The animated sequel Zootopia 2, released by Disney, surpassed the box office record set by Vingadores: Essa premiered on November 29, 2025, driven by the popularity of the franchise among families and the timing close to the Ação holiday of Graças in the Estados Unidos.
The initial success reflects the global appeal of the animation, directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, with the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman reprising Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. The plot follows the duo on a new investigation into the animal metropolis, introducing a reptilian character played by Ke Huy Quan. Analistas attribute the performance to Disney’s marketing strategy and the absence of strong competitors in the period.
Globally, Zootopia 2 racked up $559.5 million in its five-day opening, surpassing productions like Vingadores: Nos Estados Unidos, the film registered US$ 158 million over the long weekend, consolidating itself as the second biggest opening of Ação of Graças for an animation.
Collection at China boosts international dominance
China represented the main driver of the initial success of Zootopia 2, with US$272 million in five days. Esse value positions the film as the biggest opening for a foreign animation in the country, surpassing the first Zootopia of 2016.
Forecasts indicate that the Chinese box office could exceed US$530 million total, thanks to record pre-sales of more than 300 million yuan. The Asian market, with 18.7 million tickets sold in one day, demonstrates the strength of Disney in cultural adaptations.
Factors such as the opening of Zootopia Land in Shanghai Disneyland in 2023 contributed to local engagement. Exhibidores reported occupancy above 90% in morning and afternoon sessions.
Comparison with Marvel successes in 2025
Zootopia 2 has already surpassed Marvel’s total revenue from live-action productions this year. Os Quatro Fantásticos: Primeiros Passos grossed $521.9 million globally, while Thunderbolts came in at $382.4 million.
- Zootopia 2’s extended weekend opening ($556 million) exceeds both Marvel films’ totals.
- The animation reached these numbers in just five days, compared to months of viewing for superheroes.
- Experts point to the family appeal as a differentiator, contrasting with the saturation of action content.
This data highlights a trend: Disney animations generate more consistent returns than superhero blockbusters in 2025.
Launch Strategies That Guaranteed the Peak
The release timing, one day before Ação of Graças, attracted American families to cinemas. Nos USA, the film occupied 4 thousand theaters, focusing on Imax formats, which generated US$32 million globally.
Presales in the US broke records for animations in November, driven by campaigns with more than 11 promotional partners. Esses efforts generated 3.7 billion impressions across social media and retail across 100,000 locations.
Internationally, distribution in 17 initial markets prioritized Ásia and Europa, where the original Zootopia grossed US$1.02 billion. The strategy avoided overlaps with launches such as Avatar: Fire and Ash, scheduled for December.
Plot and cast details that captivate audiences
Zootopia 2 picks up the unlikely partnership between police bunny Judy and trickster fox Nick in Zootopia, a city divided by predators and prey. The narrative explores themes of cooperation while investigating a mysterious reptilian newcomer.
The cast includes returning actors Goodwin as Judy and Bateman as Nick, as well as Quan as the new antagonist. Diretores Bush and Howard, responsible for the original Oscar winner of Melhor Animação, maintained the investigative comedy tone.
Reviews praise the 3D animation and messages about diversity, with a PG rating that broadened the audience to all ages. The film cost around US$250 million in production and marketing.
Global milestones achieved in debut
The opening of Zootopia 2 sets several records for Disney Animation Studios. The $559.5 million total is the highest for an animated sequel since 2021 and the fourth overall of all time.
- Fourth biggest worldwide opening, behind only Vingadores: Endgame ($1.2 billion), Guerra Infinita and Homem-Aranha: Sem Volta to
- Biggest international opening for animation, with US$401.5 million outside the US.
- Record of Imax for November and holidays of Ação of Graças, 70% above the previous year.
These numbers position the film as the favorite to surpass $1 billion, following the 2016 original.
Influence of the Chinese market on the industry
The performance at China reinforces the country’s role as essential for Hollywood blockbusters. With a population of 1.4 billion, the market represents up to 30% of global animation revenues.
Zootopia 2 surpassed Endgame in a single day, with growth of 162% between Friday and Saturday. Isso occurs despite censorship in Disney productions, as changes in Doutor Estranho to avoid political tensions.
Chinese exhibitors scheduled 344,000 screenings, with 47 million seats available at the peak. The six-day box office haul of 2 billion yuan is the first for an import since Avatar: The Caminho of Água in 2022.
The preference for family animations explains the success, in a year where local productions such as Ne Zha 2 also performed well. Analistas predict that Zootopia 2 will end with more than US$534 million in China alone.
Outlook for the rest of the season
With positive word of mouth, Zootopia 2 should maintain leadership in the coming weeks. Projeções indicates US$1.2 billion global by January 2026, driven by secondary markets such as Índia and Brasil.
Disney plans franchise expansions, including animated sequels like Toy Story 5 and Frozen 3. Esses projects aim to capitalize on the success of animation over live-action in 2025.
The film contributes to a record year at the box office, with Thanksgiving recording $299 million total. Junto to Wicked: For Good, which added US$92 million in its second week, the holiday period revitalizes post-pandemic cinemas.
