Movie night went next-level in China as theaters threw a one-of-a-kind “pets-only” screening of Zootopia 2, letting dogs tag along with their humans for the big-screen fun. Across several cities, fans showed up with their four-legged buddies to catch the Disney sequel, which is already smashing records there.
People take their dogs to the Zootopia 2 screening
From Shanghai to Lanzhou, select theaters went all-in for pets, letting only dogs and their humans in while keeping regular viewers (and allergy concerns) out. Seats came stocked with diaper pads and cleaning wipes, and owners handled the cleanup.
Extras like “calm dog zones” in Beijing, LED-lit photo spots in Shenzhen, and same-breed screenings in Chengdu kept every pup comfy. Over in Lanzhou, Wanda Cinema even teamed up with local pet adoption groups for fun, feel-good activities alongside the movie.
Social media blew up as clips and pics of theater-dwelling pups went viral. Fans melted over dogs, some sporting Zootopia costumes, glued to the screen. Comments like “Dogs in Judy Hopps outfits watching Zootopia 2 is the cutest thing ever ” and “Chinese dogs living better than most Americans” lit up feeds everywhere. Viewers were impressed by how well-behaved and entertained the dogs were in the theaters.
Zootopia 2 didn’t just impress the furry beings but also smashed records at the Chinese box office. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the sequel raked in a jaw-dropping $275.6 million in just six days, making it the highest-grossing animated foreign movie ever in China.
Disney’s follow-up to the 2016 hit clearly hit the sweet spot with audiences, grabbing about 95% of all ticket sales that opening weekend. Thus, cementing itself as one of the studio’s most significant releases of the year in the region.
China’s pet-only screenings are turning heads and showing how creative cinema marketing can get. By giving our furry friends front-row treatment, theaters didn’t just make animal lovers squeal. They also grabbed global attention for thinking outside the box. This paw-on-the-seats move proves that movies can be fun, inclusive, and heartwarming, whether you walk on two legs or four.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on ComingSoon.
