Zootopia returned to theaters in a major way this weekend. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2 delivered an estimated $556 million global opening, marking one of the strongest theatrical debuts in box office history. The film earned $156 million domestically in its first five days and $400 million internationally.
The sequel’s early success positions it as a global hit. It is now the fourth-highest global opening of all time, the biggest worldwide debut of 2025, and the largest opening ever for an animated film when measured against the same markets at current exchange rates. Disney holds the top three animated film openings, and with Zootopia 2 added to the list, the studio now claims four of the top five.
The incredible response to Zootopia 2 reflects both its worldwide appeal and the remarkable work of our filmmakers and cast. It’s a proud moment for Disney Animation and all of us at Disney, not to mention a great way to start the holiday season. ~Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment
Zootopia 2 brings back familiar voices, including Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, and adds new cast members, including Ke Huy Quan. The movie also features several celebrity cameos. Directed once again by Byron Howard, the film expands the world introduced in the original 2016 release. That first movie earned more than $1 billion globally and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
In China, the sequel reached several milestones. It posted the highest global opening ever for an animated title in Disney history, became the sixth-biggest opening weekend of all time in the country, and set a record for the largest animated non-local debut. It also ranks as the second-biggest non-local film opening of all time in China, trailing only Avengers: Endgame from 2019.
Zootopia 2‘s global launch outpaced the first film by 239 percent, highlighting the franchise’s strong following and broad international appeal. The popularity of its characters continues to influence many areas of Disney’s business, including merchandise and theme park experiences.
The movie’s performance helps anchor the 2025 holiday box office season. With Avatar: Fire & Ash from 20th Century Studios set to open on December 19, Disney is positioned for a strong finish to the year. Zootopia 2‘s early momentum suggests the studio will continue to dominate the holiday theatrical landscape as the season progresses.
There’s something about animals that people can read themselves into. The real fun thing about Zootopia is that you can identify with an animal. That’s you, that’s your friend, that’s your teacher, that’s a guy you saw at the DMV. There’s something very universal about that. ~Jared Bush, the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and the writer and director of Zootopia 2
Have you seen the movie yet? What did you think of it?
