At the end of the year, I like to see what movies are crushing at the box office and what filmmakers can take from them.
And this year, the movie that's dominating is Zootopia 2. It not only dominated the American box office to become the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year, surpassing Lilo & Stitch's $1.038 billion haul, but it also crossed the $1 billion mark globally in just 19 days, which is almost unheard of in theatrical movies nowadays.
So what are the things filmmakers should pay attention to when they see a hit like this one?
Let's dive in.
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1. The Global Audience is Essential
I often think about Hollywood as just America, but the lines that used to be drawn have gone away. Now, every movie made has the ability to be shown around the world.
The single biggest factor in Zootopia 2's phenomenal success is its incredible performance overseas. Of its current $1.13 billion total, a staggering $877.7 million comes from international markets. This puts the film on a path to be just the 14th film ever to hit a billion dollars alone outside the U.S.
These types of wins set big trends.
So, do you have a topic that's going to bring people in? Because when it comes to producers, they're going to be looking for things that can bring in those numbers internationally.
The days of a film relying solely on its domestic gross are over.
To succeed with a spec, you ned to develop a story that appals dot a diverse, global audience.
Zootopia 2's overwhelming international gross underscores that this is where the biggest returns on investment are found.
2. Character Chemistry is the True Franchise Engine
Nine years after the original, the enduring appeal of Zootopia 2 comes down to the core friendship between Judy and Nick. Audiences didn't just want to see the city of Zootopia again; they wanted to see them again.
The first movie was a mystery where the characters developed a friendship, but now in this movie, they're having trouble being partners on the police force.
So it's not about becoming friends, but about learning to work together.
This new one builds on these characters and delivers an even bigger mystery for people to solve that goes new places within the world, so you get even more worldbuilding.
Filmmakers should take note that a successful sequel doesn't just rehash the first story; it applies pressure to the characters' established dynamics and goes deeper into the world we were already given.
If you want to build a franchise or have someone see franchise potential in your work, you have to have somewhere to go with the characters and offer up a big enough world where producers can see how it expands.
'Zootopia 2'Credit: Disney
3. Quality is Still King
While box office success is often linked to recognizable IP, Zootopia 2 earned strong critical and audience reviews, including an "A" CinemaScore.
If you've seen the movie, you know it's good. And a good movie really matters. I know people will downplay this part, because not every good movie makes money, but iif you get that right, everything else will be so much easier.
The hype needs some substance to give your project some legs.
In an era of instant digital critiques, a "crowd-pleaser" with genuine artistic and emotional merit has a competitive advantage.
So make sure it's good!
Summing It All Up
The billion-dollar success of Zootopia 2 is massive, and the way it has rocked the box office and captured hearts and minds has given filmmakers a lot of valuable lessons.
If you're a filmmaker looking for some success, start by coming up with an idea that feels universal and then populate it with characters people love, and hope it turns out well. The key to success is just building this all one by one and hoping our work finds its audience.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
