Disney’s Zootopia 2 has reclaimed the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office in its third weekend, raking in $26.3 million and officially surpassing $1 billion worldwide, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
The animated sequel — returning audiences to the bustling animal metropolis first introduced in 2016 — continues to dominate the global market, becoming the second 2025 release to cross the $1 billion mark, behind Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake ($1.04 billion).
A Global Phenomenon
The film’s runaway success has been driven in large part by its record-breaking performance in China, where it has grossed an astounding $502.4 million to date. That milestone makes Zootopia 2 the biggest Hollywood hit in China in years, reaffirming the franchise’s international appeal nearly a decade after the original film’s debut.
Globally, the animated adventure has amassed $1.14 billion, positioning it as one of the year’s top-performing releases.
“Zootopia 2 has exceeded every expectation,” said a Disney spokesperson. “Its universal themes and world-class storytelling have struck a chord with families everywhere.”
A Quiet Weekend Before ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
With James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash set to hit theaters next weekend, this frame served as a brief calm before Hollywood’s holiday storm. There were no major new studio releases, leaving existing titles to fight for audience attention.
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Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 secured second place with $19.5 million, despite a steep 70% drop from its debut weekend. Still, with $95.5 million domestic on a modest $36 million budget, the Blumhouse horror sequel remains a solid hit for the studio.
Meanwhile, Wicked: For Good held strong at No. 3 with $8.6 million, continuing its steady run after positive audience reception.
‘Ella McCay’ Struggles to Find an Audience
Among the weekend’s new releases, James L. Brooks’ Ella McCay — his first directorial effort in 15 years — stumbled out of the gate, earning just $2.1 million from 2,500 theaters. The political dramedy, starring Emma Mackey as a young governor navigating life and leadership, was hampered by poor reviews (22% on Rotten Tomatoes) and low audience turnout.
Despite a strong supporting cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Ayo Edebiri, and Woody Harrelson, the $35 million production became one of 2025’s weakest wide releases.
Year-to-Date Box Office Outlook
According to Comscore, 2025’s box office remains on pace with last year’s totals, though still below pre-pandemic averages. Industry analysts are now turning their hopes to the year-end holiday season, historically one of the most lucrative periods for theaters.
Upcoming tentpole releases include “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” “Marty Supreme,” “Anaconda,” and “Song Sung Blue.”
Top 10 Box Office (Estimated, Dec. 12–14 Weekend)
- Zootopia 2 — $26.3 million
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — $19.5 million
- Wicked: For Good — $8.6 million
- Dhurandhar — $3.5 million
- Now You See Me: Now You Don’t — $2.4 million
- Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution — $2.1 million
- Ella McCay — $2.1 million
- Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 re-release) — $1.9 million
- Eternity — $1.8 million
- Hamnet — $1.5 million
With Zootopia 2 leading the way and another Avatar film on deck, the final weeks of 2025 could give Hollywood the box office surge it’s been waiting for.
For more updates on the global box office, film releases, and entertainment industry insights, stay tuned to InvestRecords.com, your trusted source for movie and media news.
