'Five Nights at Freddy’s 2' competes with 'Zootopia 2' in box-office showdown of sequels

This weekend, the box office sees a clash of wildly different sequels: animated animals go head-to-head with animatronic nightmares. On one side, Disneys Zootopia 2 continues its holiday reign, buoyed by glowing audience reviews and strong weekday holds. On the other, Universals Five Nights at Freddys 2 brings its devoted horror fanbase back to theaters, promising chaos and cosplay in equal measure.

The first weekend of December, usually quiet for new releases, has turned into a heated competition. Following a massive Thanksgiving opening, Zootopia 2 is expected to earn between $46 million and $50 million in its second weekend, keeping Disney ahead and on track for a potential billion-dollar gross before Christmas.

Yet Freddy and friends arent backing down. Five Nights at Freddys 2 opens in 3,300 theaters via Universal Pictures. While it wont reach the originals $80 million debut, the sequel is projected to make $35 million$44 million in its opening weekend. Unlike the first film, which released simultaneously on streaming, this chapter is theater-exclusive, giving it a boost among its vocal and passionate fanbase.

In third place, Wicked: For Good is predicted to pull in the low-to-mid $20 million range during its third weekend. While it doesnt replicate the repeat-viewing frenzy of the original, it remains a solid holiday contender, contributing to an unexpectedly lively early December box office.

Other new releases add to the crowded market. Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution targets $8 million$10 million from 1,833 theaters, sustaining animes popularity in the U.S. Quentin Tarantinos Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, showing in around 1,100 theaters, is expected to earn $25 million due to limited showtimes for its 275-minute runtime.

Meanwhile, British comedy Fackham Hall opens in 1,112 theaters, Merrily We Roll Along premieres in 1,200 locations, and 100 Nights of Hero hits 1,000 screens. All three are projected to earn modest single-digit millions, rounding out a surprisingly busy December frame.

New Releases Overview

• Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (Director: Emma Tammi, Universal Pictures): PG-13, 1h 44m. Critics largely negative, Rotten Tomatoes 12%, Metacritic 32%.
• Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution (Directors: Shouta Goshozono & Ysuke Takada, GKIDS): R, 1h 30m. No critic scores yet.
• Fackham Hall (Director: Jim O'Hanlon, Bleecker Street): R, 1h 37m. Rotten Tomatoes 82%, Metacritic 69%.
• Merrily We Roll Along (Director: Maria Friedman, Sony Pictures Classics): PG-13, 2h 30m. Rotten Tomatoes 94%, Metacritic 71%.
• 100 Nights of Hero (Director: Julia Jackman, IFC Films): PG-13, 1h 31m. Rotten Tomatoes 73%, Metacritic 66%.

Predicted Weekend Rankings (Dec. 57)

1. Zootopia 2
2. Five Nights at Freddy's 2
3. Wicked: For Good
4. Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution
5. Now You See Me: Now You Dont

Author: Sophia Brooks