Box Office Discussion: A "New" Hope

 The box office (sort of) comes roaring back to life, thanks to an animated sequel.

One week after the box office slumped to its worst weekend since theaters started opening back up in August, a weekend when only one movie was able to top a million dollars--only one movie was able to top a million dollars this weekend.  Then again, The Croods: A New Age made 7.5 times more than Freaky made last weekend, so theater owners were able to breathe a sigh of relief that, even amid the latest Covid surge and the begging to stay at home and skip Thanksgiving with anyone but your immediate household this year, people will still turn out for major animated titles.

Of course, under normal circumstances, The Croods's $9.7 million Friday-Sunday would be a disaster.  Two years ago, for example, Ralph Breaks the Internet opened to $56.2 million, and that was considered something of a letdown.  But in the age of pandemic, this is easily the best gross since Tenet arrived Labor Day weekend.  With minimal competition over the next month, Croods, which has taken in $14.3 million since its Wednesday opening, could possibly do roughly $50 million by the beginning of 2021.

Unfortunately for theaters, a rising tide ended up sinking all the holdover boats.  Two-time champ Freaky finished well behind in second, slashing down to $0.8 million for a total gross of $7 million.  Taking the next few slots are what passes for hits these days, The War With Grandpa, Let Him Go, Come Play, and Honest Thief, of which only War has grossed more overall than The Crood's five day.

Rounding out the Top 10 was the re-release of Elf, Tenet, and two more holiday season re-releases, The Santa Clause and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  Completely bombing was the re-release of Frozen.  Apparently, audiences are finally ready to let it go, as it came in 13th.

Expect The Croods to repeat this weekend, as neither of the new wide releases, the romantic drama All My Life or the wacky comedy Half Brothers to do much business.  We'll see if animated cavemen are susceptible to the usual post-Thanksgiving box-office collapse next week.