Zootopia

NZ release: 24 March 2016

Some scenes may scare very young children Rated on: 03 March 2016

Zootopia

What’s it about?

In the bustling city of Zootopia, a rookie bunny cop teams up with a cynical fox con artist, Nick, to uncover a conspiracy and prove herself to her boss.

The facts 

  • Directed and written by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush
  • Starring Idris Elba (Pacific Rim), Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses), Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time), J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man trilogy), Octavia Spencer (The Help), Shakira (Shakira: Live from Paris)
  • English language 
  • Runtime: 108 minutes
  • Modern Disney classic

Why did it get this rating? 

This film game was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Frightening and intense scenes

Zootopia includes mild violence, with scenes of wild animals attacking, jump scares, and a poison that causes predator animals to revert to their predatory instincts, which may be scary for younger viewers. Some of the stronger scenes include:

  • Nick acts like a wild animal and bites Judy on the neck, making her scream, however this turns out to be an act and they are both fine.
  • “Night howler serum” is used to turn civilized mammals into savage beasts. The scenes with the otter and panther are the scariest.
  • One action scene on a train ends with a startlingly large explosion, with no injuries.
  • Nick’s flashback to being bullied could be quite upsetting for some viewers but shouldn’t scare them.

The film deals with some thematic issues of racism and discrimination between depictions of animals that will likely go over children's heads.

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

Further information 

Recent featured decisions

04 April 2025

Violence, offensive language, and content that may disturb

Set in 1932 Mississippi Delta, Sinners is a horror fable about twin brothers Smoke and Stack who return home to open a juke joint only to face a dual threat from vampires and the Ku Klux Klan.

Read more

03 April 2025

Violence and scary scenes

Four misfits are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master this world while embarking on a quest with an unexpected, expert crafter.

Read more