Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good Set to Dominate Thanksgiving Box Office with $125-$140M and $85-$100M+ Weekend Haul
The 2025 Thanksgiving weekend promises to be a major feast for moviegoers and studios alike, with two highly anticipated films—Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good—expected to rake in a combined total of over $200 million at the domestic box office. Early tracking suggests a strong showing for both titles, signaling a robust holiday period despite a slight dip compared to last year’s historic holiday weekend.
Zootopia 2 on Track for Major Success
Disney’s Zootopia 2 is set to make a massive splash this Thanksgiving, with early projections ranging between $125 million to $140 million over the five-day period, which includes the extended Wednesday-to-Sunday window. The film’s traditional industry tracking indicates a solid $125 million for the five-day haul, which could see a boost depending on its reception.
The sequel to the wildly successful Zootopia (2016) has been highly anticipated, with fans of the original film eager to see how the animal kingdom of Zootopia evolves. Its robust tracking positions Zootopia 2 as one of the top performers of the holiday weekend, expected to gross $91.2 million in its opening weekend alone (Friday through Sunday).
By Sunday, the animated film could exceed $147 million in total, with an impressive theater count of over 4,000 locations. This marks a strong return for Disney as it looks to continue its dominance in family-friendly animation, following the success of last year’s Moana 2.
Wicked: For Good Also a Strong Contender
Universal’s Wicked: For Good, the long-awaited film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, is expected to gross between $85 million and $100 million for the five-day stretch. Though its opening weekend forecast of $68.6 million is down from earlier tracking, this figure still represents a solid showing for the film, which has already been generating significant buzz among theatergoers.
This musical adaptation has had a long road to the big screen, with fans eagerly awaiting its arrival. Despite the drop in projections compared to previous weeks, Wicked: For Good is poised to have a significant presence at the box office, with $264 million expected through Sunday, November 30. The film will screen in approximately 4,115 locations, ensuring that it captures a broad audience, especially among those who are fans of the stage production.
Other Films to Keep an Eye On
While Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good are expected to dominate the box office, several other films are also making their mark this holiday weekend. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the latest installment in the magic-themed franchise, is projected to bring in $7 million for the weekend, down 22% from its previous performance. Similarly, Predator: Badlands will see $4.7 million, while The Running Man (2025) is anticipated to gross $4.4 million during its Thanksgiving debut.
Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery also enters the fray, with a forecasted $4.2 million for the weekend. Despite competition from the bigger titles, it’s expected to have a strong hold on the niche mystery genre.
Overall Thanksgiving Box Office Outlook
The overall box office for the weekend is projected to bring in $187.5 million, which represents a 32% drop compared to the same period in 2024, when Moana 2, Wicked, and Gladiator II collectively set box office records. However, this year’s haul will still be an improvement over 2019, when Frozen II and Knives Out led the way with a 12% increase from that Thanksgiving weekend’s $167.3 million total.
Despite the slight dip in overall earnings, this year’s Thanksgiving weekend is shaping up to be one of the most profitable in recent memory, with Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good leading the charge.
Box Office Forecast Breakdown:
| Film | Distributor | 3-Day (Fri-Sun) Weekend Forecast | 5-Day (Wed-Sun) Weekend Forecast | Projected Domestic Total (through Nov 30) | Theater Count (as of Tue) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zootopia 2 | Disney | $91,200,000 | $147,000,000 | $147,000,000 | ~4,000 |
| Wicked: For Good | Universal | $68,600,000 | $101,400,000 | $264,000,000 | ~4,115 |
| Now You See Me: Now You Don’t | Lionsgate | $7,000,000 | $10,200,000 | $48,300,000 | ~3,400 |
| Predator: Badlands | 20th Century Studios | $4,700,000 | $6,800,000 | $84,400,000 | ~2,500 |
| The Running Man | Paramount | $4,400,000 | $6,500,000 | $34,400,000 | ~3,000 |
| Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery | Netflix | $4,200,000 | $6,000,000 | $6,000,000 | ~400 |
| Eternity | A24 | $3,200,000 | $5,200,000 | $5,200,000 | ~1,000 |
Final Thoughts
While Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good are set to steal the spotlight this weekend, the Thanksgiving box office is shaping up to be a diverse mix of blockbuster hits and niche films. With a holiday season packed with big-screen entertainment, audiences are sure to flock to theaters for a holiday season to remember.
For more updates on the 2025 box office, be sure to stay tuned to the latest forecasts.
