For many of us, Zootopia is a core part of childhood, a movie watched at school with friends or at home with family. Nearly a decade after its debut, Disney released its long-awaited sequel, welcoming back longtime fans while also introducing the story to a new generation.
Like the original film, Zootopia 2 serves as an allegory depicting current events in America. The plot revolves around the introduction of a new class of animals: the reptiles. In the film, reptiles are unwelcome and feared by the public, generally viewed as vicious creatures undeserving of a place in the city of Zootopia. Today, immigrants are sometimes seen in a similar manner. Partly through force, nearly 327,000 people have been formally deported from the United States as of 2025 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. In both cases, an outcast group is marginalized and separated from the rest of society.
Despite the real-world references, the film remains child-friendly, maintaining the innocence and lighthearted tone of the Zootopia series. Now official police partners, officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde continue their signature, fast-paced energy. Their shared boldness, driven by a desire to prove themselves amid teasing from more experienced officers, triggers their new, unauthorized mission.
The film introduces new additions to the Zootopia voice cast, including fan-favorite Andy Samberg as Pawbert Lynxley, holiday season staple Macaulay Culkin as Cattrick Lynxley, and comedian Fortune Feimster as Nibbles Maplestick. Shakira reprises her role as Gazelle with a new lead single titled “Zoo,” co-written by Ed Sheeran and Blake Slatkin.
As an early Christmas gift to Disney, the company earned $1.13 billion globally from Zootopia 2, making it the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year. Out of 198 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was given a 91% rating, and a 7.7/10 on IMDb. Personally, I would give it a fair 95%. Now that I’m older and better able to see the movie’s hidden messages, the film seems much more complex. Not to mention, Nick and Judy’s friendship deepens beyond action scenes and snarky comments throughout the movie, overall making the experience more satisfying.
As expected from a PG film, the ending was heartwarming and “picture perfect.” But don’t assume the story ends there. For the brave souls who stayed through the post-credits—or for those who saw it online—a single feather was revealed falling from the sky, teasing fans for what may happen next. Could a third movie be able to continue the success of the first two?
