104 min | PG | August 1, 2025 | DreamWorks Animation
Pierre Perifel returns with a heist sequel that introduces the Bad Girls and doubles down on what made the first film work. Fast, funny, and surprisingly smart.
Animated sequels usually repeat the formula with diminishing returns. The Bad Guys 2 expands the world instead. The now-reformed criminals are trying to go straight when they get hijacked into a globe-trotting heist masterminded by a new team. The Bad Girls are better at everything and force the Bad Guys to reckon with their own mediocrity. The premise is sharp. The execution delivers.
Sam Rockwell returns to voice Wolf with the same world-weary charm. Marc Maron voices Snake with neurotic energy. Awkwafina and Craig Robinson voice Tarantula and Shark with perfect comic timing. The chemistry between them remains the heart of the franchise. The Bad Girls are voiced by new cast members including Natasha Lyonne and Danielle Brooks who create distinct characters that are not just female versions of the originals. They are their own team with their own dynamic.
Perifel directs with the same kinetic energy he brought to the first film. The heist sequences are inventive and clearly staged. The animation style maintains the graphic novel aesthetic with bold colors and dynamic framing. The action is exciting. The humor lands for children and adults without resorting to innuendo or pop culture references. The script by Etan Cohen and Yoni Brenner does real work exploring themes of reformation and self-worth.
This is what sequel filmmaking should be. Build on what worked. Introduce new elements that challenge the characters. Trust your audience to follow complex emotions alongside the spectacle. DreamWorks continues to prove that children’s entertainment can be intelligent and thrilling without talking down to its audience.