As all of Hollywood frets over the way forward for theatrical amid the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger, the beautiful efficiency of Disney’s vital and viewers darling Zootopia 2 underscores that moviegoers will prove for the proper purpose.
The Walt Disney Animation Studios sequel zoomed previous the $1 billion mark on the worldwide field workplace on Friday after simply 17 days in launch. It’s solely the second movie of 2025 up to now to realize that feat behind fellow Disney blockbuster Lilo & Sew. Furthermore, it did so within the shortest period of time amongst all animated Hollywood releases and all PG-rated movies.
The sequel, persevering with the adventures of an optimistic rabbit and a sly fox, took in one other $26.3 million for a home complete of $259 million and $877.8 million and roughly $1.08 billion globally.
Zootopia returns to first place in its third weekend after briefly ceding the crown to Blumhouse and Common’s 5 Nights at Freddy’s 2, which got here in third with $8.6 million in its sophomore outing with $20 million because it crosses the $95 million mark domestically.
Thanksgiving tentpole Depraved: For Good, now in its fourth weekend, is celebrating turning into solely certainly one of 5 2025 releases to cross $300 million domestically behind A Minecraft Film, Lilo & Sew, Superman and Jurassic World: Rebirth.
Not all is sunny skies on the Disney lot this weekend as twentieth Century’s political comedy-drama Ella McCay — which is known director James L. Brooks‘ first movie in years — turns into the most recent high-profile grownup title to badly wrestle as awards season heats up.
Ella McCay opened in seventh place within the $1.9 million vary, a profession worst for bes would mark a profession worst for Brooks, in addition to one of many worst begins ever for a serious studio title going out in 2,500 or extra theaters. Critics have skewered the movie regardless of its high-profile ensemble forged that features Emma Mackey within the titular position, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Lowden and Albert Brooks.
To make sure, Zootopia 2 is nice information for Disney’s whole movie empire, and likewise marks the primary back-to-back billion-dollar releases for Walt Disney Animation Studios, following final yr’s Moana 2. The animation studio now counts 5 billion-dollar titles since 2013 between the Frozen, Moana and Zootopia sequence.
“Everybody at Disney Animation put their coronary heart, soul and keenness into this movie to inform a narrative filled with pleasure, creativeness and unimaginable thoughtfulness,” mentioned Jared Bush, chief inventive officer, Walt Disney Animation Studios. “This milestone means the world to us, as a result of greater than something, it means audiences are coming to theaters for a shared expertise of watching this film on the large display, everybody collectively, from all walks of life around the globe — and that could be a Zootopia dream come true.”
Zootopia 2 opened to a record-smashing $559.5 million over the five-day Thanksgiving hall to boast the very best world animated opening of all time, the very best world debut of 2025 and the highest world opening for any animated movie in Disney historical past.
The Thanksgiving tentpole has additionally reignited curiosity within the franchise, driving document viewership of 2016’s Zootopia, which topped out at $1.03 billion on the field workplace.
Zootopia 2 is destined to fly far greater, because of the upcoming Christmas holidays, when children are searching for issues to do. The market can maintain even three to 4 occasion pics throughout the last two weeks of the yr. The largest title on the marquee this trip is Avatar: Hearth and Ash.d
Dec. 13, 12 p.m.: Up to date with revised numbers for Zootopia 2 and different movies.
Dec. 14, 12 p.m.: Up to date with revised numbers for Zootopia 2 and different movies.
This story was initially printed Dec. 12 at 8:34 a.m.