Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Devours the Weekend Box Office, Leaving Zootopia in the Dust

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 devoured expectations at the weekend box office, doubling forecasts and steamrolling past Zootopia—even if its debut couldn’t match the first film’s frenzy.

Blumhouse just got the win they needed. After eating it on Wolf Man and M3GAN 2.0 earlier this year, Five Nights at Freddy's 2 showed up and blew past expectations with a monster opening, even as critics (and plenty of fans) dragged it. Turns out the core fanbase does not care what we think.

Freddy's 2: battered by reviews, lifted by fans

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 launched with an eye-popping $63 million domestic weekend. That is roughly $30 million higher than what most forecasts were calling for. The CinemaScore came in at a B, which means general audiences are warmer on it than the review scores suggest. Almost no one thought it would sniff the first movie's debut, but here we are.

For context, the original Five Nights at Freddy's bowed to $80 million two years ago, and that was day-and-date on Peacock. So yes, this sequel opened lower, but it's still a big win. At this point, a third movie feels less like a question and more like scheduling.

Thanksgiving holdovers took it on the chin

Zootopia 2, which has an A CinemaScore and strong word of mouth, still slid 57% in weekend two to $43 million. Its domestic cume is $220 million and it should leg out to roughly $300 million. Very healthy, but still well shy of Moana 2's $460 million last year.

Wicked: For Good got hit even harder, tumbling 74% to $16.75 million. Domestic sits at $296 million. It will finish far below the previous film's $474 million, though it remains a major moneymaker for Universal.

Anime keeps winning, other titles hang on

Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution pulled a sharp $10.1 million. Even some anime diehards walked out scratching their heads, but the turnout was there.

Now You See Me: Now You Don't fell another 49% to $3.5 million for $55.3 million domestic. Internationally it is a different story: the sequel passed $200 million overseas this weekend, so the global picture is strong.

Tarantino's event cut packed theaters

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair grabbed a robust $3.2 million from just over 1,100 theaters while only playing two showtimes per day. Lots of locations reported sellouts, especially the 70mm and 35mm prints. I caught a DCP matinee in Montreal yesterday and even that was sold out.

A24's Eternity continues its slow-burn run with another $2.76 million, pushing domestic to just under $10 million.

Chloe Zhao's awards hopeful Hamnet is underwhelming in limited release: $2.3 million on 744 screens. It looks like another adult-skewing title that may collect nominations without collecting much cash.

Bollywood actioner Dhurandhar impressed with nearly $2 million on only 390 screens. A sequel is already on the calendar for March 2026.

Predator: Badlands rounded out the top ten with $1.87 million and an $88 million domestic total. Solid, not spectacular, so a follow-up is still a maybe.

By the numbers

• Five Nights at Freddy's 2: $63M opening weekend (B CinemaScore); outperforming projections by about $30M; sequel to 2022's $80M day-and-date debut
• Zootopia 2: $43M weekend (-57%); $220M domestic to date; on track for around $300M; A CinemaScore; trailing Moana 2's $460M
• Wicked: For Good: $16.75M weekend (-74%); $296M domestic; will finish well below the prior film's $474M; still a big win for Universal
• Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution: $10.1M weekend; strong turnout despite head-scratching reactions from some fans
• Now You See Me: Now You Don't: $3.5M weekend (-49%); $55.3M domestic; over $200M overseas
• Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair: $3.2M weekend from a little 1,100+ theaters; only two shows per day; frequent sellouts, especially 70mm/35mm
• Eternity (A24): $2.76M weekend; domestic just under $10M
• Hamnet (Chloe Zhao): $2.3M weekend on 744 screens; soft box office despite awards prospects
• Dhurandhar (Bollywood): nearly $2M weekend on 390 screens; sequel slated for March 2026
• Predator: Badlands: $1.87M weekend; $88M domestic; sequel chances uncertain

Next weekend

James L. Brooks returns with Ella McCay, but early buzz is rough. There is also a remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night, and not a lot else. If Freddy's 2 holds even decently, it should keep the crown. Place your bets.