Zootopia 2 Review: Disney Delivers A Near-Perfect Sequel

Nick Wilde, Gary De'Snake and Judy Hopps Falling In The Mountains In Zootopia 2

By Molly Freeman Published 22 minutes ago Molly Freeman is ScreenRant's Senior Editor - Superheroes, and one of ScreenRant's Rotten Tomatoes-approved critics. She oversees the content operation of ScreenRant's Superheroes vertical, covering Marvel and DC movie and television releases while managing a dedicated team of passionate writers and editors. Molly has been at ScreenRant since May 2014, working across many teams—including news, features, interviews, social media and reviews—before launching the Superheroes vertical in 2023. Previously, Molly served as a TV writer at Bustle, and a writer, editor and podcast host at BreakThru Radio. She's had entertainment and pop culture essays published on HelloGiggles and Femsplain, and her expertise has led to appearances on podcasts like Total Geekall. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Outside of Pixar, Walt Disney Studios hasn't done very many theatrical sequels to their successful animated films, so Zootopia 2 joins an exclusive club where Frozen 2, Moana 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet exist alongside few other movies. With Zootopia 2, Walt Disney Animation Studios proves that sometimes animated movie sequels just make sense.

Following on from the first Zootopia movie, which released nearly 10 years ago, Zootopia 2 picks up shortly after the original film, finding Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as unlikely partners on the city's police force. However, they're still considered newbies, and Judy's fierce desire to prove herself lands the two in a great deal of trouble while they unravel a new mystery.

As the 100th anniversary of Zootopia's founding draws near, Judy and Nick uncover a secret that was long since buried, one having to do with a new animal in town, Gary De'Snake (Ke Huy Quan). With Nick and Judy's fledgling partnership in danger of being dissolved if they don't figure out how to work together, they're joined by new allies as they venture all around the city to crack the case.

Zootopia 2 Establishes Disney's Own Kid-Friendly Knives Out Franchise

One of the biggest reasons Zootopia worked as well as it did was that the movie had a clever mystery at its heart, one with surprising twists and turns that took audiences young and old on an exciting romp through the titular metropolis. Jared Bush, who co-wrote the first film's screenplay, returned for the sequel, writing the script and co-directing alongside fellow Disney Animation veteran Byron Howard (Tangled, Encanto).

The story of Zootopia 2 is just as twisty as the previous film, though it's a bit more predictable. Nonetheless, Bush's script delivers a mystery worthy of Zootopia, and it becomes plain to see that Disney could very easily make a franchise out of Nick and Judy's city beat. If Bush and his collaborators at Disney can craft even more intricate mysteries that are fun for all ages, audiences will no doubt keep coming back.

Zootopia 2 Expands The World Of Disney's Most Unique Metropolis

Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps Rowing A Small Boat In Marsh Town In Zootopia 2

Another standout element from the first Zootopia movie was the city itself and the inner workings of its politics and residents. In Zootopia 2, Bush digs even deeper into the history and lore of the city, revealing how Zootopia was founded and the complex power dynamics that keep it running.

The Zootopia 2 story also takes viewers to new locations, like Marsh Market, which helps to ensure the film feels like it's breaking new ground even as the themes are a bit of a retread. The first film leaned heavily on the dynamics of predator vs prey animals to convey its message of acceptance. In Zootopia 2, that message is clumsily repackaged with snakes and reptiles being scapegoated and shunned from the city.

Still, the messages of acceptance and open-mindedness in Zootopia 2 are just as important now as ever, which gives the film a very solid heart even if the story is a little familiar.

Nick & Judy Are Joined By New Scene-Stealing Characters

Nick Wilde, Nibbles Maplestick and Judy Hopps in Marsh Town In Zootopia 2

Along with expanding the world of Zootopia comes introducing a whole host of new animal characters. Quan's Gary De'Snake is a delightful addition to the world, and his journey in Zootopia is unexpectly sweet. Meanwhile, Fortune Feimster's Nibbles Maplestick is a hilarious and scene-stealing beaver, and Andy Samberg's Pawbert Lynxley rounds out the main cast with a charming performance.

Disney went much bigger in Zootopia 2, and there's a long list of big stars who have cameos in the film — including Robert Irwin and Dwayne Johnson — but these appearances never draw away from the story of Nick and Judy, which is central to the film. Their partnership is in danger because the two approach their cases very differently, and their story sees the pair learning to compromise and communicate in order to strengthen their bond.

Judy and Nick's story isn't necessarily groundbreaking, but it ties in nicely to the overall themes of Zootopia 2. The film is, at its heart, about accepting others' differences and how diversity can create a better world, which is something our real world sorely needs to hear.

Zootopia 2 Is A Near-Perfect Disney Movie Sequel

Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps in Partner Therapy In Zootopia 2

In Zootopia 2, Bush, Howard and Disney go bigger while maintaining the first film's heart, and although the movie retreads some of the same themes, it's a tightly woven mystery with plenty of emotion and humor threaded through to keep audiences of all ages engaged. There are a wide variety of jokes in the film, some that land and some that don't, but there's certainly something here for everyone.

With a studio like Walt Disney Animation, where they've released so few sequels in theaters, it might be expected that they'd flounder a little, but Zootopia 2 is just as strong as its predecessor. It manages to expand the world in exciting ways, tell another compelling story with its main characters and recapture the magic of Zootopia.

8/10

Zootopia 2

Like Follow Followed PG Family Comedy Crime Adventure Animation Release Date November 26, 2025 Director Byron Howard, Jared Bush Writers Jared Bush

Cast

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Ginnifer Goodwin Judy Hopps (voice)
Jason Bateman Nick Wilde (voice)

Genres Family, Comedy, Crime, Adventure, Animation Expand Collapse

Movies
Zootopia 2

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