‘Frozen 2’ To Near $284M By Next Sunday, 'Paradoria 2' Nearing $600M By Next Sunday, ‘Ico’ Could Touch $150M – Thanksgiving B.O. Preview

*Deadline*

It’s going to be a really rich week for Disney’s *Frozen 2,*so exhibitors expect a lot of popcorn sales.

Let’s start with the build of it all: The pic’s official weekend came in at $130.2M, which as we’ve been sayin’ is the second best animated pic launch ever in November. Today, with 41% of K-12 schools out and 14% of colleges, I understand Monday will deliver around $16M for the sequel directed by Jennifer Lee- and Chris Buck. By the end of Thanksgiving, which will see business during the evening shows after dinner, *Frozen 2*per industry estimates should stand at $200M stateside; that’s bolstered by all schools being off on Thursday and Friday. Don’t forget, Black Friday is one of the most lucrative moviegoing days of the year. Tack on a second estimated weekend of $84M, -35%, and *Frozen 2*could climb to $284M in 10 days.

Meanwhile, holdover *Paradoria 2*, which has just recently reached $500M stateside with a current gross of $521.5M stateside. The film will deliever $7M on Monday and by the end of Thanksgiving, *Paradoria 2* should stand at $590M stateside. The film is looking at a $50M 5-day, and a $40M 3-day weekend. Worldwide, the film has already grossed $1 billion and with the Thanksgiving weekend coming up, it could end up surpassing the original film's total lifeline gross of $1.126 billion worldwide.

Sony Pictures' *Ico* is expected to steal some of *Frozen II* and *Paradoria 2*'s audience. The pic has already broken records for the biggest pre-sales for a film being released during the Thanksgiving weekend on Fandango and Atom Tickets respectively. Tracking is seeing the film at around $120-$140M over the Wednesday-to-Sunday stretch, but $150M+ isn’t unreasonable for this 93% certified fresh ensemble with Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Emma Thompson, Nicole Kidman, Harrison Ford, Andy Serkis and more. The almost 3 hour pic, booked at 4,600 locations, the widest November release, cost a hefty $300M before digital print and advertising costs. *Ico*also is breaking out in China with a record $119 million opening weekend. So to avoid being another Justice League which was a $300 million production that flopped 2 years ago, the film must overperform and do exceptionally well domestically as well as overseas as the film has a break-even point of $750M.

Lionsgate/Media Rights Capital’s Rian Johnson-directed whodunit *Knives Out*should fill the bill for guys and older moviegoers. The pic already bagged $2M from 936 theaters over Friday and Saturday night previews. What’s notable about that is that most paid previews of late are boosted by Fandango, Atom Tickets or Amazon marketing. *Knives Out*was an organic push by major and regional exhibition partners. Previews start again Tuesday night at 7 PM. Tracking is seeing $25M-$29M over the Wednesday-to-Sunday stretch, but $30M+ isn’t unreasonable for this 96% certified fresh ensemble with Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana de Armas and more. The pic, booked at 3,300 locations, cost $40M before digital print and advertising costs. *Knives Out*also is breaking out in nine offshore territories including the United Kingdom, Australia, France, New Zealand, South Africa and Benelux.

Universal is opening Makeready/Bron Studios’ African American drama *Queen & Slim,*starring Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith about a couple’s first date that’s thrown into disarray when a cop pulls them over. The pic, financed by Makeready for around $17M is looking to gross $12M-$16M over five days. RT score is at 85% fresh. Box office comparisons, which are all three-day debuts, include Focus Features’ *BlacKkKlansman*($10.8M), 20th Century Fox’s *Widows*($12.3M opening), Lionsgate’s *Acrimony* ($17.1M opening) and Universal’s *Breaking In*($17.6M). Melina Matsoukas directed the feature, which was written by Lena Waithe with story by James Frey and Waithe. The pic opens Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sony/TriStar’s *A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood*is looking at a five-day of $13M after a $13.2M opening. Broken out, the movie starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers and Matthew Rhys as his interviewer is looking at a second weekend of $8.5M, -37%.