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.
