Pixar has launched its newest original film Hoppers with a strong preview performance. The movie earned more than $3 million in early screenings. The $2 million from Thursday night plus the $1.2 million from Saturday previews a week ago push the total past $3 million. This figure matches the preview earnings of Kung Fu Panda 4 from last year, which also opened with a solid three‑day total.
Analysts expect Hoppers to open in the high $30M+ range across 4,000 North American theaters. If the film reaches that level, it will become the best domestic start for a Pixar original since Coco in 2017, which earned $50.8 million in its first three days and $72.9 million in five days.
Comparison With Recent Pixar Releases
When we compare the preview numbers, Hoppers leads several recent titles. It outperformed the 2020 preview earnings of Onward ($2.7 million), Elemental ($2.5 million), GOAT ($1.5 million), The Wild Robot ($2 million) and last year’s Dog Man ($1.4 million). Those films also posted lower opening weekend totals than the projected range for Hoppers.
Post‑COVID, Pixar originals have faced challenges. Elio opened with a modest $20.8 million, showing how difficult it can be for new stories to attract large audiences. Hoppers breaks that trend with its strong preview earnings.
Ticket Upcharges Boost Revenue
Domestic audiences will see Hoppers on many premium formats. The film plays on 400 IMAX screens, shares space with The Bride! on those venues, and appears on more than 1,000 premium large format screens. In addition, over 2,200 theaters will show the movie in 3D, and 350 locations will offer D‑Box motion seats. These upcharges add extra dollars per ticket, helping the film reach its high opening goal.
How The Bride! Stacks Up
Warner Bros. released The Bride! around the same time. Early reports suggest its Thursday preview numbers were lower than those of Hoppers. The film carries a production budget of about $80 million before prints and advertising. Its Rotten Tomatoes score sits at 61% fresh, which is lower than the 96% to 97% range that Hoppers enjoys.
Spring Break Impact on Box Office
ComScore data shows that spring break is affecting attendance. This weekend, 5% of K‑12 schools are on break, rising to 10% by Monday. College attendance is at 9% and will increase to 26% by Monday. The peak of spring break is expected on Friday, March 20, when 38% of K‑12 students will be out and 37% of colleges will be on break. These patterns could boost family outings to see Hoppers during its opening week.
Overall, the strong preview earnings, premium format availability, and favorable timing give Hoppers a solid chance to become the top‑grossing Pixar original of the decade.
Source: Deadline
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