In what is becoming a record-breaking summer for animation, The Secret Life of Pets has made its way to the largest opening weekend for an original animated film of all time with a dazzling $104.4 million. Additionally, the film has become the sixth highest opening ever for an animated film. This comes just weeks after Finding Dory seized the spot for biggest animated film debut ever with $135.1 million.
The Secret Life of Pets faced comparatively weak competition for the weekend, with The Legend of Tarzan coming in at second place in the second week of its theatrical run with $21 million. Still lingering in third place in the fourth week of its run, Finding Dory raked in $20.8 million, becoming the highest earning domestic release of 2016 as well as the third highest grossing animated film ever with a cumulative $422.5 million.
Reviews and ratings from critical and general audiences, while falling short of that of Finding Dory, were very solid. Rotten Tomatoes’ legions of critical reviewers gave the film a 76% approval rating, and general audiences awarded it an A- in CinemaScore theater exit polls. The widespread appeal of the fluffy comedy has all in all turned out delightful results for Illumination Entertainment.
