Pixar's 'Hoppers' Tops Box Office, 'The Bride!' Struggles

Disney and Pixar's environmental adventure film 'Hoppers' opens strong, while Warner Bros.' R-rated 'The Bride!' disappoints

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Disney and Pixar's 'Hoppers' topped the North American box office this weekend with $46 million in domestic ticket sales in its opening weekend, according to studio estimates. The film celebrated an $88 million global launch, the biggest for an original animated film since 'Coco' in 2017. However, Maggie Gyllenhaal's R-rated reimagining of the Bride of Frankenstein story, 'The Bride!' starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, debuted to an estimated $7.3 million, struggling to find an audience.

Why it matters

The success of 'Hoppers' is a much-needed win for Disney and Pixar after the disappointing performance of last year's 'Elio.' The studio has relied heavily on sequels and franchises in recent years, so an original hit like 'Hoppers' is significant. Meanwhile, the struggles of 'The Bride!' highlight the challenges facing original, audacious films in the current box office landscape, especially when competing against family-friendly fare.

The details

Directed by Daniel Chong, 'Hoppers' is about a 19-year-old environmentalist who infiltrates the animal world in the body of a beaver. The film had a reported $150 million production budget and opened in 4,000 locations. It received strong reviews and audience scores, suggesting it should have a long and profitable run. 'The Bride!,' on the other hand, had a reported $80 million production budget and faced mixed to negative reviews and lackluster audience scores, leading to a disappointing debut.

  • Disney and Pixar's 'Hoppers' opened in theaters on March 3, 2026.
  • Warner Bros.' 'The Bride!' opened in theaters on March 3, 2026.

The players

Disney and Pixar

The entertainment conglomerate and its animation studio, responsible for producing 'Hoppers.'

Maggie Gyllenhaal

The actress who directed the R-rated reimagining of the Bride of Frankenstein story, 'The Bride!'

Jessie Buckley

The actress who starred in 'The Bride!'

Christian Bale

The actor who also starred in 'The Bride!'

Daniel Chong

The director of 'Hoppers'

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What they’re saying

“This is a fantastic original film from the incredible team at Pixar, and it's wonderful to see audiences coming out with their friends and families to enjoy it together.”

— Alan Bergman, Co-chairman of Disney Entertainment (Disney)

“Unfortunately, we came in light. We have a tailored approach to our slate, investing strategically in talent, IP and original storytelling. It spans genres and budget levels and allows us to back bold, distinctive filmmakers … and sometimes things just don't work out.”

— Jeffrey Goldstein, Oversees domestic distribution for Warner Bros. (Warner Bros.)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The success of 'Hoppers' and the struggles of 'The Bride!' highlight the ongoing challenges facing original, non-franchise films in the current box office landscape, where family-friendly animated fare continues to thrive while more audacious, adult-oriented projects face an uphill battle.