{{Infobox film | name = Cheburashka 2 | image = Cheburashka 2 poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Dmitry Dyachenko | based_on = {{based on|''Cheburashka''|Eduard Uspensky}} | producer = {{Plainlist| * Eduard Iloyan (ru) * Denis Zhalinsky (ru) * Vitaly Shlyappo (ru) * Anton Zlatopolsky (ru) * Yuliana Slashcheva * Mikhail Tkachenko * Sergey Chibisov * Irina Vintovkina * Vasily Kutsenko * Ekaterina Dodonova }} | writer = {{Plainlist| * Vitaly Shlyappo * Vasily Kutsenko * Vyacheslav Zub * Anatoly Molchanov }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Olga Kuzmina * Sergei Garmash * Fyodor Dobronravov * Elena Yakovleva * Dmitry Lysenkov (ru) * Polina Maksimova (ru) * Sergei Lavygin (ru) }} | music = | cinematography = Ivan Lebedev | editing = | studio = {{Plainlist| * Yellow, Black and White * START Studio * Soyuzmultfilm * Russia-1 * CTC Media * Cinema Fund }} | distributor = Central Partnership | runtime = 103 minutes | released = {{Film date|2026|01|01|Russia}} | country = Russia | language = Russian | budget = ₽1.4 billion<br>$19.8 million | gross = {{plainlist| * ₽6 billion<ref name=r1>[https://ekinobilet.fond-kino.ru/films/detail/111048725/ Box Office], Russian Cinema Fund`s Analytics (RCFA). Accessed January 26, 2026.</ref> * $82,156,152<ref>{{cite web|title=Cheburashka 2|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt29261987|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=March 15, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cheburashka 2 |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Cheburashka-2-(2026-Russia) |access-date=January 26, 2026 |work=The Numbers}}</ref> }} }}
'''''Cheburashka 2''''', also known as '''''Chebi: My Fluffy Friend 2''''' ({{langx|ru|Чебурашка 2}}) is a 2026 Russian live-action animated children's comedy film directed by Dmitry Dyachenko, and produced by Eduard Iloyan, Denis Zhalinsky, Vitaly Shlyappo, Anton Zlatopolsky, and Yuliana Slashcheva. It also serves as the second installment in the Cheburashka franchise and a sequel to the 2023 film ''Cheburashka''.
The film follows the continuing adventures of the fairytale hero Cheburashka. He remains friends with Gena, but one day, a year after the events depicted in the first film, their peaceful life is disrupted by an unexpected event (the creators don't specify what it is until later). The film's action is intended to be more ambitious.
In the film ''Cheburashka 2'' the main cast of the first part returned to their roles: Olga Kuzmina, Sergei Garmash, Fyodor Dobronravov, Elena Yakovleva, Dmitry Lysenkov, Polina Maksimova, and Sergei Lavygin.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kp.ru/afisha/msk/obzory/kino/film-cheburashka-2-2024/ |title=Фильм «Чебурашка 2» (2026): новые приключения ушастого героя |language=Russian |trans-title=''Cheburashka 2'' (2026): New Adventures of the Big-Eared Hero |last= |first= |date= |work=Komsomol Truth |access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref> Principal photography for the previous part of ''Cheburashka 2'' began in May 2024 on the Central Embankment, the Sochi Arboretum park, and the Sanatorium named after G.K. Ordzhonikidze in Sochi, as well as in the cities of Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk and Yessentuki, Stavropol Krai, and Moscow.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rg.ru/2025/10/01/vyshel-trejler-filma-cheburashka-2-v-nem-poiavliaetsia-krokodil-gena.html |title=Вышел трейлер фильма "Чебурашка 2", в нем появляется крокодил Гена |language=Russian |trans-title=The trailer for the film ''Cheburashka 2'' has been released, and Gena the Crocodile appears in it. |last=Yolkin |first=Ilya |date=October 1, 2025 |work=Russian Gazette |access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref>
''Cheburashka 2'' was theatrically released in Russia on January 1, 2026, by Central Partnership.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afisha.ru/movie/cheburashka-2-295278/ |title=''Чебурашка 2'' / ''Cheburashka 2'', 2026 |website=www.afisha.ru |language=Russian}}</ref> The film has grossed $78.9 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in Russia of all time.
== Plot == {{Expand section|January 2026|date=January 2026}} Cheburashka lives with Gena, grows up, and they begin to have disagreements. Cheburashka shows independence and misbehaves, while Gena plays the role of a mentor. And suddenly, they learn that someone is planning to demolish their house.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kinoafisha.info/movies/8368958/ |title=''Чебурашка 2'' / ''Cheburashka 2'', 2026 |website=www.kinoafisha.info |language=Russian}}</ref>
== Cast == === Voice cast === * Olga Kuzmina as Cheburashka
=== Live-action cast === * Sergei Garmash as Gena, a gardener, and Cheburashka's guardian (counterpart to Gena the Crocodile) ** Artyom Bystrov as Young Gena * Fyodor Dobronravov as Valery "Valera" Zavgorodny, an exotic animal specialist, and Gena's friend ** Viktor Dobronravov as Young Valera * Elena Yakovleva as Rimma, the factory owner, and Sonya's grandmother (counterpart to Old Lady Shapoklyak) * {{ill|Dmitry Lysenkov|ru|Лысенков, Дмитрий Олегович}} as Larion, Rimma's assistant (counterpart to Shapoklyak's pet rat Lariska) ** Sergei Staykin as the Boy Larion * Eva Smirnova as Sonya, Rimma's granddaughter * Ilya Kondratenko as Grisha, Gena's grandson * {{ill|Polina Maksimova|ru|Максимова, Полина Владимировна}} as Tanya, Gena's daughter and Grisha's mother * {{ill|Sergei Lavygin|ru|Лавыгин, Сергей Валерьевич}} as Tolya, Grisha's father * Sophia Zayka as Galya, a saleswoman * Natalya Shchukina as Natalya <small>(English: Natalia)</small>, director of the arboretum, Gena's boss * Zhannat Kerimbaev as a janitor, Gena's friend * Olivier Siou as Rimma's French Chef * Marina Konyashkina as Lyuba, Gena's wife * Aleksandr Lykov as the Hunter, Larion's father ** Matvey Lykov as the Young Hunter
== Production == [[File:Olga Kuzmina 2023.jpg|thumb|upright|Olga Kuzmina (pictured in 2023) reprised her role as Cheburashka for the sequel.]] Work on the film's sequel began in 2023, following the resounding success of ''Cheburashka''. Dmitry Dyachenko returned as director, and Sergei Garmash returned to the role of Gena. This is a joint project of the film companies Yellow, Black and White, START Studio, Soyuzmultfilm, and Russia-1, work on the film was carried out with the support of the Cinema Fund.
=== Filming === The main filming phase lasted from June 3 to November 22, 2024. Filming again took place at the Sochi Arboretum and other scenic locations in the city. Filming began in Moscow in early June 2024. Some scenes were shot in the mountains to create the large-scale landscapes for the adventure portion of the story. As in the first film, a combination of live action, computer graphics (CG), and motion capture technology was used to create the character of Cheburashka. The same team that worked on the original film was responsible for the visual component.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kino.mail.ru/news/96599-chto-izvestno-o-filme-cheburashka-2/ |title=«Чебурашка 2»: что известно о датах выхода фильма в 2026 году |language=Russian |trans-title=''Cheburashka 2'': What's Known About the Film's 2026 Release Dates? |last=Genberg |first=Ekaterina |date=July 31, 2025 |work=Cinema Mail |access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref>
== Release == In September 2023, it was announced that ''Cheburashka 2'' would be released theatrically on January 1, 2026,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6235887|title=Продолжение фильма «Чебурашка» выйдет в 2026 году|language=Russian|trans-title=The sequel to the film ''Cheburashka'' will be released in 2026.|last=Goroshilova |first=Alexandra|date=September 22, 2023|work=The Businessman or Commerce Man|access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> but this was later moved forward to December 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rg.ru/2023/12/11/premera-cheburashki-2-perenesena-na-bolee-rannij-srok.html|title=Фото: названа новая дата выхода продолжения "Чебурашки" |language=Russian|trans-title=Photo: A new release date has been announced for the Cheburashka sequel.|last=Alperina|first=Susanna|date=December 11, 2023|work=Russian Gazette|access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Following the release of the short film ''Cheburashka''. Day Off, the December release date was reaffirmed.
On March 21, 2024, Sergei Garmash announced that filming for ''Cheburashka 2'' and ''Cheburashka 3'' would begin in early June 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dzen.ru/a/ZfxZJeP5mjblX1PR|title=Вторую и третью части фильма "Чебурашка" начнут снимать летом - Гармаш|language=Russian|trans-title=Filming of the second and third parts of the film "''Cheburashka''" will begin this summer - Garmash|last=|first=|date=March 21, 2024|work=Zen|access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Soon after, on March 25, 2024, the release date was moved back to January 1, 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rewizor.ru/cinema/news/cheburashka-2-vyydet-pozje-chem-ojidalos/|title="Чебурашка 2" выйдет позже, чем ожидалось|language=Russian|trans-title=''Cheburashka 2'' will be released later than expected.|last=|first=|date=March 25, 2024|work=Rewizor.Ru|access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref>
===Theatrical=== ''Cheburashka 2'' premiered on December 24, 2025 at the KARO 11 October cinema center on New Arbat Avenue in Moscow. Its wide release in the Russian Federation occurred on January 1, 2026<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazeta.press/culture/2026/01/01/22280713.shtml|title=В кино вышли «Чебурашка 2» и «Буратино». Стоит ли их смотреть?|language=Russian|trans-title="Cheburashka 2" and "Buratino" have been released. Are they worth watching?|date=January 1, 2026|access-date=February 4, 2026}}</ref> with Central Partnership handling distribution. The film was also released in various Russian-speaking CIS markets, such as Kazakhstan and Moldova. It also received a limited release in the United States on January 24th of the same year.
== Reception == On the first day of its release, ''Cheburashka 2'' grossed 507 million rubles ($6.70 million), becoming the highest-grossing opening day in Russian film in history.
=== Critical response === ''Cheburashka 2'' received more positive critical reviews than the original film, who praised the acting and the script, but complained about the film's humour.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kritikanstvo.ru/movies/cheburashka2/ |title=Рецензии на фильм Чебурашка 2 (2026), отзывы |language=Russian |trans-title=''Cheburashka 2'' (2026) movie reviews |last= |first= |date= |work=Kritikanstvo |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title|id=29261987}}
Category:2026 films Category:Cheburashka Category:2020s children's comedy films Category:2026 computer-animated films Category:2020s Russian films Category:2020s Russian-language films Category:Russian children's comedy films Category:Russian sequel films Category:Films with live action and animation Category:Films based on Russian novels Category:Films based on children's books Category:Black Sea in fiction Category:Films shot in Sochi Category:Films shot in the North Caucasus Category:Films shot in Moscow Category:Russian nonlinear narrative films Category:Films using motion capture Category:Films about deaf people Category:Russian animated comedy films Category:Animated films about father–daughter relationships Category:Films about chocolate Category:2026 children's films