Walt Disney Animation’s Zootopia 2 — the sequel to the $1 billion 2016 film — is tracking to bite off at least $125 million in its five-day debut at the Thanksgiving box office, according to tracking.
Presales are also impressive, and are generally in line with Pixar/Disney’s animated box office blockbuster Inside Out 2, according to sources.
The movie, which hops into North American theaters Wednesday, Nov. 26, continues the adventures of detectives Judy Hopps, a bunny rabbit cop voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and a con artist fox Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman. Newcomers to the cast include Everything Everywhere All At Once star Ke Huy Quan, who plays the misunderstood reptile named Gary De’Snake.
The one-two punch of Zootopia 2 and Universal’s Wicked: For Good, which opens the weekend before, should restore law and order to the struggling domestic box office.
Thanksgiving is one of the most lucrative corridors of the year in terms of moviegoing. Disney already boasts nine of the top 10 Thanksgiving five-day openings ever. Last year’s Moana 2 and Frozen II are No. 1 and No. 2 on the list, at $225 million and $125 million, not adjusted for inflation.
Opening in March 2016, the original Zootopia 2 earned $1.025 billion at the worldwide box office.
The sequel, directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, has a returning voice cast that includes Shakira as Gazelle, Idris Elba as Chief Bogo, Bonnie Hunt voicing Bonnie Hopps, Don Lake as Stu Hopps and Nate Torrence providing the voice for Clawhauser.
Newcomers also include Fortune Feimster as Nibbles Maplestick, a conspiracy-minded beaver who lives in the Marsh Market, and Quinta Brunson as Dr. Fuzzby, a quokka therapist tapped to treat Nick and Judy after their first undercover operation as partners ended in disaster.
