Disney’s Zootopia 2 has achieved what seemed nearly impossible just months ago: it has surpassed Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film in Hollywood history, with a staggering $1.7 billion earned globally.
A Record-Breaking Run
The animated sequel has officially dethroned Inside Out 2, which held the record with $1.69 billion following its massively successful 2024 release. While China’s Ne Zha 2—a non-Motion Picture Association release—still holds the overall animated film record with $2.25 billion, Zootopia 2 now stands as the undisputed champion among Hollywood animated productions.
This achievement places Zootopia 2 as the ninth-biggest global release of all time across all genres, positioning it just behind superhero titans Spider-Man: No Way Home ($1.9 billion) and Avengers: Infinity War ($2 billion). For an animated film to compete at this level demonstrates the universal appeal of the Zootopia universe and the strength of Disney’s animation division.
Opening Weekend Excellence
The film’s success was evident from its opening weekend. Debuting ahead of Thanksgiving, Zootopia 2 earned $156 million domestically and a jaw-dropping $559.5 million globally over the five-day holiday period. This wasn’t just a strong start—it was record-breaking in multiple ways, becoming both the highest global animated opening of all time and the year’s biggest worldwide debut.
That momentum has sustained throughout its theatrical run, with the film accumulating $390 million domestically and an extraordinary $1.31 billion internationally. The global appeal of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde’s latest adventure has proven even stronger than the original 2016 film, which itself was a commercial phenomenon.
Milestone After Milestone
Zootopia 2 hasn’t just broken one record—it’s shattered several:
Fastest to $1 Billion: The film became the quickest animated Hollywood release to reach the billion-dollar threshold globally, and the fastest PG-rated movie to achieve this milestone.
Opening Weekend Records: Its Thanksgiving debut set new standards for animated film openings worldwide.
International Dominance: With $1.31 billion from international markets, the film demonstrates that its appeal transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries.
The China Factor
Perhaps most remarkably, Zootopia 2 has achieved extraordinary success in China, a market that has been notoriously challenging for Hollywood releases since the pandemic. The film has earned $619 million in China to date, making it the second-highest-grossing Hollywood film in the country’s history.
Only one film has earned more: Avengers: Endgame with $632 million. For an animated film to come within reach of the culmination of Marvel’s Infinity Saga speaks to the incredible resonance Zootopia holds with Chinese audiences. The original Zootopia was already beloved in China, and the sequel has built on that foundation spectacularly.
This success in China accounts for nearly half of Zootopia 2’s international total and has been crucial to the film reaching these historic heights. While many recent Hollywood releases have struggled to gain traction in the Chinese market, Zootopia 2 has proven that the right film can still become a cultural phenomenon there.
What Made Zootopia 2 Work?
The sequel’s success stems from several factors that came together perfectly:
Beloved Characters: Ginnifer Goodwin’s optimistic rabbit police officer Judy Hopps and Jason Bateman’s reformed con artist fox Nick Wilde had already won audiences’ hearts in the original film. Their dynamic partnership provides the emotional core fans were eager to revisit.
Fresh Story: Rather than simply retreading familiar ground, Zootopia 2 introduces new elements, including a mysterious reptilian resident played by Ke Huy Quan (fresh off his Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All at Once). This addition gives returning fans something new to discover.
Universal Themes: Like the original, Zootopia 2 tackles meaningful themes about prejudice, friendship, and societal divisions through its anthropomorphic animal city—ideas that resonate across cultures.
Technical Excellence: Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard (who helmed the first film), Zootopia 2 maintains the visual splendor and attention to detail that made the original’s diverse animal metropolis so captivating.
Family Appeal: The film works on multiple levels, entertaining children with colorful animation and humor while engaging adults with clever writing and deeper thematic content.
Disney’s Animation Powerhouse
This achievement represents a significant victory for Walt Disney Animation Studios, which has been on an impressive run following strategic releases and strong creative choices. Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman acknowledged the collaborative effort behind the film’s success:
“This milestone belongs first and foremost to the fans around the world whose enthusiasm made it possible,” Bergman said in a statement. “We’re incredibly proud of our filmmakers Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Yvett Merino and the entire team at Walt Disney Animation Studios for creating a film that connects so deeply with audiences everywhere. Zootopia 2 is an extraordinary achievement, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life.”
The statement reflects Disney’s understanding that while creative excellence is necessary, audience enthusiasm ultimately determines commercial success. Zootopia 2 has clearly captured both.
The Inevitable Zootopia 3?
While Disney hasn’t officially announced Zootopia 3, the question isn’t if but when. With box office performance like this, a third installment is virtually guaranteed. The franchise has proven it can deliver both critically and commercially, creating a world rich enough to support multiple stories.
The challenge will be maintaining the quality and freshness that made both films successful. Audiences have shown they’ll return to Zootopia if given a compelling reason, but that goodwill could evaporate if a third film feels like a cash grab rather than a genuine creative endeavor.
Given the care Disney has shown with this franchise so far—taking eight years between the first and second films to ensure they had the right story—fans can likely expect the same thoughtful approach to any future installment.
Animation’s Continued Box Office Power
Zootopia 2’s record-breaking performance arrives at a crucial time for the animation industry and theatrical releases in general. As streaming services proliferate and theatrical attendance faces ongoing challenges, films like this demonstrate that audiences will still turn out in massive numbers for the right theatrical experience.
The fact that Zootopia 2 and Inside Out 2—both sequels to beloved animated films—occupy the top two spots for Hollywood animated releases suggests that established franchises with proven appeal continue to drive theatrical success. However, both franchises earned their positions by delivering quality first films that warranted sequels, not by churning out endless installments.
A Historic Achievement
Standing as the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time across all genres represents rarefied air for an animated feature. To put this in perspective, Zootopia 2 has outgrossed cultural phenomena like Black Panther, the first Avatar film (adjusted for inflation), and numerous other beloved blockbusters.
For directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, and producer Yvett Merino, this achievement represents a career pinnacle. They’ve created not just a successful sequel, but a global event that has brought joy to audiences worldwide while pushing animated filmmaking to new commercial heights.
The Power of Patience
Perhaps the most important lesson from Zootopia 2’s success is the value of patience in franchise development. Disney waited eight years between films, resisting the temptation to rush out a sequel while the original was still fresh in audiences’ minds. This allowed the creative team time to develop a worthy follow-up rather than a hastily constructed cash-in.
That patience has been rewarded with a film that audiences embraced enthusiastically, driving it to historic box office heights. In an industry often obsessed with quick turnarounds and annual installments, Zootopia 2 demonstrates that quality and timing matter more than quantity.
As the film continues its theatrical run, it may yet reach additional milestones. Whether it ultimately catches Avengers: Endgame’s Chinese total or climbs higher on the all-time worldwide chart, Zootopia 2 has already secured its place in cinema history.
For fans of Judy, Nick, and the vibrant world of Zootopia, this achievement is a celebration of what made them fall in love with these characters in the first place. And for Disney, it’s confirmation that when you combine beloved characters, quality storytelling, and patience with franchise development, audiences will respond in extraordinary ways.
The animals of Zootopia have proven once again that anyone can be anything—including box office champions.
