Walt Disney’s (DIS) animated hit, Zootopia 2, delivered a powerful message to investors over the holiday weekend. Starring the beloved bunny cop Judy Hopps and fox Nick Wilde, the sequel roared to a massive $156 million domestic box office debut over the five-day Thanksgiving period.
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This phenomenal opening stands as Disney’s second-highest domestic Thanksgiving opening ever, trailing only its own Moana 2 from 2024. The film’s success provides a major momentum builder for the media giant after a year marked by box office disappointments and broader industry volatility.
Record Global Debut Shatters Expectations
Zootopia 2 did not just win the domestic market; it dominated the globe. The film sold another $400.4 million internationally, pushing its estimated global opening total to a staggering $556.4 million.
This performance was record-setting: it was the highest global debut of 2025, the second-highest global opening ever for a Disney movie, and the highest animated non-local opening of all time in China. The sequel performed 239% higher than the original Zootopia did in its domestic opening weekend in 2016, proving the enduring strength of the franchise.
Holiday Box Office Rallies Hard
The success of Zootopia 2 fueled a strong rally for the entire film industry over the Thanksgiving holiday. The five-day weekend box office is expected to close near $290 million to $295 million across all films, making it one of the largest Thanksgiving weekends of all time.
While falling short of last year’s record-breaking $424.9 million, Comscore’s (SCOR) head of marketplace trends Paul Dergarabedian called the weekend a “solid holiday corridor” that helped push the year-to-date total domestic box office to an estimated $7.8 billion. This holiday hit gives Hollywood crucial momentum as it chases the $9 billion annual sales mark.
IMAX and PG Films See Massive Gains
The success of Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good, both PG-rated films, highlight the critical importance of family-friendly content. The broad appeal of these films to children, families, and multiple audience demographics proved to be a key component in their massive success.
IMAX (IMAX) also had a record weekend, posting $40.8 million over the five-day period, a sharp 70% increase over the same period last year. This total included strong showings for both Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good. This explains how big-screen formats and blockbuster family hits are driving theater attendance.
Key Takeaway
Zootopia 2’s record-setting global opening provides an important and much-needed win for Disney’s film division. This has injected momentum and confidence into the company’s valuation after a soft box office year. The success validates the power of established franchises and positions Disney strongly for its upcoming blockbuster releases.
Is Disney a Good Stock to Buy?
Analyst sentiment toward Walt Disney (DIS) remains firmly positive, supported by recent box office successes like Zootopia 2. Wall Street currently rates the stock a Strong Buy, based on 17 analysts tracked in the last three months. Of these ratings, 14 analysts call it a Buy, three say a Hold, and none recommend a Sell.
The average 12-month DIS price target sits at $137.87. This target implies a substantial upside potential of roughly 31.97% from the last price.
