'Zootopia 2' reclaims No. 1 spot at box office, grosses $1B worldwide

Disney’s Zootopia 2 reclaimed the domestic box-office top spot with $26.3 million in its third weekend and has now grossed $1.14 billion worldwide, propelled by a $502.4 million haul in China that makes it the biggest recent Hollywood hit there and the second 2025 film to exceed $1 billion (after Disney’s Lilo & Stitch). Universal/Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 tumbled about 70% to $15.4 million in its second weekend but has earned a domestic $95.5 million on a reported $36 million production budget, underscoring strong franchise economics despite sharp drops. Overall U.S. ticket sales remain roughly flat year‑over‑year, keeping studio fortunes dependent on China and the upcoming holiday slate (including Avatar: Fire and Ash) to drive a stronger year‑end recovery.

Analysis

Disney's Zootopia 2 reclaimed the domestic box-office No. 1 slot with an estimated $26.3 million in its third weekend and has now grossed $1.14 billion worldwide, driven by an outsized $502.4 million haul in China that makes it the biggest recent Hollywood hit there. The sequel is the second 2025 title to surpass $1 billion globally after Disney's Lilo & Stitch ($1.04 billion), while the highest-grossing film of the year remains the domestic Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2, which generated nearly $2 billion in China alone.

Universal/Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 posted $15.4 million in its second weekend, a steep ~70% decline from debut, yet it has reached $95.5 million domestically on a reported $36 million production budget, illustrating strong franchise-level economics despite rapid decay. New wide release Ella McCay earned a weak $2.1 million from 2,500 locations on a $35 million budget and has poor critical reception (22% on Rotten Tomatoes), highlighting the risk profile for mid‑budget adult dramas.

Comscore data show overall U.S. ticket sales roughly flat year‑over‑year, making the upcoming holiday slate (including Avatar: Fire and Ash) a critical swing factor for studio full‑year performance. Market signals attached to the article indicate a mildly positive tone and a favorable per‑ticker sentiment for DIS (0.6), but the concentration of incremental upside in China and the crowded holiday release schedule are key near‑term risks to monitor.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Consider modestly increasing exposure to Disney (DIS) to capture upside from Zootopia 2's China-driven box-office performance, while limiting position size given China concentration and the competitive holiday slate
• Monitor second‑week drops and franchise durability metrics (weekend decay, international splits) when assessing studio equities or film-centric revenue forecasts, as FNAF2's ~70% decline shows front-loaded risk
• Avoid allocating capital to businesses reliant on mid‑budget adult theatrical releases without clear audience demand, as Ella McCay's $2.1M on a $35M budget and 22% RT score highlights downside for this segment
• Track weekly Comscore and Chinese box-office updates closely and reassess positions ahead of major holiday releases (Avatar: Fire and Ash and others) since they will materially influence studio earnings momentum