Zootopia 2 Overtakes Endgame as China’s Top-Grossing Hollywood Film
A Disney animated sequel has just surpassed Avengers: Endgame at the Chinese box office, setting a new record and shaking up the Hollywood rankings. Find out which film now leads and how it achieved this milestone.
Disney ’s latest animated sequel has officially dethroned a Marvel blockbuster as the highest-earning Hollywood release in China. Zootopia 2 has pulled in RMB 4.251 billion (about $607.82 million) at the Chinese box office, narrowly edging out Avengers: Endgame, which previously held the record with RMB 4.25 billion ($607.67 million). These numbers come from the Chinese ticketing service Maoyan.
Over the first weekend of January, Zootopia 2 reclaimed the top spot at the Chinese box office, surpassing James Cameron ’s Avatar: Fire and Ash. During the January 2–4 period, the animated film brought in $17.1 million. According to DiscussingFilm, Zootopia 2 also broke the $100 million mark in a single day in China—a feat previously achieved only by Endgame. With a production budget of $150 million, Zootopia 2 has now reached a global total of $1,588,247,129.
Franchise Momentum and Local Appeal
The original Zootopia, released in 2016, earned $1.025 billion worldwide, including $236 million from China alone. The sequel’s massive success is credited to the franchise’s strong reputation and its ability to connect with local audiences. Cultural researcher Zhang Peng explained,
The core advantage of Zootopia 2 lies in its franchise momentum combined with precise localization. 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.
Peng also noted that high-quality imported films are now outperforming superhero movies in China, saying, “The market is not fixated on spectacle alone. Strong storytelling and emotional resonance are now the real keys to long-term box-office success.”
Hollywood’s Top Performers in China
Zootopia 2 now leads the list of Hollywood’s highest-grossing films in China, just ahead of Endgame. The Fate of the Furious, starring Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel, holds third place with $392.8 million, followed by Furious 7 at $390.9 million and Avengers: Infinity War at $359.5 million.
Marvel movies have consistently performed well in China. Endgame’s total haul in the country reached $632.1 million, with Infinity War at $359.5 million, Venom at $269.2 million, Age of Ultron at $240.1 million, and Spider- Man: Far from Home at $199 million. In contrast, DC ’s Aquaman is the top DCEU performer in China with $298.3 million, while Justice League, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Wonder Woman trail behind.
Changing Tastes and Future Prospects
While DC’s Superman only managed $8.9 million in China, the Avatar franchise continues to draw crowds, with the original film earning $262.1 million and The Way of Water at $245.9 million. Avatar: Fire and Ash is closing in on the $100 million mark.
Looking ahead, Marvel fans are eager to see if the MCU can reclaim its dominance in China with the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the Marvel universe, this time as Doctor Doom, reportedly signing a $100 million contract for the role. Expectations are high for the film to surpass $2 billion worldwide.
Avengers: Endgame is currently available to stream on Disney+.