In a weekend marked by a cinematic lull preceding the highly anticipated release of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ Disney’s animated sequel ‘Zootopia 2’ triumphantly returned to the number one position at the domestic box office. The film garnered an estimated $26.3 million in its third weekend, a performance that propelled its global cumulative earnings to a staggering $1.14 billion. This achievement solidifies its status as the second Hollywood production of 2025 to cross the coveted billion-dollar threshold, trailing only Disney’s own ‘Lilo & Stitch’ ($1.04 billion). A monumental driver of this success has been the film’s extraordinary reception in China, where it has amassed $502.4 million, establishing it as the most significant Hollywood hit in the market in recent years.
The weekend’s box office dynamics were defined by a duel between holdover franchises. Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions’ ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2′ secured the second spot with $15.4 million in its sophomore outing. Despite experiencing a steep 70% decline from its unexpectedly strong debut, the horror sequel has proven immensely profitable. With a domestic total reaching $95.5 million against a modest production budget of $36 million, it reinforces Blumhouse’s reputation for crafting high-return horror properties.
In stark contrast, the most notable new wide release, James L. Brooks’ comic drama ‘Ella McCay,’ faltered significantly. The film, marking Brooks’ directorial return after a 15-year hiatus, opened to a meager $2.1 million from 2,500 locations. Despite a renowned supporting cast including Jamie Lee Curtis and Woody Harrelson, the $35 million production was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews and scant audience interest, highlighting the modern theatrical market’s challenging landscape for adult-oriented dramedies.
As the industry looks ahead, all eyes are on the upcoming holiday season—traditionally the most lucrative period for cinema. With overall annual ticket sales tracking closely behind last year’s disappointing figures, studios are banking on a strong finish powered by a slate of major releases including ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,’ and ‘Marty Supreme.’