Finding Dory Projected To Set Opening Weekend Record For An Animated Movie

Last night, Finding Dory pocketed $9.2 million at the North American box office, which is best opening night ever for an animated film. For Friday, the Finding Nemo sequel is projected to scoop up $50 million to $52 million. Disney is hoping that is just the start of what could become record breaking weekend.

Early forecasts had predicted Finding Dory would open in the $115 million to $120 million range, but now analysts have bumped up their projections to $130 million, which would set a new all-time record opening weekend for an animated film. The current champ is DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek the Third, which set the record in 2007 with a $121.6 million debut weekend.

Second-place currently belongs to Universal/Illumination’s Minions (2015) with $115.7 million, and Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 (2010) is in third with $110.3 million.

In 2003, Finding Nemo debuted with $70.2 million.

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” reunites everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale? Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”).

The voice cast features Ellen DeGeneres as Dory, a Pacific regal blue tang; Albert Brooks as Marlin, a clownfish and Nemo’s father; Hayden Rolence as Nemo, a clownfish and Marlin’s son; Diane Keaton as Jenny, Dory’s mother; Eugene Levy as Charlie, Dory’s father; Ty Burrell as Bailey, a beluga whale; Kaitlin Olson as Destiny, a whale shark; Ed O’Neill as Hank, an ill-tempered seven-armed octopus; Willem Dafoe as Gill, a moorish idol; Vicki Lewis as Deb (and her sister “Flo”, Deb’s reflection), a 4-striped damselfish; Idris Elba as Fluke, a sea lion; Dominic West as Rudder, a sea lion; Bob Peterson as Mr. Ray, a spotted eagle ray; John Ratzenberger as the school of Moonfish; and Andrew Stanton as Crush, a Green sea turtle.

Finding Dory swims into theaters June 17, 2016.