Disney's "Zootopia 2" has generated considerable excitement at the box office, earning $10.2 million during Tuesday previews. This figure marks the second-highest for a Disney Animation Studios film, trailing only last year's "Moana 2," which garnered $13.8 million. "Zootopia 2" is also positioned as the eighth-highest preview for an animated film in history.
Box office analysts project that "Zootopia 2" will accumulate between $135 million and $150 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday. While this estimate falls short of the $225.4 million achieved by "Moana 2" during the same timeframe last year, it represents a significant boost for an industry that has faced challenges in recent months.
In addition to "Zootopia 2," Universal's "Wicked: For Good" debuted the previous week with a strong performance, earning $147 million and is anticipated to bring in between $80 million and $100 million over the Thanksgiving holiday. Comparatively, last year's "Wicked" secured $118 million during the same period, indicating a competitive landscape for family-oriented films.
Industry experts highlight the importance of the Thanksgiving holiday period for box office revenue, with projections estimating total earnings for the holiday frame to reach around $300 million. Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore noted that while this year's figures will not surpass last year's record-breaking total of $424.9 million, the performance is expected to rank among the top five Thanksgiving box office results historically.
Overall, "Zootopia 2" benefits from a favorable release date, established brand recognition, and a family-friendly PG rating, contributing to its anticipated success during this key moviegoing period.