Disney's 'Zootopia' Could Be Biggest Animated Film Ever

Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS) animated feature "Zootopia" recorded $73.7 million in its opening weekend in the US. This marks the highest ever debut weekend for a non-Pixar Walt Disney animated film. "Zootopia" earned $158 million overseas, taking the film’s earnings to $232.5 million worldwide.

In a report published on March 4, MKM Partners’ Eric Handler had mentioned that "Zootopia’s" weekend revenue would likely exceed $60 million. This, along with "London Has Fallen" and "Deadpool," would outpace revenue recorded during the same weekend in 2015. The 2015 same weekend Top 10 grossed merely $72.3 million.

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Box Office Momentum Likely To Accelerate In March

Analyst Eric Handler mentioned that box office revenue had grown 2.6 percent quarter-to-date, while adding that this is on track to at least meet the projection of 7 percent growth in the quarter.

In order for box office revenue to meet the Q1 estimated growth, March revenue would need to be up about 16.5 percent. While this represents a significant jump, the comps are easy. Handler elaborated that “last year's same period contribution of $704mn was the lowest since 2011 and was down versus the prior year and the five-year average by roughly 13% and 14%, respectively.”

The analyst further noted that huge numbers were not needed for March revenue to reach the estimate, since the estimated revenue of about $820 million is below the grosses recorded in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

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