Movies like The Boxtrolls

20+ Stop Motion Animated Movies Like The Boxtrolls

If The Boxtrolls had you cheering for quirky heroes and totally unique animation, you’re in luck—there are plenty more animated movies like it with that same offbeat charm! From Coraline’s spooky wonder to ParaNorman’s hilarious and heartfelt ghost-busting, these films bring unforgettable characters and out-of-the-box stories that are as fun to look at as they are to watch. Get ready to dive into worlds that feel totally original, with animations that come to life in ways you won’t see in your average cartoon.

Movies like The Boxtrolls

The Lego Movie (2014)

7.7/10 (395K) ⭐

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

7.9/10 (384K) ⭐

Corpse Bride (2005)

7.4/10 (306K) ⭐

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

7.9/10 (278K) ⭐

Coraline (2009)

7.8/10 (275K) ⭐

Chicken Run (2000)

7.1/10 (215K) ⭐

Isle of Dogs (2018)

7.8/10 (195K) ⭐

Mary and Max (2009)

8.1/10 (190K) ⭐

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

7.5/10 (148K) ⭐

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

7.7/10 (140K) ⭐

Frankenweenie (2012)

6.9/10 (120K) ⭐

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

7.6/10 (117K) ⭐

ParaNorman (2012)

7.0/10 (112K) ⭐

James and the Giant Peach (1996)

6.7/10 (75K) ⭐

The Little Prince (2015)

7.6/10 (68K) ⭐

The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)

6.7/10 (52K) ⭐

Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)

7.3/10 (44K) ⭐

My Life as a Zucchini (2016)

7.8/10 (30K) ⭐

Missing Link (2019)

6.7/10 (29K) ⭐

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

6.4/10 (25K) ⭐

Early Man (2018)

6.1/10 (24K) ⭐

The House (2022)

6.8/10 (23K) ⭐

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019)

6.8/10 (16K) ⭐

Wendell & Wild (2022)

6.4/10 (13K) ⭐

Related

The Lego Movie

In The Lego Movie, we meet Emmet, a totally average Lego guy who follows every rule with enthusiasm. He’s the kind of guy who thinks “Everything is Awesome” even while blending into a society that couldn’t care less if he’s a coffee cup or a brick wall. Then, by some cosmic twist, Emmet stumbles upon a mystical piece called the “Piece of Resistance” and is suddenly mistaken for the “Special” – the one destined to save the entire Lego universe. Problem is, he’s about as special as a plain blue 2×4 brick. Cue the “Master Builders,” a group of quirky characters like Wyldstyle, Batman, and the half-sage, half-giggle inducing Vitruvius, who try to convince Emmet he’s their only hope.

Together, they set off on an adventure to stop the evil Lord Business, whose grand plan is to keep the Lego world perfectly ordered—by gluing everything in place. Emmet, who has trouble thinking outside the instruction manual, is somehow expected to unleash his inner creativity and lead the team to victory. They zoom through insane landscapes, encounter hilariously bizarre Lego characters, and Emmet gets a crash course in heroism from the most unlikely teachers. It’s a roller-coaster of bricks, battles, and surprisingly deep moments, proving that maybe, just maybe, an ordinary guy can make a difference in a world of extraordinary pieces.

Chicken Run

In Chicken Run, we land in a hilariously grim British chicken farm where the stakes are high: chickens either lay eggs or face the pie machine. Life’s bleak for Ginger, the determined leader of this feathered bunch, who’s constantly scheming elaborate escape plans to free herself and her friends from the clutches of Mrs. Tweedy, the farm’s ruthless owner. Unfortunately, Ginger’s escape attempts fail about as often as an egg rolls uphill—until one day, a so-called “flying” American rooster named Rocky crash-lands right in the middle of their prison, er, coop.

Rocky, with his smooth-talking, circus-trained charm, becomes an instant celebrity among the hens, who believe he’s the key to freedom. Promising to teach them how to fly, Rocky gets swept up in Ginger’s grand plans for escape. The chickens dive into a training regime, building wings, flapping like crazy, and dreaming of the open skies as Rocky fumbles to keep his secret. Meanwhile, Mrs. Tweedy is gearing up her terrifying chicken pie machine, and the pressure is on—literally. With a mismatched team of chickens, a risky escape plan, and Rocky’s questionable leadership, this mission teeters between a winged victory or an extra crispy disaster.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

In Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, we join the ever-inventive Wallace and his brilliantly silent dog, Gromit, as they face a bizarre yet totally serious crisis: a ravenous, vegetable-devouring beast is on the loose! And in this veggie-obsessed town, where the annual Giant Vegetable Competition is like the Olympics, this is a disaster of epic proportions. Wallace, in true eccentric inventor style, has created Anti-Pesto, a humane pest control service, to keep the town’s produce safe. But even with his wild gadgets and Gromit’s razor-sharp instincts, nothing could prepare them for this veggie thief with an insatiable appetite.

Enter Lady Tottington, the local heiress who’s as passionate about vegetables as Wallace is about cheese. She enlists Wallace and Gromit to capture the “were-rabbit” that’s wrecking her prized garden. With the competition deadline looming and the were-rabbit wreaking havoc, the duo scrambles to find a way to stop it—unleashing Wallace’s most eccentric inventions yet and putting Gromit’s patience (and bravery) to the test. As the full moon rises, the mystery of the were-rabbit deepens, and Wallace and Gromit find themselves in a wild chase that could make or break their reputation and the future of the town’s giant vegetables.

ParaNorman

In ParaNorman, we meet Norman, a kid who’s got a bit of an unusual gift: he can see and talk to ghosts. Now, in most towns, that might sound pretty cool, but in Norman’s town, people think he’s just the local “weird kid.” Ghostly visitors aren’t exactly helping his social life, either. But when his spooky uncle suddenly warns him about a 300-year-old curse threatening the whole town, Norman’s “weirdness” becomes their last hope against doom. Yep, it’s up to him and his (very reluctant) friends to stop a bunch of zombies who start rising from their graves.

Armed with only his wits and a whole lot of accidental bravery, Norman dives into this ghostly mess. The deeper he goes, the more he uncovers about the town’s creepy history, the curse, and a witch that won’t let bygones be bygones. The stakes get higher, and soon, Norman’s supernatural ability is more valuable than anyone expected. With graveyards, zombies, and a few panicked townsfolk, Norman’s journey is one wild, supernatural rollercoaster that will have you rooting for him through every eerie twist.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

In The Pirates! Band of Misfits, we meet the Pirate Captain, who’s a bit, well, unconventional. He’s got a scruffy beard, a ragtag crew that’s more “hopelessly loyal” than “fearsome,” and a big dream—to win the Pirate of the Year Award. Only problem? His competition is full of terrifying pirate legends with actual treasure and terrifying reputations, and the Captain…well, let’s just say his victories are more “accidental.” But he’s not giving up! With his crew in tow, he heads out to prove he’s the best pirate in the seven seas—whether or not anyone believes it.

Things take a wilder turn when the crew’s plundering escapades somehow lead them to Charles Darwin, who spots the Captain’s pet dodo (which everyone else assumed was just a weird-looking parrot). Darwin hatches a plan to use this rare bird to get some fame for himself, roping the crew into a chaotic adventure involving the Queen of England, who’s got a suspiciously deep hatred for pirates. The Pirate Captain’s crew faces mishaps, misunderstandings, and all kinds of hilarious mayhem as they sail through big laughs and impossible situations on their quest for the grand prize.

Shaun the Sheep Movie

In Shaun the Sheep Movie, we find Shaun, the world’s most mischievous sheep, tired of his boring farm routine. He dreams of a day off—a day free from the Farmer’s watchful eye and the daily “baa-ing” grind. With a quick plan involving some hypnotic baa-ing (yes, that’s a thing) and a makeshift bed, Shaun and his fellow sheep put the Farmer to sleep and sneak into town for a big, woolly adventure. But, as it usually goes with Shaun’s clever plans, things go hilariously sideways when the Farmer accidentally rolls away in a trailer and ends up with amnesia in the big city!

The flock, realizing that their Farmer is out there somewhere lost, with no idea he owns a farm or a herd of very needy sheep, sets off to find him. Navigating city life with their country instincts, they dodge animal control officers, outsmart high-tech security, and even make a few fashion statements along the way. From pulling off heists to sneaking through restaurants, Shaun and his woolly crew leave a trail of chaos (and laughter) through the city, proving that sheep in the city are just as entertaining (and maybe more ridiculous) as you’d imagine.

Early Man

In Early Man, meet Dug, a charming but slightly clueless caveman living in a quiet valley with his tribe of fellow Stone Age buddies. Life is simple: they hunt rabbits (well, try to), chill by the fire, and rock loincloths like it’s the hottest trend. But Dug’s world gets turned upside-down when a flashy Bronze Age army, led by the pompous Lord Nooth, rolls in with their metal armor, fancy technology, and an obsession with… soccer. Yes, soccer. And they’re claiming Dug’s valley for themselves to mine bronze!

Not one to sit back and lose his home, Dug makes a bold move—he challenges the Bronze Age champions to a high-stakes soccer match. Dug and his tribe, who barely know what a ball is, have to train like crazy to face a team of pros. With the help of a feisty Bronze Age girl named Goona, they try to master the “beautiful game” and win back their land. So, it’s cave folks versus slick city folk in a battle of sheer determination, epic mis-kicks, and a lot of prehistoric shenanigans on the soccer field.

And there you have them, folks, the best stop motion animated movies like “The Boxtrolls” you should add to your growing watch list today.