Disney's Zootopia 2 stormed the global box office with a colossal $556 million debut, marking the fourth-biggest worldwide opening in history behind the Marvel juggernauts Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. The animated sequel scored $400 million overseas and $156 million domestically, setting new records for the largest global and international animated opening ever and the biggest worldwide launch of 2025.
The film's breakout was powered by an extraordinary run in China, where it amassed $272 million since Wednesday, a record for any non-local animated release and the second-biggest opening for a foreign film after Endgame. In just five days, it surpassed the original Zootopia's entire Chinese gross. Other top markets included France, Korea, Mexico, and Germany.
Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the sequel reunites Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they chase down a mysterious reptilian newcomer, voiced by Ke Huy Quan. Strong reviews and audience reception suggest long legs through the holiday season.
Universal's Wicked: For Good also held firm, adding $92 million globally in its second weekend for a $393 million worldwide total. The musical remains particularly strong in North America, where it has earned $270 million to date.
Together, the two sequels delivered Imax’s biggest Thanksgiving ever, generating $40.8 million over five days, up 70% from last year’s record. Zootopia 2 alone contributed $32 million, becoming Imax’s largest animated debut and its strongest November opening, driven heavily by Chinese audiences.
Imax CEO Rich Gelfond praised the dual successes as “a phenomenal one-two punch” that highlights families’ appetite for theatrical entertainment this holiday season.
The strong performances offer a rare bright spot in an otherwise shaky box-office year. Analysts say the surge could be a blip, or a sign of a late-year rebound ahead of high-profile releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash and Five Nights at Freddy's 2.
For Hollywood, Zootopia 2's towering numbers in China may be the most significant storyline. Once a reliable engine for U.S. blockbusters, the Chinese market has cooled in recent years as local films like Ne Zha 2 dominate. Whether Disney's success signals a renewed opening for America's tentpoles, or merely an exception, remains to be seen.