Disney's Zootopia 2 debuted to a massive $556 million worldwide over its opening weekend, setting records as the highest animated global launch ever and the fourth-biggest opening in box office history. The film earned $156 million domestically and $400 million internationally, with a standout $272 million in China. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the sequel reunites voices Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, and Ke Huy Quan.
Opening Weekend Performance
Zootopia 2 opened on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, grossing $156 million in North America over five days, including $96.8 million during the traditional three-day weekend. This marks the second-highest Thanksgiving opening ever, behind only Moana 2's $225 million in 2024. Internationally, the film pulled in $400 million, leading to a global total of $556 million, surpassing previous animated benchmarks.
Record-Breaking Achievements
The sequel achieved numerous milestones. Globally, it holds the record for the highest animated opening, the biggest debut for Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the fourth-largest worldwide opening after Avengers: Endgame ($1.2 billion), Avengers: Infinity War ($630 million), and Spider-Man: No Way Home ($587 million). It also represents a 239% increase from the original Zootopia's $75 million domestic opening in 2016. In China, Zootopia 2 earned $272 million, the second-best non-local debut behind Avengers: Endgame and already exceeding the first film's lifetime total there.
Domestically, it ranked second for Thanksgiving Day ($28 million), Black Friday ($38.9 million), and pre-Thanksgiving Wednesday ($39.3 million). Disney now claims nine of the top 10 Thanksgiving openings.
Context and Quotes
The original Zootopia grossed $341 million domestically and $1.02 billion worldwide. Zootopia 2 benefits from strong reviews (91% on Rotten Tomatoes), an 'A' CinemaScore, and family appeal amid a post-summer box office slump. "The incredible response to ‘Zootopia 2’ reflects both its worldwide appeal and the remarkable work of our filmmakers and cast," said Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman. "It’s a proud moment for Disney Animation and all of us at Disney."
Analyst Paul Dergarabedian noted, "‘Zootopia 2’ has a perfect release date, built-in brand recognition and a PG rating." The film follows rabbit officer Judy Hopps and fox Nick Wilde investigating a new reptilian character in Zootopia. With upcoming releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash, it positions Disney for year-end dominance.