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From left, Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps and Gary De'Snake in Disney's "Zootopia 2."Disney
Zootopia 2 Smashes Records: China Conquest and Global Domination
Zootopia 2 has exploded onto screens, pulling in a jaw-dropping $556 million globally since its November 26 premiere, topping charts as the biggest international animated opener ever. This bunny-fox sequel didn't just hop to success it sprinted, especially in China where it shattered Hollywood animated records with a $34 million opening day. Meanwhile, North America feasted with $156 million over Thanksgiving, proving family animation still rules holidays.
Key Zootopia 2 Box Office Wins
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China Record Breaker : $34M opening day, best for U.S. animated films since 2021, pushing past $100M early global with Thursday adds.
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Domestic Thanksgiving Feast : $96M weekend, $156M five-day haul second-best Disney Animation launch ever.
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Cast of Zootopia 2 Shines : Ginnifer Goodwin's Judy Hopps and Jason Bateman's Nick Wilde lead, joined by Ke Huy Quan as villainous Gary De’Snake.
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Audience Raves : A CinemaScore, 95% Rotten Tomatoes crowd score fuel word-of-mouth surge.
Hey folks, remember when the first Zootopia turned Zootopia into a furry frenzy back in 2016? Well, buckle up Zootopia 2 is back, and it's not just cute critters solving crimes; it's rewriting box office history. With Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde chasing a slithery reptile menace across a mammal metropolis gone wild, this sequel hit theaters November 26 and immediately clawed to the top. But the real buzz? How it's conquering markets like China while stuffing U.S. pockets during Thanksgiving. Is this the animated savior Hollywood needed in a sequel-saturated year? Let's dive in.
Record-Shattering Global Rampage
Zootopia 2 roared to $556 million worldwide by weekend's end, blending $156 million from North America's five-day Thanksgiving frame with massive international hauls. ABC News highlights it as the fourth-highest global debut of any film this year and the top international animated opener, outpacing expectations set by the original's $75 million March start. Deadline notes its China fireworks: a record $34 million opening day for any Hollywood animated flick, the biggest U.S. film debut there since May 2021, with pre-sales topping 200 million yuan ($28.1M).
Sources align on the dominance but vary on projections Hollywood Reporter pegs early international at $41.6 million from 17 markets like France and Korea, where it nabbed top spots. Variety contrasts this with domestic strength, calling the $39.5 million Wednesday (second-highest pre-Thanksgiving ever) a feast trailing only Moana 2. The cast of Zootopia 2, featuring returnees like Shakira and Idris Elba plus Quinta Brunson and Fortune Feimster, delivers the charm fueling 93% Rotten Tomatoes and strong Metacritic scores.
China: The Unexpected Furry Frontier
Forget U.S. dominance China stole the show for Zootopia 2. It smashed animated records with $34 million Day 1, per Disney estimates, and Thursday adds pushed early globals past $100 million. Reddit box office threads buzz about pre-sales eclipsing F9's post-COVID foreign mark, hinting at $500M+ potential there alone if legs hold. This reptile-twisted plot, with Ke Huy Quan voicing pit viper Gary De’Snake, flipped the mammal world upside down, resonating in a market wary of Hollywood but hungry for family fun.
AP News ties this to broader wins, noting Zootopia 2's $96.8 million U.S. weekend edged Wicked: For Good's $62.8 million, making Thanksgiving a sequel showdown bright spot in a tough box office year. Fans on socials are wild: "Zootopia 2 just lapped Avatar in China hype who saw that coming?" tweets one viral post, while Reddit predicts Oscar Animated nods with little competition.
zootopia 2 box office 556M fan reactions CREDIT: Reddit post r/boxoffice/BarMission7361
Fan Frenzy and Critical Claws
Audiences are devouring it A CinemaScore and 4/5 PostTrak stars signal repeat visits, especially families dodging superhero fatigue. Viral X posts scream "Best Disney sequel since Frozen Judy and Nick forever!" with fan art of Gary De’Snake flooding feeds. Reddit's r/boxoffice calls the $170M+ domestic projection by Sunday "insane," tying it to holiday legs versus Moana 2.
Critics praise the undercover antics in new Zootopia zones, testing the duo's partnership amid reptile chaos. Check this [fan theory graphic on Zootopia 2 plot twists](internal-link-zootopia-sequels) (our past Zootopia deep-dive) for wild predictions.
Why Zootopia 2 Signals Animation's Rebound
This isn't just numbers it's a blueprint. In a year of sequel overload, Zootopia 2 proves smart IP revivals with fresh angles (hello, reptiles!) crush it globally, especially China where Hollywood animated has struggled post-COVID. Broader impact? It lifts the Thanksgiving box office from gloom, pairing with Wicked for rare wins amid strikes' aftermath. Piracy risks loom for future leaks, but strong scores suggest hype only builds. Disney's animation empire flexes, eyeing $2B worldwide if China sustains echoing original's billion-dollar surprise. Will it snag that Oscar? Fuel family outings through January? One thing's sure: Zootopia 2 hopped over hurdles to remind us why we love these critters. Stay tuned for legs updates [read our Moana 2 vs Zootopia showdown here](internal-moana-zootopia-comparison).
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