'Ralph Breaks the Internet' Tops Thanksgiving Box Office, 'Creed II' Scores, 'Robin Hood' Stumbles

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Disney’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” dominated the Thanksgiving box office, generating a massive $84.6 million at 4,017 locations over the five-day holiday period and $56 million for the weekend.

Propelled by solid word of mouth, the Disney animated sequel now ranks as the second-best Thanksgiving debut ever, behind another Disney title, “Frozen,” which earned $93.6 million during its first five days. “Ralph Breaks the Internet” carries a hefty $175 million production budget, so it will need to keep up momentum worldwide to turn a profit. “Ralph Breaks the Internet” sees John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman reprise their roles from “Wreck It Ralph” as the video game villain and his best friend navigate the internet. The original film picked up $49 million over its first three days of release.

“Whenever we look at sequels, they have to be additive,” Cathleen Taff, Disney’s president of global distribution, said of “Ralph Breaks the Internet’s” impressive opening. “The filmmakers built this world out with such attention to detail that people were ready to come back and enjoy these characters. We’re really excited about the momentum as we head into the holidays.”

“Ralph” wasn’t the only sequel to thrive this weekend. MGM and New Line’s “Creed II” was a knockout as the boxing drama earned $55 million from 3,350 venues over the five days and $34 million for the weekend. That marks the best debut for a live-action film during the holiday frame. Those numbers also top the start of “Creed,” which launched with $29 million over the three-day frame. “Creed II” stars Michael B. Jordan as Donnie Creed, the son of heavyweight champ Apollo Creed. Sylvester Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa.



“It’s a thrill to see both its legacy and new generation of audiences continue to respond to Rocky Balboa and Adonis Creed in this time when we need uplifting stories,” said Jonathan Glickman, president of MGM’s motion picture group.

The crowded Turkey Day didn’t just bring back solid receipts, it set a new record, according to Comscore. This five-day outing surpassed $314 million, exceeding the record set in 2013 with $294 million.

Unfortunately, it’s not all holiday cheer at the box office. Lionsgate’s “Robin Hood” pocketed an tepid $14.2 million at 2,715 venues for the five-day period and $9 million for the weekend, a potentially disastrous result given the live-action adventure’s roughly $100 million production budget. Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx lead “Robin Hood” in the latest rendition of the swashbuckling bandit.

Meanwhile, awards hopeful “Green Book” had a disappointing expansion. It moved into 1,063 theaters and made $5.4 million for the weekend and a lackluster $7.4 million during the five-day frame. Universal is distributing “Green Book,” which was co-produced by DreamWorks and Participant. Viggo Mortensen, who drew controversy after using of the N-word at a screening, co-stars alongside Mahershala Ali in the comedic drama that centers on a renowned black pianist’s tour through the Deep South during the Jim Crow era.