In-Depth Analysis of the Impact of Zootopia 2's Box Office Success on Disney (DIS) Business

Zootopia 2 was released during the Thanksgiving holiday on November 26, 2025, and as of January 2026, it has set multiple historical records, becoming a new benchmark for Hollywood animated films[1][2].

Metric	Value	Industry Significance
Global Total Box Office	$1.703 billion	Surpassed Inside Out 2 ($1.69 billion) to claim the title of highest-grossing Hollywood animated film of all time
Fastest to $1 Billion Record	The fastest MPA animated and PG-rated film to reach $1 billion in box office
5-Day Opening Box Office	$559.5 million	Highest opening weekend (5-day) in global animated film history
2025 Global Ranking	No. 1	Highest-grossing film released in 2025 worldwide
Cumulative Franchise Box Office	$2.7 billion	Combined total of the two Zootopia franchise films

Region	Box Office Revenue	Proportion	Remarks
Chinese Market	$619 million	36%	Highest box office for a Hollywood animated film in China ever
Other International Markets	$690 million	41%	Set records in 26 markets including France ($71.7 million) and Japan ($83 million)
United States/Canada	$390 million	23%	3rd highest-grossing film in the U.S. in 2025

Notably, the Chinese market contributed over one-third of the total box office, which is closely linked to the Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland[1][3].

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The world’s first Zootopia-themed land, invested and constructed by Disney at Shanghai Disneyland, officially opened in

, becoming one of the most influential expansion projects in the park’s history[3][4].

Year	Number of Visitors	YoY Change	Global Ranking
2022	5.5 million	-	-
2023	6.5 million	+18%	-
2024	14.7 million	+5%	5th Worldwide
2025 (Projected)	15.3 million	+4%	Remains in Top 5

According to the Global Experience Index report released by the

, Shanghai Disneyland set a new record with 14.7 million visitors in 2024, becoming the [4]. The report clearly states:

“Asia’s market growth in 2024 was led primarily by China, with Shanghai Disneyland setting records. This achievement is largely attributed to the Zootopia-themed land that opened in late 2023. Its flagship attraction, “Zootopia: Hot Pursuit,” continues to draw large numbers of visitors and has received extremely high visitor satisfaction ratings.”[4]

To coincide with the film’s release, Walt Disney World’s

launched an all-new in October 2025, deeply integrating the film IP with theme park experiences[3].

1. Content-Driven Visitor Growth
   : Media exposure before and after the film’s release boosted willingness to visit the parks
2. IP Immersive Experience
   : Visitors can “step into” the film’s scenes at the parks, enhancing emotional connection
3. Stimulated Secondary Consumption
   : Film-themed merchandise and F&B consumption within the parks increased significantly

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The

of Zootopia 2 is directly recorded in Disney’s Film Entertainment segment revenue. Based on a typical distributor’s revenue share (approximately 40%), it is expected to bring Disney approximately [2].

The film’s popularity will continue to drive the following revenue streams:

Revenue Channel	Expected Contribution	Time Frame
Disney+ Paid VOD	$50 million+	3-6 months after the film’s theatrical run ends
Home Entertainment (DVD/Blu-ray)	$30 million+	Long-term sales
TV Licensing	$20 million+	Over the next several years

According to Disney’s FY2025 financial data, the Studio Entertainment segment recorded revenue of

, representing a year-over-year increase of 2.7%. The success of Zootopia 2 provided a significant revenue boost to this segment[5].

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According to industry analysis reports, licensed merchandise sales for Zootopia 2 are expected to generate

during 2025-2026[6].

Merchandise Category	Estimated Sales	Proportion
Plush Toys	$85 million	28%
Apparel & Accessories	$112 million	37%
Toys & Games	$65 million	22%
Books & Publications	$38 million	13%
Total	$300 million+	100%

Data shows that merchandise revenue from animated films is typically

that of live-action films, due to the following reasons:

1. Broad Family Audience
   : PG-rated animated films are suitable for viewers of all ages
2. Strong Character Appeal
   : Animal characters are more easily adapted into products like plush toys
3. Cross-Generational Consumption
   : Parents purchase items for their children while also buying collectibles for themselves
4. Long-Tail Effect
   : Peak sales of successful animated merchandise can last 6-8 months, followed by stable sales at 40-50% of peak levels for 12-18 months[6]

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Disney’s unique business ecosystem has formed a powerful

:

Film Release → Increased Theme Park Visitor Traffic → Growth in Merchandise Sales Revenue → Growth in Streaming Subscriptions → Success of Next Film

The success of Zootopia 2 perfectly demonstrates this model:

1. Content-Driven
   : The film became a hot topic, enhancing brand awareness
2. Experience Conversion
   : Fans visit the theme parks to “pilgrimage” to the film’s scenes
3. Consumption Conversion
   : Merchandise, F&B, and accommodation consumption within the parks increased across the board
4. Long-Term Value
   : The IP’s popularity enhances the content value of the streaming platform

Revenue Source	Estimated Amount	Proportion of Studio Entertainment Revenue
Box Office Share	$680 million	44.7%
Merchandise Sales (Licensing Fees)	$45 million	3.0%
Theme Park Synergy Increment	$150 million	9.9%
Streaming/Home Entertainment	$100 million	6.6%
Total	$975 million	64.2%

The single film Zootopia 2 may contribute over

of the growth momentum for Disney’s FY2025 Studio Entertainment revenue.

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Factor	Impact
IP Value Validation	Demonstrates the market appeal of Disney’s classic animated IPs
Chinese Market Breakthrough	Achieved record performance amid restrictions on Hollywood films
Theme Park Synergy	Shanghai Disneyland continues to benefit from IP-driven expansion strategies
Analyst Confidence	Disney received a credit rating upgrade from S&P, with analysts consensus rating of “Buy” and a target price of $139[5]

Risk	Explanation
Growth Slowdown in 2026	Theme park visitor traffic data shows early signs of growth slowdown
Price Sensitivity	Premium pricing strategies may suppress some consumer demand
Increased Competition	Competitors such as Universal and Netflix continue to increase investment in animation
Geopolitical Risks	Uncertainties in Sino-US relations may impact performance in the Chinese market

Indicator	Value	Industry Position
Market Capitalization	$199.93 billion	Entertainment industry giant
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E)	16.17x	Below historical average
Gross Margin	Approximately 35%	Stable
Return on Equity (ROE)	11.67%	Above average

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The unprecedented success of Zootopia 2 has exerted

on Disney’s business:

1. Film Business
   : The $1.703 billion box office set a new record for Hollywood animation, validating the enduring value of classic IPs
2. Theme Parks
   : The Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland drove a 5% increase in visitor traffic, demonstrating the growth potential of IP-driven strategies
3. Merchandise Sales
   : Expected to generate over $300 million in licensed merchandise revenue, highlighting the advantages of animated film merchandise
4. Brand Value
   : Strengthened Disney’s leading position in the family entertainment market

Looking ahead, Disney has announced that Zootopia 3 is in development, which is expected to continue this successful model. With the expansion of businesses such as the new theme park in Abu Dhabi and Disney Cruise Line, as well as continued investment in the Disney+ platform, the commercial value of the Zootopia IP is expected to be further unlocked.

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[1] Deadline - “Zootopia 2 Bests Inside Out 2 To Become Highest Grossing MPA Animated Movie With $1.7B WW” (https://deadline.com/2026/01/box-office-zootopia-2-animated-movie-record-1236689228/)

[2] Los Angeles Times - “Zootopia 2 is the highest-grossing U.S. animated movie of all time” (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-01-18/zootopia-2-is-highest-grossing-us-animated-movie-of-all-time)

[3] Forbes - “Zootopia 2 Isn’t The Overnight Success That It Seems” (https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinereid/2025/12/02/zootopia-2-isnt-the-overnight-success-that-it-seems/)

[4] Shanghai Government/TEA - “Shanghai Disneyland secures global top 5 position with record attendance” (https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20251027/63087f5dd6ff4d2dad7e736573ead8d6.html)

[5] Jinling AI - Disney (DIS) Company Profile and Financial Data (API Database)

[6] Accio - “Zootopia 2 Merchandise Boom: $300M Sales Opportunity for 2025” (https://www.accio.com/blog/zootopia-2-merchandise-boom-300m-sales-opportunity-for-2025)