In a triumphant return that has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, Disney's Zootopia 2 has roared into theaters with an astonishing $556 million worldwide opening over the five-day Thanksgiving frame - the largest animated debut in history and the fourth-biggest global launch of all time.
Domestically, the sequel hauled in $156 million across North America, marking the second-strongest Thanksgiving weekend performance ever and one of the top Black Friday hauls at $38.9 million.
Internationally, it dominated with $400 million, claiming the fourth-largest overseas opening on record and the biggest international debut for any Walt Disney Animation Studios film.
The numbers represent a staggering 239% increase over the original Zootopia's 2016 opening and easily eclipsed every previous animated launch, including Disney's own juggernauts like Frozen II ($358 million global) and The Lion King remake ($446 million).
In China alone, Zootopia 2 posted the sixth-largest debut ever, the strongest animated opening for a non-local title, and a record-shattering single-day haul of $104 million on Saturday—surpassing the lifetime total of the first film in just five days.
For Disney, the victory couldn't come at a better time. After a string of high-profile disappointments - including the underwhelming receptions of The Fantastic Four, Elio, Tron: Ares, and Springsteen - the studio desperately needed a win to restore investor confidence and kickstart its holiday slate.
With Avatar: Fire and Ash slated for later in December, Zootopia 2 has provided the perfect momentum boost, proving that family audiences remain eager for original, high-quality animation when executed at Disney's peak.
Critics and audiences alike have embraced the sequel's blend of sharp social commentary, hilarious buddy-cop dynamics between Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, and stunning visual evolution - particularly in rendering diverse animal fur, feathers, and scales across Zootopia's sprawling metropolis.
Early word-of-mouth is exceptional, with CinemaScore reporting an A grade and PostTrak exit polls showing 92% positive feedback from families.
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As the film races toward what analysts predict could be a $1.5–2 billion worldwide total, Zootopia 2 has single-handedly reaffirmed Disney Animation's box-office supremacy in a landscape increasingly crowded with live-action reboots and superhero fatigue. In an era where even Marvel entries struggle to crack $1 billion, a talking-animal comedy has reminded the industry that sometimes the biggest heroes wear fur - and the most powerful stories come from the animation studio that started it all.
Author: Slava Vasipenok
Founder and CEO of QUASA (quasa.io) — the world's first remote work platform with payments in cryptocurrency.
Innovative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in IT, fintech, and blockchain. Specializes in decentralized solutions for freelancing, helping to overcome the barriers of traditional finance, especially in developing regions.
