The long-anticipated sequel “Frozen 2” woos the hearts of people worldwide as it rivals its predecessor, if not surpasses it.  

Nearing four weeks since its release, the Disney movie ices out all other movies in the box office and reigns No. 1 with no competition in sight. “Frozen 2” raked in a whopping $337 million in domestic sales. Cumulatively, international sales account for the movie nearing almost one billion dollars earned. 

The plot of the Disney sequel takes place a few years after the first movie. In the opening scene, all is good in the idyllic town of Arendelle. However, the peaceful setting quickly disappears as frosty Queen Elsa hears a siren voice that only she can hear. As she provokes the voice, Arrendale mysteriously falls into ruin by spiritual forces, causing the residents to flee. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf must journey deep into the Nordic mountains to follow the unknown voice calling out to Elsa, in the hopes of saving their town.

Both animated feature films place the lives of Arendelle citizens in mortal danger, but “Frozen 2” arguably does a better job in telling a story, in part due to the lovable characters who have built a supportive following since the original “Frozen” hit theaters. Personally, “Frozen 2” evokes more sympathy for the struggling characters. Elsa, an orphaned queen, must deal with the guilt of causing the destruction of her town, as well as potentially her parents’ death. Needless to say, the Disney movie does not falter in crafting endearing protagonists.

Although “Frozen 2” contains a slightly darker storyline, the movie finds a balanced tone through many funny and heart-warming scenes. For instance, throughout the movie, Kristoff repeatedly tries to propose to the love of his life, Princess Anna, though many of his attempts to get her attention are abrupted by new obstacles ranging from ancient golems to Anna’s abrupt pursuits of her sister. 

On the topic of Kristoff, the audience gets a new look into his character, played by Jonathon Groff, in this new movie. The actor did not have a “Let it Go” moment in “Frozen,” but a personal song in “Frozen 2” more than makes up for it. “Lost in the Woods” is a theatrical masterpiece, mixing ’80s rock with cheesy montage transitions. The clumsy ice harvester’s captivating song is just the tip of the iceberg for the many songs of “Frozen 2.” Notably, Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad, sings along as he stumbles through a dark and enchanted forest. 

“Olaf was just the funniest little snowman,” said junior Vicky Varkonyi, one of the many audience members charmed by the new sequel. “It made my emotions fluctuate every two seconds. I like the newer Olaf songs better, and it almost made me cry.”

“Frozen 2” does right by upholding Olaf’s adorable character, especially during his performance of “When I am Older.” As he sings, Olaf disassembles and reassembles many times, often taking on funny shapes, in cartoon-snowman fashion.

Elsa — voiced by Idina Menzel for “Frozen 2” — also sings an unforgettable falsetto key in her song “Into the Unknown,” a song that mirrors “Let it Go” from the first movie. 

Under the veneer of catchy ballads and endearing characters, “Frozen 2” also tackles more difficult subjects. While only briefly explored in the predecessor movie, “Frozen 2” uses the internal struggles of the characters to subtly reflect on mental health and daily obstacles. The movie takes a deeper look into how people internalize their problems, shown through Elsa and Anna’s admirable tendency to blame themselves. 

“We feel all the darkness that everyone feels, but we choose to go on,” said Kristen Bell, the voice actor cast for Princess Anna of Arendelle. “Looking on the bright side is a choice that is not easy.” 

The movie may have been marketed to children, but it still provides commentary on the way many people go through life. For some viewers, the “Frozen” franchise has evolved enough to address pressing issues like mental health, past trauma and family instability. Through the journey of our protagonists, the creators carefully use “Frozen 2” as the medium to spread their message of self-love and doing the right thing. 

“Anna and Elsa make their own choices, and I commend Anna for her ability to face a hard past and realize she has to do what’s right for everyone,” said Jennifer Lee, the co-director of “Frozen 2” and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios. “[Frozen 2] is an admittance of how hard it is to navigate this world.”

The following commentary contains spoilers:

The Disney movie concludes with a satisfying Disney-movie ending. Kristoff finally successfully proposes to Anna, Olaf gets to feel many warm hugs, and the town of Arrendale is restored for its inhabitants to return to their normal lives. 

While this picturesque ending may leave some audiences wanting for more, “Frozen 2” still delivers on some plot twists, some of which were much more thrilling than the ending of the original movie. For example, beloved Queen Elsa leaves her throne to become the Queen of Nature, leaving Anna to become the new Queen of Arendelle. 

Fans are already speculating about the release of a “Frozen 3,” as many of these fans have questioned co-directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck for when the next installation in the series will reach audiences. If box office results offer any indication, we may see a “Frozen 3” sometime in the near future.