‘Frozen 2’ heats up box office with $127M opening weekend

Six years after “Frozen” kicked up a pop-culture blizzard, sequel to Elsa, Anna and Olaf’s ventures swed-in box office with an estimated $127 million debut domestically and $350.2 million worldwide, according to studio estimates Sunday.

opening for Walt Disney Co.’s “Frozen 2” buried several records. It’s highest-grossing debut ever for any animated film globally. It marks a new high in U.S. and Cana for an animated movie released outside of summer season. And it’s largest opening for any Walt Disney Animation Studios release.

Disney opted for week ahe of Thanksgiving to open “Frozen 2,” meaning it will get a significant second week bump from kids out of school. first “Frozen” opened over Thanksgiving, earning $93 million in five days and $67 million for three-day weekend.

original, though, quickly grew into a sensation, remaining in top 10 at box office for 17 weeks and ultimately grossing $1.27 billion. Propelled in part by hit song “Let it Go,” “Frozen” begat a flurry of merchandizing, untold numbers of Elsa dresses and a Broway musical. It won two Acemy Awards, for best animated feature and original song.

Matching that total gross won’t be easy sledding, but “Frozen 2” has a he start. Cathleen Taff, distribution chief for Disney, granted re’s a “high bar” set by “Frozen,” but she’s confident of film’s ermous appeal.

“We can’t open to a number this big without everybody coming out to see it,” said Taff. “We’re looking forward to a good run through holidays given kids are going to start getting out of school this next week.”

Reviews and audience reaction have been good for “Frozen 2,” but t as strong as y were for original. CinemaScore was A- for “Frozen 2,” whereas “Frozen” yielded an A+. Critics were also a little less taken with sequel: 75% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to 90% for original.

But scores were still very high, including a 93% Rotten Tomatoes audience rating. Crowds were largely female (59%) but t extremely so. And audiences came out in larger numbers than analysts forecast, especially overseas.

film brings back much of talent behind 2013 original, including voices of Idina Menzel (Elsa), Kristen Bell (Anna) and Josh G (Olaf). Also returning are songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, though music this time hasn’t be quite as enthusiastically received. And it’s again directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, who’s w chief creative officer at Disney Animation.

“Frozen 2” helped thaw a frigid vember box office. last three weeks have seen a string of films rooted in deces-old intellectual property fizzle, including Warner Bros.’ “Doctor Sleep,” Paramount Pictures’ “Terminator: Dark Fate” and Sony Pictures’ “Charlie’s Angels.”

But Elsa could do only so much to move needle. weekend was actually down 7% from same frame last year, according to data firm Comscore. In 2018, re were simply more big movies in marketplace, including “Ralph Breaks Internet,” “Creed II” and “Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald.”

Last week’s top film, “Ford v Ferrari” slipped 49% in its second week to a distant second with $16 million. James Mangold’s film, also a Disney release (courtesy of studio’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox), has grossed $103.8 million worldwide thus far. Starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon, movie has also joined this season’s sped-up Oscar race. ( Acemy Awards will be held Feb. 9 this year.)

Marielle Heller’s Mister Rogers drama “A Beautiful Day in Neighborhood,” starring Tom Hanks and Matw Rhys, is also in Oscar mix. It opened in third with $13.5 million. That was roughly on target for Sony Pictures release, which cost about $25 million to make. It, too, should be positioned to play well through holidays.

Less successful was crime thriller “21 Bridges,” starring Chwick Boseman as a police detective who puts Manhattan on lockdown for a manhunt. Up against steep competition for ult audiences, “21 Bridges” raised $9.2 million in tolls for STXfilms, a so-so result for a film that cost $33 million to produce. film is produced by Anthony and Joseph Russo, whose last movie as directors, “Avengers: Endgame,” did slightly better.

Todd Haynes’ legal thriller “Dark Waters” opened in four aters with a strong per-ater aver of $27,467. Focus Features release, starring Mark Ruffalo, is based on a 2016 New York Times Magazine article about a corporate attorney who sued Dupont chemical company over health and environmental effects of a “forever chemical” used by Dupont.

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

1. “Frozen,” $127 million ($223.2 million international).

2. “Ford v Ferrari,” $16 million ($14.7 million international).

3. “A Beautiful Day in Neighborhood,” $13.5 million.

4. “21 Bridges,” $9.3 million ($2.7 million international).

5. “Midway,” $4.7 million ($5.4 million international).

6. “Playing With Fire,” $4.6 million.

7. “ Good Liar,” $3.8 million.

8. “Charlie’s Angels,” $3.2 million ($4.6 million international).

9. “Last Christmas,” $3 million ($6.7 million international).

10. “Joker,” $2.8 million ($7.6 million international).

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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP