The Bad Guys 2
| The Bad Guys 2 | |
|---|---|
US theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Pierre Perifel |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Based on | The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey |
| Produced by | Damon Ross |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Théophile Bondoux |
| Edited by | Jesse Averna |
| Music by | Daniel Pemberton |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $80 million |
| Box office | $240 million |
The Bad Guys 2 is a 2025 American animated heist comedy film loosely based on the children's book series The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey and produced by DreamWorks Animation. The sequel to The Bad Guys (2022) and the second main entry of the media franchise of the same name, it was directed by Pierre Perifel and written by Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen. The film stars Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, Richard Ayoade, and Lilly Singh, reprising their roles from the first film, with Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, and Maria Bakalova joining the cast. In the film, the Bad Guys are forced to come out of retirement and join forces with an all-female criminal squad to perform one last heist.
Perifel expressed interest on developing a sequel to The Bad Guys in March 2022, before the release of the first film in the United States. Two years later, DreamWorks Animation announced a sequel, with Perifel and the voice cast returning. Lyonne joined the cast in July 2024, with the involvement of Brooks and Bakalova being announced in November. Daniel Pemberton composed the score, returning from the previous film.
The Bad Guys 2 premiered in Argentina on July 24, 2025, before being released in the United States on August 1, by Universal Pictures. The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $240 million.