Thanksgiving Box Office Forecast Surges as ‘Zootopia 2’ and ‘Wicked’ Sequel Dominate Presales

New exhibition data released Friday morning indicates that the upcoming holiday weekend could shatter previous box office records. Major theater chains and tracking services have revised their projections for the Thanksgiving corridor, driven by unprecedented presale demand for ‘Zootopia 2’ and ‘Wicked Part Two’. Analysts now estimate the combined five-day opening gross for the two blockbusters could exceed $260 million domestically, a figure that would surpass the benchmark set during the pre-pandemic era.

Disney’s animated sequel ‘Zootopia 2’ is currently leading the surge, with tracking numbers suggesting a debut in the range of $145 million to $155 million over the extended holiday frame. Advance ticket sales for the film have reportedly outpaced the studio’s 2019 hit ‘Frozen 2’ by approximately 15% in key markets like Los Angeles and New York. The film is scheduled to open in 4,350 theaters, the widest release for an animated title this year, securing a massive footprint across premium large-format screens.

Universal’s ‘Wicked Part Two’ is also showing robust momentum, targeting a five-day opening of $95 million to $110 million. The conclusion to the musical adaptation has seen a sharp uptick in group sales, particularly in metropolitan areas where the first installment overperformed in 2024. Exhibition sources note that while ‘Zootopia 2’ is dominating matinee slots, the ‘Wicked’ finale is commanding near-sellouts for evening showtimes, creating a complementary scheduling dynamic that is maximizing seat utilization.

Theater owners have expressed optimism regarding the operational logistics of accommodating two massive tentpoles simultaneously. “We have increased our staffing levels by 25% compared to last November to manage the expected foot traffic,” stated a regional manager for AMC Theatres in the Midwest. The chain has reportedly added 3:00 AM screenings in select high-demand locations to meet the volume of ticket requests for the Wednesday premiere night.

The updated forecast provides a critical boost to the fourth-quarter box office, which has trailed 2024 figures by roughly 8% heading into the holiday season. If these projections hold, the Thanksgiving 2025 corridor will mark the highest-grossing November weekend in history, validating the industry’s strategy of stacking major releases. Detailed official studio estimates are expected to be solidified by Monday morning as final marketing pushes take effect.