Disney’s animated sequel, Zootopia 2, has reclaimed the top spot at the domestic box office, earning $26.3 million during its third weekend of release. The film has officially surpassed the $1 billion mark globally, according to estimates released by the studio on December 14, 2025. This milestone positions Zootopia 2 as the second film from 2025 to achieve this feat, following the success of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake, which grossed $1.04 billion.
A Global Phenomenon
The film’s impressive performance is significantly driven by its success in China, where it has grossed an astounding $502.4 million. This achievement makes Zootopia 2 the biggest Hollywood release in China in recent years, underlining the franchise’s enduring international appeal nearly a decade after the original film debuted. Overall, the animated adventure has reached a global total of $1.14 billion, positioning it as one of the year’s top-performing films. A Disney spokesperson commented, “Zootopia 2 has exceeded every expectation. Its universal themes and world-class storytelling have struck a chord with families everywhere.”
As the holiday season approaches, James Cameron‘s highly-anticipated film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is set to release next weekend. This upcoming event has created a lull in major new studio releases, allowing existing titles to maintain their audience share.
Competition and New Releases
In second place, Universal’s horror sequel Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 managed to secure $19.5 million, despite experiencing a steep decline of 70% from its debut weekend. With a domestic total of $95.5 million on a modest budget of $36 million, the film remains a solid hit for the studio. Meanwhile, Wicked: For Good held onto the third position with $8.6 million, continuing its steady performance following positive audience reception.
The weekend also saw the release of James L. Brooks‘ new film, Ella McCay. Unfortunately, it struggled to find an audience, earning just $2.1 million from 2,500 theaters. The political dramedy, featuring Emma Mackey as a young governor, faced challenges from poor reviews, receiving only 22% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite a strong supporting cast, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Ayo Edebiri, and Woody Harrelson, the film has become one of the weakest wide releases of 2025.
The overall outlook for the box office in 2025 remains steady, according to Comscore, with totals aligning closely with last year’s performance, though still falling short of pre-pandemic averages. Industry analysts are optimistic about the upcoming holiday season, which is historically a lucrative time for theaters. Anticipated releases include Avatar: Fire and Ash, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, Marty Supreme, Anaconda, and Song Sung Blue.
As the year draws to a close, the final weeks of 2025 could set the stage for a significant box office surge, particularly with Zootopia 2 leading the charge. For ongoing updates regarding global box office figures, new film releases, and entertainment industry insights, visit InvestRecords.com, a reliable source for movie and media news.
