--- title: "Zootopia: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/zootopia/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/zootopia" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 22 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Zootopia (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 22 reviews: 22 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics welcome Zootopia as a clever, funny family film whose treatment of prejudice gives its buddy-cop mystery something substantial to explore. Praise clusters around the detailed animal city, inventive animation and sight gags, with the sloth sequence singled out repeatedly. The reviews also value the voice work and the central fox-and-bunny partnership, finding that the leads’ chemistry keeps the social commentary engaging rather than preachy. The spread is largely between warm approval and stronger enthusiasm, with few recurring complaints about the storytelling or humour. Collider particularly admires the film’s willingness to examine why prejudice exists, rather than settle for a simple message of empowerment. Screen Daily offers the clearest reservation: it admires the animation but finds the adventure lightweight, arguing that the mystery, talking animals and anti-prejudice message do not quite come together. That concern sits apart from the prevailing view that the film combines those elements with care. ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 March 2016. The film examines race and racism with unusual persistence for an animated feature, feeling like a timely riposte to divisive politics. It is fast-paced and cheeky, with standout sloth humour and a strong, proactive female lead. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/zootropolis-film-review-the-animals-fight-back-against-trump-a3211026.html) ## Film Comment — Michael Sragow Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 2016. The critic calls Zootopia an exhilarating off-balance epic comedy that blends inventive gags with sharp social satire on prejudice, inclusion, and fear-mongering. He singles out the confident vision and memorable set pieces like the sloth scenes for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/deep-focus-zootopia/) ## Los Angeles Times — Gary Goldstein Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 2016. The critic calls it a beastly good time, bursting with timely themes, superb voice work, wonderful visuals, and laugh-out-loud wit. He singles out the inventive animation, production design, and the fast-paced mystery plot for praise. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-zootopia-review-20160304-story.html) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 March 2016. The critic praises the film's transformation from corporate family fare into a clever, old-fashioned gumshoe mystery that melts initial cynicism with charm and voices. Singles out the established class distinctions in Zootopia and the effective buddy chemistry of the leads. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/03/review-zootopia-surprises-with-a-clever-mystery.html) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 18 March 2016. The film offers a vividly realised world full of humour and invention, blending buddy-cop tropes with smart social metaphors. It remains entertaining throughout thanks to its Pixar-influenced creativity and engaging characters. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/zootropolis-review/) ## Little White Lies Rating 3/4/3. 25 March 2016. Belly laughs, a cute cast and a strong social conscience make this a refreshing Disney animated feature with surprising political edge. It smartly addresses societal prejudice through comic animals and a powerful female hero, though the Shakira closing scene leaves a sour taste. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/zootropolis) ## Radio Times — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). This perceptive and elegantly structured film layers complex ideas about cultural sensitivity and political correctness beneath mass entertainment. The smart and funny writing and deft sight gags bring vitality to a commentary on prejudice handled with the lightest of touches. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-rev2x8/zootropolis/) ## The AV Club — Josh Spiegel Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 March 2016. The critic highlights how Zootopia inverts the themes of Wreck-It Ralph by allowing characters to transcend stereotypes rather than accept them, praising its nuanced exploration of identity, prejudice, and personal growth alongside a committed mystery plot. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/zootopia-is-the-inversion-of-wreck-it-ralph-1798245906) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 March 2016. Disney’s deft comedy about animals coexisting in harmony is elevated by its writing and first-rate animation. The critic praises the witty handling of themes of cultural sensitivity and political correctness. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/mar/24/zootropolis-review-elegance-wit-and-first-rate-animation) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 March 2016. The film cleverly combines traditional Disney elements with a subversive, satirical edge that appeals to both children and adults. It stands out for its sharp writing, inventive animation, and nods to film noir and gangster movies. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/zootropolis-film-review-disney-with-a-touch-of-the-godfather-a6951646.html) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 March 2016. The critic describes the film as zesty, bright, and breakneck, with well-tuned gags and a carnival-like appeal in its animal world. He singles out the heroine's determination and the clever social commentary on prejudice for praise. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/03/14/knight-of-cups-and-zootopia-reviews) ## The Telegraph Rating 4/5. 24 March 2016. The film turns the animal kingdom into an evolving republic where old predator/prey distinctions no longer apply, blending visual delight with a nuanced allegory about difference and prejudice. It draws unexpected noir elements into family-friendly territory. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/04/14/zootropolis-is-the-chinatown-of-talking-animal-films---review/) ## Slant Magazine — Kenji Fujishima Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 2016. The critic appreciates the film's deeper allegorizing of identity politics and racism beyond a simple empowerment story, praising its nuanced take on prejudice within society and the self, wrapped in a playful buddy-cop mystery with strong sight gags and visual detail. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/zootopia/) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 March 2016. It delivers a fast-paced, gag-filled caper with a fizzy fox-bunny partnership and inventive set pieces across a richly detailed world. The film is witty and entertaining overall, with strong potential for sequels. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/zootropolis-review/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2016. The critic praises the film as a clever, adult-friendly whodunit with an appealing message about acceptance and achievement. He singles out the odd-couple chemistry between the leads and the richly imagined world for praise. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/zootopia-film-review-1201703504/) ## Screen Daily 13 February 2016. A lively but lightweight 3D family adventure that effectively combines talking animals, a noir-ish mystery and an anti-prejudice message, yet these elements do not add up to a greater whole. It feels like one of Disney’s more middling recent offerings despite top-notch animation. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/zootopia-review/5099901.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Michael Rechtshaffen 12 February 2016. The critic finds the film smartly amusing and crisply relevant, praising its wit, timely message of inclusivity and empowerment, and pitch-perfect voice cast. Singles out the sharply observed satire (including the sloth DMV) and judicious life lessons that never feel preachy. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/zootopia-film-review-863843/) ## The New York Times — Neil Genzlinger Rating Critic's Pick. 3 March 2016. The critic finds the film delightful and irresistible, praising its action-packed story, savvy jokes, and thought-provoking themes alongside strong voice work. He singles out the central bunny character and the film's witty take on bureaucracy for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/04/movies/zootopia-review.html) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A. 3 March 2016. The critic praises Zootopia for tackling prejudice head-on through its story of a bunny police officer and her fox partner, highlighting its clever characters, humor, and relevant message about why prejudice exists. It stands out as a mature, textured family film from Disney Animation. [Read the review](https://collider.com/zootopia-review/) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2016. The critic deems Zootropolis the perfect family film that delivers a timely message of social inclusion through a funny, thoughtful tale without heavy-handed preaching. It singles out the inventive cityscape, dynamic chases, and superb voice work, especially the leads' chemistry. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a787864/zootropolis-review-a-great-hare-day-for-disney/) ## Polygon — Julia Alexander Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 February 2016. The critic calls Zootopia an instant Disney classic that balances intense themes of prejudice and bullying with sharp comedy and endearing characters like Judy and Nick, making it both entertaining and important without sugarcoating societal issues. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/26/11119502/zootopia-review-an-instant-disney-classic/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 4/5. 1 March 2016. The review finds Zootopia a deceptively clever buddy-cop film with timely social satire that works for all ages. It singles out the luscious world-building and the way it plays with genre conventions for adults alongside its aspirational story. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/zootopia-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Stefan Pape Rating 4/5. 21 March 2016. The film is a wickedly funny and remarkably relevant study of contemporary society, prejudice and fear-mongering, with strong world-building and memorable sequences like the sloths. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/zootropolis-review/) ## The Skinny — Michael Jaconelli Rating 4/5. 29 February 2016. Festival review. The review finds Zootropolis an enjoyable neo-noir buddy-cop comedy with vibrant visuals and a steady stream of gags that entertains children and adults alike. It singles out the likeable leads, stellar voice acting, and the way it conveys its moral about stereotypes without sacrificing emotional beats. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/cineskinny/reviews/zootroplis) ## The Wrap — Robert Abele Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2016. The critic praises the film's blend of buddy-cop action and humor with its serious-minded anti-prejudice themes, calling it a refreshing twist on the animated formula. They single out the thorny passages on bias and the well-matched performances of Goodwin and Bateman. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/zootopia-review-ginnifer-goodwin-jason-bateman-idris-elba/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/zootopia.md