Nine years after the Oscar-winning original, Disney’s Zootopia 2 hit Indian theaters yesterday, November 28, 2025. The sequel brings back the beloved duo, Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), in a fast-paced, visually stunning adventure that has already smashed global box office records, though its domestic reception is proving to be a surprising contrast to its worldwide dominance.

Plot: A Snake in the System

The sequel picks up shortly after the original, with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde now official partners in the Zootopia Police Department (ZPD). Their partnership is immediately challenged when they are pulled into a new investigation involving the appearance of a cryptic reptile—the first snake seen in Zootopia in a century—and a conspiracy that leads them into the city’s segregated underbelly, Marsh Market.

• Themes: While the original tackled themes of prejudice between predator and prey, Zootopia 2 focuses on trust, reputation, and the complex history of colonialism and segregation within the city itself. Judy and Nick go on the run to clear the name of their reptilian suspect, forcing them to confront deeper truths about the city’s foundation.
• New Voices: The film introduces a host of colorful new characters, including the snake suspect Gary De’Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan) and a conspiracy podcaster named Nibbles Maplestick.

Critical Consensus: Strong Visually, Familiar Narrative

International critics have generally been positive, praising the film’s technical execution:

• Strengths: The film is celebrated for its breathtaking, detailed animation, sharp sight gags (including nods to adult films like The Shining), and the undeniably perfect chemistry between Judy and Nick. Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard succeed in making the sequel feel both funnier and bolder.
• Weaknesses: Some reviewers noted that the sequel often feels like a “buddy cop comedy” that follows a formula too closely, with a slight dip in narrative strength in the second half. The film’s attempts to tackle heavy themes like anti-colonialism were viewed as ambitious but potentially “muddled” for the target audience.

Box Office Paradox in India

Despite the universal acclaim and global record-breaking performance (crossing $100 million in its opening days worldwide), Zootopia 2 faced a surprisingly quiet opening day in India.

• Modest Start: The film only managed to collect an estimated ₹1.6 crore on its opening day in India.
• Shraddha Kapoor Factor: The modest start came despite a major local push, including casting superstar Shraddha Kapoor as the Hindi voice for Judy Hopps, highlighting the ongoing challenge animation faces in converting hype into massive Indian box office success compared to local Bollywood films.

Ultimately, Zootopia 2 is a successful, visually rich, and often hilarious return to the mammal metropolis that delivers strong entertainment, even if it runs a slightly more predictable race than its groundbreaking predecessor.

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