As the holiday season approaches, Disney is gearing up for a significant release with the anticipated animated sequel, Zootopia 2. This film is set to open in theaters over the Thanksgiving weekend of 2025, following the successful launch of Moana 2 in 2024.
Box Office Predictions for Zootopia 2
The initial forecasts for Zootopia 2 suggest a promising opening. Analysts predict a domestic box office range of:
- $95 million – $110 million for the three-day weekend
- $140 million – $160 million for the five-day holiday period
These projections come in the wake of Moana 2’s record-breaking success last year, where it amassed $382.5 million over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Thanksgiving Weekend Trends
In recent years, Thanksgiving has become a lucrative time for animated film releases. The 2024 box office performance highlighted the effectiveness of this strategy:
- Moana 2: $139.7 million (three-day), $225.4 million (five-day)
- Encanto: $27.2 million (three-day), $40.5 million (five-day)
- Ralph Breaks the Internet: $56.2 million (three-day), $84.7 million (five-day)
- Coco: $50.8 million (three-day), $72.9 million (five-day)
- Moana: $56.6 million (three-day), $82 million (five-day)
- The Good Dinosaur: $39.1 million (three-day), $55.4 million (five-day)
Notably, the success of Zootopia in 2016, which earned $341.2 million domestically, surpassed that of the first Moana film, which pulled in $248.7 million. Considering this, there is strong anticipation for Zootopia 2’s performance in comparison to Moana 2.
Historical Context
Reviewing the performance of Disney’s animated sequels over the past decade shows a positive trend. Out of nine sequels released:
- Only two—Cars 3 and Lightyear—failed to outperform their predecessors.
This historical data contributes to the optimism surrounding Zootopia 2’s potential to surpass box office expectations.
Final Thoughts
While current forecasts suggest that Zootopia 2 might not match the $200 million mark set by Moana 2 during the five-day holiday, adjustments to these predictions may occur closer to the release date. The excitement around Zootopia’s return will likely draw audiences and create a competitive Thanksgiving weekend at the box office.
