Zootopia 2 stampeded into theaters over Thanksgiving weekend, earning more than half a billion dollars worldwide and securing the fourth-biggest opening of all time. Nearly half of its ticket sales came from China, where the sequel set a new record for the largest opening ever for a non-local animated film.
Gregory Maguire, author of the Wicked Years series that inspired the stage and film versions of Wicked, is returning to Oz with a new prequel, Galinda: A Charmed Childhood, arriving in September. The book serves as a companion to his earlier prequel, Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, released in March.
Kicking off the holiday season, The Merchants of Joy is now streaming on Prime Video. The documentary pulls back the curtain on New York City’s gritty — and often darkly humorous — Christmas-tree trade, following the so-called “five families of Christmas” as they navigate turf battles, fierce competition, and even whispers of mafia ties while striving to keep a beloved seasonal tradition alive amid pressure from big-box retailers.