Disney’s Zootopia 2 smashes records in China, becoming the highest-grossing foreign animated film ever in the country. The film earned 1.95 billion yuan ($275.6 million) in just six days, according to box office tracker Maoyan.
Industry experts say the movie’s themes of personal resilience and societal harmony have resonated strongly with Chinese audiences. Ashley Dudarenok, founder of China digital consultancy Chozan, called it “Disney’s most important movie in China this year.”
Over the opening weekend, Zootopia 2 smashes expectations as its sales accounted for around 95% of all movie ticket sales in the country. This success is particularly notable given the muted interest in foreign films in China compared to nine years ago, when the first “Zootopia” was released. That original film also became the country’s most popular foreign animated release at the time.
Analysts note that U.S.-China trade tensions earlier this year impacted Hollywood films. Beijing limited the number of U.S. movies allowed in China as a response to higher tariffs on Chinese goods. Despite this, the success of Zootopia 2 smashes shows that foreign animated films can still capture the attention of Chinese viewers.
Hollywood studios have long looked to China to boost box office revenues, but domestic films increasingly dominate the market. Earlier in 2025, the Chinese animated hit “Ne Zha 2” surpassed Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” to become the world’s highest-grossing animated film, earning nearly $2 billion.
The triumph of “Zootopia 2” underscores the appeal of well-crafted stories and animation that connect with audiences across cultures. Disney’s latest release demonstrates that even in a changing environment for foreign films, strong content can still achieve record-breaking success in China.
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