The Zootopia 2 box office is turning into one of the most surprising storylines of the holiday season, as the Disney animation film powers toward the vaunted $1 billion mark thanks to an extraordinary surge across Asian markets.
What many assumed would be a solid-but-standard animated sequel has instead become a global phenomenon—led overwhelmingly by China, where the film is delivering numbers no Hollywood studio realistically expected in 2025.
Nick Wilde pulls the tail off a female lizard in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
READ: New Short Film Announced for KPop Demon Hunters
According to box office reporting, Zootopia 2 posted a massive 417.7 million yuan ($59.08 million) on its second Saturday in China, a drop of just 43% from the prior weekend. Current estimates project a second-weekend total of $120–121 million, a staggering outcome considering the competition and crowded showtimes the film is facing.
That momentum pushed the movie to 2.78 billion yuan in China, officially surpassing the lifetime totals of Avengers: Infinity War, Furious 7, and The Fate of the Furious. In one swift upswing, the sequel became the second-highest-grossing Hollywood film of all time in China, trailing only Avengers: Endgame at 4.25 billion yuan.
Mugshot of a snake in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
Even more impressively, admissions have now cleared 70 million, moving beyond Titanic, Infinity War, and Furious 7 to claim the #3 all-time spot in the region. If the current pace holds, Zootopia 2 could overtake Fast & Furious 8 next and is projected to challenge Endgame as early as next weekend. Only one other Hollywood film has ever crossed $400 million in China, and Zootopia 2 is expected to join that club imminently.
Japan Delivers Record-Breaking Results
China isn’t the only market fueling the film’s historic run.
In Japan, Zootopia 2 recorded a $5.3 million Saturday—now the third-biggest Saturday for any Hollywood release in the post-lockdown era, and the strongest opening Saturday ever for a Disney animated movie in the country. That opening pushed Japan’s two-day total to $8.1 million, paired with an impressive audience rating of 4.3, outperforming several of Disney’s more recent animated offerings.
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
READ: RUMOR: Studios Plan Massive Trailers to Drop Ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash
When Japan matches or exceeds expectations, it tends to indicate a movie with unusually strong long-term legs. All signs point to repeat business building week over week.
South Korea Continues the Momentum
South Korea is contributing its own impressive lift, with Zootopia 2 adding another $3.75 million on Saturday. The film’s 11-day total now sits at $22.4 million, with steadier draw than expected after its first-Saturday drop.
Jenny Slate as Bellwether in Zootopia (2016), Walt Disney Animation Studios
Between China, Japan, South Korea, and smaller surrounding markets, the Zootopia box office narrative is shaping up to be one of the dominant success stories of 2025.
A Global Run Powered by Character Appeal and World-Building
The sequel premiered on November 26th and reunites Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde for a new mystery featuring a reptile named Gary De Snake and a stolen artifact tied to the very origins of Zootopia. The storyline leans into deeper lore, buried history, and unresolved tensions between the leads—elements that international audiences appear to be responding to enthusiastically.
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps at the police station in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
While animated sequels are typically reliable performers for Disney, the extent of Zootopia 2’s overseas dominance has surpassed industry expectations. Domestically, the film is performing well, but it’s the Asian markets—particularly China—that have transformed the movie into a true global heavyweight.
The Path to $1 Billion Looks Clear
With China set to cross $400 million, Japan charting record-breaking strength, and South Korea providing a stable foundation, Zootopia 2 now appears to be barreling toward a worldwide total of well over $1 billion. Disney desperately needed a global win, and this sequel is shaping up to be one of the studio’s biggest animated triumphs in recent memory.
Marsh Market in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
More importantly, the film’s performance resets expectations about what animated titles can still accomplish internationally—especially in a theatrical landscape that has been anything but predictable.
Are you surprised by the Zootopia 2 box office performance in Asia? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
UP NEXT: Stranger Things Season 5 Shatters Netflix Records With 59.6 Million Views in Five Days
