The mammalian metropolis has just made history. As of January 18, 2026, Disney’s Zootopia 2 has officially surpassed Pixar’s Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film in Hollywood history.
With a staggering global total of $1.703 billion, the sequel hasn’t just won the year; it has secured the #9 spot on the list of the highest-grossing films of all time, outperforming massive blockbusters like The Lion King (2019) and Jurassic World.
Breaking Records Across the Globe
The film’s journey to the top has been a sprint rather than a marathon. After opening over the 2025 Thanksgiving weekend with a record-breaking $559.5 million five-day debut, it became the fastest animated film in history to cross the $1 billion mark.
As it enters its eighth week of release, the box office breakdown shows a massive reliance on international enthusiasm:
- International Gross: $1.313 Billion
- Domestic (US/Canada) Gross: $390 Million
- Worldwide Total: $1.703 Billion
The China Phenomenon
While many Hollywood films have struggled in China recently, Zootopia 2 has become a cultural juggernaut in the region. It has grossed $619 million in China alone, making it the highest-grossing American animated film ever released in the territory.
Industry analysts attribute this to the deep brand loyalty built by the first film and the success of the Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland. The film is currently on track to potentially unseat Avengers: Endgame as the highest-grossing American film of any genre in Chinese history.
Dethroning the Competition
By hitting $1.7 billion, Zootopia 2 has effectively reshuffled the “All-Time Animated” leaderboard. Disney now holds the top three spots for Hollywood animated releases:
- Zootopia 2 ($1.703B)
- Inside Out 2 ($1.69B)
- Frozen 2 ($1.45B)
It is important to note that while it holds the Hollywood record, the overall global title for an animated film still belongs to China’s Ne Zha 2, which concluded its massive 2025 run with a staggering $2.25 billion.
What’s Next for the Franchise?
With a “Verified Hot” audience score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore, the momentum for Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps shows no signs of slowing down. As the film approaches the $2 billion mark, fans are already looking toward the horizon. While Disney has yet to officially announce a third installment, the record-shattering success of this sequel makes a “Zootopia 3” seem like an inevitability.
