While the U.S. box office took a quieter turn over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, the global box office told a very different story. Overseas markets once again belonged to Disney, which continues an extraordinary run at the top of the worldwide charts — powered by record-breaking performances from Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Between these two juggernauts, Disney has now held the No. 1 global box office position for eight consecutive weekends, an achievement few studios have matched in recent years.
Zootopia 2 Crosses $1.7 Billion, Makes Animation History
Disney’s Zootopia 2 has officially rewritten the record books. The animated sequel surged past $1.7 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing MPA animated film of all time.
The film remains dominant across key territories, including China and Japan, while showing remarkable staying power in Europe and parts of Asia. Even with a modest weekend dip internationally, Zootopia 2 continues to outperform expectations months into its release, cementing its place as one of Disney’s most successful animated properties ever.
Avatar: Fire and Ash Hits $1.3 Billion, Holds Strong Worldwide
James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash continues its slow-burn dominance, now standing at approximately $1.32 billion globally. The film has remained the top release in the U.S. for five consecutive weekends and shows exceptional durability overseas despite expected post-holiday drops.
China remains its strongest international territory, followed by France, Germany, the UK, and South Korea. Even with natural declines across global markets, the film’s cumulative performance confirms that the Avatar franchise remains one of cinema’s most reliable global engines.
Sony’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Opens Soft, But Finds Overseas Wins
Sony’s horror sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple had a mixed debut. Domestically, the film opened to a reported $13–15 million over the extended holiday frame, though rival distributors estimate slightly lower figures.
Internationally, however, the picture showed stronger momentum. It debuted at No. 1 in the UK and Mexico, contributing to a $31.2 million global opening, with over $16 million coming from overseas markets across 61 territories.
While questions remain about long-term profitability — especially given production and marketing costs — the film earned an encouraging A- CinemaScore, suggesting audience response may help sustain its run.
Housemaid Becomes One of Paul Feig’s Biggest Hits
The dark comedy thriller The Housemaid continues to impress. With a $247.6 million worldwide total, the film is now officially Paul Feig’s second-highest-grossing movie ever, trailing only Bridesmaids.
The film remains strong in the UK and Latin America, where word of mouth has helped offset typical post-opening drops. Its success proves once again that mid-budget thrillers can thrive globally when positioned right.
Telugu Cinema Makes Global Top 10 Appearance
Indian cinema also made its presence felt. Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu, starring Chiranjeevi and directed by Anil Ravipudi, landed in the global Top 10.
The film earned approximately $9.38 million worldwide this weekend, taking its total global collection to $32.7 million. The Sankranthi entertainer continues to draw audiences overseas, especially in Telugu diaspora-heavy markets.
Other Notable Global Performers
- Marty Supreme crossed $102 million worldwide, becoming A24’s second film to pass the $100M mark globally.
- SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants reached $145 million worldwide, now released in nearly all overseas territories.
- Anaconda crossed $122 million globally, with strong performances in Australia and the UK.
- Hamnet continued its steady art-house expansion, showing impressive holds in the UK and Australia.
The Bigger Picture: 2026 Off to a Strong Start
According to industry tracking, the 2026 U.S./Canada box office is already up 18% year-over-year, signaling a healthy recovery driven by franchise films, animation, and well-positioned mid-budget releases.
Globally, Disney’s domination through Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash underscores the studio’s unmatched international reach — while studios like Sony, A24, and regional cinema continue to carve out meaningful wins.
Final Words
This MLK weekend proved one thing clearly: the global box office is thriving, even when domestic markets slow down. With animated giants smashing records, legacy franchises holding strong, and international films making their mark, 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year for worldwide theatrical business.
And if Disney’s eight-week global reign is any indication, the competition for the No. 1 spot is only going to get fiercer from here.
