In a quiet weekend that saw no major new releases, Disney’s “Zootopia 2” reclaimed the top spot at the U.S. box office, pulling in $26.3 million in its third weekend.
Zootopia 2 Dominates the Domestic Scene
Disney’s animated sequel returned to No. 1 with $26.3 million in the third weekend, according to studio estimates released Sunday. The film is the year’s second Hollywood title to cross the $1 billion threshold worldwide, having earned $1.14 billion in global ticket sales. A significant portion of that total—$502.4 million—comes from China, where the movie is the biggest Hollywood hit in recent years.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Sees a Sharp Decline
The Universal‑Blumhouse horror sequel, which opened with a strong $15.4 million in its second weekend, experienced a 70 % drop from its debut. Despite the decline, the film has accumulated a domestic total of $95.5 million. With a production budget of $36 million, the release is considered a substantial win for Blumhouse, adding another successful franchise to its portfolio.
Ella McCay Struggles to Find an Audience
James L. Brook’s “Ella McCay,” his first feature in 15 years, earned only $2.1 million from 2,500 theaters. The comic‑drama follows a 34‑year‑old newcomer (Emma Mackey) who becomes governor of her home state, supported by a cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Ayo Edebiri and Woody Harrelson. The film cost $35 million to produce and received a 22 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes, marking it as one of the year’s poorest wide releases.
Global Context and Upcoming Releases
In the broader market, “Ne Zha 2,” a Chinese blockbuster, has amassed nearly $2 billion in China alone, making it the highest‑grossing film of the year. The only other 2025 Hollywood title to surpass the $1 billion mark worldwide is Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” which earned $1.04 billion. Hollywood is hoping that the upcoming holiday corridor—traditionally the busiest movie‑going period—will lift the industry’s performance by year’s end.
Movies on the Horizon
The slate for the holiday season includes “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” “Marty Supreme,” “Anaconda,” and “Song Sung Blue.” These releases are expected to shape the domestic box‑office landscape as the year draws to a close.
Top 10 Domestic Box‑Office List
According to Comscore estimates for Friday‑Sunday, the top ten films were:
- Zootopia 2 – $26.3 million
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 – $19.5 million
- Wicked: For Good – $8.6 million
- Dhurandhar – $3.5 million
- Now You See Me: Now You Don’t – $2.4 million
- Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution – $2.1 million
- Ella McCay – $2.1 million
- Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – $1.9 million
- Eternity – $1.8 million
- Hamnet – $1.5 million
## Key Takeaways
- Disney’s “Zootopia 2” tops the U.S. box office with $26.3 million, marking its third weekend at No. 1.
- “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” drops 70 % in its second weekend but still brings in $95.5 million domestically.
- James L. Brook’s “Ella McCay” earns a meager $2.1 million, reflecting the film’s weak reception.
The weekend’s results underscore the continued dominance of Disney’s franchise, the resilience of Blumhouse’s horror brand, and the challenges faced by new releases in a competitive market. With the holiday corridor approaching, the industry watches closely to see whether the season will reverse the year‑long trend of modest ticket sales.
