Can Frozen II Break the Revenue Record of The Lion King 2019?

January marked a significant milestone for Frozen II, which became the highest-grossing animated movie for the first time. This achievement has sparked speculation as to whether it can continue its success and break the revenue record set by The Lion King 2019. In this article, we will explore the factors that could influence this outcome and assess the likelihood of Frozen II surpassing both the domestic and global revenue figures of The Lion King 2019.

Comparative Box Office Performance

When comparing the opening performances of Frozen II and The Lion King 2019, it's clear that Frozen II had a less favorable start in late fall. Specifically, The Lion King 2019 opened to 190 million dollars in the summer, while Frozen II opened to 130 million in late fall, a much worse season for theaters. Despite this, there are several key factors that suggest Frozen II has a higher chance of surpassing The Lion King 2019:

Strong Female Characters: Unlike the remake of The Lion King, which was more of a curiosity, Frozen II features strong, empathetic female characters. These characters are appealing to a wide audience and are likely to drive repeat viewings. Release Timing: Being released during the prime movie-going season, which includes Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day, provides Frozen II with a significant advantage. These holidays often see an increase in moviegoers, giving the film more visibility and box office potential. Potential for Multiple Viewings: Frozen II has garnered a strong positive response from audiences, with many viewers expressing a desire to see the film multiple times. This factor is particularly significant for families with children who might want to experience the film's magic again and again.

Given these advantages, it is reasonable to expect that Frozen II will gross at least 125 million dollars more than The Lion King 2019.

Domestic and Global Box Office Predictions

Let's look at the specific figures for domestic and global box office sales:

Domestic Sales

Domestically, it is possible that Frozen II could surpass The Lion King 2019. The Lion King 2019 made 543 million dollars in the United States and Canada. With Frozen, which previously made around 400 million dollars domestically, there is a strong chance that the sequel will achieve similar or higher numbers, especially with the anticipated release timing around the holiday season.

Frozen II is expected to outpace The Lion King 2019 starting from the second week and weekend. While The Lion King 2019 had a wider opening weekend and week, the sustained popularity of Frozen II could lead to a higher overall domestic gross.

Global Sales

While Frozen II has a higher chance of beating The Lion King 2019 in the United States, it faces a tougher challenge in terms of international box office sales:

The Lion King 2019 was a critical success and made a significant amount of money, especially overseas, where it made over 1 billion dollars. This is one of the very few films to achieve that level of international success. Based on the limited international data available, Frozen II is expected to make between 900-1 billion dollars internationally. However, these figures are speculative and depend heavily on the performance of other films and global economic conditions.

Consequently, it is unlikely that Frozen II will break The Lion King 2019's global revenue record of 1.6 billion dollars, or its domestic record of 543 million dollars.

Conclusion

While Frozen II has the potential to achieve impressive box office numbers, it is improbable that it will surpass The Lion King 2019 at the box office or internationally. Disney's star-studded lineup of films, including Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which is set to be released a month after Frozen II, will likely prevent Frozen II from topping both of these records.

However, the box office success of Frozen II is still significant, as it represents a strong performance for Disney, confirming the enduring popularity of the franchise and the continuing appeal of animated films that resonate with a wide audience. Regardless of whether it breaks records, Frozen II will undoubtedly remain a significant achievement in the world of animated film box office revenues.