Here's how 'Zootopia' beat 'Frozen' at the box office
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
The Disney animated movie 鈥淶ootopia鈥� had a great weekend at the box office, coming in at number one and setting a new record for the best three-day opening for a Disney animated film.聽
The movie, which takes place in a city in which various animals live side-by-side, grossed more than $73 million. Box office smash 鈥淔rozen鈥� took in more than $67 million over three days.聽
The new film, 鈥淟ondon Has Fallen,鈥� an action movie starring Gerard Butler that is a sequel to the 2013 box office hit 鈥淥lympus Has Fallen,鈥� came in second, grossing more than $21 million.聽
Another new movie for the weekend, the Tina Fey film 鈥淲hiskey Tango Foxtrot,鈥� came in fourth, grossing more than $7 million. It came in behind the superhero movie hit 鈥淒eadpool,鈥� which opened in February and grossed more than $16 million this past weekend, coming in third.聽
The movie 鈥淕ods of Egypt,鈥� which also stars Butler along with 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and did not do well in its opening weekend last weekend, came in fifth this time, grossing $5 million.
鈥淶ootopia鈥� is now Disney鈥檚 newest success. What made the animated movie perform so well at the box office this past weekend?
One reason may be Disney鈥檚 recent creative success with movies. Critics have been mostly won over by recent efforts such as 鈥淔rozen,鈥� 鈥淏ig Hero 6,鈥� and 鈥淲reck-It Ralph.鈥� Reviewers didn鈥檛 like many of Disney鈥檚 films in the early 2000s, but the studio appears to have turned that around.聽
points to this resurgence as at least part of the reason for the recent success of 鈥淶ootopia鈥� and writes that the renewed originality of Disney films owes a lot to Disney purchasing animation studio Pixar. 鈥淭he smashing success of 鈥榋ootopia鈥� confirmed the wisdom of that decade-old acquisition,鈥� Lang writes. 鈥� 鈥� Walt Disney Animation has become perhaps the most original voice in the animated world.鈥�
And not only has 鈥淶ootopia鈥� been well-received by critics, but it鈥檚 been lauded by them for its message of inclusion, writes . 鈥溾�橺ootopia' has been universally praised by critics for its messages about prejudice and tolerance,鈥� Coggan writes. Parents who read in reviews that these themes were present may have been even more likely to bring their children to the film.聽
Michael Rechtshaffen of The Associated Press called 鈥淶ootopia鈥� 鈥渟martly amusing [and] crisply relevant.鈥�
鈥淭he 3-D caper expertly combines keen wit with a gentle, and very timely, message of inclusivity and empowerment,鈥� Rechtshaffen wrote of the film. 鈥溾�udicious life lessons 鈥� never feel preachy or shoehorned-in.鈥�
