Zootopia 2 races past $100M worldwide as global audiences power a record-breaking launch

Walt Disney Animation has scored a major victory with Zootopia 2, which has stormed past the $100 million global mark within its first few days, signalling one of the strongest starts for an animated feature in recent years. The sequel rolled out midweek across several markets, amassing $81.1 million worldwide on its opening day alone, $39.5 million from North America and $41.6 million from its first 17 international territories.

The most dramatic surge came from China, where the film rewrote the record books. Its opening day brought in an extraordinary $34 million, the highest first-day figure ever recorded for an animated title in the country. It also became the best opening for any Hollywood film there since mid-2021. With Thursday adding a further estimated $20 million, China’s contribution helped propel the film well beyond the $100 million global benchmark almost instantly.

Other markets also delivered strong numbers. Korea pushed its cumulative total to $2.84 million after contributing an estimated $1.1 million on Thursday. In France, the sequel secured the second-biggest opening day of the year, just behind Lilo & Stitch, and ranked as the third-highest opening day ever for Walt Disney Animation, trailing only Moana 2 and Frozen 2. Unsurprisingly, the film claimed the top spot in China, Korea and most territories where it launched ahead of the weekend.

The new chapter brings back Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), who are thrown into their most unpredictable case yet when a mysterious reptilian figure, Gary De'Snake, voiced by Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan, arrives in Zootopia and plunges the city into chaos. Their investigation takes them undercover into unfamiliar corners of the world, promising a bigger, twistier adventure.

A long list of returning fan-favourite characters also make a comeback, including Idris Elba as Chief Bogo, Shakira as Gazelle, Jenny Slate as Bellwether, Nate Torrence as Clawhauser, Bonnie Hunt and Don Lake as Bonnie and Stu Hopps, Tommy Chong as Yax, Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton, Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Big, Leah Latham as Fru Fru, John Dallas as Frantic Pig, Mark Rhino Smith as Officer McHorn and Raymond Persi as Flash.