Critics Consensus: Boasting dazzling animation, a script with surprising dramatic depth, and thrilling 3-D sequences, How to Train Your Dragon soars.

Synopsis: A misfit Viking teenager sees a chance to change the course of his clan’s future when he befriends an injured dragon.

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill

Directed By: Christopher Sanders, Dean DeBlois, Kristine Belson, Tim Johnson

Critics Consensus: A simple tale told with great sophistication, The Wild Robot is wondrous entertainment that dazzles the eye while filling your heart to the brim.

Synopsis: The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot–ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy

Directed By: Christopher Sanders, Dean DeBlois

Critics Consensus: Chicken Run has all the charm of Nick Park’s Wallace & Gromit, and something for everybody. The voice acting is fabulous, the slapstick is brilliant, and the action sequences are spectacular.

Synopsis: This engaging stop-motion, claymation adventure tells the story of an American rooster who falls in love with a gorgeous hen on a British farm. The… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Miranda Richardson, Jane Horrocks

Directed By: Peter Lord, Nick Park, Jake Eberts, Jeffrey Katzenberg

Critics Consensus: Arriving more than a decade after the previous installment, the smart, sweet, and funny Puss in Boots: The Last Wish proves some franchises only get better with age.

Synopsis: This fall, everyone’s favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline returns. For the first time in more than a decade, DreamWorks Animation presents a new adventure in… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Olivia Colman, Harvey Guillén

Directed By: Joel Crawford, Andrew Adamson, Christopher Meledandri

Critics Consensus: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a subtly touching and wonderfully eccentric adventure featuring Wallace and Gromit.

Synopsis: The plucky characters from a series of animated shorts, Wallace and his dog, Gromit, make their feature debut here. After starting a pest control business,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Peter Kay

Directed By: Nick Park, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steve Box

Critics Consensus: A candy-colored ode to friendship and Filipino folklore, Forgotten Island bursts at the seams with imagination while never losing sight of the compelling relationship at its core.

Synopsis: While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with… View Full Synopsis

Starring: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate

Directed By: Joel Crawford, Januel P. Mercado

Critics Consensus: Exciting, emotionally resonant, and beautifully animated, How to Train Your Dragon 2 builds on its predecessor’s successes just the way a sequel should.

Synopsis: Five years have passed since Hiccup and Toothless united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. Now, they spend their time charting the island’s unmapped territories…. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson

Directed By: Dean DeBlois, Christopher Sanders, Tom Owens

Critics Consensus: Featuring a stellar voice cast, technically dazzling animation, and loads of good humor, Antz should delight both children and adults.

Synopsis: Z the worker ant (Woody Allen) strives to reconcile his own individuality with the communal work-ethic of the ant colony. He falls in love with… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Sylvester Stallone

Directed By: Eric Darnell, Tim Johnson, Penney Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins

Critics Consensus: An uncommonly ambitious animated film, Orion and the Dark benefits from a Charlie Kaufman screenplay that isn’t afraid to tangle with existential ideas.

Synopsis: The thing Orion fears the most is the dark. When the embodiment of his worst fear pays a visit, Dark whisks Orion away on a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Werner Herzog, Angela Bassett

Directed By: Sean Charmatz, Bonnie Arnold, Walt Dohrn

Critics Consensus: The rare trilogy capper that really works, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World brings its saga to a visually dazzling and emotionally affecting conclusion.

Synopsis: When the sudden appearance of a female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must journey to… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, F. Murray Abraham, Cate Blanchett

Directed By: Dean DeBlois, Christopher Sanders

Critics Consensus: It may not be as fresh as the original, but topical humor and colorful secondary characters make Shrek 2 a winner in its own right.

Synopsis: After returning from their honeymoon and showing home movies to their friends, Shrek and Fiona learn that her parents have heard that she has married… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews

Directed By: Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon, Jeffrey Katzenberg

Critics Consensus: While simultaneously embracing and subverting fairy tales, the irreverent Shrek also manages to tweak Disney’s nose, provide a moral message to children, and offer viewers a funny, fast-paced ride.

Synopsis: Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow

Directed By: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson, Penney Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins

Critics Consensus: The Bad Guys 2‘s crew of reformed rapscallions are still a ton of fun as their latest adventure raises the stakes while maintaining a playful sense of mischief.

Synopsis: Everyone’s favorite felons are back, and this time, they’ve got company. In the new action-packed chapter from DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed comedy smash about a crackerjack… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson

Directed By: Pierre Perifel, JP Sans

Critics Consensus: Kung Fu Panda has a familiar message, but the pleasing mix of humor, swift martial arts action, and colorful animation makes for winning Summer entertainment.

Synopsis: Po the panda works in his family’s noodle shop and dreams of becoming a kung-fu master. His dream becomes a reality when, unexpectedly, he must… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, David Cross

Directed By: John Stevenson, Mark Osborne, Bill Damaschke

Critics Consensus: Kung Fu Panda 3 boasts the requisite visual splendor, but like its rotund protagonist, this sequel’s narrative is also surprisingly nimble, adding up to animated fun for the whole family.

Synopsis: Living large and loving life, Po realizes that he has a lot to learn if he’s going to fulfill the next challenge from his beloved… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie

Directed By: Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni, Mike Mitchell, Peikang La

Critics Consensus: Fast-paced, funny, and full of colorful visual appeal, The Bad Guys is good news for audiences seeking options the whole family can enjoy.

Synopsis: In the new action comedy from DreamWorks Animation, based on the New York Times best-selling book series, a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws are… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Marc Maron, Awkwafina

Directed By: Pierre Perifel, Aaron Blabey, Etan Cohen, Patrick Hughes

Critics Consensus: With a tidy plot, clean animation, and humor that fits its source material snugly, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is entertainment that won’t drive a wedge between family members.

Synopsis: George Beard and Harold Hutchins are two overly imaginative pranksters who spend hours in a treehouse creating comic books. When their mean principal threatens to… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Nick Kroll, Thomas Middleditch

Directed By: David Soren, Dav Pilkey, Rob Letterman

Critics Consensus: It isn’t deep or groundbreaking, but what it lacks in profundity, Puss in Boots more than makes up for with an abundance of wit, visual sparkle, and effervescent charm.

Synopsis: Long before meeting Shrek, Puss in Boots, just named a hero for saving a woman from a charging bull, is run out of town on… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton

Directed By: Chris Miller, Andrew Adamson, Guillermo del Toro, Michelle Raimo

Critics Consensus: Working with admittedly familiar ingredients, Abominable offers audiences a beautifully animated and overall engaging adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

Synopsis: After discovering a Yeti on the roof of her apartment building, teenage Yi and her two friends embark on an epic quest to reunite the… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chloe Bennet, Albert Tsai, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Joseph Izzo

Directed By: Jill Culton, Tim Johnson, Ruigang Li, Frank Zhu

Critics Consensus: The storyline arc may seem a tad familiar to fans of the original, but Kung Fu Panda 2 offers enough action, comedy, and visual sparkle to compensate.

Synopsis: Now known as the Dragon Warrior, Po protects the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, the Furious Five. However, a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman

Directed By: Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Critics Consensus: Realizing Dav Pilkey’s canine creation with a frenzied energy that never lets up, Dog Man will delight kids while throwing their parents a bone.

Synopsis: When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Poppy Liu

Directed By: Peter Hastings

Critics Consensus: Mr. Peabody & Sherman offers a surprisingly entertaining burst of colorful all-ages fun, despite its dated source material and rather convoluted plot.

Synopsis: Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell), the most accomplished canine in the world, and his boy, Sherman (Max Charles), use a time machine called the Wabac to… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Stephen Colbert

Directed By: Rob Minkoff, Tiffany Ward, Eric Ellenbogen, Jason Clark

Critics Consensus: The Prince of Egypt‘s stunning visuals and first-rate voice cast more than compensate for the fact that it’s better crafted than it is emotionally involving.

Synopsis: In this animated retelling of the Book of Exodus, Egyptian Prince Moses (Val Kilmer), upon discovering his roots as a Jewish slave, embarks on a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock

Directed By: Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells, Jeffrey Katzenberg

Critics Consensus: Dazzlingly colorful and frenetic, Madagascar 3 is silly enough for young kids, but boasts enough surprising smarts to engage parents along the way.

Synopsis: Animal pals Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) are still trying to make it back to New… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith

Directed By: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon

Critics Consensus: Trolls brings its instantly recognizable characters to the big screen in a colorful adventure that, while geared toward the younger set, isn’t without rewards for parents.

Synopsis: After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious, curmudgeonly Branch (Justin Timberlake) set off on a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Russell Brand

Directed By: Mike Mitchell, Walt Dohrn, Dannie Festa

Critics Consensus: Another agreeable outing for the titular prehistoric clan, The Croods: A New Age may be the missing link for parents between more elevated family-friendly fare.

Synopsis: Searching for a safer habitat, the prehistoric Crood family discovers an idyllic, walled-in paradise that meets all of its needs. Unfortunately, they must also learn… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener

Directed By: Joel Crawford, Jana Spotts

Critics Consensus: Even if it’s not an animation classic, Over the Hedge is clever and fun, and the jokes cater to family members of all ages.

Synopsis: When Verne (Garry Shandling) and fellow woodland friends awake from winter’s hibernation, they find they have some new neighbors: humans, and RJ (Bruce Willis), an… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, William Shatner

Directed By: Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick, Bill Damaschke

Critics Consensus: A sort of Avengers for the elementary school set, Rise of the Guardians is wonderfully animated and briskly paced, but it’s only so-so in the storytelling department.

Synopsis: Generation after generation, immortal Guardians like Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) and the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher) protect the world’s children… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Isla Fisher

Directed By: Peter Ramsey, William Joyce, Guillermo del Toro, Michael Siegel

Critics Consensus: Clever and appealing for both children and adults, Flushed Away marks a successful entry into digital animated features for Aardman Animations.

Synopsis: After an ignoble landing in Ratropolis, a pampered rodent (Hugh Jackman) enlists the help of a sewer scavenger (Kate Winslet) in finding his way back… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Jean Reno, Bill Nighy

Directed By: David Bowers, Sam Fell

Critics Consensus: Penguins of Madagascar is fast and brightly colored enough to entertain small children, but too frantically silly to offer real filmgoing fun for the whole family.

Synopsis: Plucky penguins Skipper (Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Chris Miller), Rico (Conrad Vernon) and Private (Christopher Knights) — the most elite spies ever hatched — join forces… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich, Tom McGrath, Chris Miller

Directed By: Eric Darnell, Simon J. Smith, Tom McGrath, Mireille Soria

Critics Consensus: Though it doesn’t approach the depth of the best animated films, Monsters Vs. Aliens has enough humor and special effects to entertain moviegoers of all ages.

Synopsis: When a meteor full of space gunk transforms Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) into a giant, the government renames her Ginormica and confines her to a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett

Directed By: Rob Letterman, Conrad Vernon

Critics Consensus: It regurgitates plot points from earlier animated efforts, and isn’t quite as funny as it should be, but a top-shelf voice cast and strong visuals help make Megamind a pleasant, if unspectacular, diversion.

Synopsis: Though he is the most brilliant supervillain the world has known, Megamind is the least successful. Thwarted time and again by heroic Metro Man, Megamind… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill

Directed By: Tom McGrath, Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld

Critics Consensus: A fun follow-up for fans of the original, Trolls World Tour offers a second helping of colorful animation, infectious energy, and sing-along songs.

Synopsis: Poppy and Branch discover that there are six different troll tribes scattered over six different lands. Each tribe is also devoted to six different kinds… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Bloom, James Corden

Directed By: Walt Dohrn, Dannie Festa, Jana Spotts

Critics Consensus: Kung Fu Panda 4 offers enough eye-catching entertainment to sustain the franchise’s young fans, although it’s starting to feel like this series is running out of steam.

Synopsis: After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black),… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman

Directed By: Mike Mitchell

Critics Consensus: While it may not be as (ahem) evolved as the best modern animated fare, The Croods will prove solidly entertaining for families seeking a fast-paced, funny cartoon adventure.

Synopsis: Prehistoric family the Croods live in a particularly dangerous moment in time. Patriarch Grug (Nicolas Cage), his mate, Ugga (Catherine Keener), teenage daughter Eep (Emma… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener

Directed By: Christopher Sanders, Kirk DeMicco

Critics Consensus: A visually stunning film that may be too predictable and politically correct for adults, but should serve children well.

Synopsis: Follows the adventures of a wild and rambunctious mustang stallion as he journeys through the untamed American frontier. Encountering man for the first time, Spirit… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matt Damon, James Cromwell, Daniel Studi, Chopper Bernet

Directed By: Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook

Critics Consensus: It’s nowhere near as inventive as its off-the-wall premise might suggest, but Turbo boasts just enough colorful visual thrills and sharp voice acting to recommend as undemanding family-friendly fare.

Synopsis: Turbo is a speed-obsessed snail with an unusual dream: to become the world’s greatest racer. This odd snail gets a chance to leave his slow-paced… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Peña, Samuel L. Jackson

Directed By: David Soren

Critics Consensus: Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is littered with too much flotsam and jetsam from better animated features to stand as a true original, but its inherent sweetness and lively style make for likable enough family entertainment.

Synopsis: Sweet, awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise) is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Annie Murphy, Sam Richardson

Directed By: Kirk DeMicco, Mike Mitchell

Critics Consensus: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is an improvement on the original, with more fleshed-out characters, crisper animation and more consistent humor.

Synopsis: Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock) and other zoo animals find a way to escape from Madagascar when the penguins reassemble a wrecked airplane. The… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith

Directed By: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath

Critics Consensus: Trolls Band Together serves up another amusing, eye-catching outing that should entertain young fans of the franchise while remaining perfectly painless for parents.

Synopsis: After two films of true friendship and relentless flirting, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) are now officially, finally, a couple (#broppy)! As they… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Camila Cabello, Eric André

Directed By: Walt Dohrn

Critics Consensus: While not without its moments, Shrek Forever After too often feels like a rote rehashing of the franchise’s earlier entries.

Synopsis: Long-settled into married life and fully domesticated, Shrek begins to long for the days when he felt like a real ogre. Duped into signing a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas

Directed By: Mike Mitchell, Aron Warner, Andrew Adamson, John H. Williams

Critics Consensus: Though its story is problematic in spots and its humor is hit-or-miss for the adult crowd, Madagascar boasts impressive visuals and enough spunky charm to keep children entertained.

Synopsis: Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York’s Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends –… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith

Directed By: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath

Critics Consensus: The Boss Baby‘s talented cast, glimmers of wit, and flashes of visual inventiveness can’t make up for a thin premise and a disappointing willingness to settle for doody jokes.

Synopsis: A new baby’s arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator — a wildly imaginative 7-year-old named Tim…. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alec Baldwin, Miles Christopher Bakshi, Tobey Maguire, Jimmy Kimmel

Directed By: Tom McGrath

Critics Consensus: Colorful, silly, and utterly benign, Home is a passable diversion, but there’s no shortage of superior animated alternatives.

Synopsis: After a hive-minded alien race called the Boov conquer the Earth, they relocate the planet’s human population — all except for a little girl named… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, Jennifer Lopez

Directed By: Tim Johnson

Critics Consensus: Bee Movie has humorous moments, but its awkward premise and tame delivery render it mostly forgettable.

Synopsis: Fresh out of college, Barry the Bee finds the prospect of working with honey uninspiring. He flies outside the hive for the first time and… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman

Directed By: Simon J. Smith, Steve Hickner

Critics Consensus: Predictable story and thin characters made the movie flat.

Synopsis: Two con-men (Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh) get hold of a map to the lost City of Gold, El Dorado. After stowing away onto one of… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, Rosie Perez, Armand Assante

Directed By: Bibo Bergeron, Will Finn, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Don Paul

Critics Consensus: While it might be a passable diversion for younger viewers, Spirit Untamed is a middling sequel that lacks the essential energy suggested by its title.

Synopsis: An epic adventure about a headstrong girl longing for a place to belong who discovers a kindred spirit when her life intersects with a wild… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Isabela Merced, Marsai Martin, Mckenna Grace, Walton Goggins

Directed By: Elaine Bogan

Critics Consensus: It’s more C-level than C-suite, but as a painless diversion for the kids, this Boss Baby manages some decent Family Business.

Synopsis: In the sequel to DreamWorks Animation’s Oscar®-nominated blockbuster comedy, the Templeton brothers–Tim (James Marsden, X-Men franchise) and his Boss Baby little bro Ted (Alec Baldwin)–have… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alec Baldwin, James Marsden, Eva Longoria, Jeff Goldblum

Directed By: Tom McGrath, Tom McGrath

Critics Consensus: Competent, but not magical.

Synopsis: The adventurous sailor (Brad Pitt) and a beautiful stowaway (Catherine Zeta-Jones) have 10 days to save a prince from execution.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer, Joseph Fiennes

Directed By: Patrick Gilmore, Tim Johnson

Critics Consensus: Shrek the Third has pop culture potshots galore, but at the expense of the heart, charm, and wit that made the first two Shreks classics.

Synopsis: Shrek embarks on another whirlwind adventure with Donkey and Puss in Boots to find the rightful heir to the throne. Meet the magical misguided Merlin,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas

Directed By: Chris Miller, Andrew Adamson, John H. Williams

Critics Consensus: Derivative and full of pop culture in-jokes.

Synopsis: Underachiever Oscar (Will Smith) is a pint-sized fish with grand aspirations. When mob-connected great white shark Frankie (Michael Imperioli) is accidentally killed, Oscar concocts a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger, Jack Black

Directed By: Rob Letterman, Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson, Jeffrey Katzenberg