Zootopia 2 Reclaims Top Spot, Becomes Second Film to Hit $1B Worldwide

Zootopia 2 regained the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office with $26.3 million in its third weekend of release, according to studio estimates Sunday, as The Walt Disney Co. animated sequel became the year’s second film to gross $1 billion worldwide.

A Record‑Breaking Performance

The Disney sequel edged out Universal Pictures’ and Blumhouse Productions’ horror follow‑up, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, to lead the weekend charts. Zootopia 2’s $26.3 million haul marks a steady rebound after a modest opening and cements its place as the highest‑grossing Hollywood film in China for years. With a global tally that now stands at $1.14 billion, the movie has benefited from an enormous Chinese market where it has earned $502.4 million, making it the biggest Hollywood hit in the country in recent memory.

Global Context and Other Blockbusters

Zootopia 2’s $1.14 billion worldwide total places it second only to Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, which has reached $1.04 billion. The most lucrative film of 2025, however, remains the Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2, which has collected nearly $2 billion in China alone. These figures underscore the growing importance of the Chinese market for Hollywood releases.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’s Sharp Decline

Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, released two weeks earlier, collected $15.4 million in its second weekend—a brutal 70% drop from its above‑expectations debut. Despite the steep decline, the franchise’s domestic total of $95.5 million keeps it profitable; the $36 million production budget is well covered, and the film continues to expand Blumhouse’s horror portfolio.

Ella McCay’s Disappointing Launch

The most notable new release of the weekend was James L. Brook’s Ella McCay, his first directed film in 15 years. The comic drama, featuring newcomer Emma Mackey as a 34‑year‑old woman who becomes governor of her home state, earned a scant $2.1 million from 2,500 locations, making it one of the year’s worst wide releases. Reviews were poor, with a 22% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film cost $35 million to make and includes a supporting cast of Jamie Lee Curtis, Ayo Edebiri and Woody Harrelson.

Upcoming Holiday Corridor

Hollywood will be hoping the coming holiday corridor, traditionally the busiest movie‑going period of the year, ends 2025 on a high note. Movies on tap include Avatar: Fire and Ash, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, Marty Supreme, Anaconda and Song Sung Blue. These titles will test the resilience of the domestic market as it approaches the end of the year.

Domestic Top‑Ten List

The final domestic figures, released Monday, factor in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

1. Zootopia 2 – $26.3 million
2. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 – $19.5 million
3. Wicked: For Good – $8.6 million
4. Dhurandhar – $3.5 million
5. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t – $2.4 million
6. Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution – $2.1 million
7. Ella McCay – $2.1 million
8. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – $1.9 million
9. Eternity – $1.8 million
10. Hamnet – $1.5 million

## Key Takeaways

• Zootopia 2 reclaimed the domestic No. 1 spot with $26.3 million, becoming the second film of 2025 to surpass $1 billion worldwide.
• The movie’s success is largely driven by its $502.4 million haul in China, making it the biggest Hollywood hit in the country in years.
• Ella McCay, a $35 million comedy‑drama, earned only $2.1 million in a wide release and received a 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The weekend’s results illustrate a mixed landscape: while Disney’s animated sequel continues to dominate, new releases such as Ella McCay struggle to find audiences, and the upcoming holiday corridor will be crucial for studios looking to close the year on a strong note.