Disney basks in Zootopia glory

Disney's 'Zootopia 2' has officially crossed the $1 billion milestone at the global box office, cementing its status as the highest-grossing animated film in Disney history.

The sequel has now earned approximately $1.46 billion worldwide, surpassing 'Frozen II', which previously held the record with a global total of $1.45 billion.

The film's box-office performance has been driven primarily by international markets. While 'Zootopia 2' has generated a solid $333 million domestically, overseas audiences have contributed roughly $1.13 billion - the majority of its earnings.

China has emerged as the film's strongest market, where it has already surpassed $500 million in ticket sales. The sequel became the highest-grossing non-Chinese animated film in the country within just five days of release, marking one of the most significant Hollywood performances there in recent years.

In addition to its overall earnings, 'Zootopia 2' reached the $1 billion mark in only 17 days, making it the fastest PG-rated film to achieve the milestone. Without its strong international showing, the sequel would not have overtaken 'Frozen II', highlighting the growing importance of overseas box-office revenue for major studio releases.

Despite its record-setting run for Disney animation, 'Zootopia 2' currently ranks fourth on the all-time global animated box-office chart. China's 'Ne Zha 2' remains in first place with approximately $2.2 billion, followed by 'Inside Out 2' and 'The Lion King'. Given its time in theatres, industry analysts believe 'Zootopia 2' is unlikely to climb higher in the overall rankings.

The success of 'Zootopia 2' and 'Inside Out 2' reinforces Disney's strategy of prioritising sequels, with future releases including 'Toy Story 5' and 'Frozen 3' already in development.