Paw Patrol 2 Dominates Box Office, Outshining Saw X for the Top Spot

Summary

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie takes the top spot in its opening weekend, earning an impressive $22.5 million.

The animated movie is a sequel to 2021's PAW Patrol: The Movie.

This box office opening surpassed other new wide releases such as Saw X and The Creator.

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie dominated the box office in its opening weekend, securing the top spot. This animated film serves as a sequel to the successful PAW Patrol: The Movie released in 2021, which brought the beloved characters from the popular PAW Patrol cartoon series to the big screen. Interestingly, the movie premiered on September 29, coinciding with the release of the horror sequel Saw X. This unique occurrence led to the weekend being affectionately dubbed "Saw Patrol," reminiscent of the memorable "Barbenheimer" weekend in July when Barbie and Oppenheimer also debuted on the same day.

According to Deadline, the decision to schedule the release of PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie strategically paid off. It is currently projected to have a staggering 2-day opening earning of $22.5 million, firmly positioning it as the weekend's top-grossing movie. The other notable releases of the weekend, Saw X and The Creator, followed closely behind, taking the second and third spots respectively.

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie's Opening Could Be a Good Sign for 2023 Animation

After the global closure of cinemas due to the pandemic in 2020, the future of animated movies at the box office has been uncertain. Although some films have achieved remarkable success, many have fallen short of expectations. However, the recent victory of PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie at the box office indicates a potential turnaround for the genre.

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie is only the second animated film to claim the top spot in 2023. It follows the incredible triumph of the Super Mario Bros. Movie, which held the No. 1 position for four consecutive weeks since its release earlier this year, generating over $1 billion worldwide. While PAW Patrol may not be on a similar trajectory, its ability to surpass a sci-fi epic directed by the creator of Rogue One and a highly anticipated horror sequel in the lead-up to Halloween suggests a shift in the cinematic landscape.

The Mighty Movie, part of the PAW Patrol franchise, could be a sign of positive developments in the world of animated films. The success or failure of this trend will hinge on two upcoming releases. Firstly, Trolls Band Together is a highly anticipated sequel set to be released on November 17. Notably, this film includes music from a reunited *NSYNC, adding to its blockbuster appeal. Secondly, Disney's Wish, a 100th anniversary release, is set to hit theaters on November 22. It garnered attention for its recently released trailer, which has become the most-viewed trailer for a Disney animated feature since 2019.