China’s Box Office Thrives with “Zootopia 2” Success

“Theaters are packed once again,” shared Yin Hong, vice chairman of the China Film Association and a professor at Tsinghua University, on social media, showcasing photos of a bustling cinema lobby.

China’s year-end box office has experienced a remarkable resurgence, reminiscent of the excitement typically associated with the Chinese New Year holiday. This surge, primarily fueled by Disney’s “Zootopia 2”, is revitalizing a market that had been stagnant since October.

Record-Breaking Success

The sequel debuted simultaneously with North America on November 26. Since then, it has garnered 3.1 billion yuan (438 million U.S. dollars) in China, which constitutes approximately 47 percent of its total global earnings and is double that of its North American revenue, based on data from the ticketing platform Maoyan. It currently holds the title of the highest-grossing imported animated film in Chinese history.

The film has shattered numerous records, including a one-day collection of 738 million yuan on November 29, marking the largest single-day gross ever for an imported title in China. It is also the first imported film since 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” to exceed the 1-billion-yuan threshold in China. Both box office trackers Maoyan and Beacon estimate its final box office in China to reach around 3.8 billion yuan.

Market Insights

Industry analysts highlight that this late-year surge emphasizes two significant truths: China’s vast consumer base is capable of propelling films to unprecedented heights, and the market remains exceptionally welcoming to both domestic and imported works.

The narrative for the year commenced with “Ne Zha 2,” a domestic animated success from the January Spring Festival holiday that captured global attention. Its impressive 15.4 billion yuan earnings marked the highest gross ever for a film in any single market worldwide, attracting 324 million admissions and leading global animation box office rankings. This success, emerging amidst uncertainties from streaming competition and shifting audience preferences, has infused the industry with much-needed optimism.

Mao Yu, deputy director of the China Film Administration, remarked at a forum earlier this year, “China’s market is capable of supporting a film that exceeds 15 billion yuan. What great works could it not make possible?” He also pointed out that decades of reform have cultivated a mature ecosystem adept at sustaining high-concept productions and diverse genres, showcasing the “advantages of a super-large market.”

Audience Engagement

Collectively, “Ne Zha 2” and “Zootopia 2”—the leading animated films of the year—have transformed 2025 into a landmark year for animation in China, challenging the oversimplified notion of a market increasingly favoring local productions while distancing itself from Hollywood’s waning allure. Analysts assert that quality is prevailing.

Audience enthusiasm is evident both online and in theaters, with parents sharing photos of their children alongside cutouts of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Over 78 million tickets have been sold for “Zootopia 2” in China, marking the highest admission figure ever for an imported animated film, and the sequel boasts a robust 8.4 out of 10 rating on the review platform Douban.

Chinese commentators suggest that the film’s remarkable success in China compared to North America underscores the market’s consumption potential and openness. “It highlights the enormous market foundation and consumption demand in China,” stated Zhang Jinfeng, deputy editor-in-chief of China Film News, during a television interview. He added that it reflects Chinese cinema’s “open, inclusive attitude toward globally advanced cinematic achievements,” noting that China has become “a key engine for global box-office growth.”

Global Market Dynamics

China maintains its position as the world’s second-largest film market, contributing nearly a quarter of the 27.9-billion-U.S. dollar year-to-date global box office, closely following North America’s 28.5 percent, according to Maoyan data as of Wednesday.

For Disney, the sequel’s strong reception in China is no coincidence. Ming Zhang, senior vice president and managing director of The Walt Disney Company (China) Limited, remarked that the franchise has held a “special place” in the hearts of Chinese audiences for nearly a decade. The world’s only Zootopia-themed park is located at Shanghai Disney Resort, which hosted a prominent promotional campaign for “Zootopia 2” prior to the film’s release.

As part of its localization strategy for the “Zootopia” IP, four original shorts were co-produced with Shanghai Animation Film Studio. Employing authentic Chinese artistic techniques—from ink-wash to paper-cut—the shorts reimagined “Zootopia” characters in contemporary Chinese settings, generating excitement on social media.

Future Implications

Maoyan analyst Lai Li shared with Xinhua that the film’s impressive performance “demonstrates that audiences remain engaged and will always invest in quality content.” He noted that the successes of “Ne Zha 2” and “Zootopia 2” in 2025 are prompting global studios to reconsider how animation, combined with strong intellectual property, can become dependable box-office hits.

For Hollywood, the implications are even clearer. With China’s share of the global box office for “Zootopia 2” rising from approximately 20 percent for the original 2016 film to over 40 percent this time, this shift may compel studios to reevaluate their release strategies in China. For certain titles, China is evolving from a bonus market to a defining one.

Mao Yu further stated that China’s economic ascent will undoubtedly generate increased interest in Chinese films among international audiences, while the country remains dedicated to welcoming “the best films from around the world.”

According to Maoyan, imported films currently make up 17 percent of China’s 2025 box office, a decline from pre-pandemic levels of 35 percent in 2019.

The post After “Ne Zha 2,” blockbuster run for “Zootopia 2” underscores China’s market scale, openness appeared first on Borneo Post Online.

Danny H

Danny H is a real estate negotiator in Miri, specializing in residential and commercial properties. He provides trusted guidance, updated listings, and professional support through MiriProperty.com.my to help clients make confident property decisions.