Box Office Analysts Forecast Historic $280 Million Thanksgiving Opening for ‘Zootopia 2’ and ‘Wicked Part Two’

The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday corridor is poised to shatter industry records as final tracking numbers indicate a colossal joint opening for Disney’s ‘Zootopia 2’ and Universal’s ‘Wicked Part Two’. Data released by Comscore on November 22 suggests that the two blockbusters, both scheduled for release on Wednesday, November 26, could generate a combined five-day domestic haul exceeding $280 million. If these projections hold, the 2025 holiday frame will surpass the previous benchmark set in 2018, signaling a complete recovery of the theatrical marketplace’s most lucrative release window.

Disney Animation’s ‘Zootopia 2’ is currently leading the pack, with presales outpacing the studio’s own ‘Frozen II’ at the same point in the sales cycle. Analysts expect the sequel, which sees Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman reprise their voice roles, to command approximately $155 million of the holiday market share. The film is tracking exceptionally well with family demographics, who have faced a drought of animated content since the summer season, and exhibitors have responded by allocating 40% of total screen inventory to the title.

Meanwhile, Jon M. Chu’s conclusion to the ‘Wicked’ saga is demonstrating robust counter-programming strength, with tracking pointing to a $125 million five-day debut. The film is driving heavy traffic in premium large-format venues, particularly Dolby Cinema and PRIME locations, where advance tickets in major metropolitan hubs like Chicago and San Francisco are nearly sold out. Universal’s marketing blitz, which recently included a primetime concert special on NBC, has successfully positioned the film as a “cultural finale” essential for the Broadway adaptation’s fanbase.

Theater chains are scrambling to accommodate the demand, with AMC and Regal announcing extended operating hours beginning Tuesday night to maximize showtimes. The phenomenon, dubbed “Wicked-Topia” by social media users, mirrors the “Barbenheimer” craze of 2023, with ticketing apps reporting that 18% of transactions involve a double feature purchase. This surge in attendance is expected to provide a critical revenue bridge for exhibitors leading into the December release of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, potentially pushing the Q4 box office to an all-time high.

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