The Disney Times

Records continue to fall as Frozen continues its incredibly successful box office run. It is not surprising to see that Frozen has resonated with viewers, but it is rare to see a film with so much staying power. The film, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, saw limited release on November 22 before it was released throughout North America on November 27, the day before Thanksgiving. Since then, it has been a consistent performer at the top of the domestic box office. Yesterday, Frozen passed the $300 million mark in North America and now has its eyes set on The Lion King‘s record.

The animated film was first at the box office again in its seventh weekend (sixth of wide release), grossing $19.6 million, which is unheard of in the age of numerous films and short attention spans. Only the two recent James Cameron films, Titanic and Avatar, have had such success so late in their release. Most films often fall from the top of the box office a couple weeks after release, and then debut on Blu-ray and DVD just a few short months later. Word-of-mouth is the most powerful influence on a film’s extended success, and that is exactly the reason why we have seen Frozen hover at or near the top of the domestic box office. Yesterday, the film added $1.9 million, and has raked in over $300.3 million in North America.

Now, Frozen is nearing the domestic record of The Lion King, a milestone that many thought was out of reach, as it has stood for almost twenty years. The Lion King grossed approximately $312.9 million in its initial North American release, which means Frozen is about $12 million from overtaking the record, and will become Disney Animation’s highest-grossing film ever in the region. (Note that The Lion King was subsequently re-released in IMAX and 3D, bringing its grand domestic total to $422.8 million.) The numbers have not been adjusted for inflation, so of course, The Lion King‘s gross would be much higher in 21st century dollars and with higher priced 3D tickets. Still, that does not take away from the success for Disney Animation, which has quickly become a more powerful force in recent years with the release of films such as Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph.

Frozen has had similar success worldwide, grossing $342.1 million from foreign markets, for a worldwide total of $642.4 million. With large markets like China still to come, the film likely has a nice influx awaiting.

Frozen is a great example of a quality film with a strong story and relatable characters. Its beautiful visuals and hummable soundtrack do not hurt either. It should not be surprising to see the film’s continued success, as it is well-deserved. Audiences have repeatedly shown they are hungry for great films, and Frozen has nicely satiated that.

All numbers are via Box Office Mojo