Honestly, nobody expected a movie about a bunch of reformed zoo animals to turn into a high-octane space heist, but here we are. The Bad Guys 2 hit theaters on August 1, 2025, and it basically threw the rulebook out the window. If you haven't seen it yet, or you're just trying to wrap your head around how we went from a simple bank robbery in the first film to a rocket launch in the sequel, you aren't alone.
The 2025 film picks up with the crew—Wolf, Snake, Shark, Piranha, and Tarantula—trying to navigate the "good life." It turns out, being a law-abiding citizen is kind of a drag. They're struggling with boring nine-to-five jobs and the fact that most people still don't trust them. Just when they’re about to lose it from the sheer monotony of paying taxes, they get pulled back in for "one last job."
But there is a twist.
Who are the Bad Girls?
This time around, the original crew isn't the biggest threat in town. The movie introduces the Bad Girls, an all-female criminal syndicate that makes Mr. Wolf’s previous plans look like child's play. This group is led by Kitty Kat (voiced by Danielle Brooks), and she is absolutely ruthless.
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Unlike the original Bad Guys, who always had a bit of a "heart of gold" buried under the fur, Kitty Kat is purely ambitious. She teams up with Doom (Natasha Lyonne) and Pigtail Petrova (Maria Bakalova) to outmaneuver the boys at every turn. It’s a classic rival-team dynamic, but with much higher stakes because they actually have leverage over the heroes.
The plot kicks into high gear when Kitty threatens to expose Diane Foxington’s past as the Crimson Paw. For those who forgot, Diane is now the state governor. If her secret gets out, her career is toast. To protect her, Wolf and the gang are forced to steal the MOON-X rocket from a billionaire named Mr. Moon, played by Colin Jost.
That Crazy Ending in Space
Let’s talk about the climax because it gets weird. Really weird.
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The movie ends with a literal showdown in orbit. We're talking about a globe-trotting heist that ends with the crew running up the side of a moving rocket. Director Pierre Perifel mentioned in interviews that they wanted to bridge the gap between the first film's "Ocean's Eleven" vibe and something more like "Fast & Furious" meets "James Bond."
One of the most talked-about moments involves a specific gag from Aaron Blabey’s original books: the fart in space. Yes, they actually did it. While the animation style stays mostly true to the first film’s painterly, 2D-inspired look, they pushed the physics to the absolute limit.
Major Character Shifts
- Snake and Doom: In a surprising turn, Mr. Snake actually finds a girlfriend in Doom. Even after she betrays him, he’s still into her. It’s a weirdly funny subplot that pays off when she eventually saves his life during the finale.
- Diane and Wolf: The "will-they-won't-they" tension finally breaks. Because Diane's secret is essentially leaked anyway, she stops worrying about the optics of dating a criminal. They share a massive kiss right in the middle of the climax.
- The Reveal: There’s a massive bombshell involving Professor Marmalade. Even though he’s in prison for most of the movie, we find out he’s apparently been an alien this whole time. This is a huge departure from the first movie and sets up a very different future for the franchise.
Why the 2025 Film Actually Matters
Beyond the slapstick, the film actually touches on some pretty heavy themes regarding the justice system. The Bad Guys are ex-cons. They can’t find jobs. They struggle to pay rent. The movie highlights how hard it is to stay "good" when the world won't let you move past your mistakes. Wolf even considers turning back to crime because society won't give him a fair shake.
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Financially, the movie was a massive hit. It pulled in roughly $240 million at the box office, nearly tripling its budget. It even beat out Disney’s Elio in terms of raw popularity during the summer of 2025. People clearly still love these characters, despite the shift into more sci-fi territory.
What's Next for the Franchise?
The ending of The Bad Guys 2 is wide open. The crew is essentially recruited by a new government agency, which means a third movie—likely coming in September 2027—will probably be more of a spy caper than a heist film. With Diane now officially a member of the gang and Kitty Kat still out there as a potential wildcard, there is a lot of room to grow.
If you’re looking to catch up, the movie is already available on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, or you can stream it on Peacock.
Actionable Next Steps
- Watch the mid-credits scene: There is a brief teaser involving Pigtail Petrova that hints at the "Bad Girls" returning sooner than we think.
- Check out the deleted scenes: Look for the "Lowrider Chase" and "Crime Sisters" sequences on the digital release; they provide a lot more context for Kitty Kat's motivations.
- Revisit the books: If the alien reveal felt out of left field, go back to Aaron Blabey's later graphic novels. The movie is actually pulling much more from the source material than people realize.