Top 10 Awesome Final Battles in Animated Movies

#10: Mutant Madness in Manhattan

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (2023)

The half-shell heroes have seen some epic fights on the big screen, but they’ve never had any like this. When the villain Superfly transforms into a kaiju, the Turtles and their mutant allies try to stop him from destroying New York City. They confidently stride into battle only to get overwhelmed almost immediately. Fortunately, Leo steps up and rallies the team. Not only do they defeat Superfly, they’re celebrated as heroes. The visuals in this finale are as grotesque as they are eye-popping, giving it a gritty comic book texture, that - combined with the fun characters and writing - make this a true cinematic spectacle.

#9: Duel of the Cranes

“The Adventures of Tintin” (2011)

This animated adventure has some of the most inventive action you’ll ever see. The final battle in particular is one of the film’s best. After tracking down the villainous Sakharine, Tintin and Captain Haddock fight him for the clues to the Unicorn, a ship that contains untold treasure. What follows is a glorious set piece involving two massive cranes. It’s essentially a classic sword fight dialed to eleven, with destruction that would make Michael Bay jealous. Amid the chaos, there’s also some hilarious sight gags straight out of the Indiana Jones films, which is no surprise given Steven Spielberg’s direction. The fight even culminates in an old-school duel, finally putting a cap on Haddock’s issues with drinking.

#8: The Clash of the World's Finest

“Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” (2013)

The battle between the world’s most iconic superheroes was straight out of our dreams. With mechanized armor and dozens of gadgets, Batman takes on Superman in the fight of the century. They trade blows that cause shockwaves. At one point, Bruce uses a wrecking ball and steamrollers as weapons. By the end, the Dark Knight comes out on top with help from Oliver Queen, proving that prep time is his greatest weapon. This has just about everything you could want from a fight between the two, including an epic Batman victory speech.

#7: Puss Chooses This Life

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022)

While the “Shrek” films aren’t known for their action, this spinoff raised the bar tremendously high. Cornered by Death himself, Puss finally learns the value of life and gives up his chance at immortality. He duels the wolf in a ring of fire in one of Dreamworks’ most stunning sequences yet. The swordplay is fast and intense, and the animation bursts with vivid colors. Death is also hands down one of the coolest villains in the franchise, being charming and intimidating. His sickle weapons are as terrifying as they are awesome. Fortunately, the titular hero finds the strength to cheat death one more time.

#6: Battle For Cybertron

“Transformers One” (2024)

When the bot D-16, now Megatron, begins his quest to control Cybertron, Orion Pax emerges from its core and becomes Optimus Prime. The two clash over the fate of the planet in one of the most creative Transformers fights yet. They use their vehicle forms to their advantage, with Megatron even firing a tank gun on his back. This scene also has the first use of Prime's iconic energon axe in a perfect fan service moment. In the end, he not only beats Megatron, but takes down Soundwave, Shockwave, and Starscream in a glorious oner. The fight also gets points for ending on an emotional note as Prime spares Megatron, marking the end of their friendship, and the beginning of a long-standing rivalry.

#5: Collider Fight

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018)

The 2018 film is full of fantastic action, and the final battle is no different. When the Spider-Gang encounters a team of villains in Fisk Tower, they're quickly overwhelmed. That's when Miles makes his grand entrance in his new suit and saves his friends. Miles isn't the only one who gets a hero moment. Spider-Man Noir delivers satisfying haymakers on Tombstone, and Spider-Ham shows just how powerful animation can be. Of course, the battle ends with Miles coming into his own and landing the final blow on Kingpin. Do we even need to mention just how spectacular the animation is?

#4: Saving Metroville

“The Incredibles” (2004)

This showdown is Pixar's perfect throwback to classic superhero stories. Not only do we get a giant, rampaging robot. We get to see a family come together to save a city. The action is fast-paced and ever-changing, balanced perfectly with heartwarming moments. There's also an extra layer of urgency as the heroes race to grab the robot's remote control. It's like a game of football but with superpowers. There's even enough room for family friend Frozone to get in on the fun. In short, this finale is incredible.

#3: Challenging the Alpha

“How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014)

The Red Death dragon from the first film was already a huge threat to our heroes. To up the stakes, the sequel introduced Drago Bludvist, a mad warlord, and his Bewilderbeast, an alpha that can control his army of dragons. Their brainwashing of Toothless made them feel especially scary, setting the stage for an emotional climax. Hiccup first breaks Toothless free through their unbreakable friendship. Then Toothless gets a huge power-up and takes on the massive alpha. The Night Fury proves to be so powerful that he's able to rally an entire army of dragons to his side. When it comes to animated battles, you can't beat the scale of the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise.

#2: Fight for the Dragon Scroll

“Kung Fu Panda” (2008)

This movie is known for mixing humor with well-choreographed action. Its finale is the perfect example of that. After Master Shifu's brutal beating, the Dragon Warrior Po faces the rogue Tai Lung – though it doesn't go the way the villain expects. Po can keep the snow leopard at bay through several hilarious hijinks. A tumble down some stairs, frying pans, bamboo stilts, and fireworks are enough to throw him off balance. Eventually, Po grows confident enough in his new kung fu skills and takes down Tai Lung in some satisfying combat.

#1: Battle For Pride Rock

“The Lion King” (1994)

Not all fights need complex choreography to grab our attention, they just need to have our emotional investment. After years of believing he caused his father's death, Simba finally learns that his uncle Scar was the culprit. The ensuing battle between the hyenas and lions is intense and funny, with Timon and Pumbaa adding the humor. The real highlight is Simba and Scar's showdown. Surrounded by flames at Pride Rock's peak, the two lions claw and slash at each other for the fate of the kingdom. Thankfully, Simba wins in the end, as we've never rooted for a villain's defeat more than we did here.

Which battle do you think would be the most fun to be in? Let us know in the comments below.