“Zootopia 2” opened across Asia in late November 2025, bringing back the upbeat rabbit police officer Judy Hopps and her clever fox partner, Nick Wilde. The animated sequel quickly emerged as one of the few recent Hollywood films to strongly connect with Asian audiences, especially in China and South Korea.
In China, the film debuted with exceptionally high ticket sales. Within days, it became the highest-grossing foreign animated movie ever released in the country. It also broke the single-day box office record for an imported film, surpassing “Avengers: Endgame.” The achievement stands out in a market usually dominated by domestic fantasy and war epics, where many U.S. films struggle to maintain momentum.
South Korean audiences have shown similar enthusiasm. More than 3 million people saw “Zootopia 2” within 11 days of release, matching the pace of the previous year’s “Inside Out 2” and outperforming earlier Disney releases such as “Elemental” and “Moana 2.” Local box office rankings already place the film among the year’s top performers. The film’s success has been years in the making. The original “Zootopia” became a long-running favorite in Asia through frequent television airings, extensive marketing, and a dedicated themed area at Shanghai Disney Resort. The sequel builds on that popularity by expanding the animal city with new neighborhoods and introducing new characters, including Gary De’Snake, a blue pit viper who has quickly become a fan favorite in the region.
The film’s colorful world and feel-good story about unlikely partners solving a mystery appear to offer the kind of big-screen escape many in Asia are eager to enjoy.
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1. What factors helped the sequel achieve record-breaking box office success in China, a market where foreign animated films usually struggle to compete with domestic productions?
2. What new elements, including characters and expanded settings, helped the sequel attract and excite audiences in the region?
3. Why did long-term exposure through television, marketing, and a themed area help the original movie build lasting popularity across Asian countries?
4. What major box office records did the film achieve in China, and why were these achievements unusual for a foreign animated movie there?
1. Would knowing this movie broke major box office records in Asia make you more interested in watching it, and what would you expect from the experience?
2. How much does your personal attachment to the original film affect your excitement for a sequel released many years later, and why?
3. Would upbeat animated films with familiar characters feel more comforting to you than darker movies during stressful or busy periods?
4. Would the return of familiar characters and an expanded world increase your excitement and emotional connection to the story?
“Zootopia 2” opened across Asia in late November 2025, bringing back the upbeat rabbit police officer Judy Hopps and her clever fox partner, Nick Wilde. The animated sequel quickly emerged as one of the few recent Hollywood films to strongly connect with Asian audiences, especially in China and South Korea.
