Zootopia 2

This is a version of a review airing on ABC Victoria's Statewide Mornings program on December 11, 2025.

(PG) ★★★★

Director: Jared Bush & Byron Howard.

Cast: (voices of) Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Shakira, Idris Elba, Patrick Warburton, Danny Trejo.

Disney's Titanic was predictably cutesy.

The original Zootopia was a smart, snappy adult adventure dressed up in kids' clothing. Tackling racism, prejudice, equality and stereotyping, it merged its sharp themes with Looney Tunes-esque chases and a crim-cop pairing straight out of an '80s actioner. It's basically a cutesy version of 48 Hours, but better and deeper. Kinda.

It also boasted a marvellous setting and a host of great characters, especially its stars, the crafty crim fox Nick (Bateman) and the determined cop bunny Judy (Goodwin).

And second time around it's almost as good. The setting still sizzles with opportunity, the chemistry of its fox-rabbit pairing continues to zing, and the themes of prejudice and othering remain strong. It's also a very grown-up-friendly adventure - it's a buddy-cop movie, like something straight out of the '80s. It's basically a cutesy version of Tango & Cash. Ok, not really, but you get what I'm saying.

This time Nick and Judy are the hottest cops on the force, having busted the bad guys in the previous film. But their inherent differences are affecting their relationship, and things get worse when they begin investigating a snake - a much-maligned species with no real home in Zootopia.

The first Zootopia is a tough act to follow, but this is pretty great. It could never be as sparkling and fresh as the original, but it's as good as it could be. The mystery is engaging and entertaining, even if you pick the twist, and its message of equality is as timeless as ever.

Ke Huy Quan is a great addition as the snake, and Strathairn was born to voice animated villains. But it's all about Judy and Nick, and Batemen and Goodwin are fantastic yet again. The ups-and-downs of the relationship are beautifully played out across a nicely paced script. 

There is enough colour and movement to entertain the younger kids who can't follow the intricacies of the plot - it's not every kids movie that has property development and racism as key story points. The only other one I can think of is Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. But much like that 1988 classic, Zootopia 2 is taking an adult genre and throwing it an all-ages audience with great success. There are hints at a third film, which can't come soon enough.