How TikTok and Cat Lovers Helped Propel ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ to Box Office Glory
variety.comPuss in Boots: The Last Wish” opened in theaters last December, the spinoff sequel in the “Shrek” universe began its box office run with an unremarkable $12 million.
But the animated adventure, about a swashbuckling cat voiced by Antonio Banderas, has enjoyed nine lives on the big screen. After nearly two months, ticket sales have climbed to $177 million in North America and $454 million globally — and counting.
That’s an impressive haul, particularly given the commercial struggles of other recent animated fare such as “Lightyear” and “Strange World.” “It is certainly rare to see a film leg out to a 15 lifetime multiple from its three-day debut,” says Universal’s president of domestic distribution Jim Orr. (On average, films have a three or four multiple, industry parlance for the ratio of its total gross from its opening weekend.) “The film is exciting, heartwarming and immensely satisfying for a broad audience.” Much of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’s” slow-and-steady box office success is attributed to positive reviews, enthusiastic word-of-mouth and minimal competition from family films.
But Universal’s marketing department also believes that TikTok was vital in keeping up enthusiasm into the new year. It’s impossible to know how many TikTok users actually bought tickets to “The Last Wish.” But the studio has been closely tracking the stats, and since the trailer dropped on the platform in March, the film’s official @PussInBoots handle grew to 1.6 million followers.
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