Following the box office behemoth that was 2013's Frozen was never going to be the easiest task, especially in an increasingly competitive box office world across the pond. But Frozen II is already proving itself more than up to the task, earning an expectation-shattering $127 million in the States alone this weekend, according to studio estimates.
That marks the biggest opening for a Walt Disney Animation title (in all of the Mouse House's charts in placed third behind Pixar's Incredibles 2 and Finding Dory), the best November opening for an animated movie and the first 'toon to launch in triple digits outside of the summer. Worldwide, the picture was even rosier, as Frozen II opened top of the charts in every territory, hauling in a huge $350 million globally. With the Thanksgiving holiday period kicking off this week in the US, the film can expect healthy business.
Disney's accountants will also be happy to see that 20th Century Fox's Ford V Ferrari (AKA Le Mans '66 here) held well, adding $16 million for a $57.9 million total to date. It's a success for Fox, one of the rare examples since Disney bought the studio.
A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, which features Tom Hanks as US children's TV icon Mr. Rogers, also started well, earning $16 million for third. That might not seem like a big win, but with a thrifty $25 million budget, it should do well, and provides solid counter-programming to the 'toon behemoth. Less successful was cop thriller 21 Bridges, the Chadwick Boseman-starring film opening to a shaky $9.3 million and fourth place. Rounding out the top five is World War II drama Midway, which earned $4.7 million.
Comedy Playing With Fire fell to sixth on $4.6 million, ahead of The Good Liar, which stayed in place at seventh for $3.3 million. Charlie's Angels took a dive, falling from third to eighth and $3.1 million, with a disappointing $13.9 million total so far. Last Christmas sank from fifth to ninth, adding $3 million. Joker fell a couple of places to 10th, but still made $2.8 million, which is no small feat after eight weeks in the charts and its home entertainment release just a couple of weeks away.