Top 10 Best Sony Pictures Animated Movies
#10: “The Angry Birds Movie 2” (2019)
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While movies based on video games tend to garner a bad reputation, this sequel to 2016’s “The Angry Birds Movie” is a notable exception. Like most praiseworthy animated sequels, it manages to surpass its predecessor in almost every way. Though much of the humor is consistent, the story itself is pleasantly unpredictable compared to the first. With Bird Island and Piggy Island coming together as one to confront a common enemy, the flick is heavy on the twists and even heavier on the laughs. Most of the original cast, including Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader, and Peter Dinklage, return to reprise their roles. Ultimately, though, the film truly soars thanks to its newcomers, which include the likes of Awkwafina, Sterling K. Brown, and Leslie Jones.
#9: “Hotel Transylvania” (2012)
Talk about a graveyard smash! “Hotel Transylvania” envisions a world in which legendary monsters escape society’s prejudices by vacationing at a hotel owned by Count Dracula himself. Their livelihood is in for a shakeup, however, when a human stumbles upon the place and falls for Drac’s daughter, Mavis. This feature wipes away any fear typically associated with its cast of freaks and beasts, and replaces it with jaunty humor that allows each of them to shine. Inspiring three sequels and three short films, “Hotel Transylvania” effectively gave Sony one of their biggest animated franchises to date. Plus, with talents like Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, and Andy Samberg bringing the characters to life, you’re sure to be in for a good time. Or, should we say, a ghoul time!
#8: “Goosebumps” (2015)
To be fair, any of R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” novels would make for fascinating film adaptations. This only makes a movie starring a who’s who of Stine’s famous creations that much more appealing. It follows a fictionalized Stine as he, his daughter, and their neighbor team up to protect their town from classic “Goosebumps” monsters who have escaped from their manuscripts. With perennial funnyman Jack Black starring as the reclusive author, the film’s comedy department is in good hands. It also honors Stine’s legacy by being just as spooky for younger viewers. We’ve never been more ecstatic to see the Abominable Snowman, the Werewolf of Fever Swamp, and Slappy the Dummy recreated on the big screen. As the title might suggest, it’s enough to send chills down our spines.
#7: “Vivo” (2021)
Though Lin-Manuel Miranda captivated audiences last year with his music for Disney’s “Encanto,” it wasn’t the only animated flick he sunk his lyrical teeth into. Not only did Miranda compose 11 original songs for “Vivo”’s eclectic soundtrack, he also lent his voice to the title character. This feature tells the story of a musically gifted kinkajou who sets out to deliver a message of love in the wake of tragedy. With a cast that also includes Zoe Saldaña and the great Gloria Estefan, it’s a toe-tapping celebration of Cuban culture with a sincere message about friendship triumphing over grief. “Vivo” was Sony’s first animated musical, and it’s safe to say they knocked this one out of the park.
#6: “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” (2012)
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Having proven themselves as mainstream players through their partnership with DreamWorks, Aardman Animations teamed up with Sony to bring this swashbuckling extravaganza to life. “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” follows the eponymous crew of ill-equipped buccaneers as they sail the high seas under direction of their Captain, who seeks to win Pirate of the Year. Along the way, the group develops a close bond with a young Charles Darwin while squaring off against the villainous Queen Victoria. Aardman’s fingerprints are all over the finished product. The stop-motion animation is colorful and richly detailed, while the story is rife with charming characters and comical misadventures. Though it adapts the first book of a series by Gideon Defoe, it’s just breezy and unassuming enough to stand proudly on its own.
#5: “Surf’s Up” (2007)
As Sony’s second ever animated feature, “Surf’s Up” capitalized on the popularity of other penguin-centric films like “March of the Penguins” and “Happy Feet.” However, it manages to stick out from the rest of the colony thanks to its lively characters and unconventional narrative structure. Shot as a mockumentary, the film tracks the exploits of a teenage rockhopper named Cody, who dreams of being a professional surfer. While the story is undeniably familiar, the approach is unique enough to elevate the movie with a tidal wave of hilarious interviews and loads of other laugh-out-loud moments. Not to mention, it has an impressive cast that includes Jon Heder, Zooey Deschanel, and Jeff Bridges, who revives his Dude persona as long-lost surfing legend, Big Z.
#4: “Arthur Christmas” (2011)
This cheerful yuletide adventure cleverly reimagines Santa Claus as a title that’s passed down through generations. While St. Nick’s eldest son, Steve, is next in line, his younger son, Arthur, is determined to save Christmas by delivering a misplaced present to a little girl. In another collaboration with Aardman, Sony gave this story life with some inspired animation for kids and a fair bit of naughtiness for adults courtesy of Bill Nighy’s Grandsanta. Nevertheless, “Arthur Christmas” is a surprisingly touching narrative about the power of goodwill, and gets right to the heart of the holiday’s true meaning. Plus, it gives us a logical, though admittedly outlandish, answer to how Santa is able to deliver as many presents as he does in one night.
#3: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (2009)
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are at their best when inducing creativity in a premise no one expects much out of. That’s certainly the case with their feature directorial debut. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” follows failure-prone scientist Flint Lockwood, who finally finds success when his latest invention causes food to rain from the sky. The film captures the spirit of its source material, while its over-the-top humor and emotional core make it delectably original in its own right. Plus, with castles made of Jell-O, streets lined with ice cream, and a tornado spun from spaghetti, you know this movie has colorful animation for days. Critics seemed to agree, as it was granted an equally exciting sequel in 2013.
#2: “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” (2021)
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With state-of-the-art animation, pop culture references galore, and all the physical comedy of a “Looney Tunes” short, this road trip comedy is undoubtedly one-of-a-kind. The movie centers around college-bound filmmaker Katie Mitchell as she and her quirky family become humanity’s last hope when the world is taken over by robots. While the setup could easily be played for serious drama, “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” is a hysterical story that pokes fun at many tropes of the sci-fi and disaster genres. The action is thrilling and the characters are instantly memorable. But, it's the timeless message of families embracing their differences and learning to let go of one another that rockets straight into our hearts. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Wish Dragon” (2021) Here’s a Genie-in-the-Bottle Story That Definitely Catches Fire “Open Season” (2006) Sony’s First Animated Feature Was a Wild Ride “Peter Rabbit” (2018) This Live-Action/Animated Hybrid Had Us Hopping for Joy
#1: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018)
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It’s hard to believe there was a time when the thought of this movie had us on the fence. “Into the Spider-Verse” not only shattered the limitations of what animation was once capable of, but it also set a precedent for comic book films that has yet to be topped. The narrative cracked open Marvel’s multiverse on the big screen for the first time with cutting edge visuals and an irreverent ensemble of Spider-People. Another Lord and Miller production, it tells a compelling story that celebrates Spider-Man’s vibrant past while teasing an exciting future for protagonist Miles Morales. Hilarious, heartfelt, and irresistible, “Into the Spider-Verse” offers endless discoveries and is, for now anyway, Sony’s crowning animated achievement.
