What is it that makes Zootopia such a beloved film by audiences of all kinds? This animated gem from 2016 embodies everything we love in Disney storytelling: well-rounded characters to invest in, effective humor, vibrant world-building, catchy songs,and, above all, an empowering, empathetic story at its core that will cater to children and adults in different ways.
From directors Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush, Zootopia takes place in the titular city, a metropolis where animals of all kinds coexist in apparently peaceful ways. One day, our young protagonist, Judy (Ginniger Goodwin), joins the police force, having just graduated with promising grades. But Judy is the first bunny to ever become a cop, which alters the town’s balance. Soon, Judy will face the consequences of thinking outside the box, but she won’t do it alone. Teaming up with cunning, sympathetic fox Nick (Jason Bateman), our protagonist will uncover a secret that might even save Zootopia from collapsing upon itself.
If you’ve been keeping track of new movie trailers for the most anticipated upcoming movies, you already know that Zootopia 2 is coming, and the trailer looks fantastic. But if you’ve already rewatched the first film in preparation for the sequel and are wondering about what to watch next, we have you cover. Here are 5 movies to watch if you liked Zootopia, in alphabetical order!
1. The Bad Guys (2022)
The Bad Guys is the film most people think about when asked to name movies to watch that are similar to Zootopia, and for good reason. Just like Zootopia, this 2022 DreamWorks animated film takes place in a town where all residents are animals, and whose carefully constructed balance is about to crumble. If Zootopia revolved around cops, here it’s the opposite: our protagonists are the titular gang: a group of mostly harmless thieves who somehow managed to become the world’s most-wanted villains.
One day, Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Piranha, aka “muscle” (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula, aka “Webs” (Awkwafina) are caught. But if their criminal days are over, a new life awaits our team: an anthropomorphic Guinea Pig named Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade) is set on showing the world that even the worst criminals can be transformed. As a new villain arrives in the city, our “bad” guys are about to become “good,” but many unexpected challenges await.
Adapted from Aaron Blabey’s bestselling book series, The Bad Guys is not only funny and gripping, but also thought-provoking. It’s a great movie to watch if you liked Zootopia, as, just like the 2016 film, it uses its story to teach you about acceptance, and it does so in a very enjoyable way. It’s a movie that all kinds of audiences will love, and its 2025 sequel is just as good.
2. IF (2024)
The animals in John Krasinski’s IF are a little different than those in the other movies on this list, because they’re actually imaginary friends. The premise is simple but effective: one day, a girl named Bea (Cailey Fleming) wakes up and realizes she can see all the imaginary friends that their respective adults left behind when they grew up. This leads her on an adventure to try and reconnect all these “IFs” with their humans, which eventually takes her face to face with Cal (Ryan Reynolds), a friendly, mysterious adult who has never really grown-up.
Do we ever stop needing our imagination? How do we retain the childlike qualities that make life worth living? IF tackles these themes and more in a story that might be a little predictable, but that’s still enjoyable nonetheless, bolstered by a fantastic voice cast – joining Reynolds and Fleming are Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fiona Shaw, Louis Gossett Jr., Steve Carell, Liza Colón-Zayas, director John Krasinski, and more – and stunning worldbuilding.
3. Robin Hood (1973)
We wanted to include a classic animated Disney film in the list, and Robin Hood is the perfect choice if you’re looking for movies like Zootopia. Not only are its protagonists, once again, animals who behave like people, but the infectious songs, unexpected humor, and empathetic storytelling – despite the simple story at its core – make this one of the best Disney movies of all time.
You know the story: In Nottingham’s Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood (Tasos Masmanidis) is a thief who steals from the reach to give to the poor. But here, Robin is a cunning fox, and his best friend/business partner Little John (Phil Harris) is a loyal, warm-hearted bear with a great sense of humor. Robin’s love interest is another fox named vixen Maid Marian (Monica Evans), whose lady-in-waiting is chicken Lady Kluck (Carole Shelley).
Our tale’s narrator is a rooster named Allan-a-Dale (Roger Miller). Its villains are cowardly lion Prince John (Peter Ustinov) and his self-serving snake advisor Sir Hiss, whose orders are carried out by the town’s Sheriff (Pat Buttram), a greedy but not entirely unrelatable wolf, and his vultures, Trigger and Nutsy. All these characters come together to give us one of Disney’s most complex and gripping stories – one that hasn’t aged a day despite its 1973 release. Just as you might expect, there are lessons to be learned here, but this is also a wonderfully self-aware, infectiously fun movie that will have your eyes glued to the screen from start to end.
4. Robot Dreams (2024)
Be warned: Robot Dreams will make you cry. But if you’re ready to be challenged, it might go on to become not only your go-to film to watch if you liked Zootopia, but also one of your favorite movies of all time. Pablo Berger’s gorgeous story takes place in an imaginary version of New York City where all residents are – you guessed it! – animals. At the center of it all is “Dog,” who’s quite lonely when we first see him, on his own, watching TV in his apartment. Soon, Dog decides to do something about it: having watched an advert about a companion robot, he decides to buy it to keep him company. Soon, “Robot” arrives, the two hit it off, and happy adventures ensues. Only, it’s not as simple as that.
It’s best to leave it at that to avoid spoilers, but Robot Dreams is ultimately a story about life, and the various experiences that enrich us even if sometimes our plans don’t go the way we thought they would. It’s about evolution that comes out of circumstance, and our incredible ability, as human beings, to keep going despite it all.
But don’t be fooled: this is also a charming, cute, highly enjoyable tale that will make you smile throughout and remind you of your own experiences. If you’re looking for a nostalgic movie with adorable protagonist that manages to say so much without uttering a single word – Robot Dreams is a silent movie! – look no further than this stunning gem. And if you’d rather watch a more uplifting film with similar themes, we’d recommend The Wild Robot instead.
5. Sing (2016)
Directors Garth Jennings and Christophe Lourdelet take us to yet another city whose residents are animals in Sing – only, this time, it’s all about a music competition. The premise is simple: charismatic koala Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) needs to find away to keep his theater open, and devises a singing competition to do just that. Soon, auditions are held, and to Buster’s surprise, so many contestants show up. In the end, it all comes down to five animals: Mike the mouse (Seth MacFarlane), Ash the porcupine (Scarlett Johansson), Rosita the pig (Reese Witherspoon), Johnny the gorilla (Taron Egerton), and Meena (Tori Kelly), a very shy elephant.
Sing follows our five protagonists as they each (quite literally) find their voice, dealing with anything from self-esteem issues to judgemental family members and more. This charming animated gem is very funny, especially during the auditions, mirroring our own world in accurate ways. Yet, it’s ultimately a coming-of-age tale about finding out who we are and staying true to ourselves. On top of this, the actual songs are catchy, brought to life by a talented voice cast, which makes Sing perfect for audiences of all ages. Don’t miss the 2021 sequel too!
Depending on what you’re looking for, there are plenty of movies to watch if you liked Zootopia, but these 5 films distinguish themselves in both storytelling and visuals. If you need more recommendations, check out Finding Nemo, Kung-Fu Panda, Luck, The Secret Life of Pets, Monsters Inc, Flushed Away, and Big Hero 6. Enjoy!
