The Pixar magic just might be back. After disappointing debuts for originals such as “Elio” and “Elemental,” Disney released the division’s latest animated wonder, “Hoppers,” to a fantastic $46 million at the U.S. box office. The zany comedy also took in another $22 million overseas for a stellar $88 million so far. This is the largest opening for an original animated movie since “Coco” in 2017.
“Hoppers” continues to demonstrate the renewed strength of animated fare at the box office overall after the success of“Zootopia 2,” the holiday-themed “David,” and “Goats.” As with most Pixar movies, it earned an A CinemaScore and a stellar 94% user rating on Rotten Tomatoes. At a reported $150 million production budget, “Hoppers” will still need great word of mouth to break even theatrically. It doesn’t face substantial family competition until “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” opens on April 1.
Dropping to no. 2 was “Scream 7” with another $17.3 million and $93.3 million to date. That was down a horrifying 72% from its opening weekend, but the franchise thriller has still grossed $149.4 million to date worldwide. Initial interest may have been frontloaded, and the movie may have earned terrible reviews, but the Paramount release has more than made up for its $45 million production cost.
Arriving in third place was Maggie Gyllenhaal’s big swing, “The Bride.” The gothic mashup came in far under projectiongs pulling in just $7.2 million domestically and $13.5 worldwide. At a $90 million production budget, it’s the biggest WB disappointment in a year (ironically debuting the same weekend Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17” did 12 months ago). The studio hopes to get back on track with the comedy thriller “They Will Kill You” on March 17.
Another WB release, “Wuthering Heights,” dropped to no. 5 with another $3.7 million and $78.7 million domestic. The Emerald Fennell romance has earned a profitable $213 million worldwide off an $80 million production budget.
Other updated totals include “Goat” hitting $83 million in the U.S. and $146 million globally, “Send Help” finding $91.4 million worldwide, “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” singing to $10.9 million domestic and $20.7 million global, “Hamnet” swooning to $96.1 million worldwide, and “Marty Supreme” smashing to $159.4 million overall.
New releases on Friday include A24’s horror thriller “Undertone” and Universal Pictures’ romance “Reminders of Him.”
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