We kept the Disney and Pixar mentions to a minimum, because otherwise this might just have been a Disney and Pixar list.
You might see the words “animated movie” and automatically think “cartoons for kids”, but that is absolutely not always the case.
Yes, there are a lot of animated movies on this list that are perfectly suited for all ages, but each and every one of these is legitimately brilliant, and can be enjoyed by anyone.
As always, the list of titles and streaming services is correct at the time of publication.
Akira
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by two teenagers and a group of psychics.
Available to watch on Apple TV and Microsoft.
Aladdin
Yes, we’re allowing ourselves on Disney movie on this list! A kindhearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.
Available to watch on Disney+.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Batman (Kevin Conroy) is wrongly implicated in a series of murders of mob bosses actually done by a new vigilante assassin.
Available to watch on Apple TV, Google Play, Rakuten TV, and Microsoft.
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
A local scientist (Bill Hader) is often regarded as a failure until he invents a machine that can make food fall from the sky. But little does he know, that things are about to take a turn for the worst.
Available to watch on NOW.
Clip via Sony Pictures
Coraline
An adventurous 11-year-old girl (Dakota Fanning) finds another world that is a strangely idealised version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets.
Available to watch on NOW.
Despicable Me 2
Gru (Steve Carrell), the world’s most super-bad turned super-dad, has been recruited by a team of officials to stop a new supervillain, so he has to fight back with new gadgetry, cars, and more minion madness.
Available to watch on Prime Video and Netflix.
How To Train Your Dragon
A hapless young Viking (Jay Baruchel) who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.
Available to watch on NOW.
Inside Out
Yes, we’re allowing ourselves one Pixar movie on this list! After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
Available to watch on Disney+.
The Iron Giant
A young boy befriends a giant robot (Vin Diesel) from outer space that a paranoid government agent wants to destroy.
Available to watch on Apple TV, Google Play, Sky Store, Rakuten TV, and Microsoft.
Kung Fu Panda 2
Po (Jack Black) and his friends fight to stop a peacock villain (Gary Oldman) from conquering China with a deadly new weapon, but first the Dragon Warrior must come to terms with his past.
Available to watch on NOW and Netflix.
The LEGO Movie
An ordinary LEGO construction worker (Chris Pratt), thought to be the prophesied as “special”, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant (Will Ferrell) from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.
Available to watch on NOW.
Megamind
The supervillain Megamind (Will Ferrell) finally defeats his nemesis, the superhero Metro Man (Brad Pitt). But without a hero, he loses all purpose and must find new meaning to his life.
Available to watch on NOW and Prime Video.
Clip via Peacock Kids
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.
Available to watch on Disney+.
Shaun the Sheep Movie
When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it’s up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.
Available on NOW and Prime Video.
Shrek
A mean lord (John Lithgow) exiles fairytale creatures (headed by Eddie Murphy) to the swamp of a grumpy ogre (Mike Myers), who must go on a quest and rescue a princess (Cameron Diaz) for the lord in order to get his land back.
Available to watch on NOW, Prime Video, and Netflix.
The Simpsons Movie
After Homer pollutes the town’s water supply, Springfield is encased in a gigantic dome by the EPA and the Simpsons are declared fugitives.
Available to watch on Disney+
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.
Teen Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his universe, and must join with five spider-powered individuals from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities.
Available to watch on Netflix.
Spirited Away
During her family’s move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.
Available to watch on Netflix.
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies
A villain’s maniacal plan for world domination sidetracks five teenage superheroes who dream of Hollywood stardom.
Available to watch on Netflix.
Wolfwalkers
A young apprentice hunter (Honor Kneafsey) and her father (Sean Bean) journey to Ireland to help wipe out the last wolf pack. But everything changes when she befriends a free-spirited girl (Eva Whittaker) from a mysterious tribe rumoured to transform into wolves by night.
Available to watch on Apple TV+.
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