Let’s be honest, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde have the kind of partnership that would send most relationship counsellors into early retirement. One’s an overachieving ball of caffeinated optimism; the other’s a fox who radiates “I’m only here because she’ll arrest me if I leave.” These two don’t just work together. They bicker, negotiate, emotionally blackmail each other for snacks, and somehow still save the city before lunchtime. Their entire dynamic screams: “We’re not dating, but if we were, it would be toxic, iconic and no one could stop watching.”
So when Zootropolis 2 hit cinemas, audiences didn’t just come for the plot. They came to check in on the animal kingdom’s favourite almost-friends, almost-enemies, unofficial emotional support nightmares. And clearly, the world was ready, because what happened next was a full box-office stampede.
In a five-day Thanksgiving swing across the globe, Zootopia 2 hauled in a staggering $556 million. And that’s not small change. It’s more like a full-blown, temple-collapse level box-office earthquake.
In the U.S. and Canada, the film pulled roughly $156 million during that extended window, which is nearly double what the original opener did nine years ago. But the fireworks didn’t stop at North America’s borders. The real beast? International markets, especially China. Roughly half of that global total came from overseas audiences, with China alone contributing a jaw-dropping sum that pushed Zootopia 2 way past wildest projections.
The fact is that sequels nowadays often haul in cash on nostalgia alone, but this feels different. Zootopia 2 didn’t just trade on fond memories. Worldwide, audiences seemed hungry for something pure, accompanied by clever storytelling, well-rounded characters, laughs and heart. A film built on connection across cultures, across borders and across generations.
The pull of the original clearly helped, however the sequel’s roar suggests much more. It proves that animation, when done right, still hits hard. In a sea of streaming mediocrity and half-baked blockbusters, Zootopia 2 swaggered into theatres like it owned them and strutted the red carpet in style.
For the studios, this kind of turnout sends a clear message that people will show up. They will pay for something good. Especially over holidays, when families look for shared experiences. And Zootopia 2 gave them exactly that.
After a few stumbles earlier this year with underwhelming summers, shaky superhero flicks, films that felt hollow, this pushed the reset button. It reminds the industry that there’s still gold in the cinematic well… if you dig deep enough and tell stories that matter. If nothing else, Zootopia 2’s performance rekindles hope for animated films and for family movies, but mainly for movie theatres themselves. Because clearly, people still crave a shared theatre moment.
Zootopia 2 opened with an explosion of $556 million worldwide. And that is no fluke. It’s a statement. A bold, defiant roar that says: “We’re still here. We still want to feel something.” And if Hollywood listens by not chasing every shiny toy, but remembers what made audiences care in the first place, then maybe this weekend won’t just be a blip. Maybe it’s the start of something bigger.
