Best Animation Movies & Shows — Ranked by Ratings [2026]
TL;DR
The best animated movies of all time include Spirited Away, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lion King, WALL-E, and Toy Story. We ranked 18 titles by combining IMDb and RT scores. Install CineMan AI to see ratings and a taste-match score on every streaming title.
The best animated movies of all time, ranked by IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes scores, prove that animation is not just for children — it is one of cinema's most expressive and ambitious art forms. From Studio Ghibli's hand-drawn masterpieces to Pixar's emotional storytelling to the visual revolution of Spider-Verse, animation has produced some of the highest-rated films in history. The 18 titles on this list have earned the best composite scores from both critics and audiences. If you want to know which animated films will captivate you, CineMan AI adds a personal taste-match score to every streaming title.
Top 18 Animated Movies of All Time
| # | Title | Year | IMDb | RT | Quick Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spirited Away | 2001 | 8.6 | 97% | Miyazaki's fantasy masterpiece is animation's greatest achievement |
| 2 | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | 2018 | 8.4 | 97% | A visual revolution that reinvented what animation can look like |
| 3 | The Lion King (1994) | 1994 | 8.5 | 93% | Disney's Hamlet on the savanna remains emotionally unmatched |
| 4 | WALL-E | 2008 | 8.4 | 95% | Pixar tells a love story with almost no dialogue and it works perfectly |
| 5 | Toy Story | 1995 | 8.3 | 100% | The film that launched Pixar and proved CGI animation was the future |
| 6 | Coco | 2017 | 8.4 | 97% | Pixar's celebration of Mexican culture is visually stunning and deeply moving |
| 7 | Finding Nemo | 2003 | 8.2 | 99% | Stanton's ocean adventure is Pixar at its most universally beloved |
| 8 | Princess Mononoke | 1997 | 8.4 | 93% | Miyazaki's epic environmental fable is breathtaking in scope and ambition |
| 9 | Inside Out | 2015 | 8.1 | 98% | Docter turns childhood psychology into Pixar's most inventive premise |
| 10 | Ratatouille | 2007 | 8.1 | 96% | Bird's Parisian cooking rat is a love letter to art and ambition |
| 11 | Up | 2009 | 8.3 | 98% | The first ten minutes are the most emotionally devastating in animation |
| 12 | Toy Story 3 | 2010 | 8.3 | 98% | Pixar's farewell to childhood made grown adults weep in theaters |
| 13 | The Incredibles | 2004 | 8.0 | 97% | Bird made the best superhero family film before the MCU existed |
| 14 | Grave of the Fireflies | 1988 | 8.5 | 100% | Takahata's wartime tragedy is the most devastating animated film ever made |
| 15 | How to Train Your Dragon | 2010 | 8.1 | 99% | DeBlois and Sanders crafted DreamWorks' emotional high point |
| 16 | Shrek | 2001 | 7.9 | 88% | DreamWorks' fairy-tale satire remains sharp, funny, and endlessly quotable |
| 17 | My Neighbor Totoro | 1988 | 8.1 | 94% | Miyazaki's gentle childhood fantasy is pure animated joy |
| 18 | Persepolis | 2007 | 8.0 | 96% | Satrapi's memoir proves animation can tell any story, no matter how political |
How to Find Animation That Matches Your Taste
Animation ranges from family-friendly Pixar films to mature Studio Ghibli epics to adult-oriented works like Persepolis and Grave of the Fireflies. The viewer who loves the humor of Shrek has different preferences from someone drawn to the visual poetry of Spirited Away. Knowing whether you prefer Western or Japanese animation, comedy or drama, and family or adult themes narrows the field considerably.
CineMan AI analyzes your viewing patterns and adds a personal taste-match score to every title on Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. If you love Studio Ghibli, CineMan will surface similar atmospheric animated films with high match percentages.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best animated movie of all time?
Based on combined ratings, Spirited Away (8.6 IMDb, 97% RT) and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (8.4 IMDb, 97% RT) consistently rank as the greatest animated films ever made.
What are the best animated movies for adults?
Grave of the Fireflies, Persepolis, Princess Mononoke, and Spider-Verse resonate powerfully with adult audiences. Pixar films like WALL-E and Inside Out also work on multiple levels.
What animated movies are streaming right now?
Disney+ has the Pixar and Disney catalog; Netflix and other services carry Studio Ghibli and more. Install CineMan AI to see ratings on every animated title as you browse.
How can I find animated movies that match my taste?
Install the free CineMan AI Chrome extension. It adds a personal taste-match score to every title on streaming platforms based on your viewing history.
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