The Eye-Popping Numbers Behind ‘Zootopia 2’s’ Opening Weekend

Walt Disney Animation’s Zootopia 2 bounds into theaters this Thanksgiving weekend with the kind of strength exhibitors have been hoping for all year, but have struggled to find.

Industry estimates are predicting a domestic five-day debut somewhere between $125 million and $150 million, positioning it as one of the biggest Thanksgiving releases on record. On Tuesday, the film earned $10.2 million from previews in North America. That’s good for the second place all-time at Walt Disney Animation Studios, behind Moana 2 ($13.8 million) and ahead of Frozen 2 ($8.5 million).

The sequel, helmed by returning directors Jared Bush, now WDA chief creative officer, and co-directed by long-time collaborator Byron Howard, reunites Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde on another mystery adventure, this time introducing a slippery new character named Gary De’Snake, played by Ke Huy Quan. With Bush and Howard back at the helm, the sequel maintains behind-the-scenes continuity with the 2016 original, which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide and became a major cultural phenomenon, particularly in China.

That international enthusiasm appears to be carrying over this time around. Overseas, Zootopia 2 is projected to earn $135 million to $145 million from its initial rollout across roughly 93% of markets. Combined with domestic expectations, that places the film’s global opening around $260 million to $270 million, easily marking one of the strongest animated launches of the year.

China remains the key wild card here, but early presales are described as fantastic by local tracker Maoyan, helped in part by the franchise’s elevated profile following the opening of Zootopia Land at Shanghai Disneyland in 2023 and the production of a series of shorts set in the animated universe.

Domestically, Zootopia 2 also takes advantage of a largely animation-free fall season — the last family title from a major U.S. studio to get a wide release was The Bad Guys 2 back in August — creating demand for all-ages fare that studios, year after year, fail to capitalize on.

The movie is launching in more than 4,000 North American theaters over the holiday frame, including Imax, PLFs, 3D screens, and motion-format venues. Advance ticket sales hovered around $20 million, comparable to those of Inside Out 2 earlier this year.