The dynamic duo of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde have bounded back onto the big screen, breaking box office records with the spectacular debut of Zootopia 2. The Disney animated sequel has posted astonishing numbers, pulling in a colossal $556 million globally in its first few days, cementing its place as a cinematic juggernaut.
A Record-Breaking Opening Weekend
The film's success was immediate and immense. In North America, Zootopia 2 topped the box office with a monumental $156 million opening weekend. This powerful stateside performance was mirrored by an incredible launch in international markets, combining to achieve that staggering global start. This impressive total makes it the fourth-biggest worldwide debut in history, trailing only behind the superhero epics Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The momentum began on Black Friday, where the film grossed a near-record $38.5 million in a single day. The success continued into Saturday, which became the biggest launch day for a Hollywood title since May 2021, with the film earning a further $104 million.
Dominating the Chinese Market
A significant driver of this global triumph was the film's phenomenal reception in China. Zootopia 2 achieved the top animated opening of all time in China, earning a massive $272 million. This monumental launch is the second biggest in Chinese movie history, with the furry characters following only in the footsteps of Disney and Marvel's Avengers: Endgame, which debuted to over $300 million in 2019.
The sequel's performance easily outshone other major family releases, notably hopping over the musical adaptation Wicked: For Good, which stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the Witches of Oz.
Return to the Mammal Metropolis
Zootopia 2 is the long-awaited follow-up to the 2016 original, which won both the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. The sequel reunites audiences with police officer Judy Hopps, the optimistic rabbit voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and the wily fox Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman. Now both detectives, the pair are tested like never before as they go undercover in new parts of Zootopia to solve a twisting case involving a mysterious reptile that turns the mammal metropolis upside down.
Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the film boasts an all-star voice cast including Shakira, Ke Huy Quan, Macaulay Culkin, Quinta Brunson, Fortune Feimster, and Patrick Warburton. With its record-shattering opening, Zootopia 2 has proven that the appeal of its heartfelt buddy-cop comedy and its message of unity remains as powerful as ever.
