As the pre-holiday season heats up, the box office is delivering mixed results across new releases and established hits. While some films struggle to find an audience, others continue to thrive, setting the stage for an interesting lead-up to the holiday rush.

Sony’s Kraven the Hunter stumbled out of the gate, both internationally and in North America. Opening in 60 international markets, the film earned a modest US$15 million, contributing to a global debut of US$26 million. Despite efforts to build anticipation, including releasing the first eight minutes of the film online, the response was tepid, with only 2.1 million views. Critical reception didn’t help, as the film scored a dismal 15% on Rotten Tomatoes and a C CinemaScore. Without a major star or widespread fan interest in the titular character, the film lacked the pull of previous R-rated comic book hits like Deadpool & Wolverine or Logan.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ animated The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim also struggled to make an impact. The film opened domestically with US$4.6 million, bringing its global total to $10.3 million. Despite its Middle-earth pedigree and Peter Jackson’s involvement as executive producer, Rohirrim faced challenges in recapturing the magic of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. Its anime-inspired style and distant setting (183 years before the original trilogy) limited its appeal to niche audiences. Compared to other animated adaptations of major franchises, like Star Wars: The Clone Wars, its debut was underwhelming.

In contrast, Disney’s Moana 2 and Universal’s Wicked continue to dominate. Moana 2 added US$57.2 million from international markets this weekend, pushing its worldwide total to an impressive US$717 million. The film is now the No. 4 global release of the year and is eyeing the coveted US$1 billion milestone. Its sustained performance demonstrates the strength of Disney’s animated offerings, especially as it surpasses major titles like Dune: Part Two.
Universal’s Wicked also crossed significant milestones, reaching US$525 million globally. The film is a hit domestically but is steadily gaining ground internationally, particularly in Germany and the UK. With its performance, Wicked has become the second-highest-grossing stage adaptation of all time, trailing only Mamma Mia!.

As the year’s blockbusters push forward in the box office, films like Moana 2 and Wicked show the enduring appeal of well-loved properties, while the struggles of Kraven the Hunter and The War of the Rohirrim highlight the challenges of creating standout hits in a crowded market. The holiday season will likely bring further surprises as audiences decide where to place their attention — and their dollars.