The sequel to the widely anticipated horror film, based on the popular video game franchise Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, debuted with exceptional box office success in the United States, positioning itself to claim one of the strongest post-Thanksgiving weekend openings in history. Launching on Friday, the film instantly captured the top spot, earning a substantial $29.81 million on its opening day alone, according to industry trackers. Media projections forecast the horror title could reach an estimated $56.60 million by the close of the weekend, a figure that would redefine the financial performance typical of this late autumn release window, traditionally considered slower than the summer and pre-Christmas rushes.
The horror phenomenon’s explosive success pushed the previous weekend’s champion, the animated feature Zootopia 2, into second place. The Disney sequel mustered $10.20 million on Friday, retaining strong audience interest but unable to match the high-octane debut of the new entrant.
Rounding out the top three was the Japanese animated feature Jujutsu Kaisen The Movie: Shibuya Incident × Culling Game Advance Screening, securing $4.90 million. This performance highlights the growing domestic appetite for prominent anime releases. The fourth spot was claimed by the musical fantasy Wicked: Part Two, which added $4.51 million to its domestic gross.
Box Office Milestones for Returning Hits
While Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 dominated the daily receipts, established films continued their impressive runs globally. Zootopia 2, despite conceding the top weekend spot, has demonstrated remarkable staying power. After just 10 days in North American theaters, the animated film has accumulated over $187 million.
Its international performance has been equally robust, particularly in the critical Chinese market where it surpassed 3 billion RMB (approximately $420 million USD) after 12 days. Globally, the film is rapidly approaching the $700 million mark, cementing its position as the sixth highest-grossing film of 2025 year-to-date.
Mixed Fortunes for Fantasy Sequels
The box office performance of other major releases revealed varying degrees of success compared to their predecessors. Wicked: Part Two has amassed a worldwide total of $413 million. While a significant sum, industry analysts suggest that the sequel appears to be on a trajectory that may fall short of the final global haul achieved by the first installment of the two-part fantasy series, raising questions about audience fatigue or competitive timing.
The immediate success of the horror sequel underscores two prevailing market trends: the continued strength of established IP, especially in the horror genre; and the strategic advantage of generating significant initial buzz immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday lull. The film’s impressive debut sets a high bar for future releases aiming for similar post-holiday windows, solidifying the theatrical viability of mid-budget genre films targeted at specific, engaged fan bases. The coming weeks will determine if the horror blockbuster can sustain its momentum or if the competitive holiday slate will once again favor family-friendly fare.
