Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Thanksgiving Box Office: “Creed II” Sets a Record, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the Real Champion

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I could give you a list of movies people haven’t warmed to, and it’s long. But let’s start with the good news.

“Creed II” made a lot more money in its opening than the original. The sequel took in $55 million and set a record for live action films released over Thanksgiving. Who gets rich? Sylvester Stallone and producer Irwin Winkler. Whose star is now so pumped up? Michael B. Jordan, who started out on “All My Children,” made his name in “Fruitvale Station,” made the first “Creed” a hit, and then had box office bonanza in “Black Panther.” Bravo!

The only other movie audiences still want to see is “Bohemian Rhapsody.” They’re up over $150 million and had the smallest week to week drop of any film. Rami Malek really has to get an Oscar nomination.

“Green Book,” the one movie that poses a threat to “A Star is Born” for major Oscars, finally got into the conversation this weekend. They are comfortably on their way, making over $5 million in somewhat limited release. I’ve heard of audiences clapping at the end in real showings, and great word of mouth. And so it should be.

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009 and previously edited Fame magazine and wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. is articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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