‘Zootopia 2’ Roars to Record Global Box Office Start, Sets New Animation Milestone in China

Disney Sequel Earns 213 Million Yuan on Opening Day, Becomes China’s Highest-Grossing Imported Animated Film in Single-Day History

[November 27, 2025] Disney’s animated blockbuster Zootopia 2 debuted simultaneously in mainland China and North America on November 26, earning 213 million yuan on its opening day and breaking the record for the highest single-day box office for an imported animated film in Chinese history. According to Maoyan Professional, the film’s total presales had surpassed 310 million yuan by 20:53 on November 25, overtaking Nezha: The Devil’s Chaos to become the highest-preselling animated film in Chinese box office history.

Box Office Performance: Strong Global Momentum

Impressive North American Previews: The film earned $10.2 million in Tuesday previews in North America, ranking as the second-highest preview gross in Disney Animation Studios’ history, between Moana 2 ($13.8 million) and Frozen II ($8.5 million).

Sustained Momentum in China: According to Dengta Professional, the film is projected to gross 2.627 billion yuan in mainland China, which would mark the strongest performance by a Hollywood film in the country since Avengers: Endgame.

Legacy of the Original: The first Zootopia (2016) grossed $1.026 billion globally, with mainland China contributing 1.538 billion yuan, making it the second-largest market worldwide.

Critical Reception: Sequel Earns Acclaim

Strong Local Platform Ratings: The film opened with a 8.7 rating on Douban (compared to 9.3 for the original), while it holds a 93% freshness on Rotten Tomatoes (compared to 98% for the original) and a Metacritic score of 73.

Praise for Storytelling and Production: Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard expand on the first film’s themes, advancing a land development conspiracy plot through the new character Gary the Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan). Animation sequences, such as a chase through the marshlands, and the voice cast’s performances have been widely praised.

Localized Marketing and Cross-Brand Collaborations

Enhanced Chinese Voice Cast: Ji Guanlin and Zhang Zhen return to voice Officer Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, joined by celebrity voice actors including Da Peng (Gary the Snake), Fei Xiang (Mayor Ma Feiyang), Jin Chen (Li Bao), and Wang Anyu (Bao Bote).

Extensive IP Partnerships: Nearly 60 co-branded campaigns have been launched, covering sectors such as collectibles (Pop Mart), F&B (McDonald’s toy meals, Starbucks/Luckin co-branded beverages), maternal and child products (Toutiao Mama), and tech/automotive.

Theme Park Integration: Shanghai Disney Resort launched limited-time movie-themed experiences from November 18, 2025, to January 27, 2026.

Film Synopsis and Production Background

Produced by Disney Pictures, Zootopia is the 55th animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios, inspired by the classic tale The Wind in the Willows. The story is set in a city where animals of all kinds coexist, and follows bunny officer Judy Hopps and fox Nick Wilde as they team up to uncover a conspiracy that threatens the city’s foundations. Released simultaneously in China and North America on March 4, 2016, the film was named one of the American Film Institute’s top 10 films of 2016 and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2017, among other accolades.

In Zootopia 2, the story continues as Officer Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde reunite to embark on a new adventure in the vibrant city of Zootopia. Familiar characters such as Flash the Sloth, Mr. Big and his daughter Lulu, Gazelle, and Officer Clawhauser all return, while the introduction of Gary the Snake adds fresh intrigue.

Zootopia 2 is jointly distributed in China by China Film Group and Huaxia Film Distribution. As of this release, the film has grossed $270 million globally in its first five days, showing potential to match or surpass the box office success of its predecessor.