Zootopia 2 Makes History with Record-Breaking Box Office Performance
Zootopia 2 has made a massive splash at the box office, setting new records and capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. The animated sequel grossed an impressive $38.5 million on Black Friday, marking one of its most successful days in theaters. This achievement is just one of many impressive numbers that the film has tallied in its opening days.
The movie topped the box office in North America with an opening weekend of $156 million, showcasing its widespread appeal. Alongside its strong performance in international markets, Zootopia 2 shattered records with a global debut of $556 million. This total ranks as the fourth-largest worldwide debut in history, following major superhero films such as Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Zootopia 2 also outperformed other family films, including the musical adaptation Wicked: For Good, which features Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the Witches of Oz. The film’s success was particularly notable in China, where it achieved the top animated opening of all time with $272 million. This milestone placed Zootopia 2 as the second biggest launch in movie history, only behind Disney and Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, which debuted to over $300 million in China in 2019.
The film continued its winning streak on the Saturday following Black Friday, when it earned $104 million in a single day. This marked the biggest launch for a Hollywood title since May 2021, further solidifying its position as a box office powerhouse.
Zootopia 2 is the sequel to the original animated film released in March 2016. That year, the first Zootopia won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and also took home the Golden Globe in the same category. The sequel brings back police officer Judy Hopps, an optimistic rabbit voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and Nick Wilde, a wily fox voiced by Jason Bateman.
In the original film, Judy Hopps became the first rabbit to join the police force in the mammal metropolis of Zootopia. In the sequel, she teams up with Nick Wilde to solve a mysterious case, despite his tendency to complicate her job. Now both detectives, the pair is on the trail of a twisting case involving a mysterious reptile that turns the city of Zootopia upside down.
The synopsis for Zootopia 2 reads: “Testing their growing partnership like never before, they go under cover in new parts of town to crack the case.” Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the film features an all-star voice cast including Shakira, Ke Huy Quan, Macaulay Culkin, Quinta Brunson, Fortune Feimster, and Patrick Warburton among others.
With its clever blend of maturity and child-like wonder, Zootopia 2 is set to become the next biggest family film. Its success raises questions about whether the starring cast can transform Disney’s Tree of Life into a song-and-dance spectacle. Additionally, the film faces challenges in overcoming harsh criticism and rekindling park-goers’ faith.
The film also explores how Scots actress Michelle Gomez transformed from a sultry vixen to a fearsome wild boar. With its impressive box office numbers and critical acclaim, Zootopia 2 continues the legacy of Disney’s beloved franchise. It also sets the stage for future sequels, such as Moana 2, which opened with an eye-popping $57.5 million.
