Zootopia 2 breaks records with US$556 million in global debut and dominates box office in the US and China

Walt Disney Animation Studios released Zootopia 2 on November 26, 2025, coinciding with the holiday of Ação from The film, directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, grossed $156 million in América from Essa’s performance positions the sequel as Ação’s second biggest Graças release of all time, behind only 2024’s Moana 2.

Globally, the feature film earned US$556 million, including US$400 million in international markets. The success stems from strong reception in regions such as China, where the title broke records for animated Hollywood productions. Analistas highlight family appeal and positive reviews as key factors in early performance.

The plot follows Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and Nick Wilde, voice of Jason Bateman, on a new investigation into the animal metropolis. A mysterious reptilian character, played by Ke Huy Quan, introduces new elements to the plot. The production, with an estimated budget of US$150 million, has already recovered more than triple its costs.

• Biggest animated opening in history, surpassing Super Mario Bros.: Filme (2023) with US$375.6 million.
• Fourth biggest global debut overall, behind Vingadores: Ultimato and other blockbusters.
• Daily box office record for animations in several countries, including França and Coreia from Sul.

Performance in the Estados Unidos boosts industry

The North American market recorded US$96.8 million over the traditional three-day weekend for Zootopia 2.

Cinemas in rural and urban areas saw a 36% increase in occupancy for the title. Sessões matinees accounted for 60% of sales, attracting families during the festive period. Disney promoted the film with 11 partners, generating more than US$215 million in media value.

The performance contrasts with recent launches of Marvel and Pixar, which faced declines. Zootopia 2 revitalizes the year-end calendar, setting the stage for Avatar: Fire and Ash on December 19th.

China leads international markets with records

Zootopia 2 premiered on China on November 27, 2025, Pequim local time, and made $272 million in just a few days. Esse amount establishes the biggest opening for a foreign animated film in the country. The film surpassed the accumulated total of the first Zootopia in just five days.

Chinese audiences contributed to more than 50 million tickets sold in six days. Analistas attribute the success to cultural adaptation and accessible humor. The film achieved the ninth biggest single day at the box office for any production, local or imported.

Other Asian markets, such as Coreia, Sul and Taiwan, recorded similar spikes. Na Europa, França and Suíça saw the biggest debuts of 2025 for Motion Picture Association titles.

The international total reflects a 239% growth compared to the original sequence. Regiões emerging markets added an extra US$29.4 million in the period.

Comparison with the original highlights evolution

The first Zootopia, released in March 2016, racked up $1.02 billion globally after a $75 million opening domestically. Zootopia 2 multiplies these initial numbers by more than seven times over the extended weekend. The sequel has already surpassed the cumulative total of its predecessor in selected markets.

Technical advances in animation and diverse voice acting drive accessibility. Ke Huy Quan, winner of Oscar, adds appeal in inclusive storytelling. Críticos note greater depth in social themes, keeping the tone light.

Projections indicate potential for US$1 billion in a few weeks, with a multiplier of four times the opening. The absence of direct competitors favors longevity in cinemas.

Success factors in public reception

Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes rank Zootopia 2 with the highest rating for Disney animations in four years. Espectadores praise the balance between action and messages about diversity. Famílias represent 70% of the initial audience, with repetitions in 20% of the sessions.

Promotional campaigns included toys and events in more than 100,000 retail locations. Parcerias generated 3.7 billion impressions online. The film stands out in IMAX formats, with US$31.8 million global opening.

At Brasil, Zootopia 2 has topped the box office since opening on November 28, São Paulo local time. Domestic Arrecadação reflects global trends, with a focus on afternoon hours.

Records broken in multiple categories

Zootopia 2 sets milestones in several metrics during its debut. The film marks the biggest opening for directors Bush and Howard, as well as records for Goodwin and Bateman.

• Biggest single day for MPA animations, with $104 million on Saturday.
• Fifth biggest debut in Coreia of Sul for animations.
• Midnight record at China for Hollywood.

These achievements position the title as the biggest release of 2025 so far. Comparado to Frozen II, 2019, five-day performance is 25% higher.

Internationally, the film leads in 37 markets, including the historic top 10 in animated box office.

Outlook for the year-end calendar

The strength of Zootopia 2 lifts the November 2025 box office to $297M by the holiday. Wicked: For Good, in second place, added US$93 million in the period. Juntos, bonds drive post-pandemic recovery.

Expectations point to Disney dominance in the quarter. The studio plans streaming expansions after the theatrical cycle. Mercados as well as Índia and México predict spikes in the coming weeks.

Success reinforces investments in family sequences. Analistas monitor audience retention beyond the initial holiday.

Zootopia 2 continues to be shown in cinemas worldwide, with sessions adapted to local times in each region.