The Preview Numbers that Shook the Watering Hole: Decoding Zootopia 2’s Domestic Box Office Opening

The highly anticipated return to the anthropomorphic metropolis, Disney's Zootopia 2, has exploded onto the box office scene, starting its run with a preview performance that has industry watchers buzzing.

The film's Tuesday preview screenings in North America hauled in a spectacular $10.2 million, signaling a massive appetite for the sequel to the 2016 animated smash hit. 

This impressive figure immediately establishes Zootopia 2’s Domestic Box Office Opening preview night as a major event, not only securing the second-highest preview gross ever for a Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) feature, but also outperforming the preview totals of billion-dollar grossers like Frozen II ($8.5 million) and the original Zootopia ($1.7 million).

The performance is a clear win for Disney, injecting significant momentum into the Thanksgiving holiday frame, though it trails last year's holiday record-setter, Moana 2 ($13.8 million).

How Does Zootopia 2's Domestic Box Office Pre-Opening Day Haul of $10.2 Million Compare to Past Disney Hits?

The $10.2 million haul places Zootopia 2 firmly in the upper echelon of WDAS debuts. While falling behind the massive Thanksgiving opener Moana 2, which went on to a record-breaking five-day holiday total of $225.4 million, the number is a massive indicator of pre-release demand.

Crucially, the film's strong critical reception and excellent audience scores suggest it possesses the "legs" or sustained drawing power that animated features need to thrive over a long holiday corridor. This positive word-of-mouth (WOM), including a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, positions it well to potentially close the gap on the higher opening weekend figures achieved by other Disney sequels.

Initial five-day holiday projections for the film now range from $125 million to $170 million domestically, significantly surpassing earlier expectations of a $135 million five-day total.

What is the International Box Office Telling Us About Zootopia 2’s Global Potential?

The international performance is, arguably, even more electrifying. The film launched with staggering success in major overseas markets, confirming the franchise's global appeal, which saw the original cross the $1 billion worldwide mark.

In China, Zootopia 2 secured an American animation record opening day of $33.7 million. This figure ranks among the top 10 highest opening days ever for an American film in the country and is a massive win for Hollywood in a post-pandemic Chinese market that has been historically challenging. High audience scores, with Chinese audiences giving it a 9.7/10 on Maoyan, indicate a potentially enormous run, with some estimates now placing its five-day China opening north of $200 million.

South Korea also delivered a stellar debut, with a $5.7 million opening day, the second-highest of the year for a Hollywood film in that territory. Overall, global projections for the film's total five-day opening weekend are now reaching the $260 million to $270 million range.

Will the Sequel’s Strong Early Buzz Translate to Record-Breaking Totals?

The pre-release buzz for Zootopia 2 was exceptionally strong, driven by the enduring popularity of its characters, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, and the addition of Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan as the new character, Gary De’Snake.

The online chatter, combined with the official preview numbers, suggests a massive turnout across all demographics, particularly families during the Thanksgiving break. Advanced ticket sales were reported to be comparable to those for Inside Out 2 earlier in the year, another hugely successful Disney sequel.

The highly positive critical consensus and audience scores—including the better-than-the-original Maoyan score in China—point toward sustained success.

While the $10.2 million preview did not surpass Moana 2's record, its strong international performance and domestic WOM suggest the total global gross could be incredibly robust, potentially putting it on a path to join its predecessor and other Disney sequels in the exclusive $1 billion worldwide club.

📈 Zootopia 2 Box Office Snapshot

Some Closing Thoughts

The initial box office metrics for Zootopia 2 are nothing short of phenomenal, validating the decision to bring back the beloved franchise and setting the stage for a dominating holiday run.

The $10.2 million domestic preview figure is an unambiguous signal of immense audience demand, and when combined with the record-setting international openings, this animated feature is primed to be a global box office behemoth.

The positive word-of-mouth is a critical asset that should provide the longevity needed to translate a very strong start into a record-level total haul. The animal city is open for business, and judging by these numbers, audiences worldwide are lining up to visit.

So, what are your expectations from Zootopia 2 in terms of box office performance? Let us know in the comments section down below!