Pixar’s new animated original ‘Hoppers’ is bouncing toward a $40 million debut, while Warner Bros’ ‘The Bride!’ stumbles with a much smaller opening.
Pixar may finally have a post-pandemic original hit on its hands. The studio’s new animated film Hoppers is heading for an estimated $40 million opening weekend in North America, marking the strongest debut for a Pixar original since 2017’s Coco.
The film is playing in about 4,000 theaters and pulled in roughly $12.7 million on Friday, including previews.
That first-day performance already outpaces the opening-day starts of several recent Pixar originals, including Onward, Elemental, and last year’s Elio, all of which struggled to gain early momentum at the box office.
Strong reviews appear to be helping push Hoppers forward. The film currently holds a 93% “certified fresh” score from critics, and early audience reactions suggest viewers are responding well to its humor, unusual animation style, and sci-fi family adventure premise.
Social media chatter has also been strong. Analytics firm RelishMix estimates the film’s online reach across platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X at about 363 million interactions ahead of release.
That puts the film slightly below Pixar’s Lightyear in social reach but well above recent originals like Onward, Elemental, and Elio.
Much of the online conversation centers on the film’s quirky concept and characters. Fans have described it as a mix of animated comedy and sci-fi adventure, with some comparing it to mashups like “Over the Hedge plus Avatar.”
Others have highlighted the marketing push around the film’s cute animal characters, particularly a beaver that has become a fan favorite online.
The film also benefits from a wide premium format rollout, including hundreds of IMAX and other large-format screens, along with more than 2,000 3D showings.
While Pixar celebrates a promising launch, Warner Bros. is facing a much different outcome with The Bride!, directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and starring Jessie Buckley.
The reimagined “Bride of Frankenstein” story is projected to open with just $8 million to $10 million this weekend in the U.S. and Canada. The film earned around $3 million on Friday across 3,304 theaters, far below the studio’s earlier expectations of a debut closer to the high-teens.
With a reported production cost of about $80 million before marketing expenses, the film faces a difficult road ahead.
Reviews and audience reactions have been mixed. Critics currently rate the film at about 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have given it a modest 66%.
Some critics have praised Buckley’s performance and the movie’s bold tone, while others have questioned its storytelling and overall approach.
The debate among critics highlights the split reaction. One review criticized the film sharply, comparing it to a monster unleashed on audiences, while another described it as an unusual but entertaining spectacle largely elevated by Buckley’s presence.
Social media engagement for The Bride! has also been weaker than typical films in the horror or remake space. RelishMix estimates its online reach at about 178 million interactions, roughly 14% below the average for similar genre releases.
Online discussions reveal skepticism about the film’s concept. Some moviegoers say they feel fatigue from multiple recent Frankenstein-related projects, while others worry that the film’s stylistic ambition may outweigh its storytelling.
The box-office chart shows that audiences are currently more interested in familiar horror franchises. Paramount and Spyglass Media Group’s Scream 7 is expected to take second place this weekend with about $18 million in its second frame.
That would represent a steep drop of around 72% from its opening but still push the film’s domestic total close to $94 million after ten days.
Further down the chart, Sony’s animated title GOAT continues to perform steadily. The film is expected to earn about $6.7 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its domestic total to roughly $84 million.
Warner Bros.’ adaptation of Wuthering Heights rounds out the top five with about $3.4 million for the weekend, pushing its running domestic total to about $78 million.
Overall, the weekend suggests that family animation may be regaining its footing in theaters.
For Pixar, which has struggled to launch original films since the pandemic era reshaped moviegoing habits, the performance of Hoppers could be an encouraging sign that audiences are once again willing to show up for new ideas on the big screen.
