Zootopia 2 Photo: VCG

As 2025 approaches its end, one film has reignited the country's theatrical momentum: Disney's Zootopia 2. What began as a highly anticipated sequel has rapidly evolved into a box-office hit. It has received a rating of 8.5/10 on Chinese review platform Douban.

According to data from ticketing platform Maoyan, the film has grossed more than 2 billion yuan ($282.66 million) at the box office as of Monday, surpassing the 2016 Zootopia and becoming the highest-grossing imported animated film in China. Its opening week haul in the Chinese mainland outpaced its performance in North America ($156 million) and cemented China as the film's largest global market. 

What explains this level of enthusiasm? Zhang Peng, a cultural researcher and associate professor at Nanjing Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday that the frenzy comes down to a strong IP, high production standards and an audience that's willing to pay for quality content.

In part, it is the simple power of a well-crafted story. The nine-year gap means many viewers who watched the first film have grown older with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, and remain interested in returning to that familiar world.

The sequel's new mystery is centered on a snake named Gary De'Snake and the hidden history of the aristocratic Lynxley family. The expanded worldbuilding, including the new "Wetlands" system for reptiles and aquatic animals, refreshes the visual palette without abandoning the warmth and wit that defined the first film.

Disney's strategy in China also reflects a newfound precision. Releasing a major snake character during the Year of the Snake, using Taiwan Island rock band Mayday's "Party Animal" as the Chinese end-credits song was not a coincidence. Each move localized the global brand, embedding the film into existing Chinese fan cultures. 

Lin Xiao, who watched the movie on Thursday in Beijing, told the Global Times that she is a long-time fan of the Zootopia franchise. She booked a Dolby Cinema for the second day of the sequel's release to get the best viewing experience. Even though she reserved her tickets three days in advance, the best seats had long sold out. After waiting nine years, Zootopia 2 still exceeded her expectations.  

"The two-hour experience was absolutely worth the ticket price. The film includes many tributes, and the newly introduced animal characters fit in seamlessly," she said, noting that even though she's afraid of snakes, Gary wasn't scary at all.

As a fan of the band Mayday, she was delighted that the film used one of their songs as the ending theme, she added.

Perhaps most importantly, Disney has benefited from a maturing Chinese market that now prioritizes quality. In a slow season for new releases, a single strong title can spark widespread enthusiasm, and Zootopia 2 has done just that. Zhang noted that the film's performance is expected to push China's annual box office past the 50-billion-yuan mark, reaffirming that demand remains strong when a film is of sufficiently high quality.

However, the film is not without criticism. Some reviewers argue that the sequel struggles to replicate the freshness of the original and that the plot, while serviceable, leans on conventional patterns. Others contend that Judy and Nick's character arcs plateau rather than evolve to a higher state. These critiques underscore the inherent challenge of following a modern classic: Innovation must compete with audience expectations that have grown over nearly a decade.

In addition, some viewers have questioned whether certain voices in the Chinese dubbed version are a good fit.

In the end, Zootopia 2 arrives not just as a film but as a reminder. The market was never lost; it was merely waiting for a movie good enough to come along.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn