Naujasis „Katinas skrybėlėje“ (2026) startuoja kukliai – prognozuojama 20–25 mln. dolerių

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The wondrous world of Dr. Seuss books has been imagined on the screen for decades — most of them having made a significant splash at the box office. Jim Carrey’s 2000s holiday classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas was a massive hit when it was first released and remains a nostalgic favorite for Zillennials come December. Horton Hears a Who! and The Lorax each grossed over $300 million worldwide in theaters, and The Grinch (2018) earned over $500 million worldwide.

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There has been a lot of success with animated renditions of this world specifically, though during an off year in 2003, studios attempted a live-action adaptation of The Cat in the Hat (2003) — and things didn’t go very well. This later contributed to the studios’ pivot away from live-action Dr. Seuss tellings entirely, as critics found much of The Cat in the Hat‘s humor too mature for a kids’ film, and it earned only $133.9 million against a $109 million budget.

However, with the newer animated Cat in the Hat (2026)— starring Bill Hader and directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni — moving into theaters this weekend, the question on all our minds is whether this adventure has enough juice to save The Cat in the Hat story at the box office. Unfortunately, it’s not looking strong from a numbers standpoint.

According to reports from Variety, The Cat in the Hat (2026) is projected to earn between $20 million and $25 million this weekend upon its debut on Nov. 6. If these numbers hold, it will be the lowest domestic opening for a major Dr. Seuss adaptation on record. Here’s how those numbers compare to other Dr. Seuss films in their opening weekends:

Dr. Seuss Opening Weekend Performances, By the Numbers
The Lorax (2012)	Earned $70 million domestically
The Grinch (2018)	Earned $67 million domestically
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)	Earned $55 million domestically
Horton Hears a Who! (2008)	Earned $45 million domestically
The Cat in the Hat (2003)	Earned $38 million domestically
The Cat in the Hat (2026)	On track to earn $20 – 25 million domestically (pending)

Question 1 of 3

How likely are you to see the new animated Cat in the Hat in theaters?

Very likely — I’m planning to see it opening weekend or soon after

Very likely — I’m planning to see it opening weekend or soon after
37.5%

Somewhat likely — I might see it in theaters if reviews or word-of-mouth are good

Somewhat likely — I might see it in theaters if reviews or word-of-mouth are good
37.5%

Unlikely — I’ll probably wait to stream or rent it at home

Unlikely — I’ll probably wait to stream or rent it at home
12.5%

Not interested — I don’t plan to watch it at all

Not interested — I don’t plan to watch it at all
12.5%

When it comes to Dr. Seuss stories on screen, which type of movie are you most drawn to?

Big, colorful animated movies aimed at families

Big, colorful animated movies aimed at families
50.0%

More faithful, storybook-style adaptations with a gentler tone

More faithful, storybook-style adaptations with a gentler tone
12.5%

Live-action takes with big-name stars and a quirky style

Live-action takes with big-name stars and a quirky style
0.0%

Fresh, modern re-imaginings that take bigger creative risks

Fresh, modern re-imaginings that take bigger creative risks
37.5%

multi-answer
Select all that apply

What most influences whether you’ll buy a ticket for a family animated movie like this?

How much my kids/family are excited about it

How much my kids/family are excited about it
22.2%

Reviews, ratings, and online buzz

Reviews, ratings, and online buzz
11.1%

Nostalgia for the characters or books

Nostalgia for the characters or books
33.3%

Animation style and overall visual look

Animation style and overall visual look
22.2%

Convenience and cost compared with waiting to stream

Convenience and cost compared with waiting to stream
11.1%

Numerous factors could be influencing The Cat in the Hat‘s (2026) early earnings, one being that its other, more monstrous competitor, Godzilla Minus Zero, is also making a major stomp at the box office this weekend and already breaking numerous records in the process — or maybe it’s just taking a little longer to warm the waters again after the largely negative impressions of its 2003 Cat in the Hat predecessor.

No official Rotten Tomatoes score has been revealed just yet, but time will tell if audience reactions will be enough word of mouth to give the project an extra boost in theaters. So far, the early reactions have been mixed. IGN says this imagining is “a much more satisfying film adaptation” than the first attempt 23 years ago, though the Boston Globe opts for other words like “hot mess.”