Once upon a time, the animated film genre was dominated by Disney's prolific stable of sequel-spawning franchises. But the family-friendly category has long since escaped Mickey Mouse's shadow. It's DreamWorks Animation that's stolen the biggest slice of Disney's pie, launching multiple hit animated franchises – from Shrek and Kung Fu Panda to How to Train Your Dragon and Trolls – over the last two decades. And with The Wild Robot now in theaters, the studio hopes to continue its hot streak. And it's looking good: As of this writing, The Wild Robot is sitting at 98% on the Tomatometer and 98% on the Popcornmeter.
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Ahead of this latest release, Fandango polled nearly 2000 moviegoers to find out which of DreamWorks' nearly 50 animated films resonated with them most. So whether you're curious where your favorites rank, or you just want to revisit the studio's rich history, read on for the top 15 DreamWorks Animation movies.
Too Long, Didnt Read Summary:
· The Wild Robot is the latest film to come from prolific animation studio DreamWorks.
· It follows over two decades of hit family films and franchises from DreamWorks, including Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda.
· To celebrate The Wild Robot's arrival, Fandango polled nearly 2000 movie fans to find out which of DreamWork Animation's dozens of animated features rank as their favorites.
15. Trolls (2016)
76% on the Tomatometer
67% on the Popcornmeter
232 votes
Even with its adorable blend of cute characters, catchy tunes and positive vibes, the people we polled ranked Trolls the lowest among DreamWorks' multi-film animated series. Still, its first – and best – entry remains a highly rewatchable fan-favorite that also deserves credit for spinning a successful franchise out of a niche 1950's toyline of crazy-haired dolls.
14. Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
73% on the Tomatometer
59% on the Popcornmeter
236 votes
This one's titular match-up seemed like perfect fodder for an action-packed animated film with big franchise potential. And while it mostly delivered on its can't-miss concept – and continued on in TV series, video games and short films – it never got the feature-length sequel it deserved. 15 years after its release, Monsters vs. Aliens remains a cult classic that's ripe for a reboot.
13. Over the Hedge (2006)
75% on the Tomatometer
71% on the Popcornmeter
241 votes
It's not easy to stand out in a genre that's pretty much synonymous with cute, talking critters, but 2006's Over the Hedge – and its impressive cast of big stars (Bruce Willis, Allison Janney, William Shatner) and accomplished comedians (Steve Carrell, Garry Shandling, Wanda Sykes) – made a pretty good go of it. Still, much like Monsters vs. Aliens, the family comedy was never to be heard from again, aside from a few multi-media tie-ins.
12. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
95% on the Tomatometer
94% on the Popcornmeter
270 votes
Two of the best films in DreamWorks' Shrek universe don't feature the titular ogre and his donkey pal, but rather star fan-favorite feline Puss in Boots. Competing with Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy's comedic chops is no small feat, but Antonio Banderas' hilarious, swashbuckling cat made stealing scenes look easy -- and earned him his own acclaimed franchise.
11. Antz (1998)
92% on the Tomatometer
52% on the Popcornmeter
278 votes
To this day, DreamWorks' ambitious debut still gets confused with Pixar's A Bug's Life, which was released less than two months later in the fall of 1998. And while the two projects' similarities will always be part of Antz legacy, it deserves individual attention for becoming a record-breaking blockbuster that proved Pixar wasn't the only studio that could craft computer-animated hits.
10. Rise of the Guardians (2012)
74% on the Tomatometer
80% on the Popcornmeter
302 votes
Featuring an all-star cast (Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine, Jude Law) and a killer concept – Santa Claus (called "North" here), the Tooth Fairy, Jack Frost and the Easter Bunny join forces to fight an evil force – Rise of the Guardians saw DreamWorks return to the slightly more serious, action/adventure-focused fare they experimented with in The Road to El Dorado and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas. But while the movie's epic team-up of fantastical characters delivered, its story lacked the sparkle it needed to be come a perennial family favorite.
9. Megamind (2010)
73% on the Tomatometer
72% on the Popcornmeter
302 votes
While Megamind borrowed some of the best themes and elements from The Incredibles, Despicable Me and Marvel's superhero films, it never came off as a copycat, but rather carved out its own spot within the crowded genre. Its all-star performances, including the can't-miss casting of Will Ferrell as the titular supervillain, as well as strong supporting turns from Tina Fey, Brad Pitt and David Cross, deserve lots of the credit here. Sadly, the Ferrell-less sequel was widely panned, so we probably won't get another entry anytime soon.
8. The Prince of Egypt (1998)
79% on the Tomatometer
90% on the Popcornmeter
304 votes
Long before DreamWorks became focused on furry critters, funny creatures and family-oriented films, it proved it could pull off more serious, dramatic material with 1998's The Prince of Egypt, the studio's second animated film. The beautiful biblical tale still stands as one of the studio's most stunning, ambitious efforts, one they attempted to duplicate two years later with the straight-to-video, faith-based story Joseph: King of Dreams.
7. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
81% on the Tomatometer
74% on the Popcornmeter
317 votes
Shrek tends to get most of the love and recognition, but DreamWorks' other big, huggable star is equally popular, especially with younger fans. And with good reason, as the blockbuster, Jack Black-led martial arts saga has consistently churned out quality, critic-pleasing entries over its four-film run – Kung Fu Panda 2 is a favorite, but they're all quite solid. That's an impressive feat not even the lovable ogre can claim. (Sorry, Shrek the Third.)
6. Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
95% on the Tomatometer
79% on the Popcornmeter
327 votes
With its claymation-inspired style and cheeky British humor, Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit screams cult classic. But don't be fooled by its niche facade, as the unlikely, stop-motion duo was a critical darling and decent box office success that would go on to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. If you need further proof of the pair's popularity, look no further than Netflix, where a feature-length follow-up, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, will hit later this year.
5. Chicken Run (2000)
97% on the Tomatometer
65% on the Popcornmeter
393 votes
Before Wallace & Gromit hit the big screen, they enjoyed plenty of short film success, an acclaimed streak that led British animation studio Aardman to partner with DreamWorks on Chicken Run. Retaining the claymation-like style – but trading the Brit humor for more stateside appeal – this charming tale of prison-breaking poultry is the highest grossing stop-motion animated movie of all time. A favorite of fans and critics alike, it finally received a sequel 20-plus years later on Netflix, cleverly dubbed Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
4. Madagascar (2005)
55% on the Tomatometer
67% on the Popcornmeter
553 votes
Like many of DreamWorks' biggest franchises, Madagascar has spawned numerous sequels, spin-offs, TV series, video games and more. However, its colorful cast of zoo animals – and scene-stealing penguins – have been absent on the big screen for over a decade. Thankfully, its trio of mainline features, as well as its bird-focused spin-off The Penguins of Madagascar, still have a passionate following, offering some hope the studio could round-up our favorite giraffe, hippo, lion and zebra for a fourth film.
3. Shrek 2 (2004)
89% on the Tomatometer
79% on the Popcornmeter
610 votes
Shrek 2 belongs to that very rare group of sequels that are actually better than the films that spawned them. The follow-up not only sees Shrek (Mike Myers) and Donkey's (Eddie Murphy) comedic chemistry firing on all cylinders, but it doubles down on the storybook satire that made the original stand out from the family-friendly pack. On top of that, Shrek 2 introduced Antonio Banderas' scene-stealing Puss in Boots, who'd go on to star in his own popular spin-off franchise.
2. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
99% on the Tomatometer
91% on the Popcornmeter
845 votes
You needn't look further than Universal Orlando's upcoming Epic Universe theme park to appreciate this franchise's enormous popularity: the vacation destination is dedicating an entire land, dubbed "The Isle of Berk", to the family-friendly series. Of course, longtime fans of the fantasy franchise are well aware of its perfect blend of action, adventure, humor and heart, a reliable formula that's been successfully spun into shorts, TV spin-offs, video games and more. Next up: A live-action remake of the first film, slated to release in theaters in June 2025.
1. Shrek (2001)
88% on the Tomatometer
90% on the Popcornmeter
1203 votes
Long before Shrek met Donkey – and fans met either iconic character – DreamWorks had already crafted a handful of animated successes, including Antz, The Prince of Egypt and Chicken Run. But it wasn't until this grumpy ogre came along in 2001 that the studio discovered its first Disney-rivaling franchise – and won the very first Oscar for Best Animated Feature in the process.
On top of the incredible pairing of Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy's comedic talents, the film offered a fresh, edgier take on the family genre, skewering and satirizing beloved fairy tales and their sacred stars with adult-aimed humor that easily justified the film's PG-13 rating. The result saw not only the birth of the studio's most recognizable character/unofficial mascot, but the launch of a juggernaut brand that fans are still clamoring for over 20 years later.
