“Zootopia 2” Breaks Monumental Box-Office Record for Disney

“Zootopia 2” is quickly becoming one of the most beloved animated movies of 2025, giving even Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” a run for its money. The sequel to 2016’s Oscar-winning “Zootopia” has been a box-office smash, and now it has become the highest-grossing movie in the history of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

“Zootopia 2” Surpasses “Frozen 2” in Box-Office Numbers

As reported by Deadline, “Zootopia 2,” which opened on November 26th, 2025, has passed $1.46 billion worldwide, making it the biggest box-office hit in the history of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Previously, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ highest-grossing movie was 2019’s “Frozen 2,” which grossed $1.45 billion worldwide. “Zootopia 2” is the fifth Walt Disney Animation Studios film to reach the $1 billion mark. 

It should be noted that the highest-grossing animated movie from a Disney-owned studio is Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” which grossed $1.698 billion. However, given that the “Zootopia” sequel has only been out for a little more than a month and is still going strong, there’s a chance that it might overtake “Inside Out 2.” The highest-grossing animated film of all time is China’s “Ne Zha 2,” which made $2.15 billion worldwide. Disney’s latest foray is unlikely to surpass that. 

So Why Is This Sequel Such a Hit?

The original “Zootopia,” released in 2016, passed the $1 billion mark, but barely, making about $1.025 billion. The film was also a critical success, winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Of course, inflation should be taken into account when explaining the sequel’s success, but there could be other reasons why audiences have flocked to the sequel. 

The first “Zootopia” tackled racism and prejudice head-on, presenting an anthropomorphic animal society that appeared to be utopian on the surface, but harbored deep prejudice between species. Even the lead character, Judy Hopps, realizes that she is carrying her own prejudices. The sequel continues those themes, revealing that reptiles, especially snakes, are not welcome in the mighty city of Zootopia.

Those themes are even more relevant now than they were when the original film came out. In our era when paranoia about “wokeism” is running rampant, when DEI practices are under attack, and when outcast groups such as immigrants and LGBT+ people are routinely viewed with suspicion, audiences might be drawn to a story like “Zootopia 2” that reminds us how destructive prejudice is and how we need to face it within ourselves if we are ever going to make things better.

In addition, there is old-fashioned escapism. When futures are uncertain, and people want to hate each other, spending two hours in a fun world with anthropomorphic animals can be a boost to your mental health. Sometimes, some laughs in a dark theater can work wonders for the mind.

What the Future Holds for “Zootopia 2”

Since “Zootopia 2” is still running strong at the box office, there’s a good chance that it could pass “Inside Out 2”’s $1.698 billion and become Disney’s highest-grossing animated movie from any of their studios. It might also send Disney a message that audiences want more sequels, especially since their recent original movies, such as “Strange World” and “Wish,” were critical and commercial disappointments. As such, this might lead Disney to push sequels even more than they already are. 

Also, can “Zootopia 2” give Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde a double Best Animated Feature Oscar win? Disney hasn’t won the Oscar since 2021’s “Encanto,” so they might be due for another win. Still, we can’t forget the power that Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” had last year. In any case, we can likely expect a “Zootopia 3” to be greenlit in the near future.