New Movies 2025: These Two Thanksgiving Blockbusters Just Broke All-Time Records, and the Box Office Numbers Will Shock You

New movies 2025 is cementing itself as the year of blockbuster dominance with Disney’s Zootopia 2 and Universal’s Wicked: For Good crushing the box office this Thanksgiving weekend. Both animated and musical adaptations are redefining what audiences expect from sequels and adaptations. Here’s everything dropping this weekend and what’s topping the charts.

Zootopia 2 Breaks Records With $140M Thanksgiving Run

Disney’s animated sequel arrived with unprecedented momentum, becoming one of the studio’s most successful franchise continuations. The film earned $39.5 million on its opening day, setting up what industry analysts predicted as a $140 million 5-day total at the domestic box office.

The movie benefits from the strength of the original’s 98% Rotten Tomatoes score, though the sequel lands at a respectable 92% with critics. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the film follows beloved characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde through new mysteries in the expansive city of Zootopia. International markets provided additional firepower, with China delivering record-breaking numbers for an animated feature from a U.S. studio.

The film’s PG rating and 1 hour 48 minute runtime make it accessible for families seeking Thanksgiving entertainment. Early audiences have connected with its humor and emotional depth, creating this release is a genuine box office phenomenon.

Wicked: For Good Maintains Strong Second Position With $90M

Wicked: For Good holds firm in its second weekend, adding approximately $90 million to its already historic total across the 5-day Thanksgiving stretch. The film brought in $147 million during its 4-day opening weekend before the extended Holiday period, which marked universal’s third-highest opening weekend ever.

Director Jon M. Chu‘s conclusion to the two-part musical adaptation stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, continuing their showstopping performances. While critics showed mixed reviews with a 69% score, audiences voted differently, granting the film a sky-high 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The 2 hour 40 minute runtime showcases the film’s ambitious scope and musical sequences.

The sequel’s darker and more emotional tone resonates with viewers seeking the musical’s deeper story elements. Global box office numbers exceed $253 million worldwide, confirming the blockbuster status of this theatrical experience.

Complete Box Office Rankings and Financial Performance

Rank	Film	Release Date	5-Day Domestic
1	Zootopia 2	November 26, 2025	$140 million
2	Wicked: For Good	November 21, 2025	$90 million
3	Now You See Me: Now You Don’t	November 21, 2025	$8.5 million
4	Predator: Badlands	November 7, 2025	$5.5 million

What’s Dropping This Weekend: November 28-29, 2025

After the explosive Thanksgiving week, studios offer quieter releases to allow Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good to maintain theatrical dominance. The Thing with Feathers arrives as a drama featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, offering adult audiences a sophisticated alternative to family entertainment.

Tinsel Town, a comedy starring Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson, targets audiences seeking holiday humor. Several independent and limited releases fill out the weekend calendar, though no major studio tentpole can compete with the two Thanksgiving leaders. Theater chains remain confident these two megahits will continue pulling crowds through the extended holiday period.

Why New Movies 2025 Are Redefining Entertainment?

What makes this year’s blockbuster strategy unique? Studios recognized audiences’ hunger for properties they know and trust. Zootopia 2 leverages nearly a decade of goodwill from the original, while Wicked: For Good capitalizes on Broadway’s enduring cultural relevance. Both films prove that sequels and adaptations aren’t cash grabs—they’re genuine storytelling opportunities when executed with care.

The Thanksgiving timing proves crucial. Families seeking multi-generational entertainment options choose these films specifically. Critical reception varies, but audiences have spoken—92% freshness for Zootopia 2 and 96% audience love for Wicked: For Good demonstrate public enthusiasm transcends reviewer hesitation. Streaming services cannot replicate the theatrical experience these spectacles demand.

The financial success fundamentally changes Hollywood’s calculus. Studios now greenlight more sequels from beloved franchises, betting on nostalgia meeting quality execution. Zootopia 3 discussions undoubtedly happen in Disney boardrooms, while Wicked: For Better remains within Universal’s current slate considerations. New movies 2025 prove franchises deliver when respect for source material combines with modern filmmaking excellence.

Sources

• Deadline – Box office tracking and weekend forecasts for major releases
• Variety – Industry analysis and critical reception coverage
• Rotten Tomatoes – Critical and audience scoring for theatrical releases