LOS ANGELES—“Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” stole all the box-office cheer this weekend, collecting a robust $66 million in the U.S. and Canada, according to preliminary estimates, while other new releases landed like lumps of coal.

The animated retelling of the children’s classic is the latest in a string of hit releases making debuts in the past couple months. Along with the performances of “Venom,” “A Star Is Born” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Grinch” is contributing to what is expected to be a record year in receipts for Hollywood.