The Cat in the Hat has finished second at the North American box office, with trade estimates putting its opening weekend at about 17 million dollars — behind Godzilla Minus Zero, and below what Warner Bros. had hoped for.
The animated film took 6 million dollars on Friday, 6 November, from 4,003 theatres — the widest release of any film this weekend — including Thursday previews. Weekend projections range from 16.5 million dollars to about 18.7 million dollars. The figure is still a projection: studio estimates arrive on Sunday and final totals on Monday.
Warner Bros. had projected a 20 million dollar opening for the 92 million dollar-budgeted film, so the studio is now counting on word of mouth through Thanksgiving and into December to carry it. Audiences gave it an A CinemaScore, which suggests families who saw it liked it — the question is whether enough of them turn up in the weeks ahead.
The voice cast is led by Bill Hader as the Cat. The film opened on 6 November 2026, and its family audience will be crucial: animated films often play for weeks, and the Thanksgiving holiday is traditionally one of the strongest periods of the year for them.
A second-place finish behind a record-breaking Godzilla is no disgrace, but the budget means the film needs strong legs. The A CinemaScore is a good start — now it needs the crowds to follow.
It was a big weekend for family films, from the Godzilla Minus Zero record Friday that set up its weekend win to Wild Horse Nine arriving in US theatres with Oscar buzz. The Cat in the Hat is in theatres now.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.