The best stop motion movies: 9 handmade animated films
Nine of the best stop motion movies, from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Chicken Run and Corpse Bride to Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Kubo, Isle of Dogs and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio.
Stop motion brings puppets and clay to life, one frame at a time. This list gathers nine of the best stop motion movies, in release order, with posters and the directors.
For each film we explain the story, the craft behind the puppets and what makes it stand out. Some are cozy family comedies, others are dark fairy tales, and all of them show how much patience this technique demands.
How stop motion works
In stop motion, animators move puppets or clay figures by tiny amounts, photograph them, and repeat the process thousands of times. Played back at normal speed, usually twenty-four frames per second, those still images create the illusion of movement.
The puppets have metal skeletons inside so they can hold a pose, and many use interchangeable faces or mouths to show emotions and speech. Sets are built in miniature, with real fabric, wood and light, which gives these films a texture that computer animation rarely matches.
The work is slow and demanding. An animator may finish only a few seconds of film in a whole day, and a feature can take years to complete. That patience is visible on screen, in every small gesture and imperfection that reminds you real hands were there.
How we chose
We chose feature films made in stop motion by critical reception, craft and charm. This is not a numbered ranking, and the technique is slow: a few seconds of film can take a day to shoot.
We chose feature films made mainly in stop motion, praised by critics and loved by audiences, from big studios and independent workshops alike. We wanted different tones, from slapstick to horror and fable.
The films are in release order. Under each one you will find the story, how it was made and what to watch for, so you can choose by mood or by the studio whose style you like best.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Directed by Henry Selick.
How it was made: The Nightmare Before Christmas, directed by Henry Selick from an idea by Tim Burton, follows Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, who discovers Christmas and decides to take it over. The songs are by Danny Elfman, who also sings for Jack.
Watch Jack's many expressions, made with hundreds of interchangeable heads, and the contrast between the dark, crooked Halloween Town and the bright Christmas Town. The film took about three years to make.
It became a cult classic that people watch at both Halloween and Christmas. It is ideal for families who like a little spookiness and for anyone who loves musicals.
Chicken Run (2000)
Directed by Peter Lord, Nick Park.
How it was made: Chicken Run, by Peter Lord and Nick Park of the British studio Aardman, follows a group of hens on a Yorkshire farm who plan an escape before they are turned into pies. It is a clay comedy that parodies classic prison escape films.
Watch the thumbprints you can sometimes spot in the clay and the clever escape attempts, from tunnels to a homemade flying machine. Mel Gibson voices Rocky, a rooster who claims he can fly.
It became the highest-grossing stop motion film ever, and it got a sequel on Netflix in 2023. It is ideal for families and for anyone who likes British humor.
Corpse Bride (2005)
Directed by Tim Burton, Mike Johnson.
How it was made: Corpse Bride, directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson, tells the story of Victor, a shy young man who accidentally marries a dead bride and ends up in the land of the dead. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter voice the main characters, and Danny Elfman wrote the music.
Watch the contrast between the gray, stiff world of the living and the colorful, musical world of the dead, where everyone seems happier. The film was one of the first in this technique to be shot with digital still cameras.
It is a gothic romance with humor and a touching ending. It is ideal for fans of Tim Burton's style and for viewers who enjoy darker fairy tales.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Directed by Nick Park, Steve Box.
How it was made: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, by Nick Park and Steve Box, brings the inventor Wallace and his silent dog Gromit to the big screen. They run a humane pest control service before the town's giant vegetable contest, until a monster rabbit starts raiding the gardens.
Watch Gromit, who never speaks but says everything with his eyebrows, and the many jokes hidden in the background. The film parodies classic horror movies with a very British sense of humor.
It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, the first stop motion film to do so. It is ideal for the whole family and works even if you have never seen the short films.
Coraline (2009)
Directed by Henry Selick.
How it was made: Coraline, directed by Henry Selick and based on the book by Neil Gaiman, was the first feature from the studio Laika. A girl who has just moved finds a small door to a parallel world with an Other Mother who has buttons for eyes and wants her to stay forever.
Watch how the other world starts out colorful and perfect and slowly becomes frightening. It was among the first stop motion films to use 3D printing for the characters' faces, and it was shot in 3D.
It is creepy and can scare young children, but older kids and adults love it. It is ideal for viewers who enjoy dark fantasy and stories about being careful what you wish for.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Directed by Wes Anderson.
How it was made: Fantastic Mr. Fox, directed by Wes Anderson and based on the book by Roald Dahl, follows a fox who returns to stealing chickens from three farmers, putting his family and neighbors in danger. George Clooney and Meryl Streep voice Mr. and Mrs. Fox.
Watch the warm autumn colors, the symmetrical compositions typical of Anderson, and the animal fur that visibly moves between frames, a quirk the director decided to keep. The dialogue is dry and funny, with a running joke in which characters say cuss instead of swearing.
It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. It is ideal for families and for anyone who loves Wes Anderson's style.
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Directed by Travis Knight.
How it was made: Kubo and the Two Strings, directed by Travis Knight for Laika, takes place in a fantasy version of ancient Japan. Kubo, a boy who brings paper to life with his shamisen, goes on a quest with a monkey and a beetle warrior to find his father's magic armor.
Watch the origami that folds and moves on its own, and the giant skeleton the heroes fight, one of the largest stop motion puppets ever built. The film is beautiful and emotional, about memory, family and loss.
It was nominated for the Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Visual Effects, a rare combination for an animated film. It is ideal for older kids and adults who like epic adventures.
Isle of Dogs (2018)
Directed by Wes Anderson.
How it was made: Isle of Dogs, directed by Wes Anderson, is set in a future Japan where all dogs have been exiled to an island of garbage. A boy flies there to find his dog, and a pack of strays helps him, with voices by Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton and many others.
Watch the detailed sets made of garbage, the dogs that speak English while the humans mostly speak untranslated Japanese, and the careful compositions. The film won Anderson the award for Best Director at the Berlin Film Festival.
Some critics questioned how it portrays Japanese culture, but it is admired for its craft and humor. It is ideal for dog lovers and for fans of Wes Anderson.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson.
How it was made: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, directed by del Toro and Mark Gustafson, retells the classic story in Italy under fascism, in the years between the world wars. The wooden boy is brought to life by a grieving carpenter, and Ewan McGregor voices the cricket who narrates.
Watch the expressive wooden puppet, the dark themes of war and death, and how the film talks about obedience and being different. It is very far from the Disney version, more melancholic and adult.
It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. It is ideal for older children and adults who want an emotional, thoughtful fable.
Where to start
Choose by the kind of story you want:
- Family comedy: Chicken Run or Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
- Spooky and gothic: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride or Coraline.
- Epic and emotional: Kubo and the Two Strings or Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio.
- The Wes Anderson touch: Fantastic Mr. Fox or Isle of Dogs.
With young children, start with Chicken Run or the Wallace & Gromit film. Both are funny, gentle and full of visual jokes, and they show how charming clay animation can be.
For older kids and adults, Coraline and Kubo are great next steps. After watching, look for behind-the-scenes videos: seeing how the puppets and sets are built makes you appreciate every scene even more.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best stop motion movies?
Among the most loved are The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, Chicken Run, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio.
How is stop motion made?
Animators move physical puppets or clay figures a tiny amount, photograph each pose and play the photos in sequence to create movement.
Which stop motion movie should I watch first?
Start with The Nightmare Before Christmas for a classic, Chicken Run for comedy or Coraline for a darker fantasy.
Which stop motion films won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature?
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio both won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
What is the highest-grossing stop motion film?
Chicken Run, from the British studio Aardman, is the highest-grossing stop motion film ever made.
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Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
