“Avatar Dominates Box Office, Zootopia 2 Sets Record, 28 Years Later Falters”
As the holiday weekend concluded, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” maintained its dominance at the box office, marking its fifth consecutive week at the top.
Box Office Highlights
James Cameron’s epic amassed $13.3 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates. Conversely, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” directed by Nia DaCosta, debuted to slightly less enthusiasm, earning $13 million. This new installment is expected to reach about $15 million by the end of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Record-Breaking “Zootopia 2”
The Walt Disney Company celebrated a significant achievement with “Zootopia 2,” which became the highest-grossing animated film from the Motion Picture Association, accumulating a global total of $1.7 billion. This significant milestone means it surpassed “Inside Out 2” in the animated category, although it does not include the Chinese blockbuster “Ne Zha 2.”
Performance Comparison
- “Avatar: Fire and Ash”: $13.3 million
- “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”: $13 million (expected $15 million by Monday)
- “Zootopia 2”: $8.8 million (eighth weekend)
- “The Housemaid”: $8.5 million
- “Marty Supreme”: $5.5 million
Despite positive reviews, “The Bone Temple” faced challenges in attracting audiences. It holds a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, yet many anticipated a better performance due to its substantial production budget of $63 million.
Industry Insights
Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian commented on the surprising box office dynamics. He noted potential audience confusion and emphasized that positive word-of-mouth could keep both “The Bone Temple” and “Zootopia 2” thriving in theaters.
Moreover, the re-release of “The Lord of the Rings” films added to the weekend’s competition, contributing to a diverse box office landscape.
Top 10 Movies by Domestic Box Office
| Rank | Title | Weekend Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avatar: Fire and Ash | $13.3 million |
| 2 | 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple | $13 million |
| 3 | Zootopia 2 | $8.8 million |
| 4 | The Housemaid | $8.5 million |
| 5 | Marty Supreme | $5.5 million |
| 6 | Primate | $5 million |
| 7 | Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | $3.6 million |
| 8 | Greenland 2: Migration | $3.4 million |
| 9 | Anaconda | $3.2 million |
| 10 | Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | $2.4 million |
As the box office evolves, the competition between established franchises and fresh entries continues to shape the cinematic landscape.
