Warner Bros.’ upcoming animated film The Cat in the Hat is heading toward a modest domestic opening weekend. Industry estimates indicate the upcoming release is tracking significantly below the Mike Myers 2003 live-action adaptation.
The Cat in the Hat is set to open in theaters on Friday, November 6, 2026. The Warner Bros. Animation release is targeting $20 million to $25 million from approximately 4,000 theaters across North America, according to Variety. That figure falls below the original film, which grossed $38.3 million during its three-day opening weekend after collecting $11.2 million on its first day.
Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni co-wrote and co-directed the feature. The voice cast includes Bill Hader, Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, Xochitl Gomez, Giancarlo Esposito, and America Ferrera. Daniela Mazzucato and Jared Stern served as producers. The movie made its premiere at Warner Bros. Studios Burbank in October and received mixed reviews.
The 2003 version of The Cat in the Hat got terrible reviews from fans and critics
It is the first feature-length adaptation of the Dr. Seuss’ 1957 children’s book of the same name. Despite having a good commercial opening weekend, the film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. They heavily panned the film for its crude humor and reliance on adult jokes, which deviated significantly from its source material.
As of writing, the 2003 film holds an 11% critics’ score and a 59% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie’s critic consensus reads, “Filled with double entendres and potty humor, this Cat falls flat.” The film also picked up multiple Razzie nominations.
However, the film’s overall theatrical performance also proved disappointing. It grossed $101 million domestically and $32.8 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to nearly $134 million. Produced on a reported budget of $109 million, the movie ultimately underperformed financially.
While the upcoming adaptation’s projected opening falls below the original film’s debut, its performance also shows that a strong opening weekend does not guarantee long-term box office success.
