At the end of a rough year for the company, Disney had a historic win. Zootopia 2 has become Walt Disney Animation’s highest-grossing movie ever, with $1.46 billion at the global box office. Previously, the record was held by 2019’s Frozen II, with $1.45 billion. While many of the company’s 2025 releases, like Snow White and Captain America: Brave New World, faltered at the box office, Zootopia 2 could provide a template for projects in other franchises.
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps at the police station in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
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Significantly, the sequel to the 2016 Oscar-winner dramatically outperformed recent standalone animated films like Strange World and Wish. Both of those projects received backlash for pushing ideologies that were unpopular with many families. Zootopia 2, however, adhered to the proven formula that made the original a billion-dollar hit. Zootopia 2 didn’t just ride the wave started by the first film — it picked up speed.
Breaking Box Office Records
On December 12, The Walt Disney Company reported that Zootopia 2 would “cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office after only 17 days in release,” setting a new speed record for a PG film to cross that threshold. Zootopia 2 became the company’s highest-grossing film to date and got there fast.
Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney Animation Studios, said, “This milestone means the world to us, because more than anything, it means audiences are coming to theaters for a shared experience of watching this movie on the big screen.”
Marsh Market in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
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Since 2020, many industry insiders have feared that audiences had been trained to wait for a movie to come to streaming. Zootopia 2 broke its records at the box office, proving that families will still go to theaters for the right movie — possibly more than once. It’s not just Disney that is thankful for the record-breaking run Zootopia 2 —struggling theater owners are benefiting as well.
The film’s appeal wasn’t limited to American audiences, either, as international turnout proved massive.
The 2025 Billion Dollar Club
Deadline reported on New Year’s Eve that Zootopia 2 made $333 million domestic, $1.13 billion abroad, with the Chinese box office accounting for $563.1 million alone. Those numbers changed substantially when the movie experienced a surprising January 1 surge in China. The movie, which had already been out for six weeks, outperformed the two-week-old Avatar: Fire and Ash, $14.67 million to $11.51 million.
A screenshot from Avatar: The Way of Water – YouTube, Avatar
Only three movies made over a billion dollars in 2025, and two of them were from Disney. The other, the live-action Lilo & Stitch remake, ended the year at $1.03 billion. But China’s Ne Zha 2, with $2.15 billion, is the top-grossing animated movie of all time.
Still, with little competition in the coming weeks, Zootopia 2 will likely bring in more money at home and abroad. As popular as the movie has been, and continues to be, Disney will undoubtedly set its focus on more sequels in established IPs with global appeal.
The Path Ahead
Disney has yet to confirm a Zootopia 3. However, given that the second film holds the title of Disney Animation’s highest-grossing film, it’s all but certain. The ending of Zootopia 2 left the door open for more stories, and Bush has even teased the idea of a Keanu Reeves cameo as “Baba Llama” down the line. More importantly, the film’s success reinforces a simple lesson for Disney: building on proven concepts and expanding them thoughtfully remains one of the most reliable ways to connect with a global audience.
Did Zootopia 2 exceed your expectations? What lesson do you think Disney will take for its success? Let us know in the comments!
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Who’d have thunk, that entertaining people would prove a success?
I guess there are some diversity consultants and bankers somewhere that needs a lesson in simple economics..
From the article, it sounds like Disney is surprised people still show up when they aren’t being preached to.
Funny, because us, the fans that consume this entertainment, even us without fancy degress have been saying this since they started their DEI crap.
It really isn’t rocket science.. These companies forgot what entertainment is all about…..
ESCAPISM, come on, say it with me Disney…. ESCAPISM…..