Does ‘Zootopia 2’ put Disney back on the right track? | Movie review
“Zootopia 2” is a sequel as good, if not better than, the original.
The original “Zootopia” was never one of my favorite Disney movies. I loved the characters, world building, and the social commentary of the 2016 film, but I never felt called to revisit it. Therefore, a sequel to a movie I had written off as a “one and done” sparked no excitement from me when it was announced, especially not with Disney’s track record as of late. Nothing released since 2021’s “Encanto” feels like the quality Walt Disney Animation Studios is known for, especially with the massive let down of “Moana 2” last year.
The company that had become a household name has been running behind in the medium they pioneered. Earlier this year, Sony Pictures Animation released their original “KPop Demon Hunters,” which has become a “Frozen”-esque phenomenon. DreamWorks Animation has been releasing quality sequels like “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “Trolls: Band Together.” All the while, Disney is seeing less and less of chance to reclaim their top spot. Could “Zootopia 2” be the one to launch them back on top?
Just because the Disney name is slapped on a movie isn’t enough to get audiences to support a movie in theaters anymore. Families in the streaming era have become complacent in waiting for a movie to hit Disney+ a few months later. A sequel with familiar faces from a beloved modern classic is an easy way to get butts in theater seats, especially when releasing during the Thanksgiving holiday week. I’m more than happy, albeit pleasantly surprised, to report that “Zootopia 2” is a wonderful film that audiences will love! As a sequel skeptic, and I’m sure most of you are, “Zootopia 2” meets the level of quality of the original and builds upon it greatly.
“Zootopia 2” does everything the original does and while that wouldn’t be ideal in other franchises, it works perfectly here. There are new parts of Zootopia to explore, filled with a level of detail that had me wanting to pause the movie frame by frame to take in all the animation team’s hard work.
The story isn’t a rehash of the original, instead choosing to continue right where the last one left off and further develop the characters we already love. This is balanced with also fully fleshing out the new faces we meet in “Zootopia 2” such as Gary De’Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan), Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster), and Pawbert Lynxley (Andy Samberg). These characters are brought to life by an incredibly talented celebrity cast that doesn’t feel like they’re phoning in their lines for the paycheck, but are there with a passion for the characters they are voicing.
Not only is the movie extremely entertaining but as Disney movies used to be known for, very moving as well. The relationship between Nick (Jason Bateman) and Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin) is sure to tug on the heartstrings of fans of the duo, but the star of the show in my eyes is the social commentary this movie touches on. I can’t dive too deep into that without giving away big plot spoilers, but I will say that “Zootopia 2” has some of the most relevant messaging in an animated movie from the 2020s so far. Disney does such an amazing job at writing real-world issues in a way that families can enjoy without worrying that it might be too much for their little ones.
After seeing the film at an early screening last week, I was worried that the tickets I had purchased for opening night would end up getting refunded since I would have no desire to rewatch. That has turned out not to be the case as I cannot wait to rewatch this movie again with a packed theater. I’ve been looking forward to it since I left my screening! The citizens of Zootopia have turned this sequel skeptic into someone who is eagerly counting down the days to a possible “Zootopia 3.”
SCORE: “Zootopia 2” 4/5
“Zootopia 2” is rated PG and is in theaters Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025! There is one post-credit scene so be sure to stick around until the very end!
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