GREENSBORO, N.C. — Zootopia 2 drops us back into the bustling, multi-species metropolis where Officer Judy Hopps and her fox partner, Nick Wilde, dive into a new case with stakes stretching across the entire city. As they navigate fresh faces, new neighborhoods, and familiar corners of Zootopia, the film stays rooted in what made the original feel so alive.
The world-building is more vibrant than ever, every street, skyline, and species bursting with detail. The mix of new and returning characters never overwhelms the story, each getting a moment to shine. And Judy and Nick? Still absolute magic. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman continue to cement these two as modern Disney icons. Thematically, the film manages to introduce thoughtful, accessible conversations about colonialism, equity, and perception—material that families can actually talk about afterward.
But… “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That seems to be the mantra guiding this sequel, for better and for worse. While not a copy-and-paste, Zootopia 2 mirrors the original’s structure a little too closely. Judy and Nick once again must overcome their differences to save a city in crisis—a beat so familiar it borders on déjà vu. Add in a predictable third-act character twist, and the plot starts to feel more recycled than refreshed. The film even pokes fun at its own repetition, but self-awareness doesn’t cure predictability…