"Zootopia 2" has sent a clear message to the global film industry that moviegoers in China, just like audiences worldwide, are craving great story elements over hollow spectacles, said Hollywood filmmaker and producer Keith Collea.
In an online interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) from Los Angeles on Friday, Collea attributed the massive reception of the animated sequel in China, where it has grossed over 539 million U.S. dollars, to its respect for the art of narrative.
"I think this result sends a very clear signal that movies are not dead. Audiences are simply selective. When a film offers strong storytelling, emotional intelligence, re-watch value, Chinese audiences show up in massive numbers. What's important here is that 'Zootopia' isn't successful because it's loud or expensive. It's successful because it's structurally strong. It works on multiple levels -- entertainment for children, social insight for adults, it has universal human themes that travel across cultures," Collea said.
"Is it replicable? Yes, but not by accident. It's replicable only if filmmakers focus less on spectacle and more on story architecture, character, clarity, rhythm and meaning. When those elements are designed properly, audiences everywhere, including China, respond consistently," he added.
The box office for "Zootopia 2" in China has outstripped the U.S., further cementing the Chinese market as a crucial consideration for Hollywood.
"China today represents the most sophisticated and consequential film audience in the world. It's no longer a secondary market or an add-on. It's a market that can determine whether a film succeeds globally. Now, from a producer's perspective, the mistake Hollywood often makes is assuming Chinese audiences want something fundamentally different. They don't. What they want is the same thing all audiences want: clear stories, emotional truth, and characters worth following. The future isn't about westernizing Chinese stories, it's about honoring Chinese culture, while using storytelling discipline that already works globally. When Hollywood stops assuming and starts listening, co-creations become far more effective than co-productions," said Collea.
Meanwhile, international films are increasingly having to compete with Chinese domestic films, with a few like the blockbuster "Ne Zha 2," released earlier this year, even reaching global audiences at scale.
In Collea's view, the country's film industry holds strong potential to reach new heights in the coming years.
"I'm cautiously optimistic, strategically optimistic. The infrastructure's there, tens of thousands of screens, strong distribution and an audience that still treats cinema as a shared social experience, especially in second- and third-tiered cities. Now, what the market is waiting for is consistency. Not one breakout hit every few years, but a reliable pipeline of well-crafted films that audiences trust. When that happens, the upside is enormous. We're not talking about recovery, we're talking about the next phase of growth, where Chinese cinema isn't just strong domestically, but influential globally," he said.
Success of 'Zootopia 2' in China shows power of strong storytelling: Hollywood producer
