411 Box Office Report: Zootopia 2 Retakes #1, Crosses $1 Billion Worldwide

Zootopia 2 hit a box office milestone as it reclaimed the top spot in a holdover-heavy weekend. The Disney Animation sequel took in $26.3 million in its third weekend. That reps a solid 39% drop from the second weekend numbers, allowing it to retake #1 from Five Nights At Freddy’s 2.

Zootopia 2 is ringing up massive numbers for Disney, domestically but especially overseas. The sequel now has $259 million in the US and a massive $1.137 billion worldwide. It’s already surpassed the first film’s overseas numbers with ease and is still well ahead of the first film’s $200.9 million at the same point. That said, the domestic numbers are slipping quicker than the first film’s. Zootopia was off just 28% in its third frame. Still, it’s hard to imagine at this point that the sequel doesn’t at least pass the first film’s $341.3 million domestic final. With a 150 million budget, this is bringing in bank for the studio.

Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 took a hefty drop in its second weekend, as thoroughly expected. The PG-13 horror sequel fell 70% from its opening weekend start to bring in $19.5 million. That drop, while steep, is actually better than the first movie’s massive 76% drop.

Now, it is important to remember that part of the first film’s drop was its day-and-date release on Peacock. FNAF 2 didn’t have to deal with that. Still, the sequel is already in mega-hit status for Universal. It stands at $95.5 million domestically and $173.8 mi8llion against a $51 million budget. That’s already a big profit for the company. It seems likely at this point that FNAF 2 will end up landing around $120 million, more than enough. Who’s ready for Five Nights At Freddy’s 3?

Wicked: For Good brought in $8.6 million, down 51% from last weekend’s big drop. The blockbuster sequel is already well into profit at this point, though it’s clear it won’t be the hit that the first film was. Universal’s musical has however crossed a milestone as it is at $312.1 million in the US and $468 million worldwide. Regardless of whether it’s disappointing or not, it’s making big money against its $150 million budget and should close out domestically around $340 million unless it gets a big boost in Christmas week play.

We had a surprise in the holdover weekend as Dhurandhar became the very rare Indian film to stay in the top 10. Not only that, the Aditya Dhar-directed crime drama jumped in the rankings and surged to $3.5 million, up 77% from last weekend’s numbers.

Now, it’s normal for films to rise from the previous week if they expand in theaters. That didn’t happen with Dhurandhar, which in fact lost 14 theaters. Indian cinema has been a reliable niche performer at the box office, but it usually drops out of the top 10 after the first weekend. This is largely unprecedented.

Dhurandhar owes its strength to good performances in a number of major markets. As of now, the film has $7.9 million domestically and $56.7 million worldwide against a reported $15 million budget. This is a big moneymaker for the studio. It will likely drop hard next weekend if it even stays in theaters – Indian films are often scheduled for two week runs. Really, all bets are off here.

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t was off just 32% in its fourth weekend to bring in $2.4 million. The heist film is now up to $59.3 million domestically and $213.3 million worldwide. It’s looking like it will land around the second film’s $65 million final domestic take and is more or less profitable against a $90 million production budget.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution took the expected anime fall, dropping a massive 79% In its second weekend to $2.1 million. The film is doing just fine though, with $14.5 million domestically and $48.9 million worldwide. We don’t know the budget but this is another anime box office winner that should end up around $17 million stateside.

The sole newcomer at the box office was left in the dust, namely Ella McCay. The political dramedy opened with nary a whimper at just $2.1 million. That was below even mild estimates that hoped it might hit the mid-single digits.

Ella McCay is the first film from James L. Brooks in 15 years. His last film was 2010’s How Do You Know, which also flipped by bringing in just $48.7 million worldwide against a mind-boggling $120 million budget. (Remember the days when studios threw blockbuster budgets at romcoms? Yeah, that’s why romcoms don’t generally go to theaters anymore.)

Ella was made for a much more reasonable $35 million – which is still not money 20th Century Studios will recoup. The film was a dud with critics at a mere 23% aggregate on Rotten Tomatoes. And audiences shrugged at it, with a B- CinemaScore and a 51% RT audience rating. The film added just $3 million overseas for $5.1 million. It probably won’t reach $8 million in the US and will be a money loser.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas led this weekend’s re-releases. The 25th anniversary re-release was strong enough with $1.9 million. That brings it to $263.8 million domestically and $349.1 million worldwide.

A24’s Eternity continues holding pretty well. The supernatural romcom was down 35% in its third weekend to $1.8 million. The film is providing to be a minor sleeper with $13 million domestically and $17.4 million worldwide against a $15 million budget. It will be profitable once it hits digital viewing.

Closing out the top 10 was The Shining, which brought in $1.6 million for its 45th anniversary re-release. The iconic horror film has totaled $47.2 million in the US and $49.6 million worldwide.

We will have a big new #1 next weekend as Avatar: Fire and Ash will rule the roost. The latest in the blockbuster franchise is looking at $100 million-plus domestically to start. Meanwhile Lionsgate’s The Housemaid is looking at around $25 million, Angel Studios’ David is targeting around $20 million, and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants is hoping for $15 million to $20 million.

Box Office Top Ten (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)

1. Zootopia 2 – $26.3 million ($259 million total, $1.137 billion WW)
2. Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 – $19.5 million ($95.5 million total, $173.8 million WW)
3. Wicked: For Good – $8.6 million ($312.1 million total, $468 million WW)
4. Dhurandhar – $3.5 million ($7.9 million total, $56.7 million WW)
5. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t – $2.4 million ($59.3 million total, $213.3 million WW)
6. Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution – $2.1 million ($14.5 million total, $48.9 million WW)
7. Ella McCay – $2.1 million ($2.1 million total, $5.1 million WW)
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $1.9 million ($263.8 million total, $349.1 million WW)
9. Eternity – $1.8 million ($13 million total, $17.4 million WW)
10. The Shining – $1.6 million ($47.2 million total, $49.6 million WW)$