Core Insights - The performance of two major films, "Zootopia 2" and "Avatar: The Way of Water," in the Chinese market is being closely monitored by Hollywood, as it may significantly influence future strategies in China [1][10][12] - "Zootopia 2" is expected to play a crucial role in determining whether Hollywood can still rely on the Chinese market, especially given its historical success with the original "Zootopia" [12][16] Industry Overview - The Chinese box office is currently at approximately 467 billion yuan, with "Zootopia 2" being a key project that could help surpass the 500 billion yuan mark for the year [5] - The film industry in China is facing increasing competition, and the overall performance is still below pre-2020 levels despite a record number of cinemas [5][9] Market Sentiment - There is a growing concern among Hollywood executives that if "Zootopia 2" and "Avatar: The Way of Water" do not perform well, it could signal a permanent decline in Hollywood's influence in China [10][26] - Recent trends show a shift in audience preference towards domestic films, with 32% of Chinese viewers favoring local productions over Hollywood's 31% [24] Marketing Strategies - Disney has invested heavily in marketing "Zootopia 2" in China, employing various promotional tactics to engage audiences [17][28] - The marketing budget for Hollywood films targeting China remains high, but the effectiveness and return on investment are increasingly questioned [28][31] Box Office Performance - "Zootopia 2" has already set records with over 220 million pre-sale tickets and achieved a first-day box office of 2.28 billion yuan, with projections suggesting a total box office of around 25.88 billion yuan [31][34] - The film's success is seen as a potential indicator of the viability of Hollywood films in the Chinese market moving forward [31][39]