Zootopia 2 projected to dominate box office with $125 million opening weekend

Disney’s Zootopia 2 is set to make a major splash at the box office when it hits theaters on November 26, 2025.

The highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 animated blockbuster is projected to gross around $125 million domestically over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The original Zootopia, directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore, became a global phenomenon in 2016, earning over $1 billion worldwide and scoring a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nearly a decade later, Disney hopes to recapture that success as audiences return to theaters.

Most of the beloved original cast, including Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Shakira, and Kristen Bell, are returning for the sequel, joined by newcomers Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, and Quinta Brunson. This time, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde reunite to take on a new villain — a pit viper named Gary De'Snake.

The sequel also features a new song, “Zoo,” performed by Shakira, which has already been nominated for Song - Animated Film at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. To build anticipation, Disney previously released Zootopia+ on Disney+ in 2022, a spinoff series featuring short stories centered on characters from the first film.

Following a slow October for Hollywood, Zootopia 2 is expected to help revive the 2025 box office alongside Wicked: For Good and other major releases. With family-friendly appeal and holiday timing, Disney’s latest animated feature is poised to be one of the biggest hits of the year.