Rebecca Sayce
Published December 1, 2025 12:47pm
Updated December 1, 2025 12:47pm
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Previous Page Next PageZootropolis 2 has been smashing box office records during its opening weekend.
The animated Disney film follows 2016’s Zootropolis – also known as Zootopia in other regions – which told the story of rookie police officer rabbit Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and con artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) who are forced to work together to uncover a conspiracy involving the disappearance of predators.
It was a huge box office hit, raking in more than $1 billion (£754.9m), making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2016, and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
A sequel was confirmed in 2023 and was finally released on November 28 in UK theatres.
Hopps and Wilde are back, and this time they have to try to clear their names after being framed and forced to go on the run by mysterious reptilian resident Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan).
Shakira, Idris Elba, Alan Tudyk, Nate Torrence, Don Lake, Bonnie Hunt, and Jenny Slate all reprise their voice acting roles from the first film alongside a raft of newcomers, including Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, and Danny Trejo.
Zootopia broke records of its own when it was released in 2016 (Picture: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)
The sequel, released last week, has similarly smashed box office expectations (Picture: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)
Much like its predecessor, Zootropolis 2 has taken the box office by storm, earning $156m (£117.7m) in North America and $400m (£301.9m) overseas in its opening weekend.
In the process, it smashed several records, including becoming the fourth-biggest worldwide debut following the likes of Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Zootropolis 2’s opening weekend became the largest global launch of all time for an animated film, as well as the highest global debut of 2025.
Is it Zootropolis of Zootopia?
No, you’re not going crazy. This film is known by two different names.
In the US, it is known as Zootopia, while in the UK and other parts of Europe, it is called Zootropolis. In Germany, due to a pre-existing book title, it is called Zoomania.
Zootropolis is called that in the UK because, per Disney, they changed the film title so UK audiences could have a unique name for the movie.
However, it has also been theorised that Givskud Zoo in Denmark played a part in the rebrand after they trademarked the term ‘Zootopia’ as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.
Breaking China’s market
Much of Zootropolis’ runaway success at the box office can be attributed to China’s crucial film market.
It is deemed so important due to its sheer size as the world’s second-largest box office market and its number of cinema screens, which make it a key revenue source for Hollywood.
And Zootropolis 2 has been a huge hit in China, breaking several records, including becoming the sixth highest opening in China of all time.
Its success in China set it off on the right foot (Picture: AP)
All of the records broken by Zootropolis 2 (so far)
The basics
- Highest global animated opening of all time at $556m (£420m)
- Fourth-highest global opening of all-time
- Highest global debut of 2025
- Highest global opening for an animated sequel ever
- Highest global opening ever for Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Highest global opening for any animated film in Disney history
- Highest global sequel opening of 2025 and since 2021, previously held by Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Biggest opening weekend increase from original to sequel for any animated franchise at 239%
- Number one movie globally, domestically, and internationally for the weekend
- Highest opening for stars Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, and Ke Huy Quan
Domestic records
- Second-highest Thanksgiving Day of all time
- Second-highest Black Friday of all time
- Second-highest domestic Wednesday before Thanksgiving of all time
- Second-highest preview gross for a WDAS sequel
- Third-highest three-day domestic opening in WDAS history
International records
- Fourth highest international opening of all-time
- Highest international animated opening of all time
- Highest Walt Disney Animation Studios international opening of all time
- Highest Hollywood international opening of 2025
- Opened number one/number one MPA in all markets except for the UK and the Philippines
- Highest Walt Disney Animation Studios opening of all-time in Poland, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Bolivia
- Highest MPA opening weekend of 2025 in France, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam
In China alone
- Sixth highest opening of all-time in China
- Second best non-local film opening of all time in China behind Avengers: Endgame
- Highest animated opening of all-time in China for a non-local title
- Ninth highest single day gross of all-time for all films both local and foreign
- Highest single day gross of all-time for an MPA film
- Highest MPA opening in 2025
Behind Avengers: Endgame, it has also nabbed the title of the second-best non-local film opening in China, and the highest animated opening of all time in China for a non-local title.
Speaking about the film’s success, Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman said: ‘The incredible response to Zootopia 2 reflects both its worldwide appeal and the remarkable work of our filmmakers and cast.
‘It’s a proud moment for Disney Animation and all of us at Disney, not to mention a great way to start the holiday season.’
Critical acclaim
Another key factor to Zootropolis 2 has been the rave reviews it has received from critics, which both drive audiences to the cinema and also point out other important reasons that the film is a cut above the rest.
It currently holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus saying: ‘Cleverly layering a thoughtful message onto another crackerjack caper while solidifying Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as one of the most endearing buddy pairings in ages, Zootopia 2 more than justifies a return trip to the big city.’
In their review, Austin Chronicle wrote: ‘The heart of the story remains Hopps and Wilde, and the sparkling, witty, and endearing energy between them.’
Zootropolis 2 was inundated with rave reviews from critics ahead of its general release (Picture: AP)
The San Francisco Chronicle added: ‘Zootopia 2 ventures into new territory without losing its emotional footing. It shows us how trust and cooperation often hinge on small, brave choices made over and over again.’
Daily Telegraph said: ‘Disney, when minded, can still do this stuff as well as anyone — and in the pleasurable spring and snap of its animation, its at-times-unsettlingly comely character design, and set-pieces that swarm with humour and panache, Zootropolis 2 is proof.’
The Independent went as far as saying: ‘Directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush, the latter the new head of the studio, have made a sequel that not only justifies itself, but arguably improves on its predecessor. Really, it’s the same film but better.’
”Metro’s
”]
Sequels, prequels, requels…who says the industry is going down the tubes?’ jokes a weasel, as he attempts to flog a bunch of bootleg Frozen 12 DVDs. Just one of the fabulous, throwaway, tongue-in-cheek gags that Disney’s latest, self-confessed, unnecessary sequel is zinging with.
Unleashed almost a decade after its Oscar-winning original, this colourful animated caper reteams perky police bunny Judy Hops (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) with her brand new partner on the force, reformed street fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). Together this unlikely bunny-fox combo must work through their differences, whilst respecting them (lesson alert!), as they crack another film-noirish case of corruption within the anthropomorphised city of Zootropolis.
Returning furry faces including Idris Elba’s shouty boss, Shakira’s slinky singing gazelle, a mafioso family of tiny shrews – and (yes!) the sloth is back. Newbies included a sweet, victimised snake (Ke Huy Quan) and a slightly tiresome conspiracy theorist beaver (Fortune Feimster).
However, the true beauty of Zootropolis 2 (titled Zootopia in the US) lies in its teeming details. From the titchy, hard-hatted voles who unblock the vending machines to a blink-and-miss ‘Hungry hippos’ sight gag, this is one I can’t wait to enjoy on streaming where I can freeze every frame.
By Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Meanwhile, Globe and Mail wrote: ‘Never does the film feel like it’s beating you over the head with its morals, but you might leave the theatre feeling a little better about the world we live in than you did when you arrived.’
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The Popcornmeter for Zootropolis 2, determined by fans, is even higher, sitting at a near-perfect 95%.
The audience rating reads: ‘An action-fueled, hilarious, heartwarming adventure for the whole family, Zootopia 2 is packed with cuteness and charm – some say it may even surpass its spectacular predecessor.’
Zootropolis 2 is in cinemas now.
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