'The Bad Guys 2' adds to strong summer animated lineup in China

"The Bad Guys 2" premiered in Beijing on Aug. 11, adding to a strong lineup of animated films performing well in China's summer box office season.

A performer dressed as Mr. Wolf poses with an audience member at the China premiere of "The Bad Guys 2" in Beijing, Aug. 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures]

Directed by Pierre Perifel and JP Sans, the sequel to DreamWorks Animation's original film follows the Bad Guys team — Wolf, Shark, Piranha and Tarantula — as they struggle to gain trust in their new roles as reformed criminals. Their quiet retirement is disrupted when they are pulled back into action and forced to undertake "one last job" by an all-female squad of criminals.

The film stars returning voice actors Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson and Anthony Ramos, with newcomers Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova and Natasha Lyonne joining the cast.

The sequel has garnered positive reviews from critics, who praise its blend of action and humor. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 87% approval rating based on 95 reviews, with the consensus noting that the characters "are still a ton of fun as their latest adventure raises the stakes while maintaining a playful sense of mischief."

The wolf character performer poses with audience members for a group photo at the China premiere of "The Bad Guys 2" in Beijing, Aug. 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures]

The Beijing premiere theater featured themed decorations — from gold coins to oversized posters — with a performer in Wolf's costume posing for photos with attendees. The event sparked positive word-of-mouth coverage ahead of the film's nationwide release on Aug. 16.

"The Bad Guys 2" enters a competitive summer animated film market that has included releases such as "Nobody," "The Legend of Hei 2," "Curious Tales of a Temple," "Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback" and "Elio," alongside re-releases of established titles including "Shin Chan: The Adult Empire Strikes Back" and "Mary and Max."

A performer dressed as Mr. Wolf poses for photos with a big screen reading "I'm in Beijing" at the Sanlitun shopping complex in Beijing before the China premiere of "The Bad Guys 2," Aug. 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures]