50 Best New Animated Movies

Critics Consensus: Comforting as cheese and crackers, with some gentle ribbing of modern technology sprinkled on top, Vengeance Most Fowl revives this lovable pair with all their charm intact.

Synopsis: Aardman's four-time Academy Award®-winning director Nick Park and Emmy Award-nominated Merlin Crossingham return with a brand new epic adventure, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith

Directed By: Merlin Crossingham, Nick Park

Critics Consensus: As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Robot Dreams is the stuff good animation is made of.

Synopsis: DOG lives in Manhattan and he's tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until... View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Pablo Berger

Critics Consensus: Thanks to its innovative animation and mature themes, going with this Flow proves irresistible.

Synopsis: A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, Flow follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with... View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Gints Zilbalodis

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

Critics Consensus: Soulfully exploring thought-provoking themes through a beautifully animated lens, The Boy and the Heron is another Miyazaki masterpiece.

Synopsis: From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) comes a new critically-acclaimed fantasy adventure. After losing his mother during the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Luca Padovan, Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Critics Consensus: Just as visually dazzling and action-packed as its predecessor, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse thrills from start to cliffhanger conclusion.

Synopsis: Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga, an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn's full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson

Directed By: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson

Critics Consensus: With its unique visual style and a story that captures the essence of the franchise's appeal, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an animated treat for the whole family.

Synopsis: After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne

Directed By: Jeff Rowe

Critics Consensus: Tapping a rich emotional vein with its splendid animation and thoughtful allegory, Nimona is a deeply lovable animated adventure.

Synopsis: When Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a knight in a futuristic medieval world, is framed for a crime he didn't commit, the only one who can... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Jordan Gubian

Directed By: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane

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

Critics Consensus: A visually splendid and emotionally resonant anime film that appeals to the child in everyone, The Imaginary is a flight of fancy that audiences won't mind getting swept up in.

Synopsis: Rudger is a boy no one can see, imagined by Amanda to share her thrilling make-believe adventures. But when Rudger, suddenly alone, arrives at The... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Louie Rudge-Buchanan, Evie Kiszel, Hayley Atwell, Sky Katz

Directed By: Yoshiyuki Momose

Critics Consensus: Spicing things up with the wrinkle of teenage angst, Inside Out 2 clears the head and warms the heart by living up to its predecessor's emotional intelligence.

Synopsis: The little voices inside Riley's head know her inside and out--but next summer, everything changes when Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2 introduces a new... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amy Poehler, Kensington Tallman, Maya Hawke, Lilimar

Directed By: Kelsey Mann

Critics Consensus: Dramatically satisfying with a dash of good humor, Transformers One suggests that animation might be the optimal medium for this oft-adapted franchise.

Synopsis: TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key

Directed By: Josh Cooley

Critics Consensus: Restoring much of Looney Tunes' quintessential charm with a daffy dose of high energy and inventive gags, The Day the Earth Blew Up goes to show that these iconic characters remain evergreen fun.

Synopsis: That's not all folks! Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, one of the greatest comedic duos in history, are making their hilarious return to the big... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter MacNicol, Fred Tatasciore

Directed By: Peter Browngardt

Critics Consensus: Ultraman: Rising adds an interesting wrinkle of childrearing to the franchise's high-octane formula, making for a colorful romp fit for the whole family.

Synopsis: With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Christopher Sean, Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young

Directed By: Shannon Tindle, John Aoshima

Critics Consensus: Slick animation, catchy songs, and some winning voice work from a cast led by Adam Sandler help Leo strike an uneasy balance between satirical and sweet.

Synopsis: Actor and comedian Adam Sandler (Hotel Transylvania, The Wedding Singer) delivers signature laughs in this coming-of-age animated musical comedy about the last year of elementary... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Jason Alexander, Cecily Strong

Directed By: Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, David Wachtenheim

Critics Consensus: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget offers more of the easy laughs and eye-catching animation that fans of the original enjoyed, although there's a general feeling of diminishing returns.

Synopsis: Having escaped from the farm, Ginger and Rocky welcome a new little adventurer into their lives. Back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Romesh Ranganathan

Directed By: Sam Fell

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: A beautifully animated history lesson, The Inventor seems somewhat uncertain as to which audience it's trying to reach, but it remains amusing and often engaging.

Synopsis: "The Inventor" follows famed inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci after he leaves Italy for France. In his new country, da Vinci joins the French... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Stephen Fry, Daisy Ridley, Marion Cotillard, Matt Berry

Directed By: Jim Capobianco, Pierre-Luc Granjon

Critics Consensus: Elemental may not satisfy as fully as the greatest Pixar pictures, but it remains a solid story told with dazzling visual flair.

Synopsis: Disney and Pixar's "Elemental," an all-new, original feature film set in Element City, where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. The story introduces Ember,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi

Directed By: Peter Sohn

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In 2200, private detective Aline Ruby and her android partner Carlos Rivera are hired by a wealthy businessman to track down a notorious hacker. On... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Léa Drucker, Mathieu Amalric, Daniel Njo Lobé, Marie Bouvet

Directed By: Jérémie Périn

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Yumi Kawai, Mizuki Yoshida

Directed By: Kiyotaka Oshiyama

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: "An Almost Christmas Story" follows Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cary Christopher, Estella Madrigal, Jim Gaffigan, Natasha Lyonne

Directed By: David Lowery

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: KIZUMONOGATARI -Koyomi Vamp- centers around a high school student named Koyomi Araragi, who survives an encounter with a gorgeous yet helpless vampire, Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hiroshi Kamiya, Maaya Sakamoto, Yui Horie, Takahiro Sakurai

Directed By: Tatsuya Oishi

Critics Consensus: Night of the Zoopocalypse delightfully threads the needle as a child-friendly introduction to horror, delivering a gentle amount of good scares while dazzling the eye with its neon hues.

Synopsis: After a meteor unleashes a virus that turns zoo animals into zombies, a mountain lion (David Harbour) and wolf (Gabbi Kosmidis) lead a team of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Harbour, Scott Thompson, Paul Sun-hyung Lee, Gabriella Kosmidis

Directed By: Ricardo Curtis, Rodrigo Perez-Castro

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Paulette feels guilty after unjustly punishing her daughter Linda and would do anything to make it up to her. Linda immediately asks for a meal... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mélinée Leclerc, Clotilde Hesme, Laetitia Dosch, Esteban

Directed By: Chiara Malta, Sébastien Laudenbach

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: He's a spy. She's an assassin. Together, Loid and Yor keep their double lives to themselves while pretending to be the perfect family. However, their... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Takuya Eguchi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Saori Hayami, Kenichirou Matsuda

Directed By: Takashi Katagiri

Critics Consensus: Visually spectacular with a hyperactive sense of humor, Ne Zha II is a sequel that supercharges the original's charms while still being accessible for the uninitiated.

Synopsis: After the heavenly lightning, although Ne Zha and Ao Bing survived by becoming Spirits, they would soon dissipate completely. Taiyi plans to rebuild Ne Zha... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joseph, Mo Han, Chen Hao, Qi Lü

Directed By: Yu Yang

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In an alternate world, the murder of a government sponsored superhero draws his outlawed colleagues out of retirement, into a mystery that threatens their lives... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matthew Rhys, Katee Sackhoff, Titus Welliver, Troy Baker

Directed By: Brandon Vietti

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The origin story for one of Peanuts’ most beloved characters, Franklin, follows how he approaches making new friends. Franklin’s family is always on the move... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Caleb Bellavance, Etienne Kellici, Terry McGurrin, Isabella Leo

Directed By: Raymond S. Persi

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The Anti-Monitor (the Monitor's evil counterpart) is released into the DC Multiverse and begins to destroy the different Earths that compose it. The Monitor attempts... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Matt Bomer, Jensen Ackles, Stana Katic

Directed By: Jeff Wamester

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Plankton's tangled love story with his sentient computer wife goes sideways when she takes a stand and decides to destroy the world without him.

Starring: Mr. Lawrence, Jill Talley, Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke

Directed By: Dave Needham

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Following a speedy 12-year-old sloth named Laura whose odd sloth family is left homeless by a devastating storm. Forced to pack up what little is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Leslie Jones, Teo Vergara, Remy Hii, Olivia Vásquez

Directed By: Tania Vincent, Ricard Cussó

Critics Consensus: Beautiful animation and entertaining work from a talented voice cast help Migration take flight in spite of a story that doesn't quite stand out from the flock.

Synopsis: This holiday season, Illumination, creators of the blockbuster Minions, Despicable Me, Sing and The Secret Life of Pets comedies, invites you to take flight into... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Kumail Nanjiani, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key

Directed By: Benjamin Renner

Critics Consensus: Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie will be best enjoyed by its youthful target audience, but it's sweet, thoughtful, and funny enough to entertain the entire family.

Synopsis: When a magical meteor crash lands in Adventure City, it gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers, transforming them into The MIGHTY PUPS! For Skye, the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kristen Bell, James Marsden, Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Henson

Directed By: Cal Brunker

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: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The dragons of ancient China are on the brink of extinction; their only hope is a brave young girl on a perilous journey to save... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Nighy, Bill Bailey, Anthony Howell, Brendan Coyle

Directed By: Salvador Simó

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Thelma is a small-time pony who dreams of becoming a glamorous music star. In a pink and glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma is transformed into... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brittany Howard, Will Forte, Jemaine Clement, Jon Heder

Directed By: Jared Hess, Lynn Wang

Critics Consensus: More of a stocking stuffer than a proper gift from Santa, That Christmas is an amiable enough addition to the holiday canon.

Synopsis: Based on the charming trilogy of children's books by beloved multi award-winning writer/director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Yesterday),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Bill Nighy

Directed By: Simon Otto

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: High school student Hiiragi Yatsuse struggles to make friends. One summer day, his life takes a turn when he encounters an oni girl named Tsumugi,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kensho Ono, Miyu Tomita, Mio Tanaka, Satsuki Yukino

Directed By: Tomotaka Shibayama

Critics Consensus: Riding high on a wave of stunning animation even when its story runs adrift, Moana 2 isn't as inspired as the original but still delights as a colorful adventure.

Synopsis: Walt Disney Animation Studios' epic animated musical "Moana 2" takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, Temuera Morrison

Directed By: David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter, is hired to investigate a series of attacks in a seaside village and finds himself drawn into a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Doug Cockle, Anya Chalotra, Joey Batey, Christina Wren

Directed By: Kang Hei Chul

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The denizens of Bikini Bottom are thrown into jeopardy when their home is suddenly scooped out of the ocean and held hostage at a Texas... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Carolyn Lawrence, Tom Kenny, Wanda Sykes, Clancy Brown

Directed By: Liza Johnson

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Tom Lee discovers he's part of a long lineage of magical protectors known as the Guardians. With guidance from a mythical tiger and other animal... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Henry Golding, Brandon Soo Hoo, Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh

Directed By: Raman Hui

Critics Consensus: This animated deep cut from The Lord of the Rings mythos has plenty of spectacle, but its clichéd characters and uneven animation resemble middle of the road more than they do Middle Earth.

Synopsis: Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" tells the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Luke Pasqualino, Miranda Otto

Directed By: Kenji Kamiyama

Critics Consensus: Spellbound makes for harmless viewing thanks to its colorful animation and clever moral, but this fairy tale can't quite summon any real charm.

Synopsis: Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria who must go on a daring quest to save her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rachel Zegler, Miguel Bernardeau, Jenifer Lewis, Dee Bradley Baker

Directed By: Vicky Jenson

Critics Consensus: The Garfield Movie rolls along at a zany enough clip to be diverting for kids, but this animated adventure doesn't much resemble Jim Davis' iconically grumpy creation.

Synopsis: Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Hannah Waddingham

Directed By: Mark Dindal

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A PTSD marine goes to extreme measures to rescue his 8 year old brother from a science research facility where he is being experimented on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jane Perry, Dave Fennoy, Natalie Britton, Jennifer Armour

Directed By: Hasraf Dulull

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The Anti-Monitor attacks the remaining Earths and their inhabitants. Heroes and villains across time and space join the Justice League for a final stand against... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jensen Ackles, Darren Criss, Corey Stoll, Meg Donnelly

Directed By: Jeff Wamester

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: An endless army of shadow demons threatens to destroy the world and all parallel Earths; the only thing opposing them is the combined power of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jensen Ackles, Darren Criss, Meg Donnelly, Stana Katic

Directed By: Jeff Wamester

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Megamind’s former villain team, The Doom Syndicate, has returned. Our newly crowned blue hero must now keep up evil appearances until he can assemble his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keith Ferguson, Laura Post, Josh Brener, Maya Aoki Tuttle

Directed By: Eric Fogel