Disney’s animated sequel Zootopia 2 has delivered a monumental performance at the global box office, achieving the largest international opening ever for an animated feature. The film amassed $556 million worldwide since its Wednesday premiere, including a $96 million North American weekend gross and $156 million during the five-day Thanksgiving frame, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
The record-shattering debut represents the fourth-highest global opening of any film in history and stands as 2025’s top international opener. The sequel’s most remarkable performance occurred in China, where it generated $272 million in ticket sales—nearly half its global total—making it the most successful opening for an American-made animated film in Chinese history and the second-best nonlocal film debut after Avengers: Endgame.
Universal’s Wicked: For Good maintained strong momentum in its second weekend, earning $62.8 million domestically for a North American cumulative total of $270.4 million. The second installment of the Wicked saga has now reached $393 million internationally, demonstrating the continued appeal of the Broadway adaptation.
Industry analysts view the combined success of these PG-rated sequels as a potential turning point for Hollywood’s challenging year. The Thanksgiving holiday period generated $290 million in total box office revenue, with $188 million coming from the Friday-Sunday window. This performance offers hope that upcoming releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 could salvage what has otherwise been a difficult year for theatrical exhibition.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore, noted: “This is a great result and a big momentum builder for the box office as we head into the final four weeks of the year.”
Zootopia 2’s Chinese success is particularly significant given the recent unpredictability of Hollywood films in that market. Despite geopolitical tensions that have made Chinese box office results increasingly uncertain, the sequel outperformed expectations, potentially signaling a thaw in market relations. The original Zootopia (known as Crazy Animal City in China) had developed a substantial following there with $236 million in total gross, and Shanghai Disneyland features dedicated theme areas based on the franchise.
The weekend’s other notable performer was Hamnet, which achieved an impressive limited opening with $1.35 million from just 119 theaters from Wednesday through Sunday. Director Chloe Zhao’s Shakespeare adaptation, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, is expected to be a major awards season contender and expands to wider release next weekend.