‘Zootopia’ Brings In $73.7 Million For Massive Box Office Weekend

The animated Disney flick “Zootopia” just had a stunning weekend in the box office, taking in $73.7 million domestically while bringing its total worldwide ticket sales to $232.5 million since opening three weeks ago.

As Deadline.com reported, the film was helped by strong sales in China and Russia, which contributed an additional $63.4 million in ticket sales this weekend. This weekend’s sales mark the biggest haul for a non-Pixar Disney Animation film, surpassing , “Frozen,” which brought in $67.4 million in 2013.

“This is a huge debut; families flocked to ‘Zootopia,’ ” Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for comScore, told USA Today. “There hasn't been much family fare in the marketplace in the last few months, and that audience needed this film. ‘Kung Fu Panda 3' benefited from that need, and now it's ‘Zootopia's' turn in a big way.”

The film, about a con artist (a fox) and a police officer (a rabbit) has garnered superb reviews from critics. The New York Times called it “funny, smart, thought-provoking — and musical, too.” Rotten Tomatoes, a film review website, gave it a near-perfect 98 percent.

“‘Zootopia’ is filled with lovable characters and a heartfelt message for kids – along with a layered subtext for adults that is both timely and moving,” Ben Kendrick writes at ScreenRant.com. “Poignant storytelling, vibrant animation, and memorable heroes produce an imaginative throwback to classic Disney animation for modern moviegoers.”

The film was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures — the production company's 55th animated feature film. It was directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush and stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman.