The Bad Guys 2 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Bad Guys 2 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker October 8, 2025

Continuing their battle to be good, the latest chapter in DreamWorks Animation's adventures of Mr. Wolf and the rest of his team, 'The Bad Guys 2', arrives on 4K UHD disc courtesy of Universal. The entire voice cast from the first film returns here, led by Sam Rockwell's ('Moon') Wolf, and joined by Marc Macron's ('The Order') Snake, Craig Robinson's ('The Office') Shark, Awkwafina's ('Crazy Rich Asians') Tarantula, and Anthony Ramos' ('Twisters') Piranha. Director Pierre Perifel returns as well, ensuring a consistent tone and tenor to the material. Bristling with energy, the film is accompanied by a number of light supplemental features, including a new animated short. More curious viewers can dig into a lively commentary track. Boasting very solid technical merits, an embossed slipcover, a Blu-ray disc, and a Digital Code redeemable via Movies Anywhere are also included.

Wolf, Tarantula, Shark, Snake, and Piranha have decided to abandon their life of crime and go straight. Despite their best intentions, the world doesn't quite believe The Bad Guys, refusing to see them as anything other than criminals. Needless to say, their efforts to find "normal" jobs are relatively fruitless, and they teeter on the brink of financial ruin. As a new wave of robberies plagues their city, they devise a plan to earn their respectability by catching the perpetrator. When things don't go as planned and they end up getting framed for the thefts, it will take all of their skills to clear their names and solve the crimes.

The voice cast is superb, and the rapport and chemistry between them is obvious. There is a great deal of energy and comedic skill on display in the numerous improvised moments throughout the film. Action, too, frequently dominates. The opening chase through Cairo not only serves as an adrenaline-packed introduction, it also sets the bar for the type of scene that the film will repeatedly try to best before the film's high-flying climax. Intentionally, though, the film builds in moments for viewers to catch their breath, to advance the story, and introduce new characters.

From its origins with the first book by Aaron Blabey published in 2015, the wildly popular young reader series has ballooned to a total of twenty installments, the last of which, and the purported finale of the series, arrived on shelves in 2024. In the absence of new printed adventures, fans of the series and the characters need look no further than what seems to be a burgeoning new film series from DreamWorks. The Bad Guys 2 doesn't draw specifically from any particular book; instead, it's inspired by and based on the characters and the world in which they live. The world of The Bad Guys (as the characters are collectively known) warrants some explanation. Typically, in animated films, a choice is made to either populate a world not unlike our own exclusively with anthropomorphized animals, as is the case with Kung Fu Panda and its sequels. Others, like Over the Hedge and Madagascar mix human-like animals with actual human characters who don't understand them, aren't aware of their society and ecology, and don't interact with them much differently than humans typically would. In the universe of The Bad Guys (2022) and The Bad Guys 2, anthropomorphic animals and humans inhabit the world side-by-side, in a fully integrated manner and without prejudice. No one is shocked that a fox, Diane Foxington, is the mayor. And ultimately, it's his criminal past, not the mere fact that he's a wolf, that prevents Mr. Wolf from getting a job at a bank. While humans are present, fulfilling important roles in society, such as Police Commissioner Luggins, who is impeccably voiced by Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), the bulk of the most important characters in the film are all animals, affording animators more opportunities for sight gags, jokes, and physical action that would not otherwise be possible.

For those not fully invested in the intellectual property through the books and via the first film, The Bad Guys 2 does an excellent job of grounding those new to the characters or casual fans needing a refresher via a brief flashback, which opens the film. Rather than explaining anything and everything, the film drops viewers into the middle of a heist that Wolf and the rest are in the middle of carrying out in Cairo five years prior to the events of this film. Quickly, and in as madcap a fashion as is possible, skills are demonstrated, personalities are put fully on display, action is outlandish and frenetic, and the viewer quickly understands what is about to unfold before their eyes for the remainder of the film. It's an entertaining instance of showing instead of telling.

In a film filled with various nods, the most obvious and perhaps most chuckle-inducing for more seasoned viewers is the fictitious metal "McGuffinite". Attributed to screenwriter Angus MacPhail, it was his work with Alfred Hitchcock on a number of films that brought the root of that word into filmgoers' vocabularies. In Hitchcock's films, a "McGuffin" was simply an object or event that served to drive the plot of the film or story. The McGuffin could be a priceless statue, top-secret papers, an important meeting; anything. Here, though, it's much more on-the-nose. Leaving no room for misinterpretation or misunderstanding, every object stolen by the thief Wolf, Shark, and the rest are pursuing is made out of McGuffinite, a substance which we learn has unusual properties. And, fittingly enough, it does indeed drive the action of the film. The film is many things, but no one will accuse The Bad Guys 2 of being subtle.

The Bad Guys 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Bad Guys 2 4K's HVEC/H.265 encoded 2160p image is presented in 2.39:1. As one would expect from a DreamWorks product, the animation here looks sharp, crisp, colorful, and dimensional. The style of animation used here picks and chooses its moments for being richly detailed. Some elements, such as the rattle-trap that Wolf drives when the film moves to the present, are rendered with a higher level of detail that makes every bit of failing paint, every speck of soot and dirt, and all other instances of age and wear open for investigation. However, character designs are much simpler in nature, with all of Piranha and Snake's scales not being clearly and purposefully defined, opting for a smoother look. The same is true for Wolf, who, unlike other furry characters in DreamWorks' pictures, does not try to render every individual strand of fur. But that isn't always the case. Considerable care is given to instill as much realism into certain environmental elements as possible, such as pavement and plaster walls displaying a high level of life-like texture and detail, which add authenticity to the age and wear. The same holds true for the MoonX Rocket and the space station, which are also quite rich in detail. Reds, yellows, and blues pop nicely, with reds given the most frequent opportunity to do so. Whites can be brilliant, and blacks are richly deep. Though the on-screen action is often quite busy, bordering on chaotic, I did not detect any compression issues, nor did banding or other defects or anomalies make themselves known. It's an impressive and colorful video presentation, and in line with DreamWorks' other recent efforts.

All screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p disc.

The Bad Guys 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Bad Guys 2's intentions from an audio perspective are rather immediately made very clear. The Dolby Atmos track is almost constantly immersive right out of the blocks as the action focuses on an elaborate heist from five years prior. The viewer is instantly put in the middle of the action in Cairo. The instant that Wolf turns the key of the prototype automobile, a deep, throaty rumble permeates the stage as the engine growls to life. The ensuing action of the case through and above the crowded, winding streets is sonically delightful. When the action switches to the more mundane modern day, the track simmers down accordingly, but never loses its immersiveness, even in these quieter moments. Another particular sonic highlight is the "Lords of Lucha" event, when music and mayhem are the rule. Music is intermixed with the sounds of violence in the ring, with pulsating beats serving as the soundtrack to punches, kicks, and bodies flying in all directions. Throughout it all, the bass is deep, booming, and powerful, adding impressive depth to music and sound effects as well. Dialogue is clean and clear, being center-focused. Directionality is spot on, with viewers able to easily track the objects and characters that frequently run, drive, and fly through the field.

The Bad Guys 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Bad Guys 2 4K is accompanied by a number of lighter supplemental on-disc segments in addition to an insightful commentary track as detailed below.

• Little Lies and Alibis (5.42) - In this new animated short, Wolf and the team have a wild story to tell to their parole officer.

• Deleted Scenes (5.56) - Two deleted scenes (Lowrider Chase and Crime Sisters), are included with introductions from Director Pierre Perifel and Co-Director JP Sans.

• 'Bad Guys': Out of Line (2.06) - This segment takes viewers into the studio to see cast members recording dialogue for the film.

• Double Jeopardy: The Making of 'Bad Guys 2' (4.46) - Cast and crew talk about making the second film in the series.

• Meet the Gang (7.37) - Cast and crew talk about their characters, the film, improvisation, and each other.

• Causing a Scene (5.16) - The filmmakers talk about crafting the action sequences in the film, their styles, and tendencies, from raw ideas, to storyboards, to the finished product.

• Planning a Heist (10.08) - Director Pierre Perifel and Co-Director JP Sans walk viewers through the creation of the Lucha belt heist scene.

• Sketching the Bad Girls (10.49) - Viewers learn how to draw Kitty, Doom, and Pigtail with help from Co-Director JP Sans, Producer Damon Ross, and Director and sketch artist Pierre Perifel.

• Feature Commentary with Director Pierre Perifel, Co-Director JP Sans, Head of Character Animation Benjamin Willis, Head of Story Katherine de Vries, and Head of Cinematography, Layout Théophile Bondoux - The commentary track included here is quite lively from the beginning. The group is obviously very comfortable together, and the conversation flows naturally throughout. They cover a variety of topics, from the numerous Easter eggs, the construction of the opening scene, and the ad-libbing done on the film. Director Pierre Perifel takes the lead here more often than not, but every member of the team jumps in when they have valuable insights or anecdotes to share. The group goes on to discuss the need to get certain elements of the Lucha experience correct, the evolution of the story, and the color palettes used in the film. Rarely silent for very long, it's a conversational and fluid commentary that is punctuated by frequent laughter.

The Bad Guys 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Bad Guys 2 is light, escapist, action-packed family fare, which consistently entertains. It's driven by energetic action sequences and a winning, comedic voice cast that brings crackling life to the main characters. This film also sees the delightful addition of Natasha Lyonne (All About Evil), and hopefully she'll return for the likely third installment. While the style of animation may not rival the most complex that DreamWorks and Pixar has to offer, its simpler approach suits the property's printed roots, though moments of exceptional detail are still present. Pursuing McGuffinite leads our heroes to a few unexpected places, but laughs and action are always close at hand. The Bad Guys 2 4K comes highly recommended.