Frozen II is Breaking Records – No Dam Stops Disney Cash River

Frozen II ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Disney is well on the way to another billion club member ($739 million globally) …

With an estimated $85.2 million three-day and a $123.7 million five-day performance, Disney’s Frozen II not only topped the standard and extended weekend, it delivered record performances serving as the largest three and five-day grosses over the Thanksgiving holiday frame ever. To go along with that, the film has now grossed over $287 million in just ten days of release trailing just Incredibles 2 over the same number of days, which stood at an impressive $349.7 million after just ten days. In fact, Frozen II is already the 17th highest grossing animated film ever and is showing little sign of stopping.

‘Frozen II’ Feasts on Thanksgiving Records While ‘Knives Out’ & ‘Queen & Slim’ Enjoy Strong Holiday Openings – Box Office Mojo

Check out the Box Office Mojo week 48 estimates:

Frozen II grossed over $20 million more than the other four films behind it over the holiday

One of several totally unscientific ways that I’m measuring audience engagement and interest is by Rotten Tomatoes audience reviews. Check out these numbers compared to box office sales in the screenshot above:

1. Joker⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (9 weeks) – 64,896
2. Frozen II ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2 weeks) – 26,397
3. Knives Out ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – 6,643
4. Ford v Ferrari ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 weeks) – 15.188
5. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (2 weeks) – 5,672
6. Queen & Slim ⭐️⭐️½ – 3,875

The Joker inclusion shows how a recent box office juggernaut continues to gather reviews into the ninth week. The reviews have slowed down considerably the last few weeks with, as expected, the bulk coming in the first month a film is in the theater.

Reviews by Others

• Sydney Lee (4.5/5): “…there are so many questions that make the story a bit confusing because we don’t know the backstory or just general questions that should’ve been answered the movie. Maybe they were supposed to be for the next sequel and if so, I can’t wait for it!”
• Laura/DOTT (4/5): “It’s perhaps too familiar, in that it doesn’t really make for the most exciting film (meaning we pretty much know what’s coming and how it will all turn out), and the story itself is rather lacking in comparison to the first movie, but the strength of the characters and the originality and hooks of the new songs (particularly ‘Into the Unknown’, Frozen II’s signature tune that’s almost as mighty as ‘Let It Go’) firmly keep it from being relegated to the Bin of Crappy Sequels.”
• alysonkrier: “Frozen was lightning caught in a bottle. Something that amazing rarely happens twice. But Frozen II is a wonderful, warm, pure attempt to do it again. Some might focus on the imperfections or simply want what they’ve been hoping for, but I see some major sparks within this beautiful film.”
• B-Hop/Nerd with an Afro (6/10): ” The animation is great and I like Anna and Elsa’s relationship. But man, the story just did not work at all. There’s no cohesion to it or any focus, it feels thrown-together at the last minute, which makes me think that this was just another cash-in on the Frozen craze. And as much as I like certain songs like Into The Unknown, most of them aren’t as catchy or memorable as the songs from the previous films. “
• Cameron Black (6/10): “Overall Frozen II is a confident sequel to the first. I won’t say it’s my cup of tea as it does do some daring things, but it holds back in order to stay mainstream and, I presume, to reboot the Frozen merchandise machine. The Disneyathon might change it later, but for now I’m sticking with a 6/10.”
• ruth/FlixChatter (3/5): “…will leave its viewers with a lot to be impressed by and think about. Although worth seeing, its rather lackadaisical story arc, plodding soundtrack, and severe misstep of an ending make it hard for me to rate the movie highly.”
• Laurel/Tales Past Midnight: “This movie gave me all the feels. I was already crying in the first 10 minutes then laughing at the funny antics of Olaf then crying again. There is heartbreak in truth but with that comes acceptance and growth.”
• moviejoltz: “There was such a high bar to reach due to the success of the first movie that it would have taken super powers to try and top it. I give the studio credit for its valiant effort.”
• Drew’s Movie Reviews: “There is a larger sense of adventure this time around and even more excitement than Frozen. While I usually feel most Disney animated films do not require sequels, this is an instance where I am extremely glad this sequel was made. Building on where the characters ended in the previous movie, this movie expands on them even further.”
• Jason’s Movie Blog (4.1/5): “While the movie does struggle in how its present some of the new elements (never truly surpassing the original Frozen) and misses a few opportunities along the way, the rest of the feature is a wonderful sequel endeavor, which is complimented by the film’s impressive animation, mature character threads, solid voice talents, and just a entertaining sequel that works. To me, I liked this movie.”
• Jasmine/SSZEE MEDIA: “…isn’t about familial relationships or about romantic relationships, even though these both play a factor in the plot. This film is about Elsa and her finding her identity.”
• Gasbag Reviews (3.5/5): “The story has many threads that would be interesting if they had been given a little more room to breathe. The end result is less satisfying.”

See also: 20+ Frozen II Reviews – I’m Kristoff, Which Frozen Character Are You?

20+ Frozen II Reviews – I’m Kristoff, Which Frozen Character Are You?

Took the Buzzfeed quiz: “What character from Frozen II ⭐️⭐️⭐️ are you?” quiz and I’m Kristoff. Was sort of hoping for Olaf, but hey I’ll take Kristoff. Which one are you?

Frozen II enjoyed a record breaking opening weekend at the box office:

Disney’s Frozen II delivered a monster debut, bringing in an estimated $127 million domestically, which serves as the largest animated opening ever outside the summer corridor and a record animated opening for the month of November. In fact, the performance is the fifth largest November opening of all-time, topping the $125 million opening for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 back in 2010. The film played to an audience that was 59% female with families making up 70% of the opening weekend crowd.

Frozen II Delivers $350 Million Global Debut – Box Office Mojo

Congratulations!

This is the film discussion post for Frozen II, so if you haven’t seen the film, yet, then here’s your friendly warning not to continue with this post.

… you’ve been warned …

My primary bone of contention with this film is the music. It seemed very lackluster compared to the first. Was there any standout hit?

Secondary criticism would be the more earthy-tone story vs. the more wintry setting of the original. The mist was cool, but the whole dam substory was underwhelming.

Reviews by Others

Let’s see, so far, what other moviegoers think of Frozen II. Keep in mind that some/many of these reviews contain spoilers.

Where did you share your review? Use the comments to tell me about your movie-related/review blog and I’ll follow. I like following movie-related blogs. Yes, even those who disagree with my reviews and vice versa.

Recommended

• Film Music Central: “As much as I enjoyed Frozen II, I hope there is not a Frozen III. There really is nothing more to add to the story at this point. We know, mostly, why Elsa has her powers, no plot threads remain unresolved. At this point, Arendelle should be left in peace.”
• The Reviewing Network: “In terms of this movie, I actually really enjoyed this a lot, I think it works as a much better sequel than Ralph Breaks The Internet did last year and would even say this is about on par with the first Frozen.”
• Maybush (7/10): “Songs are catchy, characters’ outfits are captivating, and visuals are stupendous, yet plots are obscure, and it lacks something (Frozen once had) that attracted me most– certain sentiments.”
• Morgan Magazine: “All in all, “Frozen II” admirably does its job in delving into the questions left from viewing the 2013 original, and wrapping it all up in a magical and very emotional conclusion, for the moment.”
• Ian Failes reviews the technical process behind how the trees were constructed and animated. Very tech-oriented, but fascinating.
• Kidsnews (4/5): “And while this new movie is missing a hit song (there’s nothing close to Let it Go), it is a brilliant sequel that most kids will love.”
• Tamale Reviews gives it 10 out of 12 tamales and a one sentence review.
• Dan Ankers (4/5): “…in the best fairytale tradition, it offers plenty of sagelike messages and important (in my opinion) moral posturing for the younglings in the audience.”
• Matthew Liedke on Film (3.75/5): “The story doesn’t come together as smoothly and it definitely needed more time tacked on. However, the movie delivers some good songs, brilliant animation and memorable character moments.”
• No More Workhorse: “This lacks some of the charm of the original offering and doesn’t have its  “show-stopping” quality. However, you expect that of a sequel. It’s still dazzling enough to entertain and will no doubt spawn a merchandising frenzy but it’s unlikely to be rewatched as obsessively as the first one.”
• Darren/The M0vie Blog: “…is a fitting sequel, for better or worse. It is more ambitious than the original, but also more cluttered. It is bolder than the original, but also more constrained by expectation. It is more epic in scope than the original, but more bloated in content. There’s a lot to like here, even if the end result is perhaps messier than it should be.”
• Amused in the Dark: “I had to manage my expectations going in and this movie exceeded those expectations. It has flaws, more than a handful, but they do not take away from the whole and I spent two hours really enjoying myself and just watching some very very gorgeous moving art.”
• Jay / Assholes Watching Movies: “…is more interesting, more complex, and more satisfying than the first one, perhaps because its themes are more mature, perhaps because instead of battling a bad guy, it turns inward, introspective.”
• Brittany Murphy/GEEKS OF COLOR: ” while it is not necessarily better than its predecessor, Frozen II still has a lot to offer both children and adults alike, especially with a voice cast as charismatic as the one we are lucky enough to have “
• jasonbleau/Cinema Spotlight: ” The visuals are breathtaking, the story is exciting and engaging, the themes are relevant and timeless and allow multiple characters more chances to shine. It will be argued probably for years whether this sequel lives up to the legacy set upon it by its predecessor, but for my money “Frozen II” is the kind of sequel fans deserved and for me personal was a much more enjoyable and memorable experience.”
• Martin Through The Silver Screen (Grade: B): “The plot is not on as solid ground as its predecessor, however the stunning animation, excellent voice work and soaring music ensure that this is an adventure into the unknown, that’s worth going on.”
• Logan Burd / Cinema or Cine-meh (7/10): “Their characters’ journeys feel, at the same time, like the natural progression of their stories but also a real shift change from “Frozen.” The characters have convincingly matured, which is something you don’t often see in animated sequels. In many ways, “Frozen II” looks like just another cash-grab box office darling”
• Movie Mommy (5/5): “Movies often give us a period of despair where it seems all is lost so that the happy ending will feel even happier. I’m not sure my girls appreciated this manipulation. I think they would have preferred more scenes of Olaf singing and frolicking in the autumn woods and less Anna sobbing in a dark cave, but at least for an adult who understands the need for dramatic arcs within a film, this movie is perfection.”
• The Hobbit Hole: “I liked it…it was a good sequel…it continued where the first one sort of left off…answering the questions that we might’ve had from the first one…the thought of Olaf being annoying never happened…Kristoff was cool as ever…the music was good…though I felt there was no song with the popularity of “Let it Go”…I did like Kristoff’s song “Lost in the Woods””

Not Recommended (or unclear/undecided)

1. JP’s Blog: “All in all, I was pretty disappointed with Frozen II, a film I was really hoping would be a solid continuation of the franchise. After watching I couldn’t help feeling like they could have done better given that they had five years (allowing for marketing and break time between films) to make a really good movie.”
2. Raj Reviews (4.5/10): “It is unfortunate then that Frozen II is exactly the opposite of what the first film is. The simple and succinct plot is traded for one that is overly complex and confusing. The catchy and memorable tunes are exchanged for forgettable and mundane show tunes. And the investing characters and themes are reduced to one note caricatures and throw away one liners.”
3. The Spotless Mind (3/5): “The story felt too complex for the young ones (“Dad, what’s permafrost?”), but might also not be as engaging to the older crowd (the mother sitting next to me had a well-deserved hour of nap before she tends again to her kids for all of eternity).”
4. Screen Zealots / Louisa (2/5): ” While the magic doesn’t reach the highs of the first film, “Frozen II” is beautifully animated and visually impressive enough to recommend only to those who love animation as an art form. Everyone else would be smart to skip it.”

Your turn. Let’s discuss Frozen II. Do you agree/disagree with my criticism? What did you like and dislike, if anything, about the film? And, if you took the Buzzfeed quiz, which character are you?

Opening 11-21-2019 in Theaters: A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, Frozen II, 21 Bridges

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood starting at 4:30pm on 11/21 and 21 Bridges at 7pm

Wednesday hump day yay! This weekend I’m looking stoked to see Tom Hanks portrayal of Mister Rogers. Something tells me this movie is going to be a bit of a tearjerker, kind of in the way that we knew about Titanic and Judy.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

What will Tom Hanks be like as Mister Rogers?

Recently, watched the documentary Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  and that has me prepped and excited for this film. Am also a big Tom Hanks fan, the guy just seems to pick great roles that fit him well. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a bad Hanks film, so that amps up my enthusiasm.

Anticipation: 7/10

Frozen II

Can’t say I was excited about this one, but just saw Frozen and really liked that. Animated films do often catch me off guard and I like them more than I expected to. This happened with Klaus on Netflix, which I thought was excellent, so I’m putting this at 2 out of 10 for anticipation. Our grandchildren will want to see this, so their anticipation is off the charts ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (anticipation is 10/10 for them lol)

Anticipation: 2 / 10

21 Bridges

Of the three movies, this one I’ve seen and heard the least about (and haven’t gone looking to learn much more about it). The surprise factor can lead to a truly enjoyable movie experience for me, so hoping this one catches me off guard in a good way.

Anticipation: 5 / 10

Bonus Opening Movie

Have seen multiple previews for Dark Waters, which is also opening this weekend. This has a bit of an Erin Brokovich meets John Grisham type story. No idea how many screenings it will get (shows as “limited” as of this writing at Box Office Mojo), however, but including on this list as it is a film we want to see.

Dark Waters

ANTICIPATION for Week of 11/21/19 MOVIES

How much on scale of 1-10 anticipating the 11-21-2019 movies?

1. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – 7/10
2. 21 Bridges – 5/10
3. Frozen II – 2/10

Are there screenings in our area to see these movies?

All are wide screenings and available in our area, so the plan is to see all of them. Since A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is an early Thursday screening (4:30pm), will likely catch that first, then catch 21 Bridges the late Thursday showing and on Friday with the grandchildren see Frozen 2.