In an unexpected twist, Disney’s animated sequel Zootopia 2 is beating James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash at the global box office—giving the studio a rare double win.
Zootopia 2 vs Avatar: Fire and Ash Collection: As of late January 2026, Zootopia 2 has raked in an impressive $1.746 billion worldwide, while Avatar: Fire and Ash follows at $1.381 billion.
Both are Disney properties, but the competition reveals a fascinating story about modern moviegoing habits.
The China Effect
The secret to Zootopia 2’s dominance? China. The animated hit has earned over $624 million in the Chinese market alone—nearly half its international total.
The original Zootopia became a cultural phenomenon there in 2016, and the sequel capitalized brilliantly on that love affair.
Released on November 26, 2025, Zootopia 2 enjoyed a strategic three-week head start before Avatar arrived on December 19. That holiday advantage proved golden.
Avatar’s “Underperformance”?
Despite crossing the billion-dollar mark—an achievement most films only dream of—some analysts call Avatar: Fire and Ash a slight disappointment.
Its predecessor, The Way of Water, had reached $1.7 billion by this point in 2023.
However, Avatar films are famous for their “long legs,” playing in theaters for months. There’s still time for a comeback.
Record-Breaking Success
Zootopia 2 is now the second-highest-ni grossing animated film ever and sits at #9 on the all-time global chart.
Industry experts predict it will finish near $1.85 billion, while Avatar: Fire and Ash may become the first franchise entry to miss the $2 billion mark, closing around $1.5 billion.
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Disney wins either way—and audiences worldwide are getting two blockbuster experiences worth the ticket price.
Chaitan Limkar is an entertainment writer specializing in movie reviews, box office collections, and web series coverage. With a sharp understanding of audience preferences and industry trends, he delivers accurate, engaging, and insight-driven content on films and digital streaming platforms. His writing focuses on honest reviews, reliable box office analysis, and timely entertainment news, helping readers stay updated with the latest happenings in cinema and OTT entertainment.
