Disney’s Zootopia 2 Shatters Records with $556 Million Global Debut, Securing Biggest Opening of 2025

Walt Disney Animation Studios has delivered a monumental success, with its highly anticipated sequel, Zootopia 2, smashing global box office records during its opening over the recent Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The animated feature achieved an estimated worldwide debut of $556 million, claiming the definitive title for the biggest opening weekend of 2025 for any film, signaling a phenomenal return for family-focused animation on the big screen.

The animated buddy cop comedy, directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, demonstrated immense appeal across both domestic and international markets. Domestically, the film earned a strong $156 million over the extended five-day holiday period. However, it was the international performance that drove the record-breaking total, with overseas markets contributing a massive $400 million.

This unprecedented haul immediately vaults Zootopia 2 into the top tier of cinematic history, securing the rank as the fourth-highest global opening of all time across all genres. More specifically within the animation sector, the sequel now proudly holds the record for the largest global animated film opening ever.

A significant portion of this historic success came from the Chinese box office, where Zootopia 2’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary. Over its first six days of release, the film grossed 1.95 billion yuan (approximately $275.6 million). This spectacular result makes the sequel the highest-grossing animated foreign film ever in China. Furthermore, it secured the position as the second-biggest foreign-language film opening of all time in that country, narrowly trailing only Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame (2019).

The film continues the adventures of protagonists Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, respectively, who are tasked with pursuing a new and mysterious reptilian resident named Gary De’Snake. The voice cast was also bolstered by the addition of Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan.

Jared Bush, the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, attributed the film’s universal draw to its relatable themes, noting that audiences can easily identify with the anthropomorphic characters, seeing them as representations of people in their own lives.

The record-shattering debut of Zootopia 2 offers a powerful boost to the exhibition industry and sets a towering benchmark for the animation sector moving forward. Analysts anticipate the film’s strong momentum will carry well into the holiday season, further solidifying its position as the top cinematic event of the year.