NEW YORK – “Zootopia 2” surged back to the top of the domestic box office in its third weekend, pulling in $26.3 million and reclaiming the No. 1 spot after a relatively quiet frame for theaters. The animated sequel has now become only the second film of the year to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide, cementing its status as one of 2025’s biggest commercial successes. With no major new wide releases entering the marketplace and audiences largely sticking with familiar titles, the weekend turned into a showdown between holdovers, led by “Zootopia 2” and the horror sequel “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.” The Disney release ultimately prevailed, continuing a strong run that has been fueled by sustained interest both domestically and overseas.
Globally, “Zootopia 2” has amassed approximately $1.14 billion in ticket sales, with China playing an outsized role in that total. The film has generated more than $500 million in the Chinese market alone, making it the most successful Hollywood release there in several years and underscoring the franchise’s enduring appeal. The only other Hollywood film to surpass $1 billion worldwide this year is Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” which has earned about $1.04 billion, though the overall global box-office crown belongs to Chinese phenomenon “Ne Zha 2,” which has taken in nearly $2 billion from China alone. Meanwhile, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” added $15.4 million in its second weekend, a steep 70% drop from its debut but still enough to bring its domestic total to $95.5 million, a highly profitable result given its modest $36 million production budget.
Further down the chart, James L. Brooks returned to directing after a 15-year absence with “Ella McCay,” which marked the most notable new release of the weekend but struggled to gain traction. The political comic drama earned just $2.1 million from 2,500 locations, placing it among the weakest wide openings of the year. Starring newcomer Emma Mackey as a 34-year-old woman who unexpectedly becomes governor of her home state, the film faced an uphill climb due to poor reviews and shifting audience tastes that have made adult-oriented prestige comedies a tougher sell in theaters. Despite a well-known supporting cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Ayo Edebiri, and Woody Harrelson, the $35 million production failed to break through with moviegoers.
Overall, ticket sales for the year remain roughly on par with last year’s underwhelming totals, leaving the industry looking toward the upcoming holiday corridor for a late boost. Traditionally, the busiest period on the theatrical calendar, the weeks ahead are expected to deliver a slate of high-profile releases aimed at drawing audiences back in larger numbers. Among the films set to anchor the end-of-year box office are “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” “Marty Supreme,” “Anaconda,” and “Song Sung Blue,” all of which Hollywood is counting on to help close out 2025 on a stronger note.
