As all of Hollywood frets over the future of theatrical amid the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger, the stunning performance of Disney’s critical and audience darling Zootopia 2 underscores that moviegoers will turn out for the right reason.
The Walt Disney Animation Studios sequel zoomed past the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office on Friday after just 17 days in release. It’s only the second film of 2025 so far to achieve that feat behind fellow Disney blockbuster Lilo & Stitch. Moreover, it did so in the shortest amount of time among all animated Hollywood releases and all PG-rated films.
The sequel, continuing the adventures of an optimistic rabbit and a sly fox, topped Friday’s chart in North America with another $6.2 million for a domestic total of $238.9 million and roughly $1.08 billion globally. (Through Thursday, the pic’s foreign cume was a gigantic $753.4 million; Disney will update international numbers Sunday.)
Zootopia 2 is now on course to return to first place in its third weekend after briefly ceding the crown to Blumhouse and Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which is pacing to come in second in its sophomore outing with $20 million as it crosses the $95 million mark domestically.
Thanksgiving tentpole Wicked: For Good, now in its fourth weekend, is celebrating becoming only one of five 2025 releases to cross $300 million domestically behind A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, Superman and Jurassic World: Rebirth.
Not all is sunny skies on the Disney lot this weekend as 20th Century’s political comedy-drama Ella McCay — which is legendary director James L. Brooks‘ first film in years — becomes the latest high-profile adult title to badly struggle as awards season heats up.
Ella McCay opened to only $850,000 on Friday for an expected sixth-place launch in the $2.5 million range. That would mark a career worst for Brooks, as well as one of the worst starts ever for a major studio title going out in 2,500 or more theaters. Critics have skewered the film despite its high-profile ensemble cast that includes Emma Mackey in the titular role, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Lowden and Albert Brooks.
To be sure, Zootopia 2 is great news for Disney’s entire film empire, and also marks the first back-to-back billion-dollar releases for Walt Disney Animation Studios, following last year’s Moana 2. The animation studio now counts five billion-dollar titles since 2013 between the Frozen, Moana and Zootopia series.
“Everyone at Disney Animation put their heart, soul and passion into this film to tell a story full of joy, imagination and incredible thoughtfulness,” said Jared Bush, chief creative officer, Walt Disney Animation Studios. “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, everyone together, from all walks of life around the world — and that is a Zootopia dream come true.”
Zootopia 2 opened to a record-smashing $559.5 million over the five-day Thanksgiving corridor to boast the highest global animated opening of all time, the highest global debut of 2025 and the top global opening for any animated film in Disney history.
The Thanksgiving tentpole has also reignited interest in the franchise, driving record viewership of 2016’s Zootopia, which topped out at $1.03 billion at the box office.
Zootopia 2 is destined to fly far higher, thanks to the upcoming Christmas holidays, when kids are looking for things to do. The market can sustain even three to four event pics during the final two weeks of the year. The biggest title on the marquee is Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Dec. 13, 12 p.m.: Updated with revised numbers for Zootopia 2 and other films.
This story was originally published Dec. 12 at 8:34 a.m.
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