Once again, the Wicked Witches have been dethroned at the box office, and this time, it’s the sly fox and sunny bunny of Zootopia 2 stealing the spotlight. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this a repeat of history, or a sign of shifting audience preferences? Let’s dive in.
By Joe Reid, a seasoned pop culture and film commentator since 2007, this week’s box office recap for Vulture’s Movies Fantasy League (MFL) is packed with insights. If you’re one of the 19,400+ film enthusiasts competing for pride and prizes, there’s still time to join—visit the league hub for details or submit your entry now. And this is the part most people miss: even if you’re not competing, the trends here reveal fascinating dynamics about what’s dominating theaters.
History has a way of repeating itself, and for Wicked: For Good, that means another strong start followed by a familiar setback. Last year, Wicked stormed the box office with a massive opening, only to be overshadowed by Moana 2. This year, Wicked: For Good faced a similar fate, losing the top spot to Zootopia 2. Despite a solid $270 million cumulative after two weeks, its $93 million second weekend pales in comparison to its predecessor’s $118 million. Bold question: Is the Wicked franchise losing steam, or is it simply a victim of tough competition?
Zootopia 2, while not reaching Moana’s stratospheric heights, still claimed first place with a comfortable $156 million—nearly double the original’s 2016 debut. With an A grade from Cinemascore and positive reviews, it’s a win for the 3,322 MFL players who invested $25 in this furry sequel.
Beyond the top two, the box office landscape was notably softer. Now You See Me, Now You Don’t scraped together $10 million for a $49 million total, while Predator: Badlands became the highest-grossing Predator film ever, hitting $85 million. Yet, at $10 to draft, it’s less of a value pick compared to Regretting You or Black Phone 2. Controversial take: Are franchises like Predator relying too heavily on nostalgia, or is there still room for innovation?
New releases like Eternity, Hamnet, and Wake Up Dead Man made modest debuts, with the latter marking a rare Netflix theatrical release reporting box office numbers. Speaking of awards season, the Gotham Awards sprinkled points across tributes, with It Was Just an Accident leading the night by snagging 55 MFL points for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature.
As we head into December, keep an eye on upcoming releases like Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 and Jay Kelly, along with awards nominations from the Film Independent Spirit Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and Golden Globes. Thought-provoking question: Will smaller films like Hamnet gain traction during awards season, or will blockbusters continue to dominate the conversation?
Join the discussion on our Discord server for more insights, and don’t forget to check the MFL leaderboard. Questions? Feedback? Reach out at moviesleague@vulture.com. The box office battle rages on—who will come out on top next?
