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Credit: Disney“Zootopia 2” was released in theaters on November 26, 2025, and quickly began to generate impressive box office numbers. This has led Disney fans to eagerly ask when it will be available on Disney+. The sequel brings back fan-favorite characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde for another adventure in the lively animal metropolis.
Based on its early performance, the film appears to be following in the footsteps of the original, which was a massive hit. The first “Zootopia,” released in 2016, earned over $1 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. It also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
As of early December 2025, the sequel has grossed around $955 million globally, with expectations to surpass $1 billion soon. This strong performance leads Disney to prioritize theatrical release over streaming, particularly as streaming services have disrupted traditional distribution and impacted revenue.
The Motion Picture Association reported a 4% decline in global theater attendance in 2021, partly due to the rise of streaming, which offers convenience and affordability, while also challenging studios to maximize theatrical revenue before transitioning to streaming.
Understanding Disney’s streaming strategy is vital for fans who prefer home releases to theater visits. The company has predictable timelines for when films move from theaters to Disney+, based on revenue maximization. For successful films like Zootopia 2, Disney aims to keep them in theaters longer to protect revenue, especially as audiences increasingly expect major releases to be available for home streaming.
What Zootopia 2 Delivers
In Zootopia 2, detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are tracking a mysterious reptile who’s disrupting the city’s peace. Their investigation takes them undercover into the Marsh Market, a new area of Zootopia that expands the world beyond what the first film showed. The case puts strain on their partnership and forces them to navigate their most complex investigation yet.
Ginnifer Goodwin returns as the determined rabbit cop Judy Hopps, while Jason Bateman reprises his role as the sly fox Nick Wilde. New voices join the cast, including Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, and Robert Irwin, adding fresh energy to the ensemble. Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore, Zootopia 2 runs 1 hour and 48 minutes with a PG rating. The film premiered at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre on November 13, 2025, and then opened wide in U.S. theaters on November 26.
The Box Office Performance
Zootopia 2 has earned $955.7 million worldwide as of early December 2025, with $227.5 million from domestic markets and $728.2 million from international markets. The film posted a strong $156 million domestic opening over the Thanksgiving weekend, demonstrating that theatrical releases can still generate massive revenue when the content justifies the trip to theaters.
Analysts expect the film to cross $1 billion soon, which would mirror the original’s success. That kind of performance validates Disney’s decision to give major animated releases full theatrical runs before streaming, protecting revenue streams that the shift toward subscription-based distribution models has eroded.
Studios face the challenge of balancing theatrical revenue with the expectations of streaming services. While subscription-based streaming platforms offer consistent income through monthly fees, this model can be less profitable for individual films compared to traditional theatrical releases, where studios receive a significant share of box office revenue.
The revenue-sharing structures on streaming platforms are often less predictable and potentially less rewarding for content creators. This creates tension between maximizing earnings from theatrical releases and meeting audience demands for streaming availability.
When to Expect Disney+ Release
Disney has not announced an official Disney+ release date for Zootopia 2, which is standard practice. They typically wait until a film has exhausted most of its theatrical potential before committing to a streaming date, avoiding situations where announcing a home release too early cannibalizes ticket sales from audiences willing to wait.
Based on recent Disney release patterns, expect Zootopia 2 to arrive on Disney+ around late February 2026. Inside Out 2 hit Disney+ approximately three months after its theatrical debut. That three-month window has become relatively standard for Disney’s major animated releases, striking a balance between the need to capitalize on theatrical revenue and the imperative to keep Disney+ stocked with high-value content.
Late February 2026 would put Zootopia 2 at almost exactly three months after its November 26, 2025, theatrical release. This timeline allows the film to complete most of its theatrical run, capture holiday moviegoers, and then transition to streaming at a point where theatrical revenue has largely plateaued.
The shift toward shorter theatrical windows represents a fundamental change in how the movie industry operates. Traditional funding models for films relied heavily on theatrical releases and box office performance. Streaming platforms have distinct financial structures that influence the revenue potential for filmmakers and impact the budgets and scale of their projects.
This has created ongoing tension between studios that want to protect theatrical revenue and audiences who have grown accustomed to watching major releases at home within months of their theatrical debuts.
What to Watch While Waiting
Fans eager for Zootopia content while waiting for the sequel have options on Disney+. The original Zootopia is streaming now, allowing viewers to revisit Judy and Nick’s first adventure. Zootopia+, a 2022 short series, offers side stories featuring characters from the original film. Trailers and special looks for Zootopia 2 are also available on the platform.
The Streaming Impact
The rise of streaming services has fundamentally disrupted traditional distribution channels, challenging the dominance of theaters and altering how films reach audiences. While streaming provides unprecedented access to diverse content and alternative distribution for independent filmmakers, it has also created financial challenges for the traditional theatrical model that studios relied on for decades.
Zootopia 2‘s strong box office performance demonstrates that theatrical releases remain viable for major titles; however, the inevitability of streaming availability within months affects how audiences decide whether to see films in theaters or wait for home viewing. This dynamic forces studios to carefully manage release windows, protecting theatrical revenue while meeting subscriber expectations for new content on streaming platforms.
Zootopia 2 builds on the original’s foundation while racking up impressive box office totals that justify Disney’s theatrical release strategy. With no firm streaming date yet, theaters remain the only option; however, established patterns suggest a late February 2026 release on Disney+. The sequel reinforces the franchise’s appeal while highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing theatrical and streaming distribution in an industry that has been fundamentally transformed by on-demand entertainment.