Russian family film ‘Cheburashka 2’ ranks third globally

(MENAFN) The Russian family movie ‘Cheburashka 2’ has secured the third position worldwide in weekly box office revenue, as indicated by industry reports.

Following its debut in Russia on January 1, the film generated close to $31 million in ticket sales, marking the strongest opening week ever recorded for a domestic release in the country.

According to reports tracking international cinema performance, weekly global earnings were led by James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, which brought in $169.6 million, followed by the animated feature ‘Zootopia 2’ with $81.7 million.

Cheburashka, a fictional creature distinguished by oversized ears and an innocent, youthful personality, originated in children’s stories written by Eduard Uspensky. These tales were later transformed into animated productions that achieved widespread popularity during the Soviet era. Over the years, the character has maintained a strong cultural presence in Russia and has even been adopted as a symbol by multiple national sports teams.

The franchise previously made history with the release of the first live-action ‘Cheburashka’ film in Russia in 2023, which earned $80 million at the box office. That release occurred after major Hollywood studios halted their operations in the Russian market amid the Ukraine conflict.

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