Disney’s animated sequel shatters expectations with a record-breaking $556m global debut, driven by a historic performance in China.
Zootopia 2 has roared into cinemas with an unprecedented $556m (£438m) global opening weekend, cementing its status as the biggest animated launch in box office history. The Disney sequel, which reunites the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, obliterated projections to become the fourth-highest global opener of all time, trailing only Marvel blockbusters.
The film’s staggering haul was powered by a massive $272m debut in China alone—nearly half of its total global earnings. This figure sets a new benchmark as the highest opening weekend ever for an imported animated film in the Chinese market, surpassing the previous record held by the original Zootopia in 2016.
In North America, the movie capitalized on the Thanksgiving holiday frame, grossing $156m over the five-day weekend. While this fell short of the all-time domestic animation record set by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the international surge more than compensated for it.
“This is a thunderous box office victory for Disney reminiscent of its 2010s heyday,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “It’s a great result and a big momentum builder for the box office as we head into the final four weeks of the year.”
A spokesperson for Disney Entertainment called the opening “a proud moment for Disney Animation,” noting that the film’s performance exceeded even the most optimistic internal models.
The success of Zootopia 2 marks a significant rebound for Disney’s animation division, which has faced a mixed run of theatrical releases in recent years. The film’s performance also highlights the continued importance of the Chinese market for Hollywood tentpoles, a region where western films have struggled to regain dominance post-pandemic.
The sequel follows detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they track a mysterious reptile, a plot that has clearly resonated with international audiences. It joins a rare club of films to cross the half-billion mark in a single weekend, a feat previously reserved largely for superhero ensembles.
With a “CinemaScore” of A and glowing word-of-mouth, analysts predict Zootopia 2 is on a fast track to join the billion-dollar club before the year ends. Its only major competition in the coming weeks will be Avatar: Fire and Ash, setting up a potentially historic December for the global box office.
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