As December 2025 unfolds, China's cinematic landscape continues to redefine global entertainment benchmarks. Disney's Zootopia 2 has emerged as a cultural and commercial phenomenon, amassing 2.28 billion yuan ($322.98 million) in the Chinese mainland box office by December 5, 2025 – making it the highest-grossing imported animated film in China's history.
The film shattered records on November 29 with a single-day haul of 738 million yuan, surpassing the previous benchmark set by Avengers: Endgame. By December 3, it had crossed the 2-billion-yuan threshold, establishing the Chinese mainland as the movie's largest global market – outperforming North American returns by significant margins.
Beyond theatrical success, Zootopia 2 has catalyzed an IP-driven economic boom through strategic partnerships with over 60 brands. Collaborations span designer toys, smart home devices, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics, demonstrating the growing sophistication of China's entertainment-commerce ecosystem.
This success underscores the Chinese mainland's pivotal role in global film distribution, with industry analysts noting increased localization strategies by international studios to cater to Asian audiences. The achievement comes as China's cultural sector shows robust post-pandemic recovery, contributing significantly to the nation's soft power and creative economy.
