In a historic year for animation, “Zootopia 2” has officially ascended the throne at Walt Disney Animation Studios. As of the final box office tallies on New Year’s Eve 2025, the high-octane sequel starring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde has amassed a staggering $1.464 billion worldwide. By crossing this threshold, it has narrowly edged out the previous record-holder, “Frozen 2” ($1.45 billion), to become the most successful film in the legendary studio’s century-long history.
A Global Phenomenon: How the Mammal Metropolis Conquered the World
The road to the record was paved with unprecedented international enthusiasm, particularly in China. While “Frozen 2” maintained a stronger hold on the domestic North American market, “Zootopia 2” became a cultural juggernaut in Asia, where it broke multiple records for non-local animated features. This massive surge in overseas ticket sales allowed the film to reach the $1 billion milestone in a record-breaking 17 days, the fastest ever for a PG-rated animated film.
Source: IMDb
This victory is a testament to the enduring appeal of the world created by Byron Howard and Jared Bush. Audiences returned to theaters in droves to see the evolution of Judy and Nick’s partnership, which was bolstered by a “Certified Hot” audience score and critical praise for its expansion of the city’s diverse districts. The film didn’t just capitalize on nostalgia; it utilized a clever marketing campaign that leaned into the buddy-cop energy that made the 2016 original a surprise hit.
The internal shift at Disney is also notable, as this marks the first time since 2013 that a franchise other than “Frozen” has held the top spot for the animation division. Industry analysts point to the film’s 5-day Thanksgiving opening of $556 million as the turning point that signaled a historic run was underway. Even with heavy competition from the holiday release of “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the furry sequel maintained incredible legs throughout December.
Looking ahead, the success of “Zootopia 2” places it among the titans of the medium. It currently sits as the fourth-highest-grossing animated film of all time, trailing only Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” the 2019 reimagining of “The Lion King,” and the recent international juggernaut “Ne Zha 2.” For Disney, this reinforces the strategy of high-budget, high-concept sequels, proving that the residents of Zootopia still have plenty of stories left to tell—and plenty of records left to break.
