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According to Deadline, Zootopia 2 has officially entered the elite club of billion-dollar animated features by reaching its financial milestone with unprecedented speed. The film managed to cross the $1 billion threshold in only 17 days, a pace that sets a new industry record for both MPA and PG-rated animated content.
Disney's dominant run in animation
The success of Zootopia 2 marks a significant period of prosperity for Walt Disney Animation Studios. It serves as the second film of 2025 to reach the billion-dollar mark, following Lilo & Stitch. This achievement also secures a back-to-back billion-dollar success for the studio, coming immediately after the massive performance of Moana 2 in the previous year.
Since 2013, Disney has managed to produce five distinct titles that have surpassed $1 billion at the global box office. These high-performing projects include:
- Frozen
- Frozen 2
- Moana 2
- Zootopia
- Zootopia 2
A shifting landscape of top earners
While Zootopia 2 is making headlines for its speed, it faces stiff competition from other recent heavyweights. The Chinese production Ne Zha 2 has currently ascended to the position of the highest-grossing animated film of all time, boasting a staggering gross of over $2.26 billion. This surpasses the previous leader, Inside Out 2, which earned approximately $1.7 billion during its 2024 run.
Despite Ne Zha 2 holding the top spot, Disney continues to maintain a powerful grip on the industry's highest-grossing animated titles. The studio currently holds 4 of the top 5 and 9 of the top 12 spots in the all-time rankings for animated films. Other notable entries in the billion-dollar club include Universal Pictures' The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which sits at fourth place with $1.3 billion, and the long-standing success of Minions.
The rapid ascent of Zootopia 2 suggests that established intellectual properties remain a primary driver for theatrical success in an increasingly competitive digital landscape. By leveraging recognizable characters and high production values, Disney continues to solidify its position as a leader in global entertainment revenue.