From animated gems that were more than just 'Frozen' rip-offs to live-action adventures that didn't need superheroes to save the day, these 30 underrated family movies are about to get their long-overdue moment in the spotlight.
30. "Norm of the North" (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 6%
A polar bear named Norm travels to New York City with three lemmings to stop a real estate developer from building luxury condos in the Arctic.
29. "Wonder Park" (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 34%
A creative girl discovers a magical amusement park filled with fantastical rides and talking animals that she magically created in her mind, and she embarks on an adventure to save this magical place.
28. "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%
A childless couple buries a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant, and soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears.
27. "The Queen's Corgi" (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%
This animated comedy follows a beloved royal corgi who gets lost and embarks on a humorous journey to find his way back home, discovering his true self along the way.
26. "Leap!" (also known as "Ballerina") (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%
An orphan girl dreams of becoming a ballerina and flees her rural Brittany for Paris, where she passes for someone else and accedes to the position of a pupil at the Grand Opera house.
25. "The Star" (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 43%
A small but brave donkey and his animal friends become unsung heroes of the first Christmas in this animated family film.
24. "Earth to Echo" (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%
A group of kids embarks on an adventure with an alien who needs their help after receiving strange encrypted messages.
23. "Home" (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 53%
An alien race called the Boov invades Earth, but a misfit alien named Oh forms an unlikely friendship with an adventurous girl, leading to a journey that changes both their worlds.
22. "Epic" (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%
A teenage girl finds herself magically transported to a secret forest world where she joins a battle between the forces of good and evil, becoming part of a fight to save their world.
21. "The Secret Life of Pets" (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%
The quiet life of a terrier named Max is upended when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke, leading to a comedic adventure in the streets of New York.
20. "The Croods" (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%
A prehistoric family embarks on a journey to find a new home after their cave is destroyed, encountering incredible creatures and a new world along the way.
19. "Rise of the Guardians" (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 74%
An evil spirit named Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, and the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs, and imagination of children all over the world.
18. "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%
The intrepid young reporter Tintin embarks on a thrilling adventure to uncover the secrets of a sunken ship that holds a vast fortune but also an ancient curse.
17. "The BFG" (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%
A young girl named Sophie meets the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kind-hearted soul considered an outcast by other giants because he refuses to eat children.
16. "The Boxtrolls" (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%
A young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator in this whimsical animated adventure.
15. "Brave" (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%
A Scottish princess named Merida defies an age-old custom, causing chaos in her kingdom and seeking help from an eccentric witch to change her fate.
14. "Mr. Peabody & Sherman" (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%
Mr. Peabody, a talking dog who is the smartest being in the world, and his adopted boy Sherman use their time machine to go on outrageous adventures, but they accidentally rip a hole in the universe.
13. "The Book of Life" (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%
A young man torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears.
12. "A Monster Calls" (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
A boy struggling with his mother's illness, school bullies, and a distant father finds guidance and companionship from a monstrous, tree-like creature.
11. "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
A hapless but lovable pirate captain sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals and win the Pirate of the Year Award in this animated comedy.
10. "Wonder" (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
A boy with facial differences enters a mainstream elementary school for the first time, embarking on a journey of acceptance and compassion.
9. "The Peanuts Movie" (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%
Charlie Brown, the world's most beloved underdog, embarks on an epic and heroic quest, while his best pal, the lovable beagle Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron.
8. "Pete's Dragon" (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
The adventures of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon, in a reimagining of Disney's cherished family film.
7. "Frankenweenie" (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
A young boy named Victor brings his dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences in this animated tale.
6. "Rango" (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
An ordinary chameleon accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West, and becomes its new sheriff, determined to play the role of hero.
5. "Mary and the Witch's Flower" (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%
A young girl gains extraordinary powers after finding a mysterious flower, leading her to a school of magic where she must confront dangers and uncover secrets about her newfound abilities.
4. "The Secret World of Arrietty" (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
A tiny, young girl named Arrietty lives in secret with her family under the floorboards of a house, but her life changes when she is discovered by a human boy.
3. "The Breadwinner" (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a young girl disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family, embarking on a journey of resilience, perseverance, and personal growth.
2. "Wolf Children" (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
A young woman named Hana falls in love with a wolf man and raises their two children, who are half-wolf, half-human, after he dies, in a story touching on themes of love and family.
1. "Song of the Sea" (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99%
A young Irish boy and his little sister, a girl who can turn into a seal, go on an adventure to free the fairies and save the spirit world.