"Zootopia" sprung out the gate this weekend, grossing an estimated $73.7 million at the box office. The film also gave Walt Disney Animation Studios its biggest opening weekend ever.
The Disney animated featured succeeded "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" for the largest animated opening record in March and placed ninth overall for largest animated openings ever. "Zootopia" scored high critical ratings as well, earning a 98 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and an "A" CinemaScore.
Jason Bateman and Ginnifer Goodwin led the voice cast on "Zootopia," which follows a fugitive con artist fox and a rookie bunny cop as they work to uncover a conspiracy in a city populated by animals. The movie builds on Disney Animation's recent successes including "Big Hero 6," "Frozen" and "Wreck-It Ralph."
Trailing well behind in second place at the weekend box office was "London Has Fallen," the sequel to 2013's "Olympus Has Fallen." The action thriller, starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman, grossed $21.7 million, almost $10 million less than its predecessor "Olympus" ($30.3 million) fared in its opening.
"Deadpool" continued its strong showing after nearly a month in theaters, placing third at the box office. It earned $16.4 million, bringing its total to $311.1 million and making it the third-ever R-rated movie to clear the $300 million mark.
The Ryan Reynolds-starrer now sits fourth among the highest-grossing superhero origin movies of all time. The top three are "Spider-Man" ($403.7 million), "Guardians of the Galaxy" ($333.1 million) and "Iron Man 3" ($318.4 million).
Bringing up the rear in fourth place was Tina Fey's "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot." The war dramedy grossed $7.6 million, making a small dent in its $35 million budget and earning mixed critical reviews.
After their second week in theaters, "Eddie the Eagle," "Triple 9" and "Gods of Egypt" earned $3.1 million. $3.5 million and $2.1 million, respectively. This year's Best Picture winner, "Spotlight," got a $1.8 million bump following the Oscars. The Tom McCarthy film is still the second lowest grossing Best Picture winner ever behind last year's winner, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," which both star Michael Keaton.
Movies opening next week, March 11, include J.J. Abrams produced, "10 Cloverfield Lane," Sacha Baron Cohen's latest, "The Brothers Grimsby," and "The Perfect Match."
