How Zootopia 2 Became the No. 1 Animated Pic of All Time

Disney CEO Bob Iger, movie czar Alan Bergman and global marketing exec Asad Ayaz were certainly hopeful when attending the world premiere of Zootopia 2 on Nov. 13 in Los Angeles. But there were no guarantees the movie could match the first film, an original tale about a city of anthropomorphic animals where every species is expected to treat each each other with respect (good luck).

Days later and thousands of miles away, the Disney executives got an additional glimpse of what might be in store when surveying the scene at the international premiere of the Thanksgiving tentpole at Shanghai Disneyland, where a Zootopia-land attraction has become the driving force of attendance.

“I think we knew we had something special just because that first movie was so beloved and did so well. But I think the way we rolled this movie out all over the world was at a whole different level,” Ayaz tells The Hollywood Reporter. “In China, it was the biggest campaign we’ve ever done for a movie. We were there ourselves, and you could see the love the fans have for the property.”

Sequels can be always be risky, but Zootopia 2 hit its mark and then some, thanks to getting almost as many general audience members as kids and parents. And it is among the few titles to break the curse that has seen the Chinese market snub most American fare.

Zootopia 2 has shattered one record after another in countries across the globe on its way to passing up Inside Out 2 ($1.68 billion) to become the biggest Hollywood animated film of all time at the worldwide box office with more than $1.87 billion in ticket sales, not adjusted for inflation. That puts it in the same territory as the biggest superhero fare, stormtroopers and Avatar (although it beat the most recent installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash).

Put another way, it now sits at No. 8 on the list of history’s top-grossing films globally regardless of genre. Furthermore, it has become the top-performing Hollywood title of all time in China after taking out Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame ($632.1 million) with more than $650 million in ticket sales.

Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard from a script by Bush, Zootopia 2 reunites the optimistic young rabbit Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and sly red fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), who are newly partnered on the police force overseen by the intimidating cape buffalo Chief Bogo (Idris Elba).

“There’s all of these themes in the movie about underdogs taking on corruption and breaking down barriers and different cultures. And it’s kind of incredible because the movie does have a sophistication to it, which is why it’s done great both with families and with general audiences all over the world,” says Ayaz. “I think these guys came up with the idea for telling an even richer story by bringing in these new characters and keeping the old characters.”

And franchise newcomer Shakira was also invaluable in both starring in and promoting the pic, he says. “She was a great partner on the campaign, and we did a custom music video with her. So by the time we started screening the movie all over the world, people were already excited about what they were seeing. We permeated the culture in all kinds of different ways,” Ayaz adds.

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Reviews, hitting just before the movie opened Nov. 26, were glowing. “Donald Trump may be attempting to resurrect the long defunct Rush Hour franchise, but there’s no need. The best buddy cop movie in eons has arrived in the form of Zootopia 2. This sequel to 2016’s smash hit Oscar-winning animated film proves more than worth the lengthy wait, knocking it out of the park with its dazzling visuals, sophisticated humor and doses of genuine emotion,” wrote THR critic Frank Scheck. Audience scores were equally as strong.

The film’s success extends far beyond any single territory. Even excluding China, Zootopia 2 has outgrossed the entire worldwide total of the original Zootopia, which topped out an an impressive $1.025 billion in 2016. “The first Zootopia movie did extremely well and it was a big success,” says Ayaz. “But this is at an unprecedented level.”

There’s one record yet to achieve — repeating Zootopia’s Oscar win for best animated feature. Other titles vying for the prize at this year’s March 16 Oscar ceremony include Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation’s KPop Demon Hunters (Zootopia 2 was also nominated at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Critics’ Choice Awards).