ZOOTOPIA 2: THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON REVIVING DISNEY
The year’s most anticipated sequel has arrived bursting with energy, emotion, and heart. A vibrant comeback that’s winning over audiences of all ages.
Nine years after Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde earned a permanent place in the hearts of viewers, Zootopia 2 returned to theaters to become the cinematic phenomenon Hollywood desperately needed. The sequel not only reignited enthusiasm for family-oriented stories during a challenging year for studios, but also shattered historic records, positioning it among the most powerful debuts of all time.
In the United States, the animated film opened with $97 million during its first weekend, reaching $156 million between Wednesday and Sunday one of the best Thanksgiving openings in Disney Animation’s 102-year history. But the impact was global: the film amassed $556 million worldwide in its opening, becoming the biggest animated debut in history and the fourth-largest debut for any movie, standing alongside giants like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Avengers: Infinity War.
One of the most surprising markets was China, where it earned $94 million in its first three days and later reached $272 million the best opening for a U.S. film in the country since Avengers: Endgame. For a Hollywood that has seen its presence in Asia decline in recent years, Zootopia 2 marks a revitalizing triumph.
The success is no coincidence. Narratively, the film brings back Hopps and Wilde as they face an unexpected crisis in their partnership when Chief Bogo assigns them to the Partners in Crisis counseling program. Their dynamic is pushed even further when Gary De’Snake a venomous serpent arrives in Zootopia, unleashing a mystery that forces them into unfamiliar corners of the animal metropolis. With humor, action, and heartfelt emotion, the sequel once again explores themes of tolerance and social justice, elements that deeply resonated with audiences in 2016.
Behind this triumphant return lies a crucial story: Disney Animation is at a defining moment, and the film serves as a major test for its new creative leader, Jared Bush. After the stumbles of Strange World and Wish, Disney turned to Bush the writer of Moana, Encanto, and the original Zootopia to restore the studio’s magic. His meticulous direction, storytelling clarity, and infectious energy have been key to the film’s outcome.
The triumph of Zootopia 2 also exposes an uncomfortable truth within the company: Marvel no longer dominates as it once did. In just four days, the sequel surpassed the global box office of the new Fantastic Four reboot and is poised to overtake the combined grosses of the three MCU films released this year. For the first time in 14 years, not a single Marvel movie appears in the annual Top 10.
Meanwhile, Zootopia 2 proves that audiences are still craving family-friendly, emotional, and visually spectacular stories. Maybe Disney’s magic was never lost perhaps all it needed was Judy, Nick… and a snake named Gary to shine again.