10 Best Stop Motion Movies That You Should Know Update 04/2024

Best Stop Motion Movies

Some of the best stop motion films are ranked by Rotten Tomatoes, a genre that dates back to the beginnings of filmmaking.

One of the most difficult forms of filmmaking and animation is stop-motion, which is an art form in its own right and requires a lot of patience and talent. J. Stuart Blackman’s The Humpty Dumpty Circus, made in the early 1900s, is often cited as the first picture entirely animated with stop-motion.

Puppets, dolls, paper cut-outs, and clay are just a few of the materials that can be used to create this type of animation. The art of stop-motion is alive and well, despite the rise of more prominent types of animation like CG in recent years. Films made with this technology almost always have a lasting impression on viewers. Some of the greatest stop-motion films of all time have been ranked by Rotten Tomatoes in this list.

1. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) – 90%

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

The legacy of this television show has lasted for decades and continues to this day. Although The Year Without a Santa Claus was only 51 minutes long, its success was extremely unexpected. A Christmas special aired every year after its release and is still aired around the holidays today.

If you reside in the United States and have ever watched television, you’re more than likely familiar with The Year Without a Santa Claus.

2. Coraline (2009) – 90%

“Coraline” is one of the most popular animated pictures of all time as well as being a stop motion animation that has grossed more money than Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (2005) and Chicken Run (2000).

Henry Selick’s Coraline is an accurate and viscerally creepy adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s 2002 story, even if it doesn’t exactly convey the dread.

3. James And The Giant Peach (1996) – 91%

James And The Giant Peach (1996)

Another Henry Selick gem is Walt Disney’s James and the Giant Peach: The Adventures of James the Third. In many ways, this picture stands out because of its unique combination of stop-motion and live-action.

It was author Roald Dahl’s surviving spouse, Felicity Crosland, who gave Disney rights to James and the Giant Peach. On multiple occasions, he turned down film adaptations of his iconic novel.

4. Fantastic Planet (1973) – 91%

Fantastic Planet introduced a new form of animation in 1973, one that still looks unusual and eye-catching to this day, and one that was created using stop-motion techniques. As a result of its allegories and analogies, this picture is frequently lauded.

Fantastic Planet, on the other hand, is a visual masterpiece and an unforgettable addition to stop-motion animation.

5. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) – 93%

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

It was Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox that stood out from all the other 3D digitally animated pictures that were swiftly forgotten. It was a breath of fresh air for many people. Anderson’s first feature-length animated film, it has gained a devoted following since its 2009 debut.

Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, and Meryl Streep lend their voices to the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1970 children’s book, Fantastic Mr. Fox.

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – 95%

For many fans, Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas is one of his greatest works. When it comes to credit, it should be noted that while Burton came up with the concept and storyline of this quirky comic horror, Henry Selick directed it.

Since its first release in 1993, The Nightmare Before Christmas has become a holiday ritual for many fans.

It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, among many other honors.

7. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (2005) – 95%

Wallace & Gromit The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (2005)

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, a spoof of classic monster movies like The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, became an unexpected hit. For the second time ever, a DreamWorks Animation film received an Academy Award for Best Animated Film when this claymation comedy was released in 2005.

The Wallace & Gromit shorts were the inspiration for this film, which was the most successful Wallace & Gromit feature film. The fascination with the duo’s antics began 30 years ago and shows no signs of waning any time soon.

8. Kubo And The Two Strings (2016) – 97%

In spite of the fact that Kubo and the Two Strings was critically acclaimed upon its theatrical premiere in 2016, Laika’s film is noted for its lackluster performance at the box office, grossing only $77.5 million on a budget of $60 million.

Critics and moviegoers alike praised Kubo and the Two Strings for its intriguing plot and stunning animation, despite the film’s lack of monetary success.

9. My Life As A Zucchini (2016) – 99%

My Life As A Zucchini (2016)

The 2016 Cannes Film Festival debut of My Life as a Zucchini (also known as My Life as a Courgette) has cemented its status as one of the most accomplished yet underappreciated stop-motion pictures to come out in recent years.

Claude Barras, the Swiss filmmaker of this comedy-drama, was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 89th Academy Awards, among other honors.

10. The Tale Of The Fox (1937) – 100%

The Tale of the Fox was the world’s sixth-ever entirely animated feature picture eight months before Walt Disney released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Fantastic Mr. Fox’s ensemble was made up of animals, with the protagonist himself being a fox in The Tale of the Fox.

Furthermore, this film is one of the earliest examples of a fully animated feature film being constructed entirely out of puppets and stop-motion.