Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good Battle for Box Office Supremacy
By Joe Reid, a seasoned movie and pop culture critic since 2007
Illustration: Vulture; Photo: Walt Disney Studios/Everett Collection
This week's recap of the box office rankings from Vulture's Movies Fantasy League (MFL) is a thrilling showdown between two animated sequels: Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good.
Last year, Moana 2 dominated the box office, but this year, it's the cunning fox and cheerful bunny of Zootopia 2 that's taking the lead. Despite strong audience reception and positive reviews, Wicked: For Good couldn't secure the top spot, finishing in second place. The film's cumulative earnings after two weeks are $270 million, which is still impressive, but it falls short of the first installment's success.
Zootopia 2, on the other hand, had a strong opening weekend, earning $156 million, which is nearly double the original Zootopia's debut in 2016. The sequel's success is further solidified by its A Cinemascore grade and positive reviews, making it a hit with audiences. The original Zootopia went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and grossed over $341 million domestically.
The box office landscape is competitive, with a steep drop-off in rankings after the third place. Now You See Me, Now You Don’t, despite its modest $10 million addition this week, is still on track to surpass the $50 million threshold. Predator: Badlands, a highlight of the fall season, has reached $85 million, becoming the highest-grossing Predator film ever. However, it's still not as lucrative as Regretting You or Black Phone 2, which have both grossed over $48 million.
New releases this weekend include Eternity, a comedy starring Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner, which legged out $5 million on a modest budget of $2. Hamnet, opening on 119 screens, has already crossed the $1 million mark, and Wake Up Dead Man is expected to pick up $4 million on 600 screens. Rian Johnson's Benoit Blanc series continues to perform well, with Glass Onion making $13 million on 696 screens over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2022.
The Gotham Awards, held on Monday night, celebrated various films with tribute awards. One Battle After Another won Best Feature, while Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident took home awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature, making it the night's big winner with 55 MFL points. Sinners also impressed with 40 points, thanks to an ensemble tribute and Wunmi Mosaku's Best Supporting Performance.
These three films are leading the MFL in awards points, with One Battle After Another at 150, It Was Just an Accident at 95, and Sinners at 75. For more MFL updates and to join the discussion, visit the MFL leaderboard and our Discord server.
Upcoming releases and award nominations:
- Fun: December 3
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2: December 5
- Jay Kelly: December 5
- A Private Life: December 5
- Ella McCay: December 12
- Goodbye June: December 12
- Scarlet: December 12
- Silent Night, Deadly Night: December 12
- Atropia: December 12
Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations: December 3
Critics Choice Awards nominations: December 5
Golden Globe nominations: December 8
Oscars shortlists: December 16
For any questions or feedback, contact moviesleague@vulture.com.
