The return of the animatronics propelled up some damn great business on the post-Thanksgiving weekend.

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 topped the box office, delivering a fantastic debut that wasn't quite far off from the original's debut back in 2023. And while Zootopia 2 had to drop to #2, it had a better-than-average drop for animation. But the real story, again, was overseas, where the film has already surpassed $900 million worldwide.

The Top 10 earned a combined $148.5 million this weekend. That's up 14.5% from last year, when Moana 2 repeated at #1 thanks to very poor newcomers.

Debuting in first place, Universal/Blumhouse's Five Nights at Freddy's 2 opened with a fantastic $64 million in 3,412 theaters. This debut is just 20% off from the original film ($80 million), and it's Blumhouse's third highest debut, behind Freddy's and Halloween ($76 million). It's the second biggest debut for a horror this year, behind The Conjuring: Last Rites ($84 million). As an interesting stat, it broke the record set by The Last Samurai ($24 million) for the biggest post-Thanksgiving debut.

Releasing a horror film in December is a strange move. Not like it never happens, just that it's quite uncommon. But having it open the post-Thanksgiving weekend was an interesting move. With Thanksgiving over, people move on to holiday shopping and get into the Christmas spirit. As such, studios have avoided releasing big movies in this weekend, and it's why the biggest debut was just $24 million. But Universal was confident that the demand for Freddy's 2 would offset that perception. Whether it's the first weekend of December or the third weekend of October or any other weekend, the fans would still show up.

Universal did the wise move to not repeat the Peacock day-and-date release of the original, instead letting the film play exclusively in theaters. While it couldn't replicate the original's debut, that's mainly due to the novelty factor gone. The fact that it dropped just 20% shows that the demand is still high, regardless of the terrible reviews of the original film. Even if the second film somehow got worse reviews (11% on RT is brutal), Blumhouse will happily accept this success given their very poor year.

According to Universal, 55% of the audience was male, and 77% of the audience was 25 and under. Unsurprisingly, its biggest demographic was Gen Z. Everything has paid off… except for the reception. Audiences gave Freddy's 2 a "B" on CinemaScore, quite down from the original's "A–". That's not a bad grade for a horror film, but given that these films are more fan-driven than other horror films, that's a very concerning grade. It indicates that audiences didn't really like the film. Even with the holidays coming up, Freddy's 2 will probably drop harsh like other front-loaded horror titles. Maybe not to the extent of the original (again, that wasn't exclusively playing in theaters), but it will fizzle out quickly. Right now, a total around $130 million domestically is likely for Freddy's 2.

In second place, Zootopia 2 added $43.4 million this weekend. That's a 57% drop, which is better than last year's Moana 2 (63%), and only slightly harsher than Tangled (56%). Through 10 days, Zootopia 2 has earned $220.9 million domestically. The film should absolutely continue holding well over the next few weeks, so look for this to finish with

Wicked: For Good had a rough second weekend drop, and yet the worst was yet to come on its third weekend. The film collapsed a horrible 72% (yes, 72%!), earning just $17.3 million this weekend. Even when films usually drop hard after Thanksgiving, this drop is far higher than usual. The film has earned $297.5 million domestically.

In contrast, the original Wicked dipped 55% on its third weekend, and its weekend ($36 million) is more than double. In fact, the film has officially lost ground against the first film. While For Good opened $35 million above the original, the film's domestic total is now $24.5 million behind that film through the same point. Given that it has lost all daillies after its opening weekend, that gap will continue growing. The film has no chance of reaching the original's $474 million run, but it will also miss $400 million domestically. Right now, Wicked: For Good might finish its run with a little above $350 million, indicating very weak legs.

In fourth place, GKids released Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, a compilation film, in 1,833 theaters, and it managed to open with $10 million. A solid result, but don't expect any legs for this one.

Lionsgate's Now You See Me: Now You Don't dropped 49%, adding $3.4 million this weekend. The film has amassed $55.3 million so far.

Lionsgate released Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, a new version that combines the two films, in 1,198 theaters. Despite its massive 275-minute runtime, it earned a solid $3.4 million. Critics hailed the new version, and audiences gave it a rare "A+" on CinemaScore.

A24 expanded Eternity to 2,386 theaters, and it really helped it land the weekend's best hold among wide releases. It eased just 14%, grossing $2.7 million. That takes its domestic total to $9.5 million, and it looks like it will finish with a little above $15 million. A pretty solid result.

Focus Features expanded Chloé Zhao's Hamnet to 744 theaters, and it earned a solid $2.3 million. That took its domestic gross to $4.1 million, and it will get another expansion this week, in the wake of its 6 Golden Globe nominations.

In ninth place, the Indian film Dhurandhar debuted with $1.9 million in 391 theaters.

Rounding out the Top 10 was Predator: Badlands. It dropped a steep 62% for a $1.8 million weekend. Its domestic total stands at $88.2 million.

Outside the Top 10 was Sony's Merrily We Roll Along, a pre-recorded version of the Broadway musical. Playing in 1,084 theaters, it earned $1.3 million this weekend.

Paramount's The Running Man ain't walking no more. It collapsed a steep 70%, earning just $1.1 million. The film has made a disappointing $36.5 million.

OVERSEAS

Zootopia 2 added $219 million overseas, which was a pretty good 40% drop from last week. That took the film's worldwide total to a fantastic $917 million. It opened in Japan with $12.3 million, the second biggest debut for a Hollywood film, just behind Frozen 2. Given that Disney's films are known for legging out, this is gonna have a great run in the country. In China, it over-performed projections and it has now reached $430 million, officially becoming the second biggest Hollywood title in the country, behind Avengers: Endgame.

The film's best markets are China ($430.4M), France ($27.3M), Korea ($25.6M), Mexico ($18.6M) and Germany ($16.2M). With a great hold and very little animated competition, this film should continue holding well. In the next few days, it will cross the $1 billion milestone, and overtake Lilo & Stitch as the biggest Hollywood film of the year.

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 opened with $46.1 million overseas, for a $110.5 million worldwide debut. A pretty good debut, although the original film opened with $52.6 million overseas and $132.6 million worldwide back in 2023. The best debuts were in Mexico ($6.9M), the UK ($4.4M), Brazil ($3.2M), Spain ($2.9M), and Australia ($2.4M). Based on these patterns, the film should cross the $200 million worldwide without much problem.

Wicked: For Good is fizzling out both domestically and overseas. It dropped a rough 55%, earning just $13.4 million overseas. That takes its worldwide total to $440.9 million. The film's best markets are the UK ($49.4M), Australia ($16.2M), Germany ($8M), Korea ($6M) and Mexico ($6M). While it still has China and Japan left, it's clear that the film isn't fully connecting with audiences outside America. The film will now aim to finish its run with $550 million, over $200 million below the original. The film is now guaranteed to finish outside the year's Top 10 worldwide.

With $9 million, Now You See Me: Now You Don't has crossed $209 million worldwide.

FILMS THAT ENDED THEIR RUN THIS WEEK

Movie Release Date Studio Domestic Opening Domestic Total Worldwide Total Budget Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle Sep/12 Sony $70,611,098 $134,303,197 $780,032,099 $20M Tron: Ares Oct/10 Disney $33,241,433 $73,161,014 $142,249,983 $220M Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere Oct/24 20th Century Studios $8,887,255 $22,638,297 $44,796,666 $55M Keeper Nov/7 Neon $2,527,627 $4,200,167 $4,905,839 $6M

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle has closed with an incredible $780 million worldwide. One of the year's biggest stories, it broke so many records, including the biggest Japanese film, the biggest foreign film in North America, and the biggest adult animation title. And remember, this is just Part 1. Just imagine what the sequels will do.

Here lies Jared Leto's leading man career. Tron: Ares has closed with a poor $73 million domestically and $142 million worlwide, not getting anywhere close to its $220 million budget. It managed to be the least attended film in the franchise, and now Jared Leto has another flop in his leading resume. Disney could've tried a proper sequel to Legacy but they canned it in 2015 because of Tomorrowland. We'd like to say that this is the nail in the coffin for the franchise; while the previous two films were considered financial disappointments, Ares wasn't a disappointment, it was a disaster. Maybe this is the end of Tron as we know it.

Born to Run? I don't think so. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere closed with a mediocre $44 million worldwide, failing to recoup its $55 million budget. The Boss is definitely popular and beloved, but fans weren't particularly excited for a biopic, especially one with very middling reviews. It is what it is.

Neon's Keeper has closed with a bad $4.9 million worldwide. Osgood Perkins struck gold with Longlegs and The Monkey, which are among Neon's highest grossing films. But Keeper lacked an interesting premise, and the divisive reception didn't help it (49% on RT and "D+" on CinemaScore). Perkins should watch out for his next film.

THIS WEEKEND

There's three films, none of which are expected to make anything remotely fantastic. After all, audiences are saving their money for Avatar next week.

The biggest release is 20th Century Studios' Ella McCay, starring Emma Mackey as Ella McCay. It's James L. Brooks' first film in 15 years, after the colossal failure of How Do You Know. That film cost $120 million but grossed just $48 million and was negatively received. Ella McCay won't flop that hard, given that it's unlikely it cost similarly to that, but its prospects aren't looking great. Trailers failed to make some buzz, and award prospects are unlikely. It's old to the old demo to show up.

Cineverse is also releasing Silent Night, Deadly Night, a remake of the 1984 film. None of the films have been huge hits, they're much more niche than other franchises. Similar numbers to The Toxic Avenger should be expected.

Lionsgate is releasing Bryan Fuller's directorial debut Dust Bunny, which stars Mads Mikkelsen (their second collaboration after Hannibal), Sophie Sloan, Sheila Atim, David Dastmalchian, and Sigourney Weaver, and tells the story of an eight-year-old girl who asks her hitman neighbor to kill the monster under her bed. Like other Fuller vehicles, this has positive reviews on its side (93% on RT), but don't expect it to make a lot of money.

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