The Best Reviewed Animated Film of 2026 Is Coming to Disney+ Soon!

Pixar has had a complicated relationship with theatrical releases over the past several years and the Disney fan community has been watching the studio’s output with a particular kind of attentiveness that reflects both genuine love for what Pixar is capable of at its best and real concern about whether the studio that produced Toy Story, Up, Inside Out, and Coco was finding its footing again after a period that included pandemic-era streaming releases and a handful of films that, while not without merit, did not land with the same cultural force as the studio’s peak work.

Hoppers, which arrived in theaters on March 6, answered those concerns in a way that felt both immediate and sustained. The critical response was the kind that studios dream about and rarely receive, a 94 percent Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes that reflects not just positive reviews but genuine critical enthusiasm for what the film accomplishes. The audience score of 93 percent on the same platform suggests that the critical community and general audiences were watching the same movie and responding to it in the same way, which is rarer than it sounds and more meaningful than a single metric can fully convey. Reviewers described the film as a return to form for Pixar, language that carries significant weight given how specifically and persistently that conversation about the studio’s trajectory has been running in entertainment circles.

The financial performance matched the critical reception, a rarity even for well-reviewed animated films. Hoppers earned over $165 million domestically and $206 million internationally for a total worldwide gross exceeding $371 million, making it one of Pixar’s most successful non-sequel theatrical outings in nearly a decade. For a studio that has leaned heavily on established franchises in recent years, a wholly original film performing at that level is a statement about what the Pixar brand still means to audiences when the story is strong enough to carry it.

For families and Disney fans who missed it in theaters or want to revisit it from the comfort of home, the wait is almost over. Hoppers is coming to Disney+ on June 3, 2026.

What the Film Is About

Hoppers tells the story of Mabel, an animal lover voiced by Piper Curda, who seizes an opportunity to use a new technology that allows her to hop her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals. What begins as a chance to experience the animal world from the inside transforms into something significantly larger as Mabel uncovers mysteries beyond anything she could have imagined and befriends King George, a charismatic beaver voiced by Bobby Moynihan, who becomes central to everything that follows.

The stakes escalate when a major imminent human threat emerges in the form of Mayor Jerry Generazzo, voiced by Jon Hamm, whose smooth-talking political persona masks something considerably more dangerous for the animal kingdom. Mabel must rally the entire animal world to face a threat originating within her own species, which gives the film the kind of emotional and thematic complexity that distinguishes Pixar’s best work from animated films content to be entertaining without being genuinely resonant.

The voice cast assembled for Hoppers reflects the level of creative ambition that went into the project. Alongside Curda, Moynihan, and Hamm, the ensemble includes Kathy Najimy as Dr. Samantha Sam Fairfax, Dave Franco as Titus the butterfly, Eduardo Franco as Loaf the beaver, and Meryl Streep as the Insect Queen. The Meryl Streep casting alone communicates something about what kind of film this is and what the creative team believed they were making. Actors of that caliber do not sign on to animated comedies that do not have something genuinely interesting to offer. The film was directed by Daniel Chong and written by Jesse Andrews.

Why June 3 Is the Date to Know

The Disney+ arrival of Hoppers on June 3 comes at a moment when the streaming library is already drawing significant attention ahead of the Toy Story 5 theatrical release on June 19, which will eventually make its way to the platform. For families who want to experience what Pixar has been building toward in the months before Toy Story 5 opens, Hoppers represents exactly the kind of original storytelling that demonstrates the studio’s range beyond its most established franchises.

The June 3 date means the film will be available on the platform within days, and families who have been waiting for the home release since the March theatrical run have very little waiting left to do. For households with Disney+ subscriptions, the film requires no additional purchase and is included in the standard streaming library access.

NEW: Pixar’s Hoppers arrives on Disney+ on June 3. pic.twitter.com/Zl62joavIM

— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) May 28, 2026

Hoppers arrives on Disney+ on June 3. The Pixar return to form that critics and audiences agreed on in March is five days away from being available on the platform where most families watch their Disney and Pixar films. The animal kingdom assembled. June 3 is when it arrives at home.