5 Best Animated Movies to Watch on Netflix

KPop Demon Hunters debuted on Netflix in June 2025 and quickly became a massive hit. The movie earned hundreds of millions of views and made its way into theaters, which is a rare accomplishment for a Netflix Original starting on the streaming platform. The unexpected cultural phenomenon prompted retail companies to release merchandise such as Lego sets and video games.

The songs are catchy and the film delivers plenty of action and comedy. However, Netflix hosts other animated movies that stand the test of time, bring fresh ideas to established franchises, or simply deserve more attention.

Viewers experiencing fatigue from KPop Demon Huntermania can check out five animated masterpieces on Netflix instead.

5 The Mitchells vs. the Machines

KPop Demon Hunters and The Mitchells vs. the Machines share several similarities. Both animated films were produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released directly onto Netflix. The Mitchells vs. the Machines reached over 50 million views on the platform within its first month and became one of the biggest releases during the pandemic.

Written and directed by Mike Rianda, the movie follows the dysfunctional Mitchell family as they take a road trip to drop Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson) off at college. During the journey, a robot apocalypse begins, and a megalomaniacal artificial intelligence system abducts every human on Earth except the Mitchells.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines combines humor with a distinct art style mixing 3D and 2D elements. The relatable family dynamics stem from Rianda basing the characters on his actual family, as the filmmaker told Polygon for the movie’s fifth anniversary.

4 The Willoughbys

This dark comedy for children follows four neglected children who plan a deadly vacation to get rid of their horrible parents. Although the film feels like a Roald Dahl story, it is actually based on a book by Lois Lowry, the Newbery Medal-winning author of The Giver.

Director Kris Pearn blends childlike whimsy with humor that balances dark themes with a light touch. The straight-to-Netflix animated film appeals to audiences of all ages.

3 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie

The 2018 animated series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remains one of the most divisive iterations of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Supporters praise the high-quality animation and fast-paced writing. Critics dislike the departures from traditional lore, such as Master Splinter (Eric Bauza) acting abrasive, Raphael (Omar Miller) leading the team, and Leonardo (Ben Schwartz) serving as a sarcastic quipster.

When Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie arrived on Netflix in 2022, many skeptical fans won over by the story. Set in a future where an alien race called the Krang dominates Earth, the commander Leonardo sends the young soldier Casey Jones (Haley Joel Osment) back to the early 2020s. Casey inspires a younger Leonardo to embrace his leadership potential and stop the invasion.

2 The Land Before Time

Directed by animation veteran Don Bluth, The Land Before Time follows a group of orphaned dinosaur children searching for a lush sanctuary known as the Great Valley after famine forces their herd to migrate.

In 1955, Bluth joined Walt Disney and worked at the studio for decades before resigning over creative differences to launch Don Bluth Productions in 1979. While the studio closed before the end of the 1990s, it created acclaimed 1980s films such as An American Tail in 1986 and The Land Before Time in 1988.

1 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the Oscars during a competitive year.

The movie follows Miles Morales after he gains spider powers and inherits the Spider-Man mantle following the death of Peter Parker. When Kingpin triggers a multiversal anomaly, several other spider-powered heroes arrive in Miles’s home dimension.

The film earned praise for innovative animation that celebrated comic book art. It also featured a strong voice cast, a foundational story for a trilogy, and a memorable soundtrack.

Source: Polygon