1. Zootopia (review here)- $73.7M
The reviews have been stellar, currently sitting at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, but nobody could have predicted Disney's animated Zootopia would be breaking Disney records this way. The film opened with $73.7M, the highest-grossing debut for any Disney animated movie not affiliated with Pixar. And that's just the start. It also ranks as the 9th largest animated opening ever, and ranks 3rd all-time for movies that aren't adaptations, spinoffs, or sequels, so basically anything purely original. This would have been unfathomable a few months ago, when the film didn't seem to have a lot of buzz. While it features voicework by Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Shakira, voice stars rarely move the needle when it comes to animation. And since this was a non-Pixar release with no recognizable characters the expectations were decent but not anything like this. This was purely a case of strong word-of-mouth, with the general consensus being it's silly and fun enough for kids, while its message of tolerance and unity should resonate with older audiences. So basically, start gearing up for Zootopia 2 because it's coming.
2. London Has Fallen (review here)- $21.7M
Back in 2013 there were two similar "White House under siege" action flicks that arrived within months of one another. The first was Olympus Has Fallen, with Gerard Butler leading that one to about $160M worldwide. Not bad for a small-ish film costing around $70M. Then there was White House Down, with blockbuster helmer Roland Emmerich and the starry duo of Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx. That one cleared over $200M, but it cost $150M, which is pretty much a wash and definitely not worth banking on a sequel. So instead it's the less expensive film that gets one, London Has Fallen, which brings back the entire cast with a new director, a similar formula, and an even cheaper budget. The result is $21.7M, less than the $30M debut of its predecessor but still a respectable start. Is it good enough for China Has Fallen (You know that would be next, right?) or whatever to follow it up in a few years? That will depend on how leggy this one is and if it performs well overseas.
3. Deadpool- $16.4m/$311.1M
4. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (review here)- $7.6M
Maybe audiences have had their fill of quirky caucasians using the Middle East to give their own lives meaning? That's a shame because Tina Fey's Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a damn sight better than the terrible Rock the Kasbah. The $35M war dramedy opened with a measley $7.6M, a far cry from what Fey was able to pull off with Sisters ($13M, opposite Star Wars: The Force Awakens) just a few months ago. But this might be the issue, as Fey is perceived as being better when paired up with others. On her own, Fey's films don't perform nearly as well.
5. Gods of Egypt- $5M/$22.8M
6. Risen- $3.8M/$28.6M
7. Kung Fu Panda 3- $3.5M/$133.8M
8. The Revenant- $3.3M/$175.9M
9. Eddie the Eagle- $3.1M/$10.8M
10. The Witch- $2.5M/$20.9M
