'Zootopia 2' - Heartfelt, laugh-filled sequel that proves Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are still Disney’s best duo.
Sequels don’t always recapture the magic of the original, but Zootopia 2 doesn’t just recapture its one most refreshing triumph for Disney. Everyone says, why is Disney doing another sequel, but this sequel totally hits the mark. It doubles the action, widens the emotional scope, and still finds constant room for clever jokes, warm character beats, and that irresistible signature charm. In short: Zootopia 2 knocks it out of the park. Fans who’ve been waiting nearly a decade to return to Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde’s world are going to walk out grinning.
When Zootopia released in 2016, it cleverly wrapped a buddy-cop mystery inside a bright, candy-colored metropolis of animals. But beneath the visuals was a surprisingly pointed allegory about bias, fear, and social issues, themes that felt ambitious then and land very differently in today’s post-Trump world. The film’s depiction of police heroism has become more complicated to revisit, and no matter how earnest its messaging, it bears the tone of inadvertent copaganda for kids. But it also grossed over a billion dollars worldwide and created an incredible two-character dynamic that fans immediately fell in love with. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde were like lightning in a bottle.
Disney’s Zootopia+ series offered a cute, snack-sized extension of the world, but without Judy and Nick anchoring the action, it lacked the star power and emotional nuances audiences were craving. Zootopia 2 corrects that course instantly and beautifully.
The sequel picks up with Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick (Jason Bateman) as established partners at the ZPD, though not necessarily harmonious ones. Their differences, Judy’s limitless earnestness and Nick’s laid-back cynicism, have been yin-yang or secret sauce for this franchise. After a bungled smuggling sting puts their partnership on thin ice, Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) forces them into group therapy led by Dr. Fuzzby, an endlessly upbeat quokka played with perfect comedic pop by Quinta Brunson.
Before long, their investigation leads them into the orbit of Zootopia’s first family, the wealthy and powerful Lynxleys, patrons of the prestigious Zootenial Gala. There, they encounter Gary, a pit viper voiced with delightful sincerity by Ke Huy Quan. Gary is searching for a centuries-old journal tied to the city’s mysterious weather walls — and he insists its contents prove reptiles were never the villains history has branded them to be.
When patriarch Milton Lynxley (David Strathairn) manipulates the situation to frame Judy and Nick, the film shifts gears into its most exciting stretch: a fugitive chase adventure that plays like classic buddy-cop mayhem but with modern warmth, humor, and a surprisingly timely message about rewriting harmful narratives. The trio’s race to uncover Zootopia’s true past is thrilling, visually playful, and packed with heart.
A buddy-cop movie is only as strong as its duo, and Judy and Nick remain one of Disney Animation’s greatest pairings of the last twenty years. Their chemistry is even richer this time, layered with a deeper vulnerability and a sincerity that never feels forced. The film allows them to grow not just as coworkers, but as friends who push one another to confront their worst tendencies and embrace their best instincts. Just want to spotlight Fortune Feimster was also excellent as Nibbles Maplestick.
But their relationship becomes the emotional anchor of Zootopia 2, grounding the story’s mystery in something much more intimate: the fear of losing someone who makes you braver. The film playfully teases the possibility of romance without committing, but the tenderness between them is undeniable. Whether viewers ship them or simply enjoy their partnership, there’s no denying these two belong in Disney’s canon of iconic duos.
While Zootopia 2 doesn’t lean as hard into political territory as the original, it threads an intriguing thematic needle. The idea of questioning institutional narratives, especially those designed by the wealthy and the powerful, is timely, and handled with far more nuance than you might expect from a Disney film involving talking animals and chase scenes.
One of the final title cards reads: “A movie made by everyone at Walt Disney Animation Studios.” It’s not just a credit. It’s the film’s thesis: systems may be flawed, but the people inside them can still work toward something better. Zootopia 2 doesn’t preach revolution; it encourages curiosity, skepticism, and compassion. It invites young viewers to ask who writes the rules — and whether those rules deserve to stay.
With big laughs, rich world-building, and a renewed emotional core, Zootopia 2 is the rare animated sequel that earns its place and then exceeds it. It’s warm, funny, surprisingly thoughtful, and effortlessly charming.
Kids will adore it. Adults will appreciate it. Fans are going to love it.
And honestly? We don’t think Judy and Nick are done yet.
Rating: A-
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Zootopia 2
After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia's history, rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find their partnership isn't as solid as they thought when Chief Bogo orders them to join the Partners in Crisis counseling program. But it doesn't take long for their partnership to be put to the ultimate test when they find themselves on the twisting trail of a mystery tied to the arrival of a venomous snake in the animal metropolis.
Release Date: November 26, 2025
Director: Jared Bush Byron Howard
Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin , Jason Bateman , Ke Huy Quan
