‘Frozen 2’ ices competition again with record Thanksgiving

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Frozen 2” kept a wintry wind at its back in its second week, setting a Thanksgiving record with a whopping box office bounty, while newcomer “Knives Out” found its own broad audience.

Disney’s new set of adventures for Anna, Elsa and Olaf brought in $85.3 million in the U.S. and Canada over the weekend and earned an unprecedented $132.7 million for the holiday frame of Wednesday through Sunday, according to studio estimates.

The first “Frozen” opened on Thanksgiving in 2013, but the sequel opened a week prior to the holiday, making it poised for a huge second week, with out-of-school kids happy to see it a second or a third time.

“Having the opening weekend falling a few days ahead of Thanksgiving really set it up perfectly,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for the box office tracker Comscore.

That came on top of a record-burying opening weekend of $127 million debut domestically and $350.2 million worldwide that made it the highest-grossing global debut for any animated film globally, and the largest opening for any for any Walt Disney Animation Studios release.

The original film and its world-making song “Let It Go” became a pop-culture phenomenon, earning $1.27 billion worldwide and selling countless Elsa and Anna dresses.

The sequel has more than showed that the six years since has brought no thaw. It has already earned $739 million globally and should certainly surpass the original’s totals.

“Disney is usually immune to the waning interest that audience have with some sequels,” Dergarabedian said.

“Knives Out,” the innovative whodunit from writer and director Rian Johnson, rode great reviews and strong social media buzz to a $27 million weekend and a five-day domestic total of $41.7 million that easily earned back its budget.

The film’s vast and eclectic cast included Ana de Armas, Christopher Plummer, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette and Chris Evans.

Johnson, the director of “Looper” and “The Last Jedi,” had been the target of some Twitter fanboy outrage for the direction he took the second episode in the newest “Star Wars” trilogy, whose final chapter opens next month.

The “Knives Out” opening showed his name value was unharmed and might even have been strengthened by the online noise, and its reception could mean awards season consideration for Johnson and the cast.

“First and foremost, this starts with Rian Johnson,” said David Spitz, president of domestic distribution for Lionsgate. “He wrote a screenplay we all loved and executed it to perfection.”

In response to the strong showing, Johnson on Sunday morning tweeted “Wow – THANKS to everyone who came to #KnivesOut this weekend, and for all the lovely tweets, you guys are the best.”

While put on the calendar to draw in adults while kids were watching and re-watching “Frozen 2,” “Knives Out” proved to be more than a niche picture.

“We set it with the counterprogramming expectation, this is a good adult dramedy,” Spitz said.

But, he said, it turned out younger audiences had even better reactions than older ones.

“It’s playing to everybody,” Spitz said.

While the weekend showed that there is nothing like a franchise to bring in blockbuster bucks, it also reflected that tentpoles aren’t the only means to attract audiences.

“When it comes to adult fare, it seems that audiences want more originality,” Dergarabedian said.

The weekend’s other newcomer, “Queen & Slim,” finished down in fifth with $11.7 million, but with a limited number of screens and a modest reported budget of about $20 million, it was still a successful opening for the Bonnie-and-Clyde-meets-Black-Lives-Matter story.

“Ford v Ferrari” rolled along in its third weekend of release, finishing in third place with $13.2 million.

Tom Hanks’ Mister Rogers story “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” also hummed along in its second weekend, earning $11.8 million to put it fourth at the domestic box office.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “Frozen 2,” $85.3 million.

2. “Knives Out,” $27 million.

3. “Ford v Ferrari,” $13.2 million.

4. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” $11.8 million.

5. “Queen & Slim,” $11.7 million.

6. “21 Bridges,” $5.8 million.

7. “Playing with Fire,” $4.2 million.

8. “Midway,” $4 million.

9. “Joker,” $2 million.

10. “Last Christmas,” $1.99 million.

More Stories

Alabama’s road conditions ranked second best in the United States

More Stories

Gov. Ivey commutes death sentence for 1991 Decatur murder prisoner

More Stories

42nd Alabama State Games registration opens

More Stories

Alabama Republican Party re-elects John Wahl as Chairman

More Stories

Warning siren failure in Limestone County

News

‘Great things ahead’: Mayor Marks shares insights on city’s future in annual address

More Stories

Grammy-nominated singer Angie Stone dies in Montgomery car crash

More Stories

Limestone County outdoor warning sirens malfunctioning

News

Melson disputes patient’s version of conversation regarding purchasing medical cannabis ‘off the street’

More Stories

Homeland Security recognizes ALEA as Partner of the Year

More Stories

Athens earns 2024 Tree City USA recognition from Arbor Day Foundation

More Stories

Teacher of the Year: Anna Thompson

News

‘Justice was served’: Limestone County jury finds Morgan County man guilty of murder after 10-day trial

News

Brookyln’s brave battle: The inspiring journey of a local kids life with spinal muscular atrophy

More Stories

Teacher of the Year: Jennie Fullmer

More Stories

Teacher of the Year: Kaitlin Sparkman

More Stories

Ardmore welcomes new family medicine center

More Stories

Hit and run claims life of Athens man

More Stories

LCSO arrest Athens man for infant abuse

News

Final Curtain Call: Beloved Band Director Dan Havely passes away

News

Calhoun Community College to go virtual due to impending weather

News

Gov. Ivey announces that ArcelorMittal plans $1.2 Billion Alabama mill

More Stories

U.S. Space and Rocket Center announces passing of Maria von Braun, wife of Dr. Wernher von Braun

Lifestyles

Athens Cheer heads to Orlando to compete for national titles