‘Zootopia 2’ tops the box office this Thanksgiving weekend

Animated film “Zootopia 2” topped the box office in a big weekend for family-friendly films.

The sequel to the 2016 film from Walt Disney Co. brought in $156 million over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates. The film’s production budget was estimated at $175 million to $200 million.

In total, “Zootopia 2” collected $556 million in worldwide box office revenue, including $272 million in China, a once-huge market for Hollywood films that has cooled in recent years. The take for “Zootopia 2” in China marked the highest opening for a non-local animated film in the country.

The film will probably benefit from its strong franchise recognition in China; Disney opened a “Zootopia”-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland in 2023 and launched an extensive marketing campaign ahead of the film’s release. The original film had a box office total of $236 million in China.

Universal Pictures’ “Wicked: For Good” came in second at the domestic box office with a five-day total of $93 million.

The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas has traditionally been a prime time for studios and theaters to attract moviegoers with family-friendly fare or blockbusters, which can provide the bulk of the year’s box office revenue.

“Zootopia 2” and “Wicked: For Good” are seen as the two big movies released at the end of the year that can drive huge ticket sales. The third — Disney’s 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: Fire and Ash” — will hit theaters next month.

The reception of “Zootopia 2” and “Bad: For Good” also points to the demand for family films. Although this year’s box office was uneven overall, films geared towards children and families did well.

Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Lilo and Stitch” brought in more than $1 billion at the global box office and Warner Bros. “A Minecraft Movie” wasn’t far behind with nearly $958 million.