‘Zootopia 2’ Smashes China Box Office Records, Becomes Second-Highest Grossing Hollywood Release

Disney’s Zootopia 2 has achieved a historic milestone in the Chinese market, surging past the $400 million benchmark to become the second-highest-grossing Hollywood film ever released in the region. The animated sequel now trails only Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame in all-time rankings within the country, surpassing previous record-holders including The Fate of the Furious and Avatar. This performance has propelled the film’s global gross to approximately $916 million, placing it on a clear trajectory to cross the $1 billion threshold within days.

The film’s dominance in China is attributed to the massive cultural footprint of the 2016 original, which remains the highest-grossing imported animated film in the nation’s history. Analysts note that Zootopia 2 generated $116 million in its second weekend alone, exhibiting unusually strong weekday holds. The sequel has accumulated over 2.78 billion yuan locally, outpacing the lifetime grosses of Avengers: Infinity War and Furious 7 in a single reporting period.

Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the feature sees Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman reprise their voice roles as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. The narrative expands the mammalian metropolis with new districts and characters, a creative direction that has resonated strongly with international audiences. While Wicked: For Good and Gladiator II compete for domestic screens, the Disney Animation title has secured an insurmountable lead in overseas markets, with China accounting for nearly half of its international revenue.

The box office surge comes as Disney prepares to close the year with 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: Fire and Ash, positioning the conglomerate to dominate the holiday season. Industry projections suggest Zootopia 2 could finish its theatrical run with over $1.3 billion globally, potentially challenging Inside Out 2 for the year’s top animated spot. The film’s success in Asia is viewed as a critical stabilizer for Hollywood imports, which have struggled to regain pre-pandemic market share in the region.