Disney’s Zootopia 2 has stormed into theaters with a phenomenal global opening, marking one of the strongest animated launches of the decade. The sequel earned an impressive $39.5 million on its opening day in North America, immediately positioning itself as the top film of the Thanksgiving holiday frame. The momentum carried across international markets as well, allowing the film to exceed $100 million globally within just its first two days.
A Strong North American Start
In the U.S. and Canada, the movie benefited from a prime Thanksgiving release window, always a lucrative period for family-friendly films. Early forecasts suggested the film would collect between $140 million and $170 million during the five-day Thanksgiving stretch. These numbers place Zootopia 2 among the top-performing animated openings in recent years, continuing Disney’s dominance of the holiday corridor.
Expanding the World of Zootopia
The sequel brings back fan-favorite characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, now facing new challenges in a city brimming with evolving tensions, shifting alliances, and deeper themes about identity and community. The film’s world-building and high-energy storytelling have played a key role in drawing audiences back to theaters, especially families who embraced the original film.
The excitement around the sequel’s release has also been amplified by positive early reactions from viewers, encouraging strong weekday attendance and boosting global turnout.
Historic China Performance Marks a Major Post-Pandemic Breakthrough
Nowhere has Zootopia 2 witnessed a more dramatic impact than in China, where the film broke multiple records and delivered a level of success that Hollywood has not seen in the market since before the pandemic.
Record-Breaking Opening Day in China
On its first day in Chinese theaters, Zootopia 2 achieved a staggering $34 million, making it the biggest opening day ever for a Hollywood animated film in China. It also became the largest launch-day gross for any non-local studio film since May 2021, underscoring not only the strength of the brand but also the demand for high-quality Western animation in the market.
By its second day, the film added another estimated $20 million, propelling its early global earnings past the $100 million mark in record time. China’s enthusiasm was clear even before release: the movie generated $44.6 million in pre-sales, becoming the first non-Chinese film to cross the $40 million advance-sales milestone since COVID-19 reshaped the country’s film landscape.
Positioned to Surpass Previous Hollywood Hits
Prior to its debut, industry analysis noted that the highest-grossing Hollywood film in China for 2025 was Jurassic World: Rebirth at $79 million. With Zootopia 2’s explosive start, box office experts are predicting that the film could easily surpass that benchmark. Some projections even estimate the movie may reach up to $340 million in China alone — a figure that would make it one of the most successful animated titles ever released in the country.
Why China’s Success Matters for Hollywood
Hollywood films have faced increasing challenges in China in recent years, including limited release slots, heightened competition from domestic productions, and shifting audience preferences. Zootopia 2’s phenomenal opening represents a meaningful revival for American studios seeking renewed footholds in the world’s second-largest movie market.
The original Zootopia developed a strong, lasting fanbase in China thanks to its themes of multicultural harmony and clever animal-city world-building, but the sequel’s performance suggests that the series’ appeal has only grown stronger.
Critical Acclaim and a Strong Thanksgiving Box Office Race
Alongside its box office domination, Zootopia 2 has earned high praise from both critics and audiences, setting the stage for a sustained theatrical run through the holiday season.
Exceptional Audience and Critical Scores
The film received an A CinemaScore, matching the rating of the first movie — a strong indicator that audiences left theaters satisfied. It also holds an impressive 95% verified audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting widespread enthusiasm among moviegoers.
Critics have been equally approving, with the film maintaining a 94% Fresh rating. Many reviewers praised the sequel for retaining the heart and humor of the original while expanding its emotional and thematic scope. One critic described it as “the best buddy-cop film in ages,” highlighting its balance of comedy, adventure, and social commentary. The movie’s animation quality, pacing, and character dynamics have also been widely applauded.
Dominant International Debut
Beyond North America and China, the film delivered strong starts across several major international markets.
- South Korea saw a robust opening of $1.7 million, marking the fifth-highest animated debut in the country and the second-highest opening day for any studio film in 2025.
- France recorded the second-biggest opening day of 2025, showing Europe’s strong appetite for Disney animation.
- Germany witnessed its largest animated studio opening of the year, contributing to the film’s growing global momentum.
These strong results suggest that Zootopia 2 has a long runway ahead, especially as more international markets roll out during the holiday season.
The Big Thanksgiving Box Office Battle
While Zootopia 2 leads the holiday box office, it faces competition from Universal’s Wicked: For Good, which continues its impressive streak. Wicked earned $17.2 million on Wednesday alone, raising its domestic total to $194.6 million. The musical sequel is projected to bring in over $90 million over the five-day Thanksgiving frame.
Despite both major titles performing strongly, combined totals are expected to fall short of the record-breaking $424.9 million Thanksgiving weekend in 2024, which was driven primarily by the massive $225 million debut of Moana 2. Still, with two high-performing titles drawing different audience segments, the 2025 Thanksgiving frame remains one of the year’s strongest box office weekends.
