Disney's latest animation feature, Zootopia, looks like just another talking animal movie. But it trounced everything else at the box office this weekend, and one reason was its cross-generational appeal.
It's always tough to make a movie that kids will like and adults can stomach, but Zootopia manages to go well beyond that, offering wry social commentary and sharp cultural references while entertaining everyone from toddlers to toddling boomers.
It also solidifies Disney's comeback as the undisputed heavyweight champion of animation. Ten years ago, the studio was moribund, and they shelled out $7.4 billion to purchase Pixar. Since then, the "Pixar Way," has been adopted by the studios legacy animation division. Filmgoers and stock holders are both happy with the results.