Disney to Open First Zootopia-Themed Attraction in Shanghai 

A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse appears in front of the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World, Jan. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP)
A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse appears in front of the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World, Jan. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP)
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Disney to Open First Zootopia-Themed Attraction in Shanghai 

A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse appears in front of the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World, Jan. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP)
A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse appears in front of the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World, Jan. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP)

Shanghai Disney Resort will open a Zootopia-themed attraction to the public on Wednesday aiming to capitalize on a post-pandemic desire for travel and experiences in China.

Zootopia, which came out in Chinese cinemas in 2016, remains one of the highest grossing imported animated films ever released in the country.

This marks Disney's first Zootopia-themed site and the eighth themed area at the Shanghai Disney Resort which opened in 2016 and was expanded in 2018 with a Toy Story-themed attraction.

While consumption in China has been slow to bounce back following the lifting of COVID-19 curbs a year ago, domestic travel and experiences have rebounded more strongly, with Shanghai Disney Resort one of the beneficiaries.

"I think what you saw over the last year as people emerge from the virus is them getting out and experiencing life again," said Joe Schott, president and general manager at Shanghai Disney Resort.

In its fourth-quarter earnings last month, Walt Disney flagged higher attendance at its Shanghai and Hong Kong parks as one of the factors driving 31% growth in its Experiences division, which includes its theme parks.

Shanghai Disney Resort is a joint venture in which Chinese state-owned Shendi Group holds a 57% stake.



‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Scares Off 'Transformers' for 3rd Week as Box Office No. 1

Michael DeLuca, from top left, Catherine O'Hara, Monica Bellucci, Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Arthur Conti, Amy Nuttall, Burn Gorman, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Tommy Harper, from bottom left, Justin Theroux, Pamela Abdy, and Willem Dafoe arrive at the premiere of "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in London. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Michael DeLuca, from top left, Catherine O'Hara, Monica Bellucci, Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Arthur Conti, Amy Nuttall, Burn Gorman, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Tommy Harper, from bottom left, Justin Theroux, Pamela Abdy, and Willem Dafoe arrive at the premiere of "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in London. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
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‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Scares Off 'Transformers' for 3rd Week as Box Office No. 1

Michael DeLuca, from top left, Catherine O'Hara, Monica Bellucci, Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Arthur Conti, Amy Nuttall, Burn Gorman, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Tommy Harper, from bottom left, Justin Theroux, Pamela Abdy, and Willem Dafoe arrive at the premiere of "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in London. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Michael DeLuca, from top left, Catherine O'Hara, Monica Bellucci, Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Arthur Conti, Amy Nuttall, Burn Gorman, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Tommy Harper, from bottom left, Justin Theroux, Pamela Abdy, and Willem Dafoe arrive at the premiere of "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in London. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

It’s a three-peat for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
The Tim Burton legacy sequel to his 1988 horror comedy topped the North American box office charts for the third straight weekend with $26 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
It edged out the animated new release “Transformers: One,” which brought in $25 million. The Optimus Prime origin story from Paramount Pictures features the voices of Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry and Scarlett Johansson.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” a Warner Bros. release with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder returning as stars, has earned more than $226 million domestically in its three weeks after a monster opening of $110 million — the third best of the year — and a second weekend of $51.6 million, The Associated Press reported.
Third place went to the James McAvoy horror “Speak No Evil,” which came in at $5.9 million in its second week for a total of $21.5 million.
On the whole, the box office was in a quiet phase that is expected to break when “Joker: Folie à Deux” dances its way onto the big screen on Oct. 4.
The year’s second-highest grosser “Deadpool & Wolverine” remained in the top 5 in its ninth weekend with another $3.9 million and a domestic total of $627 million. Only Pixar's “Inside Out 2” has earned more.
The Demi Moore-starring, Coralie Fargeat-directed body horror “The Substance," which made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival, brought in $3.1 million on limited screens in its first weekend for the sixth spot.
The Daily Wire movie “Am I Racist?” — in which conservative columnist Matt Walsh goes undercover as a “DEI trainee” — stayed in the top 10 after a fourth place finish last week, earning $2.9 million for seventh place and a two-week total of $9 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at US and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.