Sequels are generally challenging to get right, but Disney sequels are even tougher. Because really, so much of the story is contained and neatly wrapped up, so we don't exactly need more when the originals are as good as they are. Still, some sequels are not only incredible additions, but they're even better than the original as they expand the story and give us further character development through a thoughtful narrative.
From the recently released and near-perfect Zootopia 2 (2025) to a hidden gem that might surprise some people, here are the best Disney and Pixar sequels that got everything right on all fronts, as well as how to watch them on Disney+.
Zootopia 2 (2025)
Zootopia 2 is well worth the nine-year wait as an astonishing sequel that not only expands the fictional world, but its themes and messages are timely to the real world. How the movies give us a clear look at ourselves through animals is no small feat, and it's something that I've always thought about since the original. But here, even the animation is a vast improvement.
But I wouldn't be me if I didn't also talk about the romance—it doesn't matter what Disney says, Nick and Judy are basically married. The partnership we get between the two of them is stunning in the sequel and delivers one of the most achingly vulnerable conversations of the entire year, so much so that I genuinely can't believe it wasn't something that took place between two humans. Their dynamic is not only refreshing, but there's something so lovely about how all the best tropes are incorporated, too. Zootopia 2 is a must-watch for anyone who loves the original movie.
The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride (1998)
Simba's hot dad era will always be everything to me, and the forbidden romance between Kovo and Kiara is Disney's best non-human relationship to date (I will not hear any disagreements.) It's perhaps an unpopular opinion, but how The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride deals with grief and the beliefs we hold on to may be an even stronger depiction than in The Lion King (1994). It's in every small moment throughout the sequel where we really understand the gravity of losing a parent and how it impacts us after years, rather than immediately.
Because of this, so much of the sequel shines with a lot more heart and vulnerable conversations that lead to forgiveness and healing. Plus, the music is significantly catchier, with songs like "We Are One," "Love Will Find a Way," and "One of Us" firing on all cylinders. From the platonic relationships to the romantic ones, everything about the sequel is perfect.
Inside Out 2 (2024)
Inside Out (2015) is such a perfect movie that it was hard to imagine the idea of a sequel and how it would work as well. But then the creatives brought in anxiety and embarrassment and every teenage emotion to punch us in the throats in a way only Pixar is capable of. Millennials are broken creatures—I swear, we cling to the past too much—but it's movies like Inside Out 2 that really paint a clear picture of why.
"Maybe that's a part of growing up, you feel less joy." If the first movie was meant to show us that sadness and joy go together, then the sequel is a reminder of how many of us are suffering through our anxiety. How, even though it's something that can never fully go away, these emotions make us who we are. They're a part of us, and it makes it that much easier to connect to other people. And through breathtaking animation plus superb voice acting, Inside Out 2 shows us all of this in a manner that hits hard.
Frozen II (2019)
"Do the next right thing." That's the quote I've thought about for years since Frozen II released, and while the songs never hit the same way as the original (countless parents are probably happy about this), this message is one of the greatest sources of inspiration to come from Disney. Anna's journey and everything she experiences in the sequel are far more relatable than in the first, where we're all just wondering what our next move can be.
Everything about Frozen II sticks the landing, but more than that, this one's for the autumn girlies. The foliage in the sequel is unreal, and the type of animation we get is a rare treat, too. It's all so stunning that I want to live inside of it. More than that, it expands on the original story with a thoughtful premise that continues to leave characters at the center without sacrificing their arcs.
Toy Story 2 (1999)
It really is unfair that Toy Story (1995) has the ability to make me cry so much, and while Toy Story 2 is no Toy Story 3 (2010) when it comes to the amount of waterworks, it's still a gorgeous and worthy sequel. The concept of broken toys living in fear that their owner will lose interest in them has no business hitting like a ton of bricks, yet here we are, because don't we all fear that any sort of imperfection we have can lead to people loving us less?
While the original movie tackles the idea of co-existing with new toys and changes, this one goes deeper to explore our heartaches. It touches on flaws in a way that's so nuanced, it actually hurts when you think about it too much. But like Inside Out 2, it's a reminder of the fact that we're not alone in our struggles, and the right people will love us regardless (and it makes me very, very emo.)
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
The fact that more people don't talk about this movie, especially around the holidays, is beyond me. I might've even watched it way more than the original when I was younger because I come from the days of the Disney vault, where it felt like Beauty and the Beast was its longest resident. But Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas is a dream—a stunning, gorgeous Christmas movie with new songs, beautiful animation, and delicious angst.
Don't ask me to explain it, because it's all vibes, but this one's for The Phantom of the Opera (2004) girlies. It's gritty and darker but still funny, soft, and achingly romantic in a way that hits in all the right ways. It's not only a worthy sequel but genuinely an underrated Disney movie, too. Much like Frozen II, it’s the kind of quietly moving sequel that explores the aftermath of the first film, making it feel like essential viewing right alongside the original.
