(Photo by Laika/courtesy Everett Collection)

All Laika Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Ever since its founding in 2005, Laika has become synonymous with high-quality American stop-motion animation. The studio’s first order of business was pulling Henry Selick out of post-Monkeybone director hell to create Coraline, the dark fantasy in the vein of Selick’s first feature, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Coraline would prove to be Laika’s best mix of critical acclaim and box office, though every movie they’ve released — including ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link — have all been Certified Fresh and nominated for the Best Animated Picture Oscar. Their next film, Wildwood (adapted from the children’s fantasy novel by The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy), will release in 2025 and star Carey Mulligan and Mahershala Ali.

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

97%

Critics Consensus: Kubo and the Two Strings matches its incredible animation with an absorbing -- and bravely melancholy -- story that has something to offer audiences of all ages.

Synopsis: Young Kubo's peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, George Takei

Directed By: Travis Knight

Coraline (2009)

91%

Critics Consensus: With its vivid stop-motion animation combined with Neil Gaiman's imaginative story, Coraline is a film that's both visually stunning and wondrously entertaining.

Synopsis: While exploring her new home, a girl named Coraline (Dakota Fanning) discovers a secret door, behind which lies an alternate world that closely mirrors her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French

Directed By: Henry Selick

ParaNorman (2012)

89%

Critics Consensus: Beautifully animated and solidly scripted, ParaNorman will entertain (and frighten) older children while providing surprisingly thoughtful fare for their parents.

Synopsis: Young Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) has the ability to speak with the dead -- and he often prefers their company to that of the living.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck

Directed By: Chris Butler, Sam Fell

Missing Link (2019)

88%

Critics Consensus: Another beautifully animated triumph for Laika, Missing Link is a visual treat with lots of humor, plenty of heart, and even a little food for thought.

Synopsis: Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link -- 8 feet tall and covered in fur -- recruits fearless explorer Sir... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis, Zoe Saldaña, David Walliams

Directed By: Chris Butler

The Boxtrolls (2014)

78%

Critics Consensus: While it's far from Laika's best offering, The Boxtrolls is still packed with enough offbeat wit and visual splendor to offer a healthy dose of all-ages entertainment.

Synopsis: Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), an orphan, lives with the Boxtrolls -- a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who inhabit a cavern beneath the city of Cheesebridge.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette

Directed By: Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable