Zootopia 2 Photo: VCG

Disney's animated sequel Zootopia 2 has surpassed Avengers: Endgame to become the highest-grossing imported film in Chinese box-office history, according to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan.

On Monday, the film exceeded the previous record of 4.25 billion yuan ($607 million) set by Avengers: Endgame with 4.251 billion yuan at the box office, marking a milestone for a non-superhero imported title in the world's second-largest movie market.

The success underscores the enduring appeal of the Zootopia franchise in China, where it has blended strong intellectual property and careful localization, a combination that has resonated deeply with Chinese audiences, Zhang Peng, a cultural researcher and associate professor at Nanjing Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday.

"The core advantage of Zootopia 2 lies in its franchise momentum combined with precise localization," said Zhang. "The first film built a strong reputation, and the sequel extends its social allegory through a mystery-driven narrative that aligns with Chinese audiences' growing preference for story-driven content."

According to Zhang, the film's performance highlights broader market shifts: Some Hollywood animated films, when paired with universal themes and localized expression, remain effective, while demand for high-quality imported films beyond the superhero genre stays strong.

"The market is not fixated on spectacle alone. Strong storytelling and emotional resonance are now the real keys to long-term box-office success," he said, adding that imported films must genuinely respect and integrate local culture to achieve widespread acceptance.

Zhang added that the film's success also underscores the power of China's vast consumer base, which remains capable of propelling films to box-office heights rarely seen elsewhere, and that the market continues to show strong openness to both domestic and imported productions.

Released simultaneously in China and North America on November 26, Zootopia 2 has earned a score of 8.4 on Douban, a popular rating platform in China, based on more than 645,000 user ratings.

For some fans, the appeal has been personal. Lin Xiao, 30, based in Beijing, said she watched the film twice, first buying tickets three days before its official release only to find best seats already sold out.

"As a devoted Zootopia IP fan, it didn't disappoint at all," Lin said. "It felt like I was part of the city, adventuring with them, celebrating with them. Watching it was like joining a carnival," she told the Global Times. Lin returned weeks later to catch additional details, including homages to other films and Disney's princess franchise.

Ming Zhang, senior vice president and managing director of The Walt Disney Company (China) Limited, said that the franchise has held a "special place" with Chinese audiences for nearly a decade. 

Shanghai Disney Resort, home to the world's only Zootopia-themed park, hosted a major promotional campaign ahead of the sequel's release.

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 world-building includes the new "Wetlands" ecosystem for reptiles and aquatic animals.

At the film's China premiere, director Jared Bush said the timing of the release was deliberate. "We knew this was the year of the snake several years ago, and this movie had to come out this year. So that's very intentional."

The decision to use Taiwan-based rock band Mayday's hit "Party Animal" for the end-credit song of the Chinese dubbed version was also no coincidence.

The film has already set several records, including a single-day gross of 738 million yuan on November 29, 2025 - the highest ever for an imported film in China. It is also the first imported title since Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022 to cross the 1 billion yuan mark in the country.