Critics Have Seen Zootopia 2. How Does The Pun-Filled Disney Sequel Compare To Its Oscar-Winning Predecessor?

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Disney’s popular animated film Zootopia, featuring the police officer Judy Hopps and the con artist Nick Wilde, first came out in 2016 and won an Oscar. Now, almost ten years later, the pair are returning in Zootopia 2, scheduled to be released in 2025 just before Thanksgiving. Critics have already seen the movie and are sharing their reviews to help you decide if it’s worth watching during the holiday weekend.

Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman are back as the main characters, and many of the original voice actors have returned to play the citizens of the city. The cast now includes Ke Huy Quan as Gary De’Snake, a viper who Nick and Judy investigate. In a review for TopMob, Dirk Libbey says Zootopia 2 is an improvement over the first movie, offering a straightforward and enjoyable story. He rates it 4 out of 5 stars and writes:

The storyline is a typical buddy cop setup – we’ve seen it many times before. Interestingly, the original Zootopia had a similar plot, and it still worked wonderfully. The strength of Zootopia wasn’t ever the story itself, but rather its memorable characters and imaginative world. Zootopia 2 delivers everything fans enjoyed in the first movie, while also adding plenty of fresh faces and exciting new settings.

Nell Minow at RogerEbert.com gave Zootopia 2 a perfect score, calling it a magical and visually stunning film. She believes the incredible detail and hidden references will make viewers want to watch it again and again.

Zootopia 2 is a fantastic sequel, just as captivating, funny, and heartwarming as the first movie – and perhaps even more humorous! It’s filled with clever animal-themed puns and witty nods to popular streaming services like EweTube and HuluZoo, even featuring shows like ‘Only Herders in the Building.’ But beyond the laughs, the film beautifully celebrates the importance of community, standing up for what’s right, being open to different perspectives, and the power of friendship, all within a stunningly vibrant world where animals live together harmoniously.

Frank Scheck from The Hollywood Reporter, like many other critics, notes that this sequel rewards repeat viewings due to its rich detail. He describes the film as a consistently funny series of jokes, largely thanks to its charming animal characters. Scheck adds:

The highly anticipated follow-up to the 2016 Academy Award-winning animated film delivers and then some. It’s a stunning achievement with beautiful animation, clever humor, and heartfelt moments.

In a review for IGN, Clint Gage gave Zootopia 2 a score of 8 out of 10, calling it “Great.” He praised the film’s beautiful animation, well-managed speed, and clever use of animal-related jokes. He also noted that the movie evoked a variety of feelings in his children, and concluded his review with…

Zootopia 2 delivers the same fun, animated mystery and witty animal humor as the first movie, introducing a fresh group of characters to join Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde on their adventures. Visually, the sequel expands on the colorful world we already love. While the movie tackles some ambitious themes, it shares the optimistic spirit of its lead character, Judy, suggesting that positive change is always possible.

In a review for the Associated Press, Jake Coyle rated the movie 2.5 out of 4 stars. He noted that the sequel isn’t as good as the first one, describing it as less adventurous and exciting. While the film relies heavily on the connection between the characters Judy and Nick, Coyle believes this will still be enough to make it enjoyable for families, especially during the holidays.

The highly anticipated Zootopia 2, directed by the original film’s Jared Bush and Byron Howard, doesn’t quite reach the heights of the first movie, which is common for sequels. However, the dynamic between Judy and Nick is still engaging – reminiscent of buddy-cop films like 48 Hours – and that, combined with the film’s appealing animation and humor, should make it a fun experience for families this November. The world of Zootopia remains a delightful place to visit, filled with lively animal characters.

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2025-11-26 22:11