Quick Read
- Zootopia 2 became Disney Animation’s highest-grossing animated film, earning $1.46 billion worldwide in 2025.
- The film’s success was driven by exceptional performance in China, where it grossed over $560 million.
- Zootopia 2’s global appeal and high rewatch rates marked a turning point for animated franchises and box office recovery.
In 2025, Zootopia 2 didn’t just make a splash—it sent shockwaves across the global film industry. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ long-awaited sequel soared past expectations to become the studio’s highest-grossing animated film of all time, unseating the previous champion, Frozen 2, and setting a new gold standard for box office performance.
According to reports from Variety, Deadline, and Arise TV, Zootopia 2 raked in approximately $1.46 billion in worldwide ticket sales by the end of 2025. This figure is not just a milestone for Disney—it’s a beacon for an industry still recovering from the pandemic’s impact, with global box office revenues yet to reach their pre-2019 peaks.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the film’s dominance in China, a market that has increasingly become a bellwether for international box office trends. The sequel grossed over $560 million in China alone, accounting for a staggering 95% of all movie ticket sales during its opening weekend in the country. The Chinese market’s robust recovery in 2025, with box office revenues climbing above $7.4 billion, was fueled by animated titles and franchise sequels, with Zootopia 2 leading the charge alongside local sensation Ne Zha 2.
Disney’s animated juggernaut performed impressively across the globe. The breakdown tells a compelling story: $333 million domestic, $1.13 billion from international markets, with notable earnings from France ($60.2M), Japan ($58.3M), Korea ($49.9M), Germany ($36.5M), Mexico ($33.4M), the UK ($32.4M), Taiwan ($20.3M), Italy ($19.2M), Australia ($18.2M), Brazil ($16.8M), and Spain ($16.7M). The movie’s universal appeal, spanning continents and cultures, is a testament to Disney’s ability to create stories that resonate widely.
The film’s opening weekend was nothing short of a phenomenon. Zootopia 2 launched Hollywood’s crucial holiday season with an estimated $556 million in global revenue, including a strong showing during the US Thanksgiving period. The return of beloved characters—rabbit police officer Judy Hopps and her sly fox partner Nick Wilde—delivered a fresh yet familiar adventure, drawing crowds eager for escapism and warmth.
Behind these numbers lies a deeper industry shift. The Maoyan Research Institute highlighted animation’s outsized impact on China’s box office growth trajectory. In 2025, animated films generated nearly half of the country’s total box office gross, signaling a new era where IP-driven franchises and compelling animated storytelling are not just crowd-pleasers—they’re economic engines. Zootopia 2 and Ne Zha 2 both demonstrated exceptionally high rewatch rates, cementing the power of strong intellectual property in keeping audiences engaged well beyond opening weekends.
Interestingly, the market landscape in China revealed more than just blockbuster numbers. Lower-tier cities emerged as crucial growth drivers, with third- and fourth-tier markets contributing at five-year highs. There was also a noticeable uptick in first-time and infrequent moviegoers, suggesting that the reach of cinema is broadening—and that animated features are often the gateway for new audiences.
While local productions in China shifted towards stories reflecting everyday life, with diverse genres and visual styles, imported superhero franchises saw notable declines. The report from Variety suggests these franchises may need creative reinvention to regain their former glory. In contrast, Zootopia 2’s blend of popular characters, strong word-of-mouth, and narrative freshness proved to be the winning formula.
For Disney, Zootopia 2 is more than a financial triumph—it’s a signal that animated storytelling is evolving, and that audiences worldwide are hungry for tales that balance spectacle with heart. The film’s performance provided a much-needed boost to cinema operators, especially during the year’s second busiest moviegoing season, when revenues are critical.
Looking ahead, industry analysts like Lai Li from Maoyan Entertainment urge studios to continue refining their content pipelines, focusing on quality, diversity, and audience engagement. The old blockbuster model, as Lai notes, is no longer a guaranteed formula for success. Instead, films that marry popularity with strong word-of-mouth and originality are set to unlock future growth.
The numbers speak for themselves, but the real story is about resilience and innovation. Zootopia 2 shows that when studios listen to audiences and invest in the right stories, animation can lead the way—not just in entertainment, but in economic recovery and cultural connection.
Assessment: The runaway success of Zootopia 2 in 2025 is more than a box office headline—it’s a case study in how animated films, powered by strong franchises and cross-cultural appeal, can redefine industry standards and revive global cinema. Disney’s achievement underscores the importance of adaptability and audience-centric storytelling, hinting at a future where animation sits at the heart of the film world’s evolution.