Disney's 'Zootopia 2' rules Thanksgiving at North American box office

Disney’s uplifting animated sequel “Zootopia 2” dominated the North American box office over the Thanksgiving holiday, raking in an impressive $156 million during the five-day weekend, according to industry estimates released Sunday. The film, a buddy-cop adventure featuring a diverse cast of talking animals confronting stereotypes and social biases, serves as the long-awaited follow-up to the 2016 Oscar-winning original. Returning to their beloved roles are Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, and Idris Elba, who once again bring life and humor to the colorful world of Zootopia.

Entertainment analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research praised the film’s performance, calling it “an outstanding opening for an animation follow-up sequel.” He noted that Disney and Pixar have a strong track record with second-episode animated sequels, which on average debut 71% stronger than their predecessors. Gross also highlighted the movie’s exceptional turnout in China, which helped boost its global numbers.

Worldwide, “Zootopia 2” amassed a staggering $556 million, a figure that The Hollywood Reporter described as the biggest global launch ever for an animated film—an achievement that further cements the franchise’s popularity.

Falling to second place was “Wicked: For Good,” which grossed $93 million. The Universal release is the second chapter in the cinematic retelling of the “Wizard of Oz” universe, focusing on the intertwined destinies of the misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and the glamorous yet complicated Glinda, portrayed by Ariana Grande. The film is based on the long-running Broadway sensation, itself adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel.

In third place with $10 million across the U.S. and Canada was Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” the third entry in the crime-heist franchise following a team of modern-day Robin Hood-style illusionists. Familiar faces including Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, and Woody Harrelson all return for another round of high-stakes magic.

Fourth place went to “Predator: Badlands” with $6.6 million, adding another chapter to the long-running sci-fi horror saga. In fifth, Paramount’s reimagining of “The Running Man,” starring Glen Powell in a fresh take on Stephen King’s dystopian tale, earned $5.5 million.

Rounding out the top ten were:

“Eternity” – $5.2 million

“Rental Family” – $3.1 million

“Nuremberg” – $1.1 million

“Sisu: Road to Revenge” – $1 million

“Regretting You” – $705,000