‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Is Already Outpacing ‘Zootopia 2’ in Overseas Ticketing Race

China has been a tricky market for Hollywood in recent years, and Marvel knows it better than most. Interest in ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ on Maoyan, the country’s largest online ticketing platform, is now climbing at a pace that is turning heads. The film’s early buzz in China looks stronger than that of one of the biggest foreign hits the market has ever seen.

For years, a Marvel release in China was practically a guaranteed event. That reputation faded as the franchise hit a rougher patch and local productions took a bigger share of the box office. Against that backdrop, any sign of a Marvel comeback there carries extra weight.

The “want-to-see” metric on Maoyan has now passed 558K for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. For comparison, ‘Zootopia 2’ sat at 548K at the same point in its own countdown. That film went on to reach 2.3M want-to-see marks in total, and its run in China finished above $650M.

Want-to-see counts measure interest, not tickets sold, so they work as a signal rather than a forecast. Still, they are one of the few early gauges available this far from release. Matching the pace of a record-setting animated sequel is a strong place to start.

That comparison matters because of what ‘Zootopia 2’ accomplished. Reports at the time said it became the highest-grossing imported film in Chinese box office history, overtaking ‘Avengers: Endgame’. Disney also described it as the biggest Hollywood release ever in China when measured in local currency.

The “want-to-see” metric for ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’ in China’s biggest ticketing platform, Maoyan, has crossed 558K. For comparison, ‘ZOOTOPIA 2’ reached 548K at the same point in time and ended up with 2.3M total which translated to over $650M box office finish. https://t.co/Yv0BL2LbfL

— MovieHub (@moviehubnow) November 8, 2026

The latest figures build on a trend that has been developing for weeks. Earlier tracking showed ‘Doomsday’ at 253K want-to-see marks 69 days before release, just behind the 264K that ‘Endgame’ had reached at the same stage. At that point it also ranked first on Douban’s list of the most anticipated foreign-language films of the year.

That early reading suggests the film may be recovering ground that Marvel lost in the market. A summer release, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, opened to $121.3M across its first 5 days in China, which was described as Hollywood’s strongest superhero debut there in years. Fans are now watching whether ‘Doomsday’ can build on that.

Disney has confirmed that ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ will open in Chinese theaters on December 16, two days ahead of its December 18 release in the United States. The local poster carries a line announcing a global early release, and the film is expected to screen in IMAX in China. Collectible tickets exclusive to the market have also been teased.

Marvel’s promotional push began in China before the trailers arrived. The cast appeared via video at the Bilibili World convention in Shanghai in July, where Robert Downey Jr. told fans they loved China. The studio clearly sees the country as a key part of a global launch.

He used to be different. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/J5PUbxvAkc https://t.co/OUutSMZneq

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 15, 2026

A first unofficial projection put the film’s China run at around $360M, though Disney has not commented on that figure. Other reports mention a target of more than $300M. By comparison, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ earned roughly $575.8M there in its first 11 days in 2019, and the market has changed a great deal since then.

There is plenty of competition, too. The film arrives opposite ‘Dune: Part Three’ in North America, a clash fans have nicknamed “Dunesday”. A report suggesting the sci-fi film has been pushed back in China has not been independently verified.

Domestic tracking has been strong as well. Estimates for the opening weekend in North America range widely, with some trackers eyeing more than $400M and some analysts urging caution. Presales have also drawn comparisons with the record-setting start of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’.

For a franchise that has weathered some box office disappointments, a strong showing in China could be the difference between a big opening and a historic one. A global debut approaching $1 billion has been floated by commentators, though those are estimates rather than forecasts. China’s contribution to that total would be one of the biggest swing factors.

None of this guarantees ticket sales, and word of mouth will matter once the film actually arrives. But passing a record-setting benchmark this early is the kind of milestone that gets a studio’s attention.

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