Movies that combine live action and animation have been around for a long time, and that's because they work. If you take a great live action movie and find a way to animate a few things, or animate a great many things – or add a live action character to an animated story – it adds another layer of whimsy or imagination, as well as giving your audience a nice break from live action footage.
The latest hit movie to combine live action and animation is IF, written and directed by John Krasinski. It’s about a girl who can see everyone’s imaginary friends, and the cast is a who’s who of Hollywood like Krasinksi, Ryan Reynolds, Emily Blunt, Blake Lively, Steve Carell, George Clooney and Matt Damon, to name a few.
While we wait to see how IF compares to the long list of live action animated movies that have come before it, Fandango asked movie fans what they thought were the best of the best. And the fans' list has everything, like live action movies with various computer animated elements, CGI animated animals, stop motion sequences, animated singing silverware, video game characters and an animated ghost or two. Some are heavy on the live action scenes with just one animated sequence, while others have multiple animated scenes or characters to go with all the live action.
Here are the 25 best live action and animated movies, according to Fandango movie fans.
Too Long, Didn't Read summary:
• Adding animation to live-action footage in movies has been done for decades.
• Adding animated characters or a computer animated sequence to live action is a way to bring whimsy or enhance imagination.
• Everything from computer animation, stop motion animation, a famous animated opening sequence and brief hand drawn animation have been used to spruce up the live action films on this list.
• Some of the most popular live action and animation films involve an animated rabbit, a trash-collecting robot and some famous flying sequences courtesy of a magic umbrella.
25. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022)
Chosen by 7% of survey participants
98% on the Tomatometer
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On features stop motion animation sequences paired with live action in what's best described as a heartfelt mockumentary dramedy. It was directed and co-written by Dean Fleischer Camp in his feature directorial debut. He co-wrote the screenplay with Jenny Slate, who also provides the voice of the anthropomorphic Marcel the Shell, and it’s based on a series of shorts of the same name the pair began making in 2010. The film follows Marcel, a shell who lives with his grandmother, after he posts a short film online that goes viral and gives him a chance to reunite with the rest of his family.
24. Osmosis Jones (2001)
Chosen by 9% of survey participants
55% on the Tomatometer
With the live action filmmaking handled by the Farrelly brothers and animated sequences directed by Piet Kroon and Tom Sito, this movie features the voices of Chris Rock, Laurence Fishburne, David Hyde Pierce, Brandy Norwood and William Shatner, with Molly Shannon, Chris Elliott and Bill Murray in live action roles. The story follows the titular character, an anthropomorphic white blood cell, who teams up with a cold pill to protect his human host from a villainous virus. Osmosis Jones was a box office bust, grossing $14 million against a $70 million budget, but was followed by the hit WB animated series Ozzy & Drix, which aired from 2002 to 2004.
23. The Cat in the Hat (2003)
Chosen by 9% of survey participants
10% on the Tomatometer
Loosely based on Dr. Seuss's 1957 book of the same name, The Cat in the Hat stars Mike Myers as the titular character, an anthropomorphic and wise-cracking feline who visits two bored children and stirs up some mischief. The film uses plenty of special effects to achieve the looks, like the CGI fish sequence involving the pessimistic yet sensible family fish, voiced by Sean Hayes. The Cat in the Hat ended up being the second and final live action Dr. Seuss adaptation, after poor reviews and ticket sales resulted in Dr. Seuss’s widow shutting down any further live action adaptations.
22. The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)
Chosen by 9% of survey participants
40% on the Tomatometer
Serving as the finale of the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire, this movie follows Hillary Duff’s Lizzie character on her graduation trip to Rome, where she gets tangled up with an Italian pop star. Much like the show, which ran for two seasons, the film features Lizzie in animated form throughout, mostly offering the character’s inner-thoughts or narrating. Despite a poor showing early on, The Lizzie McGuire Movie has built a strong cult following through the years.
21. Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)
Chosen by 10% of survey participants
57% on the Tomatometer
As the second theatrical release in the Looney Tunes franchise after 1996’s Space Jam, this Warner Bros. film was directed by Joe Dante of Gremlins (1984) fame and features stars like Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, Steve Martin, Timothy Dalton, Heather Locklear and Bill Goldberg. Longtime Looney Tunes voice actor Joe Alaskey handled the animated sequences as Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny and others. But despite all that star power, this spy films parody was a box office bomb, and would be the last Looney Tunes theatrical feature until Space Jam: A New Legacy in 2021.
20. Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Chosen by 11% of survey participants
79% on the Tomatometer
This musical sequel to Mary Poppins (1964) is set in London during the Great Depression. It stars Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins, the former nanny of Jane and Michael Banks, as she returns in the wake of the death of Michael's wife to assist with his own children. The hand drawn animation portions feature Edward Hibbert as the voice of Mary Poppins' parrot umbrella. Mary Poppins Returns nods to the original movie with the animated animals, plus other Mary Poppins standards like animated butterflies during the Royal Doulton Music Hall animated segment. The animated surroundings are further brought to life with Chris O'Dowd as the voice of Shamus the, Coachman Dog and Mark Addy as the voice of Clyde the Horse.
19. Paddington 2 (2018)
Chosen by 12% of survey participants
99% on the Tomatometer
This sequel, which has hovered around a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating since its release, features the return of Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington, with Hugh Bonneville starring on the live action side. The film follows Paddington after he is framed and imprisoned for a burglary that he did not commit, while he and his family and friends try to uncover the real culprit. A third film in the series, Paddington in Peru, is currently in production, with release scheduled for January 202.
18. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
Chosen by 13% of survey participants
68% on the Tomatometer
Marking the first cinematic adventure for SpongeBob, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie was originally supposed to serve as the show’s series finale until Nickelodeon wisely decided to order more episodes. It follows SpongeBob and Patrick as they try to save their world from Plankton's rule. Along with the series' regular voice cast led by Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke, big-name guest stars for The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie include Scarlett Johansson, Alec Baldwin and – most importantly for this list – David Hasselhoff as a live action version of himself.
17. James and the Giant Peach (1996)
Chosen by 14% of survey participant
91% on the Tomatometer
Produced by Tim Burton, this adaptation of the 1961 novel of the same name by Roald Dahl combines live action with stop motion animation. It stars Paul Terry as the titular James, an orphan boy who befriends anthropomorphic bugs inside a giant peach and embarks on a journey to New York City. Some of the notable actors in the voice cast include Richard Dreyfuss, Jane Leeves and Susan Sarandon, all voicing James’ insect friends in the stop motion animation sequences.
16. Stuart Little (1999)
Chosen by 15% of survey participants
67% on the Tomatometer
Loosely based on E.B. White’s 1945 novel of the same name, this film was co-written by M. Night Shyamalan and follows a charming young mouse named Stuart who is adopted by the Little family, much to the ire of the family’s cat. Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie and Jonathan Lipnicki lead the live action side, while Michael J. Fox leads the voice cast as Stuart, along with Nathan Lane, Chazz Palminteri, Steve Zahn, Bruno Kirby and Jennifer Tilly in various roles. Stuart Little was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, but lost to The Matrix (1999).
15. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Chosen by 16% of survey participants
67% on the Tomatometer
Angela Lansbury stars in this Disney classic about an apprentice witch who teams up with three kids and a conman to try and complete a magic spell that will help Britain in World War II. It’s based on two different books by children’s author Mary Norton, and took a decade to get made because of its similarities to Mary Poppins (1964). The live action-animation sequences were praised by critics, and the overall combination led to an Academy Award for Best Special Visual Effects.
14. The Pink Panther (2006)
Chosen by 16% of survey participants
21% on the Tomatometer
Cue the classic animated opening sequence! This film is a reboot of the Pink Panther franchise and marks the 10th installment in the film series, first since 1993. Steve Martin beat out names like Jim Carrey, Mike Myers and Chris Tucker for the role of Jacques Clouseau, who sets out to solve the murder of a famous soccer coach and the theft of a famous diamond. Martin is joined in the cast by Kevin Kline, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer and Beyoncé Knowles. And of course, per franchise tradition, the film features an animated title sequence starring the cartoon Pink Panther.
13. Pete's Dragon (2016)
Chosen by 18% of survey participants
88% on the Tomatometer
This is a remake of the 1977 Disney musical film of the same name, although this version is not a musical. Pete's Dragon tells the story of an orphaned boy who befriends a dragon, and the Pacific Northwest town that discovers them. The cast features Oakes Fegley as Pete, along with performances from Bryce Dallas Howard, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence and Robert Redford. The dragon animated character had the vocal effects provided by John Kassir, best known as the voice of the Cryptkeeper from HBO's Tales from the Crypt franchise.
12. Ted (2012)
Chosen by 19% of survey participants
69% on the Tomatometer
Seth MacFarlane's directorial debut stars Mark Wahlberg as a Boston native whose childhood wish to bring his teddy bear friend to life begins to backfire in adulthood as he tries to carry on a relationship. Mila Kunis, Joel McHale and Giovanni Ribisi have supporting roles, while character Ted was voiced by MacFarlane, who also provided the motion capture for the movie's one animated character and co-wrote the script.
11. Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
Chosen by 22% of survey participants
23% on the Tomatometer
The gang's all here for the sequel to 2002's Scooby-Doo. Director Raja Gosnell and writer James Gunn both returned for this story about the gang’s childhood monsters being brought to life by an evil force. Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard and Linda Cardellini all returned on the live action side, while Neil Fanning once again provided the voice of Scooby-Doo.
10. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Chosen by 24% of survey participants
82% on the Tomatometer
Perhaps the most visually unique film on this list, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was co-written, produced, and directed by Edgar Wright, and based on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O'Malley. Michael Cera stars as Scott Pilgrim, a slacker musician who is trying to win a battle of the bands while also battling the seven evil exes of his new girlfriend, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. A combination of digital and physical methods were used to create the film’s extensive visual effects, which imitate manga and video game sequences.
9. Casper (1995)
Chosen by 25% of survey participants
52% on the Tomatometer
Casper is based on the Harvey Comics cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost, who made his firs appearance in 1945. The movie makes extensive use of computer-generated imagery to create the animated ghosts, and is the first feature film to have a fully CGI character in a lead role. Malachi Pearson provides Casper's voice. The film’s other stars include Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci as an afterlife therapist and his daughter, who meet the friendly young ghost when they move into a crumbling mansion.
8. Enchanted (2007)
Chosen by 27% of survey participants
93% on the Tomatometer
This self-parody from Disney stars Amy Adams as a singing and dancing princess-to-be who is exiled from her animated world into the live action world of New York City. It uses live action, CGI and traditional animation to pay homage to various animated classics throughout. Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Idina Menzel and Susan Sarandon also appear, with Julie Andrews serving as the narrator.
7. Space Jam (1996)
Chosen by 28% of survey participants
43% on the Tomatometer
With Michael Jordan as the centerpiece, this movie is a (presumably fictionalized) account of the time between his initial retirement from the NBA in 1993 and his 1995 return, during which he was enlisted to help the Looney Tunes win a basketball match against invading aliens. It marked the first film to be produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation and went on to become the highest-grossing basketball film ever at the time.
6. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003) 28%
Chosen by 28% of survey participants
85% on the Tomatometer
This film was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino and stars Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox and David Carradine. Thurman stars as a former assassin who wakes up after an attempt on her life and vows revenge. While it’s mostly a live action movie, Tarantino did find one scene to animate, paying homage to his favorite violent anime films with an animated sequence that tells the story of Liu’s O-Ren Ishii character, and how she took revenge for her parents' murders as a young girl.
5. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Chosen by 33% of survey participants
96% on the Tomatometer
This all-time classic was written and performed by the Monty Python comedy group – Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin – and parodies the legend of King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail. The movie includes various animated sequences and animated characters weaved in with the live action sequences, including the attack of an animated cave monster that ends abruptly after the animator unexpectedly suffers a fatal heart attack.
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010)
Chosen by 33% of survey participants
77% on the Tomatometer
As the first of two movies based on the 2007 novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling, this film follows Harry Potter after he's asked by Dumbledore to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's secret to immortality: the Horcruxes. This seventh installment in the film series once again stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprising their roles as Ron and Hermione respectively. And along with plenty of CGI creatures throughout, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 also features the stunning "Three Brothers" animated segment, in which Herimone tells the story of three brothers who met Death.
3. WALL-E (2008)
Chosen by 37% of survey participants
95% on the Tomatometer
Born from the magical pairing that is Disney and Pixar, this movie follows a trash-collecting robot named WALL-E on an uninhabitable Earth in 2805, as they fall in love with a visiting robot called EVE and pursue it across the galaxy. It marks Pixar's first animated film featuring a live action character, with Fred Willard appearing as CEO of a large corporation and President of Earth. He appeared only in videos recorded around the 22nd century, though, so still no primarily live action sequence for Pixar. WALL-E was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning one for Best Animated Feature.
2. Mary Poppins (1964)
Chosen by 38% of survey participants
97% on the Tomatometer
Coming at the tail end of Hollywood’s golden age, this film was produced by Walt Disney and is based on the series of eight Mary Poppins children’s books by P.L. Travers, which began publishing in 1934. Julie Andrews stars in her feature film debut as the titular character, a magical nanny in turn of the century London who uses her unique ways to help a family improve its dynamic and relationships. Along with live action sequences, the film includes iconic animated scenes complete with animated animal characters like butterflies and turtles. Mary Poppins received 13 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won five, including Best Visual Effects and Best Actress for Andrews.
1. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Chosen by 46% of survey participants
96% on the Tomatometer
This live action animation hybrid was directed by Robert Zemeckis and loosely adapted from Gary K. Wolf's 1981 novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit? Done in a film noir style, it's set in a 1947 version of Hollywood where people co-exist with cartoon characters, or "toons." Bob Hoskins stars as a private investigator who tries to help exonerate Roger Rabbit, a toon who has been framed for murder. The film has been credited for bringing a renewed interest in the golden age of animation, and even for spearheading a bit of an animation renaissance heading into the 1990s. It won three Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects, and received a Special Achievement Academy Award for animator Richard Williams' animation direction.
