Pixar Original Hoppers is off to a solid start in previews with $3.2M. Keep in mind that’s $1M from last night with the rest from Saturday previews a week ago. That preview figure tracks with 2024’s Kung Fu Panda 4 (granted, not original), but it did $3.8M in previews for a $58M 3-day. The expectation is that Hoppers is in the high $30M+ range at 4,000 North American theaters which would be the best domestic start for a Pixar original since 2017’s Coco ($50.8M 3-day, 5-day of $72.9M). The $150M production Hoppers already has the best reviews for a Pixar original since Coco (96% certified fresh to 97%). Post Covid, Pixar originals have struggled, with Elio hitting a brand opening low of $20.8M.
Already, Hoppers‘ previews figure is above 2020’s Onward ($2.7M, $39.1M opening weekend), Elemental ($2.5M, $29.6M opening), GOAT ($1.5M, $27.2M 3-day), The Wild Robot ($2M, $35.8M) and last year’s Dog Man ($1.4M, $36M opening).
Stateside, Hoppers will have all the bounce from such ticket upcharges as 400 Imax screens (sharing with The Bride!), 1,000+ premium large format screens, and 2,200 3D screens and 350 D-Box/motion screens.
Where are the preview figures for Warner Bros’ The Bride!? Keep refreshing. We hear they were lower than Hoppers‘ Thursday take. The Bride! cost a reported $80M before P&A. Rotten Tomatoes reviews stand at 61% fresh.
Spring break this weekend on ComScore shows 5% K-12 schools out moving to 10% by Monday. Colleges are 9% on break upping to 26% off by Monday. March spring breaks will reach a peak on Friday, March 20 with 38% K-12 off, 37% colleges on break.