China’s theatrical market cooled further in the Jan. 9–11 frame, with Disney’s “Zootopia 2” holding on to the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive weekend after it reclaimed pole position last week.
“Zootopia 2” added RMB49.1 million ($6.9 million), according to Artisan Gateway, lifting its cumulative total to RMB4.31 billion ($607.2 million).
Maoyan Movie’s crime thriller “The Fire Raven” stayed close behind in second place, earning $6.8 million. The film continued to show solid traction, pushing its running total to $42.3 million after less than two weeks in release. Directed and written by Sam Quah, the film stars Peng Yuchang, Alan Aruna and Chang Ning and follows the reopening of a long-dormant murder case that exposes a wider network of corruption and revenge.
James Cameron’s sci-fi epic “Avatar: Fire and Ash” moved to third, grossing $6.5 million over the weekend. The 20th Century Studios release has now reached $146.6 million in China.
Huace Film & TV’s “Back to the Past” placed fourth with $4.9 million, taking its cumulative haul to $33.7 million. The feature film adaptation of Hong Kong broadcaster TVB’s 2001 historical sci-fi series “A Step Into the Past” is produced by Louis Koo‘s One Cool Film Production, with Koo serving as producer. The project reunites the principal cast from the original television series 24 years after it first aired. Koo stars alongside Raymond Lam, Jessica Hsuan, Sonija Kwok, Joyce Tang and Michelle Saram, all reprising their original roles. New cast members include Bai Baihe, Michael Miu and Louis Cheung. The film marks the final screen appearance of the late Dick Liu Kai-chi.
Rounding out the top five was Chuanqiren Media’s family drama “Unexpected Family,” which collected $900,000 million and stands at $5.5 million to date. The comedy-drama is co-written and directed by Li Taiyan and centers on a young man who leaves his small town for Beijing and ends up entangled with an elderly man with Alzheimer’s who mistakes him for his son. The film stars Jackie Chan, Peng Yuchang, Zhang Jianing and Pan Binlong.
Overall, the China box office generated $31.6 million for the weekend. Year-to-date takings for 2026 have reached $162.4 million, running 9.9% ahead of the same period last year, though the market is clearly settling into a quieter post-festive rhythm with an eye on the Lunar New Year holiday next month when several big ticket releases are expected to bow.
UPDATED with latest figures: Disney, the No. 1-grossing motion picture studio of 2025, has just updated its year-end global box office number to $6.58 billion. Broken out for Disney, that’s $2.49 billion domestic and $4.08 billion international through Wednesday.
As we previously mentioned, it’s the biggest box office year for Disney or any studio since 2019. Disney has been No. 1 at the global box office for nine of the past 10 years.
“This has been a fantastic year for our Studio as we’ll ultimately have three billion-dollar hits from three different studios, plus a number of other strong performers throughout the year,” said Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment, in a statement. “It showcases the strength of storytelling across our creative teams and the great work of our marketing and distribution teams, along with everyone who helps make these successes possible. I’m thankful to our Studio team, and the amazing talent we’re fortunate to work with – as well as audiences all around the world.”
Upcoming releases in 2026 include The Mandalorian and Grogu over Memorial Day weekend, May 22; Avengers: Doomsday on December 18; Toy Story 5 on June 19 and the original Pixar feature Hoppers on March 6; the live-action adaptation of Moana on July 10; Hexed from Disney Animation Studios on November 25; sequels The Devil Wears Prada 2 kicking off summer on May 1, and Searchlight’s Ready or Not 2: Here I Come on March 27; plus Send Help on January 30, The Dog Stars on August 28 and Whalefall on October 16.
PREVIOUSLY, December 24: Disney Studios continues to show the power of the theatrical window as the Burbank, CA lot is officially crossing the $6 billion worldwide threshold today.
Broken out that’s $2.3B domestic, the best for any major motion picture studio stateside YTD, and $3.65B in international B.O.
We told you this was coming, but with the $450M+ and counting global success of James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, it happened a few days sooner.
Disney is the first and only studio to cross $6B this year, the next best major is Warner Bros with $4.3B. 2025 repped Disney’s biggest year at the B.O. since 2019 when it hit an all-time $13.1B ($11.1B from Disney titles alone, the rest being 20th Century Studios and Searchlight). That was the first and only time a major motion picture studio crossed $10B at the worldwide B.O. Note, Warner Bros, crossed $4B first this year before any other motion picture studio.
This is Disney’s fifth time clicking past $6B, the previous years being 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Disney’s flew to $6B this year off the heels of 16 wide releases including two $1 billion-plus grossing titles with Zootopia 2 ($1.3B to date) and Lilo & Stitch ($1.038 billion) — the only two MPA titles to cross that mark. There were also three Marvel Studios movies which combined topped $1.3B global: The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World. In addition there was Predator: Badlands which became the highest grossing in the 38-year old sci-fi thriller franchise with a near $184M as well as Freakier Friday ($153.1M). Not faring well, but contributing to the pot were Tron Ares ($142.2M), and Pixar’s Elio ($154.2M).
Avatar: Fire and Ash collected $50.8M worldwide yesterday, $16.5M of that coming from North America. The running total of the Cameron, Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa, Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno story by threequel is $119M domestic, with $331.1M overseas. China continues to lead all offshore results with $67M.
As we reported previously, Fire and Ash repped the second biggest global opening for an MPA title this year with $347M after Disney’s own Zootopia 2 ($560.3M). The threequel also repped the second biggest global opening for Cameron after 2022’s Avatar: Way of Water at $441.7M (historically reported).
James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continued to dominate the Korean box office over the Dec. 26–28 frame, grossing $8.6 million from more than 1 million admissions, according to KOBIS, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council. The film has now amassed $32.5 million.
“Zootopia 2” remained a powerful No. 2, adding $3 million for the weekend and lifting its cumulative total to $50.3 million. The sequel has now crossed 7.4 million admissions, cementing its status as one of 2025’s top-performing imported animated releases.
Opening in third place was the South Korean romantic drama “Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight,” which debuted with $1.2 million. Directed by Kim Hye-young and based on the novel by Ichijo Misaki, the film stars Choo Young-woo and Shin Si-ah in a bittersweet high-school romance centered on a girl with anterograde amnesia whose memories reset each morning. The film has earned $2.5 million in its first five days.
Japanese animated release “Crayon Shinchan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers” followed in fourth, grossing $773,000 for a running total of $1.8 million.
Local family title “Pororo the Movie: Sweet Castle Adventure” placed fifth, adding $147,000 to reach $1.2 million. Comedy-drama “The People Upstairs” continued its steady run in sixth, pushing its cumulative haul to $3.6 million. Directed by Ha Jung-woo and starring Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Dong-wook, Lee Ha-nee and Ha Jung-woo himself, the film follows a downstairs couple driven to exhaustion by constant noise from their upstairs neighbours. A tense dinner meant to resolve the issue quickly unravels into an evening of sharp confessions and shifting dynamics.
Stephen King adaptation “The Life of Chuck” opened in seventh with $43,642, while “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” added $38,622, bringing its total to $1.5 million.
Rounding out the chart were Japanese anthology features “Tatsuki Fujimoto 17–26 Part-1” and “Tatsuki Fujimoto 17–26 Part-2,” which earned $44,274 and $44,473 respectively.
The top 10 films collectively grossed $14.02 million over the Dec. 26–28 weekend, slightly down from last weekend’s $15.2 million.
(CNN) — Moviegoers flocked to theaters for Disney’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” on the last weekend of the year, solidifying the sci-fi adventure film’s place as one of the biggest blockbusters of 2025.
The third installment of director James Cameron’s “Avatar” films raked in another $64 million domestically Friday through Sunday, and roughly $181.2 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to $760.4 million.
“Fire and Ash” is the No. 6 highest-grossing film worldwide this year, having overtaken popular releases like Warner Bros. Discovery’s “Superman” and Sony Pictures’ “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” in just 10 days.
Warner Bros. Discovery is the parent company of CNN.
The big-budget “Avatar” franchise, which includes films from 2009 and 2022, has proved it can still draw large audiences to theaters with its spectacular visual effects.“Fire and Ash” has earned $96 million globally on IMAX and is expected to become IMAX’s biggest Hollywood release of the year, according to Disney.
“Premium formats (are) a huge factor for ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ despite the fact that consumers are price-sensitive,” said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore.
Audiences were also drawn to a diverse slate of movies this weekend. Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” which opened on Thanksgiving, finished No. 2 at the box office with $20 million, a 35% jump from last weekend, according to Comscore. “Zootopia 2” has grossed $1.4 billion worldwide — the second-highest-grossing movie of the year.
“(‘Zootopia 2’) gets the Most Valuable Player award for the holiday season,” said Dergarabedian, who noted that PG-rated movies earned $2.87 billion this year, while outperformingPG-13 movies.
At No. 3 was A24’s “Marty Supreme” — the sports comedy-drama starring Timothée Chalamet — which grossed $17.5 million amid a surge of attention on social media. It was driven by a male-dominated “Marty Army,” according to A24, with one-third of the movie’s audience being under 25 years old.
A24’s “Marty Supreme,” a ping-pong sports drama, attracted young audiences to theaters. Credit: A24 via CNN Newsource
After opening in six theaters last weekend in New York City and Los Angeles, “Marty Supreme” rode a wave of Oscar and online buzz to propel it to box office success in over 2,600 theaters, according to Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and owner of Box Office Theory.
“(A24) catered to the old and new mindsets of marketing a movie like this around the holidays, knowing that it would be an award season player,” he said.
Lionsgate Films’ “The Housemaid,” which opened last weekend, was No. 4 this weekend at $15.4 million. It was followed by Sony Pictures’ “Anaconda” ($14.5 million), a reboot of the 1997 movie.
Angel Studios’ “David” ($12.69 million) finished sixth, ahead of Paramount’s “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” ($11 million). Focus Features’ “Song Sung Blue” opened this weekend at No. 8 with $7.6 million.
This was the best Christmas week for the box office since 2020, according to Robbins.
“To have most of these seven major releases opening around Christmas do relatively well, and you either meet or exceed expectations — that has not happened very much in the post-Covid era,” Robbins said.
Sony’s “Anaconda,” a comedic remake of the 1997 horror flick, finished fifth overall. Credit: Matt Grace / Sony Pictures Entertainment via CNN Newsource
The overall domestic box office has grossed $8.76 billion in earnings in 2025, according to Comscore data. That’s up 1.56% from last year but still behind 2023, the only post-pandemic year to boast $9 billion in earnings.
Box office numbers are still well behind 2019, when domestic earnings totaled more than $11 billion.
But successful December films could carry over into a strong start for 2026, according to Dergarabedian, who estimates another $100 million can be added by the end of the year.
Dergarabedian said a strong release slate for movies next year could give theaters their best year since the pandemic.
Some of next year’s biggest movies include Universal Pictures’ “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” (April 3) and “Disclosure Day” (June 12), as well as Disney’s “Toy Story 5” (June 19). “Avengers: Doomsday” and Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Dune: Part Three” are both slated for December 18.
Refresh for latest…: James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ashhas reached an estimated $760.4M through Sunday globally. Within that, this return to Pandora is now at $542.7M from the international box office.
The sophomore session added $181.2M overseas amid just a 25% dip (-15% excluding China), and increases in some key markets.
The 20th Century/Disney sci-fi threequel is currently the No. 5 MPA global release of 2025, while the trio of Avatar films have now earned over $6B worldwide.
Fire and Ash is thisclose to topping the $100M milestone in China (sitting at $99.6M through today), and will become only the second Hollywood movie to get there in the market this year, behind Disney’s own Zootopia 2.
Regarding the latter, the animals have now grossed $1,420.9M worldwide, including $1,099.5M from overseas. This makes Zootopia 2 the first studio movie of 2025 to cross $1B at the international box office.
Z2 is also the top global release of 2025, the 3rd studio animated release ever worldwide and the highest-grossing Hollywood animated movie of all time internationally. It has also entered the Top 10 MPA international releases ever. Weekend five added $67.9M across all overseas markets, for a terrific 15% overall drop (-1% excluding China), with five key markets increasing from last frame.
Before we dig into more details on the above, here are some other highlights from the weekend: Paramount’s The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants opened to $22.1M (including previews) internationally in 76% of the offshore footprint – the global running cume is $60.3M. And, Universal’s Wicked: For Good crossed the half-century mark globally, getting to $504M amid a very slight 17% dip overseas and a domestic increase. Also from Universal, and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 crossed $100M internationally.
While overall box office revenue won’t make any gains in 2025, the same can’t be said of Disney.
The studios sprawling film empire on Wednesday will cross the $6 billion mark in global box office revenue for the year, having earned $5.967 billion globally through Tuesday, including $2.310 billion domestically and $3.656 billion internationally.
This marks the first time Disney has hit $6 billion since 2019, just before the pandemic struck and decimated moviegoing. Even before COVID, clearing $6 billion was no easy feat. No other studio has done so since 2015, while Disney is a now a five-time multiple offender (2016-2019, 2025).
Disney’s success this year has been fueled by 16 wide releases, led by the only two titles that have crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office: Zootopia 2, which has earned $1.311 billion to date, and Lilo & Stitch, which topped out at $1.038 billion earlier this year. Thanks to some nifty math, Disney is also reporting that three Marvel Studios’ titles have collectively grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide, even if not one title did so on its own; The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World.
Other titles helping to propel Disney past $6 billion were Predator: Badlands, Freakier Friday and Elio, albeit at much smaller numbers.
James Cameron‘s Avatar: Fire and Ash is the icing on the cake, grossing $450.1 million at the global box office after only seven days in release, including worldwide earnings of $51 million on Tuesday. In North America, it topped Tuesday’s chart with $16.5 million for a domestic tally of $119 million. Overseas, it finished the day with a foreign tally of $331.1 million.
Avatar 3 is easily expected to dominate the long Christmas weekend (Thursday-Sunday) with a four-day gross of $70 million to $75 million, if not more. Sony’s comedic adventure Anaconda, teaming Jack Black and Paul Rudd, opens nationwide on Dec. 25 alongside Timothée Chalamet‘s Marty Supreme and Focus Features’ music-infused Song Sing Blue, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. They join a crop of films opening last weekend that wanted to a jump on the holiday. In addition to Avatar, these include Lionsgate’s femme-skewing The Housemaid, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried; Angel Studios’ faith-based David; and Paramount’s The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, which still hopes to hunt down families after a soft debut.
Anaconda, Song Sing Blue, and Marty Supreme — which is expanding nationwide after opening in New York and L.A. last weekend to supremely impressive numbers after a massive marketing blitz by its leading man — will all hold Wednesday previews before opening everywhere on Christmas Day, which can be a busy day for moviegoing once presents are unwrapped.
TikTok’s music influence hit an all-time high in 2025. All year long, a steady stream of new tracks exploded into viral trends, defining the sound of a generation. Fresh releases found second lives as dance challenges, meme soundtracks, and emotional anthems for millions of people.
It was a year where a single catchy hook or heartfelt lyric could spark a global movement overnight. From tear-jerking ballads to high-energy bops, TikTok’s community turned songs into cultural moments. The platform’s trends shaped what we listened to, proving once again that the For You page doubles as 2025’s hottest music chart!
1. ‘Ordinary’ — Alex Warren
The not-so-ordinary love anthem of 2025.
It’s ironic how a song called ‘Ordinary’ became the year’s most extraordinary viral hit. Alex Warren’s ‘Ordinary’ started as a tender love ballad he wrote for his wife, but TikTok sent it stratospheric. The track’s earnest lyrics about everyday romance struck a chord in countless relationship montages across the app. By summer, you couldn’t scroll your feed without hitting a heartfelt video of couples, friends, or even pets set to Warren’s soaring chorus. The song’s universality, “the angels up in the clouds are jealous,” he croons made it the perfect soundtrack for love in 2025.
Its popularity was unparalleled: ‘Ordinary’ topped the Billboard Hot 100 for ten straight weeks, fueled by millions of TikToks using its chorus as an audio backdrop. Warren, a former content creator himself, clearly understood TikTok’s pulse. We embraced him as 2025’s patron saint of sappy romance, while skeptics jokingly wondered how a YouTuber-turned-singer quietly dominated the charts. Love it or not, ‘Ordinary’ became the defining sound of young love this year: a wedding-worthy earworm that turned our feeds into one giant lovefest!
The soulful slow-burn that TikTok turned into a global cry-fest.
Leave it to TikTok to catapult an R&B sleeper hit into the spotlight. Ravyn Lenae’s ‘Love Me Not’ dropped with a dreamy blend of retro-pop and indie vibes, but it truly caught fire when a creative TikToker mashed it up with Solange’s ‘Losing You.’ That unexpected mash-up became pure viral gold. Suddenly, ‘Love Me Not’ was the soundtrack to thousands of bittersweet montages: late-night drives, rain-soaked selfies, and “will they/won’t they” romance memes galore. The song’s chorus, an emotional tug-of-war of love and longing, had a way of making even silly videos feel touching.
TikTok’s Gen Z users turned Lenae’s heartfelt lyrics into a communal outpouring of feels, spawning a trend where creators shared stories of almost-relationships and unrequited crushes with the song swelling in the background. The emotional resonance was real: by mid-year, ‘Love Me Not’ had earned Lenae her first-ever spot on the Billboard Hot 100, cracking the top 25. Culturally, it hit that sweet spot between nostalgia and now. Here was a young R&B artist channeling vintage soul, and a new generation was crying and vibing in unison. In 2025, ‘Love Me Not’ proved that a TikTok trend can transform a slow-burn song into a worldwide cathartic sing-along.
TikTok has seen its share of dance trends, but this year, a handshake trend stole the show, all thanks to PinkPantheress’s ‘Illegal.’ The UK alt-pop sensation dropped ‘Illegal’ as a quirky, electronic-infused single, and it quickly fueled the global “Is this illegal?” handshake challenge. Besties everywhere learned the syncopated secret handshake (set perfectly to PinkPantheress’s hypnotic beat) and flooded TikTok with videos showing off their newfound duo skills. The trend’s wholesome twist, celebrating friendship and borderline mischief, resonated across cultures. From high school hallways in the US to friend groups in Tokyo, everyone was bonding over this track!
With over 3.7 million TikTok creations and counting, ‘Illegal’ became the friendship anthem of 2025. It even earned PinkPantheress her second appearance on the Hot 100, proving the song’s impact beyond the app. Emotionally, ‘Illegal’ struck a chord by tapping into that giddy, rebellious energy of doing something silly with your BFF. In a year when online trends often felt divisive, this one brought people together… one elaborate handshake at a time. PinkPantheress’s airy vocals and the track’s tongue-in-cheek title made it irresistibly memeable. ‘Illegal’ wasn’t just a viral song; it became a secret handshake that united everyone around the world (even celebrities).
The DIY glow-up jam that had everyone transforming.
Emerging Atlanta rapper BunnaB unleashed pure TikTok lightning with ‘Mad Again,’ a high-energy track that went from underground to unavoidable. How did it blow up? Two words: transformation videos. Creators on TikTok seized ‘Mad Again’ as the go-to soundtrack for their before-and-after glow-ups; think makeup transitions, room makeovers, and dramatic hair-dye reveals synced to the beat drop. The result? An explosion of ultra-satisfying content, each clip more addictive than the last. The song’s bold, confident hook also inspired a surprise secondary trend: a sign language challenge. Creators who are deaf and allies translated ‘Mad Again’ into expressive ASL performances, showcasing inclusivity in a way TikTok hadn’t seen before!
This one-two punch of visual trends launched ‘Mad Again’ into the viral stratosphere. By summertime, millions of TikToks featured the track, and BunnaB found herself with a breakout hit on her hands. The cultural resonance was big: here was a fierce female rapper (yep, BunnaB’s a woman killing it in a male-dominated scene) whose song empowered people to show off their transformations and personal growth. The track’s pounding bass and sassy lyrics became synonymous with confidence and change in 2025. If you flipped your look or your outlook this year, chances are ‘Mad Again’ was playing in the background, hyping you up for that reveal.
The K-Pop fantasy banger that blurred fiction and reality.
When a fictional K-Pop band from an animated film scores a real-life hit, you know TikTok is involved. ‘Golden’ by HUNTR/X, a glossy K-Pop/R&B hybrid track from the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters, transcended the screen and took on a life of its own. TikTok users globally couldn’t resist its charm. Multiple dance trends popped up, inspired by the movie’s choreography and the song’s impossible-not-to-dance hook. From teens showing off K-Pop moves to dads and kids dancing together after family movie night, ‘Golden’ turned into a cross-generational phenomenon. The track’s signature high note became a viral challenge in itself, with singers (and plenty of non-singers) attempting to nail it on camera.
Within days of the film’s release, ‘Golden’ was dominating not just TikTok but also Spotify and YouTube charts! A collaboration featuring real artists Audrey Nuna and EJAE, the song blurred the line between fiction and reality… and we ate it up. Creators used it for everything from outfit glow-up videos to celebratory montages, because its uplifting vibe instantly boosted any content. Emotionally, ‘Golden’ hit that feel-good spot; it’s joyous, inclusive, and just meta enough (a fictional band trending in real life!) to feel like a moment in pop culture history. By year’s end, HUNTR/X’s debut bop proved that in 2025, even cartoon pop stars can top the charts with a little help from TikTok.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT K-POP DEMON HUNTERS: INSTAGRAM
6. ‘DtMF’ — Bad Bunny
The Puerto Rican heartbreak anthem that had TikTok in tears.
In a year full of bops, Bad Bunny reminded everyone that a soft, nostalgic ballad can still rule TikTok. ‘DtMF,’ shorthand for Debí Tirar Más Fotos (“I should’ve taken more photos”), emerged as the most unexpectedly emotional viral trend of 2025. The song’s lyrics, where Bad Bunny laments not capturing enough memories with a lost loved one, struck a universal nerve. TikTokers began using ‘DtMF’ to soundtrack tribute videos, sharing personal montages of grandparents, parents, pets, and friends they’d lost. Suddenly, our feeds were filled with cherished snapshots and clips, each one more heart-tugging than the last. The trend became a communal space to grieve and celebrate life: a rare, tender moment on the internet.
Even Bad Bunny himself couldn’t stay dry-eyed: he posted a TikTok reacting to fans’ tributes, tears streaming as he watched their stories. That raw connection fueled ‘DtMF’ to juggernaut status. It quickly became the most-streamed song off his new album and climbed into TikTok’s top sounds. Culturally, the impact was huge! At a time when social media often feels shallow, this trend had millions openly discussing love and loss. Users commented about calling their abuela or saving more pictures; proof of music turning reflection into action. By blending Bad Bunny’s star power with genuine fan storytelling, ‘DtMF’ turned TikTok into a platform for healing in 2025. Grab the tissues…this one will be remembered as the song that made the internet collectively cry (in a good way).
The cheeky pop blockbuster that had everyone knocking on wood.
Leave it to Taylor Swift to drop a song so provocatively fun that TikTok couldn’t help but blush… and dance. ‘Wood,’ a standout track from her 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl, is arguably Taylor’s most ahem adult song to date. Fueled by innuendo about her beau’s “new heights of manhood” and a tongue-in-cheek “I ain’t got to knock on wood” hook, the song set the internet abuzz from day one. TikTokers wasted no time spinning it into a viral knock-on-wood dance challenge, complete with a playful tap-tap gesture on the lyric cue. Suddenly, everyone from college kids to actual carpenters (seriously) were posting videos, playfully knocking on tables, doors, and yes, wooden boards in sync with Taylor’s sultry chorus.
The trend’s humor and boldness felt so 2025: a celebration of owning one’s sexuality and having a laugh about it. Culturally, ‘Wood’ resonated as part of the Taylor-Travis Kelce love story that pop culture obsessively followed. Fans gushed that Swift seemed happier and more empowered than ever, and they channeled that energy into TikTok skits quoting her spicy lyrics. Swifties turned cheeky lines into captions (cue the magic wand jokes) and shared their shock-and-delight reactions to Taylor’s bold new era. By dominating conversation and spawning countless memes, ‘Wood’ proved that a well-crafted pop song can be both a chart-topper and a TikTok trendsetter! Taylor gave 2025 a song equal parts sexy and playful, and we said amen.
Gen Z’s existential pop mood, wrapped in a TikTok trend.
Jessie Murph delivered a late-year viral gem with ‘Certain Kind of Love,’ a song that turned one candid lyric into a TikTok catchphrase. The track’s pop-rock energy is amazing on its own, but it was the line “I don’t see a world where I turn 25” that set off a firestorm. Young TikTokers seized on those words, half-joking and half-emoting about the classic quarter-life crisis feels. In a trend equal parts dark humor and heartfelt yearning, creators would lip-sync that lyric and showcase their wildest dreams or chaotic life plans before the dreaded 25th birthday. Others made vision board-style videos, proclaiming they will see 25, complete with images of future goals, as Jessie’s anthem blared in the background.
The dual interpretations made the trend fascinating: some played it for laughs (“YOLO, who needs 26?”) while others found motivation in it. Either way, Murph’s raw, youthful vocals became the sound of Gen Z’s hopes and fears in 2025. The song itself, with its sparkling production and emo-pop vibe, resonated emotionally because it encapsulates that in-between feeling of being young and uncertain about the future. Culturally, ‘Certain Kind of Love’ gave voice to a generation’s anxiety, and did it in a way that was oddly uplifting. As the song climbed streaming charts (buoyed by TikTok exposure), it proved that sometimes one powerful lyric is all it takes to spark a movement. Jessie Murph went from a rising singer to the patron saint of “live in the moment” youth, and we couldn’t stop humming along!
The animated movie’s OST that had everyone doing the Shakira shimmy.
If you thought soundtracks were safe from TikTok’s grasp, think again. Shakira’s ‘Zoo,’ from Disney’s Zootopia 2, pounced onto the scene and immediately took over TikTok. With its signature Shakira bounce and irresistible rhythm, ‘Zoo’ has that universal appeal that makes people nod along…or better yet, jump up to mimic her moves. As the film hit cinemas, TikTok was flooded with clips of fans attempting the ‘Zoo’ dance. From expertly choreographed renditions to adorably clumsy first tries, creators worldwide got in on the fun. One day you’d see a Colombian dance crew nailing Shakira’s hip drops; the next, a suburban dad giving it his best shot in the living room. The hashtag #ZooDance trended in multiple countries as Shakira’s track united all ages in a celebratory shimmy.
Culturally, this song’s virality was a real full-circle moment: Shakira had given us a TikTok smash back in 2016 with ‘Try Everything,’ and here she was again, reminding us she’s still the queen of soundtrack pop. The emotional uplift of ‘Zoo’ was impossible to resist; it’s pure joy in musical form, arriving just when 2025 needed it. TikTok users used the song not only for dance challenges but to soundtrack zoo outings (of course), fitness routines, and any content needing a jolt of fun energy. Shakira even interacted with fans doing the challenge, further fueling the hype. By year’s end, ‘Zoo’ wasn’t just a song from a movie; it was a global TikTok party. When Shakira yells “Come on, get on up” in the chorus, you best believe millions are dancing like animated animals set free!
The hype rap bop that brought mosh-pit energy to our feeds.
Every year needs a no-holds-barred banger, and in 2025, it was ‘Whim Whamiee.’ This collab between rappers Pluto & YK Niece came out of left field and promptly took over TikTok with its chaotic, high-octane vibe. The track itself is two minutes of pure adrenaline, and TikTokers treated it like a rallying cry. Dance crews, gym rats, and party-goers all jumped on a trend of showcasing insane energy whenever ‘Whim Whamiee’ played. We’re talking college students turning dorm halls into impromptu mosh pits and choreographers bringing full-out hip-hop routines to the app. The song’s rapid-fire lyrics turned into a lip-sync challenge only the bold (or breathless) would attempt, while its bass drops fueled countless “hype me up” memes.
By mid-summer, ‘Whim Whamiee’ had the whole platform on its feet (literally). The frenzy propelled the song to #5 on TikTok’s own summer chart in the US, and its popularity spilled over to streaming services. Perhaps the biggest sign of its impact? Two of music’s heavy hitters, Lizzo and Sexyy Red, jumped on official remixes, dropping their own verses to ride the wave. We went wild at the co-sign: seeing A-listers vibing to a TikTok-made hit felt like vindication for internet culture. ‘Whim Whamiee’ resonated because it was pure fun: a little unhinged, a lot catchy, and totally participatory! In a year where many viral songs tugged at our heartstrings, this one was all about letting loose. It turned TikTok into a virtual nightclub where anyone could be the life of the party. And if you ask us, Pluto and YK Niece won 2025’s award for the most insane glow-up; from obscurity to everybody’s hype soundtrack, no VIP pass needed!
Rabbits and foxes and snakes, oh my! “Zootopia 2” is officially the highest-grossing Hollywood release of the year. Disney’s animal-packed animated sequel has earned a staggering $1.13 billion globally after 20 days of release, overtaking the haul of Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch” remake with $1.03 billion. A non-Motion Picture Association (MPA) film, China’s animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2,” remains 2025’s biggest release with $1.9 billion.
Another Disney juggernaut, James Cameron’s epic “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” could contend for the 2025 crown — considering its predecessors were $2 billion-grossing sensations. However, the threequel opens on Dec. 19 and will likely earn the majority of its money in the following calendar year.
On Friday, “Zootopia 2” surpassed the $1 billion mark after 17 days in theaters, the quickest PG film to achieve the milestone. The sequel stands as the seventh-biggest animated film in history, outpacing the original 2016’s “Zootopia” ($1.025 billion globally) and last year’s “Moana 2” ($1.06 billion).
Over the weekend, “Zootopia 2” added a staggering $131.1 million from 52 territories in its third outing, boosting its overseas tally to $877 million. It’ll soon become only the second animated movie in history to cross $1 billion at the international box office, following “Inside Out 2.” The follow-up film has been particularly massive in China with $502 million and counting, ranking behind only 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” ($632 million) as the largest MPA release in the country. Those ticket sales are notable because Chinese audiences haven’t been receptive to Hollywood fare in years.
Another Disney film, the James L. Brooks-directed “Ella McCay,” cemented the wrong kind of records for the studio over the weekend as the political dramedy flopped with $300,000 from five territories. That’s not a wide international footprint, of course, but the PG-13 movie was also rejected in North America with $2.1 million, to rank as the lowest start in modern times for Disney. Globally, “Ella McCay” has grossed a paltry $2.4 million against a $35 million budget. With weak reviews and poor audience scores, the film is unlikely to rebound in the coming weeks. Luckily, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is expected to end the studio’s year on a high note.
While “Zootopia 2” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” claw for the No. 1 spot at the North American box office this weekend, James L. Brooks’ political dramedy “Ella McCay” must settle for scraps. “Zootopia 2” took the top spot, grossing $6.2 million in its third Friday at the domestic box office, about a 40% […]
Disney canceled its Hong Kong premiere of Zootopia after dozens of people were killed in horrific high-rise fires in the region.
“Due to a serious incident that occurred in Hong Kong, the scheduled appearance of Joey Yung at the ‘Friendtastic!’ parade, Disney’s Zootopia 2 Selected Magic Access Members Special Screening at Hong Kong Disneyland, and the evening Gala Premiere at Hong Kong Disneyland on Nov. 27, 2025 (Thursday) have been canceled,” park officials posted on Instagram.
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Yung voices the Judy Hopps character in the dubbed version of Zootopia 2.
The park also canceled its fireworks show planned fireworks display. “Due to an incident in Hong Kong and out of respect, tonight Momentous: Party in the Night Sky will be canceled,” the resort posted later on Instagram. “Thank you for your understanding.”
The South China Morning Post reported today that at least 83 people have died in the fires at that devastated multiple high-rise public housing apartment buildings in the Tai Po district. Local officials said the fires now are “basically under control” but added than more than 75 people are injured — including nearly a dozens firefighters — and that 300 people still are missing.
The sequel from Walt Disney Animation Studios got off to a great start in China, scoring the country’s biggest opening day in ever for a Hollywood animated title at $34M, which is also the biggest launch-day gross for a studio movie there since May 2021. Zootopia 2 is expected to make more than $140 million worldwide through Sunday.
Zootopia 2 feels like a celebration of everything that made the first movie special. Ke Huy Quan and Ginnifer Goodwin talked to The Mary Sue’s Rachel Leishman ahead of the big opening weekend. Zootopia 2 has a lot of fan excitement surrounding the sequel. Both Quan and Goodwin are elated to welcome new fans into the fold. Everyone’s welcome to have a good time with these colorful characters, whether you’ve been there since the first movie or you just saw the trailers for the first time.
“Selfishly, I mean, I couldn’t be happier. [Zootopia] was my favorite job I ever had, until we did number two. Now, number two is my favorite job I’ve ever had,”Goodwin said. “So, it would be fine if we just made 3, 4, 5, and 6 and everything, I’d be very happy. I could just live in this world forever.”
“I feel like we know that everything Disney touches is gold, but I still didn’t really understand what it was that we made until we had put it out into the world,” she continued. “Because for us, for the most part, I feel like we make something. We believe in it, and we love it. But, the whole thing is, we have to let it go. It’s not ours to hold on to. And, we make these things to be like, released out into the wild, like a butterfly or something.”
“Who knows whatever is gonna happen? We can’t care too much about the results and like the reactions. We can’t necessarily always let that in, as actors. But this, I totally let it in,” Goodwin admitted. “I was thrilled with the response with its reception, and therefore I think we’re doing a lot more with number two to put it out into the world. And I love that it feels like a celebration so revisiting, it feels like a party… I feel like we’re in it together. We’re celebrating it together, so it’s just rewarding.”
Zootopia 2 welcomes fans old and new
(Disney)
Ke Huy Quan is a Zootopia 2 newcomer. His character Gary DeSnake is trying to warm up to a new place too. But, the Academy Award-winner has already felt the love from multiple different corners. Fans have been telling him how much his characters mean to them personally since the days of the Goonies.
“The beauty with these movies is you work really hard on it, you know? So many hundreds of people work on this movie, and once you’re done, you release it. I mean, it is what it is. You just hope for the best.”
He added, “But, you don’t quite realize and understand the impact the movie has on that generation until you meet them on the streets in person. And, when they tell you their stories, their childhood, and how they bonded with their parents watching this movie. That is the most beautiful thing to ever experience.”
Disney’s Zootopia 2 is ready to tango in theaters this weekend!
Zootopia 2 is officially in theaters, bringing Disney’s juggernaut of an animated franchise back onscreen for the first time in a decade. In the time since the release of the first film, the titular world and its anthropomorphic animals have lived on in theme park attractions, plenty of merchandise… and one comic that has become notorious in certain parts of the Internet.
Titled I Will Surviveand brought to life by artist William Borba, the webcomic might be best known to the chronically-online by its unofficial name: “the Zootopia abortion comic.” Yes, you read that combination of words correctly.
Published between March and June of 2017, I Will Survive stretches through a total of 25 issues… and it tells quite a story within that span of time. In it, happy-go-lucky bunny Judy Hopps discovers that she is pregnant with the baby of Nick Wilde, her witty partner who happens to be a fox. While fan works about characters having non-canonical pregnancies are certainly nothing new (especially in the furry community that has co-opted a lot of Zootopia‘s hype), the direction I Will Survive takes is something unexpected.
It not only gets into the specifics of inter-species sex in that universe, with Judy admitting that she didn’t think they could even have children, but it gets into the moral dilemma of whether or not to keep the child. Nick and Judy do not agree on that topic, and she wants to have an abortion. After a tearful and shockingly adult debate on the topic, the two of them eventually break up.
It needs to be seen to be believed…
I Will Survive has endured, in part, because of the tonal dissonance of its subject matter and characters: the idea of two animated animal Disney protagonists needing to have this debate at all. Its legacy also lives on in some of the deathly-serious tone that its dialogue takes — at one point, Nick calls Judy’s decision a “premeditated sin,” a line that has ascended into meme status in the years since its publication. People have even cosplayed as the story’s specific version of Nick and Judy, down to sporting Planned Parenthood merch and a pregnancy test.
Borba eventually published two sequels, titled Born to Be Alive and Never Say Goodbye, which somehow took things even further. Judy is established as bisexual, Nick’s emotional maturity is put to the test, and the entire thing culminates with… Judy almost dying in a take on the JFK assassination.
We don’t have enough time to unpack the content of these comics, and what Borba is ultimately trying to say with them. But as it stands, you could argue that I Will Survive (as its title suggests) was never truly going to die. Outside of judyhoppsl0vr69, it was easily the most infamous thing to spin out of the Zootopia fandom.
The release of Zootopia 2, however, has only exacerbated things. As soon as the movie’s marketing campaign began, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Nick is sporting a novelty t-shirt that says “Foxy dad.” Could it just be a pun for the sake of puns? Yes. Could it also hint at a less-problematic depiction of Nick and Judy potentially being expecting parents? Maybe.
Zootopia 2 is now playing exclusively in theaters.
Jenna Anderson is the host of the Go Read Some Comics YouTube channel, as well as one of the hosts of the Phase Hero podcast. She has been writing professionally since 2017, but has been loving pop culture (and especially superhero comics) for her entire life. You can usually find her drinking a large iced coffee from Dunkin and talking about comics, female characters, and Taylor Swift at any given opportunity.
Zootopia 2 reviews are out now, and if early reviews and Rotten Tomatoes scores are any indication, fans of the Disney franchise should be very excited.
What are the Zootopia 2 reviews saying?
Over on Rotten Tomatoes, Zootopia debuted to a magnificent 94% score. While not quite as high as 2016’s Zootopia (which had a 98% score), the score is still extremely high, and yet another Disney animated project that seems to be an incredible movie.
Slant Magazine Derek Smith praised the movie, saying that it “provides plenty of food for thought for its young audience, making a more expansive statement on the dangers of intolerance than the first film, and without sacrificing any of its charm, humor, or visual ingenuity along the way.”
Variety’s Peter Debruge also praised the film, saying “these movies are comedies first and crime-film homages second, but it’s their tertiary value as social commentary that makes the franchise so indispensable: Behind the laughs are teachable moments.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck also had positive things to say, noting that the sequel “proves more than worth the lengthy wait, knocking it out of the park with its dazzling visuals, sophisticated humor and doses of genuine emotion.”
Newsday’s Rafer Guzman praised the cast of the film, noting “the movie delivers a satisfying combination of laughs, family-friendly thrills and a new, not-so-subtle note of romance.”
ComingSoon’s Jonathan Sim also loved the movie, saying it’s not only “a worthy follow-up, but also a zippy, colorful, and surprisingly introspective buddy-cop adventure that expands the franchise in fur-nomenal new directions.”
“After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia’s history, rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find their partnership isn’t as solid as they thought when Chief Bogo orders them to join the Partners in Crisis counseling program. But it doesn’t take long for their partnership to be put to the ultimate test when they find themselves on the twisting trail of a mystery tied to the arrival of a venomous snake in the animal metropolis,” reads the official synopsis.
Encanto filmmakers Jared Bush and Byron Howard co-directed Zootopia 2, with Bush also writing the screenplay and Yvett Merino producing the movie. The sequel will also feature the return of Shakira as Gazelle, Idris Elba as Chief Bogo, Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps, Don Lake as Stu Hopps, Nate Torrence as Clawhauser, Jenny Slate as Bellwether, Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton, Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Big, Leah Latham as Fru Fru, Josh Dallas as Frantic Pig, Tommy Chong as Yax, and Mark Smith as Officer McHorn.
Zootopia 2 arrives in theaters on November 26, 2025.
Ke Huy Quanaddressed one of the most talked about questions surrounding the future ofThe Goonies while promoting his latest project. The original cast member explained where development on the long discussed sequel currently stands. They also shared new details about the progress of the script.
Ke Huy Quan talks about The Goonies sequel
Ke Huy Quan discussed the status of The Goonies sequel in an interview with ComicBook while promoting Zootopia 2. He said he has not read the script but confirmed that a second draft has been completed. Quan explained, “I first heard about it when I saw Steven Spielberg at an event and he was so excited,” and added, “We try to do it, so let’s manifest it. I know we’ve been trying for the last 40 years, but I feel quite good about it.”
Chris Columbus and Steven Spielberg are developing the sequel, Quan said. He noted the progress on the script, stating, “I read he turned in the second draft and they’re really happy about it.” He also told Fortune Feimster, “We’re gonna do it. I want her to be in it,” while confirming that he wants to play Richard “Data” Wang again. He said, “I would love to revisit that character and go on another adventure with my Goonies brothers and sisters.”
Potsy Ponciroli joined the project as the screenwriter when the announcement was made earlier in the year. Warner Bros. reported in January that the team had begun work on a sequel, and the studio confirmed in February that the film was officially moving forward. The 1985 film was a hit and later entered the United States National Film Registry for its cultural significance.
Josh Brolin shared information about earlier drafts in August (via Entertainment Online). He said writers had produced several scripts in previous years, but the team did not approve them. Reports at the time noted that these versions did not align with the direction the studio intended to pursue.
Quan’s comments about a completed second draft marked the latest step in the ongoing development of a new Goonies film.
How much is Zootopia 2 predicted to make during its opening weekend?
According to Box Office Theory, Zootopia 2 is now predicted to make somewhere between $115 to $130 million during its opening weekend.
Given that the movie is still a few weeks away from release, the numbers will likely fluctuate to some level, especially when the reviews start rolling in. Zootopia 2 will, however, be the first major studio animated release since August’s The Bad Guys 2, meaning it’s opening is almost certainly going to be big.
In comparison, the first Zootopia movie made approximately $75.1 million in the United States and Canada during its opening weekend when it was released in 2016. It went on to rake in $1.025 billion globally.
The official synopsis reads, “In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2, detectives Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia and turns the mammal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.”
The voice cast also includes Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Idris Elba, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Nate Torrence, Jenny Slate, Alan Tudyk, Maurice LaMarche, Leah Latham, Josh Dallas, Tommy Chong, Mark Rhino Smith, and Raymond Persi. Bush wrote the screenplay.
Zootopia 2 will be released on November 26, 2025. The first movie, meanwhile, is currently available to stream on Disney+.
Originality is still alive at Disney, and it’s taking the form of 2026’s Hexed.
Unveiled during the studio’s Destination 23 event, the Walt Disney Animation Studios film from Zootopia and Raya and the Last Dragon artist Josie Trinidad and Moana 2 co-director Jason Hand centers on “an awkward teenage boy and his Type – A mom,” per the logline. When they discover his oddness is actually magic powers manifesting, they learn of a secret world of magic that’ll forever transform their lives. (A premise Disney’s familiar with, as it’s similar to its Disney Channel series The Owl House.) Look for Hexed to hit the big screen in November 2026.
Coming to theaters in Fall 2026, Disney’s #Hexed is an all-new original film that follows an awkward teenage boy and his Type – A mom, who discover that what makes him unusual, might just be magical powers that will turn their lives and a secret world of magic, upside down.… pic.twitter.com/wGEM3gNkor
Separate from Hexed, Disney also announced Blue Sky’s Ice Age franchise will return with its sixth main installment, Burning Point. Developed by 20th Century Animation, the new film will see the cast of the previous films return in their respective roles for “a dinosaur-and-lava-filled madcap adventure that takes Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie, Scrat and the rest of the herd to visit never-before-seen corners of the treacherous Lost World.” Burning Point is set to release February 5, 2027.
In the more immediate future, Disney showed the audience scenes from Zootopia 2, Toy Story 5, and Hoppers. Toy Story and Zootopia featured new cast members—Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants for the former; Patrick Warburton and Yvette Nicole Brown as Mayor Winddancer and the Bearoness for the latter—and Hoppers got three clips to show off. Zootopia 2 is due out November 26, followed by Hoppers on March 5, 2026 and Toy Story 5 on June 19, 2026.
Bob Iger is back in charge of Disney and wasting no time restarting several of the company’s biggest and most lucrative franchises. During Disney’s earnings call, he revealed that the company has new sequels in the works from Toy Story and Frozen, as well as the first sequel from the popular Zootopia movie from 2016. This will be the fifth Toy Story and the third Frozen.
The most recent Toy Story opened in theaters in 2019. It earned over $1.07 billion worldwide. Frozen II premiered that same year; it made a whopping $1.45 billion in theaters. Zootopia was a similarly enormous smash, set in a world full of anthropomorphic animals. It earned $1.02 billion in theaters. While this will be the first sequel, the concept did recently get a spinoff series, entitled Zootopia+, on Disney+.
The Frozen and Zootopia series both seem tailor made to run forever, and those movies endings offer no impediments to future sequels. Toy Story 4, however, seemed like something of a definitive conclusion to the film, with Woody and Buzz actually splitting up, with Woody and Bo Peep choosing a life on the road helping “lost toys” reunite with new owners, while Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the old Toy Story crew choosing to stay with their current owner, Bonnie. Unless the sequel will focus on either Woody’s crew or Buzz’s group — something that would likely be met with some resistance from longtime fans — it’s going to be pretty complicated trying to figure out a way to combine the various characters again.
None of these films have announced release dates yet but animation takes time, so they are all several years away at minimum. Disney’s next animated release is Pixar’s Elemental, which premieres in theaters in June.
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