Pixar’s Hoppers dominates the box office with an $88M global opening. Strong reviews and audience buzz push the animated film to No.1.
Disney and Pixar have found fresh momentum at the box office. Their original animated adventure Hoppers debuted at No. 1 across North America, while Warner Bros.’ much-hyped gothic drama The Bride! stumbled out of the gate.
According to weekend studio estimates, “Hoppers” earned about $46 million in domestic ticket sales during its opening weekend. With another $42 million coming from international markets, the film’s global debut climbed to roughly $88 million — the strongest launch for an original animated film since Coco premiered in 2017.
A Welcome Win for Pixar
The success of “Hoppers” comes at a crucial time for Pixar. The studio’s recent track record has leaned heavily on sequels and established franchises, while original titles have struggled to ignite the box office.
Last year’s Elio opened to the lowest debut in Pixar’s history. By comparison, “Hoppers” signals a healthier audience appetite for fresh storytelling from the studio.
Directed by Daniel Chong, the film follows a young environmental activist who infiltrates the animal world by inhabiting the body of a beaver. The unusual premise blends comedy with ecological themes and a family-friendly adventure.
The voice cast includes Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm and Kathy Najimy.
Produced on a reported $150 million budget, the film opened in about 4,000 theaters across North America.
Strong Reviews Fuel Early Momentum
Critical response has been overwhelmingly positive. “Hoppers” currently holds a 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned an A CinemaScore from audiences, suggesting strong word-of-mouth potential in the weeks ahead.
PostTrak audience polling also showed encouraging reactions, with 75 percent of viewers saying they would definitely recommend the movie.
In a statement, Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, praised the film’s performance and credited the Pixar team for delivering an original story that resonated with families.
Industry analysts say the strong reception could allow the movie to build momentum through the coming weeks, much like Elemental did after its modest opening before becoming a sleeper hit.
A Difficult Start for ‘The Bride!’
While Pixar celebrated a successful launch, the outlook was far less encouraging for Warner Bros.’ ambitious genre project “The Bride!”.
The R-rated film, directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, earned only $7.3 million in its domestic debut across more than 3,300 theaters.
With a production budget estimated near $80 million — not including marketing costs — the opening weekend figure raises concerns about the film’s commercial prospects.
Critics offered mixed-to-negative reactions, and audience enthusiasm appeared limited. The film currently carries a 59 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received a modest C+ CinemaScore from viewers. Only about 43 percent of audiences said they would strongly recommend it.
International markets have provided little relief. The film collected just $6.3 million overseas, bringing its global total to about $13.6 million.
Box Office Landscape This Weekend
Elsewhere at the box office, the horror sequel Scream 7 slipped to second place in its second weekend with $17.3 million. That represents a steep 73 percent drop from its debut, although the film’s global earnings have now reached nearly $150 million.
Sony’s sports comedy GOAT landed in fourth place with $6.6 million, while the romantic drama Wuthering Heights rounded out the top five with $3.8 million.
Industry analysts say the relatively modest openings among new releases highlight a broader slowdown in theater momentum this month.
According to Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian, the box office needs stronger newcomers to energize the marketplace. When holdover films dominate the top rankings, it often signals that fresh releases have not generated enough excitement.
Anticipation for the Next Big Release
The industry expects the box office landscape to shift again later this month when the science-fiction adventure Project Hail Mary arrives in theaters. The film stars Ryan Gosling and is already generating early buzz.
Until then, “Hoppers” appears poised to remain the dominant draw for families heading to theaters.
