretty good. It should cross the $50 million mark by Monday.
Predator: Badlands is clawing its way ahead of The Running Man, bringing in $6.4 million over the holiday compared to the latter's $5.5 million. Ouch! Predator: Badlands has pulled in only $34 million domestically, so it will be lucky to cross $45 million. That would make it one of the year's biggest flops. A24's romantic comedy, Eternity, is doing surprisingly well, pulling in $4.9 million over the holiday weekend on only 1,300 screens. On the other hand, Netflix's Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is unexpectedly bombing, with only $2.5 million on 600 screens. Many big chains, like AMC, aren't playing the movie, and many moviegoers are probably waiting for it to drop on Netflix in two weeks. What do you think about this new trend where movies are released in theaters for a short time before being available on streaming platforms? Is it good for the industry, or does it diminish the theatrical experience?
So, what movies are you planning to see this weekend? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
