Both kids and adults use cartoons as an escape mechanism. It allows you to travel to a whole new place filled with some amazing characters and where the impossible is possible. More often than not, cartoons have their own world defined by their own storylines, themes, characters and colors. Some cartoons have established themselves as the best of the best, in turn, continuing to made their presence be known even after decades. Scooby-Doo and SpongeBob SquarePants are brilliant examples of this. They continue to gather a large audience of different ages.
For those who have formed an attachment to these cartoons, might find themselves getting excited when movies based on them are created. Yet again, not every movie ends up being successful. If there is one thing that movie adaptation has taught us, it is that not every movie can reach the heights that its original source has attracted. More often than not, movie adaptations end up garnering negative feedback. This is because it is hard to meet the standards of the viewers' expectations. Movies on cartoon adaptations are even harder, since the cartoons have their own storylines and worlds. However, the following is a list of movies that meet the exception and have become successful in satisfying the viewers' expectations.
20 Speed Racer (2008)
This live-action adaptation of the 1967 anime has Emile Hirsch as the protagonist, while Christina Ricci plays Trixie, Speed Racer's girlfriend. Interestingly, the anime, which was also known as Mach GoGoGo, was based on Tatsuo Yoshida's manga and the former went on to be more successful than the latter. As Edwards points out in his article, this film, which briefly covers the 18-year-old race car diver's story, has gone on to become a cult classic simply due to its "cheesy and wacky and eye-poppingly memorable" portrayal of the cartoon. Given that the film was a creation by The Wachowskis, who are famous for their Matrix franchise, the film focuses on the message of corruption and capitalism.
19 Transformers (2007)
The first live-action film of Michael Bay's Transformers film series, this movie became a quite popular following its release. Even if the film has had mixed reviews, it is still admired by the Transformers fans. The cartoon which acts as one of the source materials was released in 1984 with the series focusing on the long conflict between Autobots and Decepticons. The film focuses on this conflict with the main antagonist, Megatron, being brought back to "life". With Shia LaBeouf taking over the role of the human protagonist, Sam, the film goes on to emphasize on his relationship with the Autobots, especially Bumblebee. Even if these Autobots are non-human entities, they easily win the audience in this particular film. With Bumblebee being an absolute favorite among many fans, the film went on to be one key reason why Bumblebee was produced in 2018.
18 Garfield: The Movie (2004)
This particular film includes Odie (the adorable dog in the cartoon) and his adoption. Garfield: The Movie is yet another brief overview to the cartoon. It starts off with Garfield being his lethargic self while his owner, Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer), uses Garfield as an excuse to visit the vet, Dr. Liz Wilson (Jennifer Love Hewitt) with whom he is in love. This ends up with Jon adopting Odie and Garfield being annoyed by Odie's positive presence. Garfield's resentfulness towards Odie leads to a series of unfortunate events which results in Odie being kidnapped. Thus, the film focuses on Odie's ultimate rescue and Garfield's growing bond with Odie.
17 Scooby-Doo (2002)
With Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard and Linda Cardellini taking over the roles of Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Velma, Scooby-Doo gives life to everybody's favorite mystery cartoon. The film starts off with the gang separating and going their own ways due to the frustrations between each other. That is, until they are all invited to a horror-themed island called "Spooky Island". Thus, the gang is forced to acknowledge their own flaws and accept their mistakes, in turn, bringing them together to solve the mystery of the island's tourists being possessed by demons.
16 Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
Perhaps the best live-action film of Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed is a sequel to the 2002 live-action film and has its cast returning to portray the Mystery gang. In this particular film, the story focuses on how the gang goes from being ridiculed by the public for their "incompetence" and to ultimately saving the day. Scooby-Doo 2 is quite thrilling and exciting to watch, especially since it brings back some of the monsters the gang had unmasked in the cartoon series. Moreover, the ultimate ending where the gang unmasks the villain twice is definitely a major plot-twist for the viewers and Scooby-Doo fans. In a way, this film goes on to capture the essence of the original cartoon.
15 Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999)
Over the past years, Scooby-Doo has released a set of interesting films. These all follow the same structure as the cartoon episodes, with the only difference being that the mysteries are longer and has more depth. Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost is one of the best out of these set of movies simply because it also includes The Hex Girls, an all-female gothic rock band that was first introduced in this specific film. Following this introduction, The Hex Girls have made several other appearances in the cartoon. Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Curse, unlike the cartoon where monsters are actually humans, includes an actual ghost and taps into witchcraft and mythology to make the movie enticing.
14 Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996)
MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head is an adult-animated TV series that became quite popular in the '90s. The series is all about being stupid and trying to enjoy one's teenage years. For this, the cartoon focuses on two misogynistic and unintelligent teens who are all about trying to party and get women. This 1996 film follows Beavis' and Butt-Head's attempt at retrieving their stolen television, which plays a central role in the cartoon. From what starts as searching for their TV turns into the two characters' need to get money and have sex, which ultimately ends with the two getting back their TV but not the sex or money. Even if a revival of this show might not survive in today's society given its controversial and offensive nature, this film and its cartoon will continue to be a different source of comedy.
13 Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000)
One of the best cartoons of Nickelodeon, Rugrats is about a group of toddlers who speak to each other and engage in some fascinating adventures. Regardless of their age, the toddlers are not only smart, but they have contrasting personality, in turn, making the series an entertaining watch. Rugrats in Paris: The Movie is the second film that was adapted from the cartoon and focuses mostly on Chuckie Finster. The film introduces the new characters of Kira Watanabe and Kimi, Chuckie's new step-mother and step-sister. The film is definitely an emotional rollercoaster and explores the themes of family and loss.
12 The Simpsons Movie (2007)
This animated American sitcom by Matt Groening which ran on Fox is yet another favorite amongst many adults. Its humor is invoked through the incompetence of its protagonist, Homer Simpson, and focuses on the Simpson family. In The Simpsons Movie we see Springfield, home of the Simpsons, being at danger for its toxic environment caused due to pollution and which was triggered to the extreme level by Homer. This ultimately results in the town people being imprisoned under a giant glass dome while Cargill, the main antagonist and the head of EPA, tries to demolish the town. The Simpsons end up saving the town and winning back their place within the people. Amidst its comedy, the film must be applauded for its message on climate change.
11 Peter Rabbit (2018)
Peter Rabbit is a fictional character created by the English author Beatrix Potter in 1902, and thus, was introduced through children's books. Following this, the books were adopted into an anthology series by BBC in 1992 and was titled The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. The series is still loved by many, with IMDb rating it with 8.4 stars out of 10. Will Gluck brought out a live-action film based on this beloved character in 2018. The film focuses on sending out powerful messages to the young audience through its protagonist. From learning to forgive, own up to one's mistakes and strengthening the bond between nature and humans, the film is one where both adults and children can learn so much from. Following its release, the beloved character started to gather a new generation of audience and went on to become so famous that Will Gluck released a sequel in 2021 titled Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.
10 Bumblebee (2018)
Regarded as the best Transformers movie, Bumblebee takes place in the 1980s and is a prequel to the first Transformers live-action movie by Michael Bay. With Hailee Steinfeld taking over the role of the protagonist, Charlie, the film follows the story of how Bumblebee, also known as B-127. Following his arrival, B-127 is attacked by a secret government agency, who presumes that B-127 is hostile. Charlie meets B-127 and forms a friendship with him while naming him "Bumblebee". Bumblebee focuses on yet another conflict between Autobots and Decepticons and ultimately ends with the former beating the latter and Optimus Prime reuniting with Bumblebee.
9 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
Based on everyone's favorite overtly optimistic and positive yellow character, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie brings in a more in-depth storyline. While the cartoon is based on simple storylines, with each episode focusing on SpongeBob's everyday life, this particular film brings in suspense. We are able to see how Plankton, the key antagonist of the series, is finally able to steal the Krabby Patty formula and also, use his evil technology to take over Bikini Bottom. However, SpongeBob along with his best friend, Patrick, ends up saving the day. With the inclusion of King Neptune, the film also takes the viewers on locations beyond Bikini Bottom.
8 Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe (2020)
Phineas and Ferb is one of Disney Channel's best cartoons. The series focuses on two brothers as they create some mind-blowing inventions to spend their summer vacation while their sister, Candace, tries to expose them to their parents but ends up failing. In this film we see Candace, along with Vanessa, being captured by a space-pod and ending in planet Feebla-Oot. Here, Candace is made to feel special since she releases carbon dioxide which is used by the antagonist, Big Doctor, to control the citizens of the planet. However, later Big Doctor attempts to conquer Earth but ends up failing. Candace, instead of trying to expose her brother, ends up turning away her mother's attention to something else. The film might be an extended version of the usual Phineas and Ferb adventures, but here, Candace becomes the center of attention and ends up changing at the end.
7 Paddington (2014)
Paddington Bear is first introduced in 1958 through Michael Bond's book A Bear Called Paddington. Following this, there were many adaptations of the character, with the Hanna-Barbera's 1989 cartoon, Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Paddington cartoon of 2019, and BBC's 1976 cartoon being some of the most popular. In 2014 Paul King went on to release a live-action film on this beloved character and Paddington was able to take over everyone's heart instantly. The film focuses on Paddington's background and how he came to be with the Browns family. It is definitely a heartwarming film that heavily focuses on love and family bonds.
6 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Featuring DC Comics's superhero, Batman, this particular animated film by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm is based on Batman: The Animated Series, which from 1992 to 1995. The film is also regarded as Warner Bros. Animation's first original theatrical film and DC Animated Universe's first film. The film begins with a young Bruce, who is not feared by villains, and Andrea Beaumont beginning a relationship following their meet at the graveyard. However, this engagement ends up abruptly and Andrea ends up returning as the main antagonist of the film. The film also features the infamous DC villain, The Joker.
5 Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011)
Yet another film based on Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb, Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension is the first feature-length film of the cartoon and probably the best one of the two. The film focuses on an alternate universe where Doofenshmirtz has successfully conquered the Tri-State Area and has become the dictator of that world. Phineas and Ferb of this alternate universe have been severely oppressed by Doofenshmirtz's control that they have lost their warmth and hope. In this film, Perry's secret identity as a spy is also revealed to the two boys but ends up being able to return to the normal state as Phineas's and Ferb's memory of this revelation gets erased.
4 A Goofy Movie (1995)
This Disney film is based on the cartoon series, Goof Troop, and focuses on one of the most hilarious Disney characters of all time, Goofy. The film follows one adventure of Goofy and his teenage son, Max. A Goofy Movie starts off by focusing on Max's tense relationship with his dad, caused through his fear that he will ultimately grow up to be like him. Following this, we see Max getting in trouble at school and hence, starts the journey of Max and Goofy's reconciliation process. The two take a trip together, which ends in a heated argument. However, this heated argument allows them to express their feelings, which ends up helping them strengthen their bond and understand each other. A Goofy Movie is definitely a beautiful portrayal of the relationship between a father and his son.
3 Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
With an 88% rating on the tomatometer, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is undeniably one of the best films of the Scooby-Doo franchise. The film starts off by showing how the gang has gone their separate ways, with Fred and Daphne starting off a successful TV series. However, the team is brought back to celebrate Daphne's birthday and ends up in Moonscar Island while looking for haunted locations. It is later revealed Lena, who brought the team to the Island, along with Simone and Jacques, were immortal werecats. The gang was simply brought to be sacrificed in order to preserve their immortality. The film ends with the gang defeating the werecats and finally putting the past victims to rest.
2 Christopher Robin (2018)
Based on A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard's children's books and Disney's cartoon series, Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin focuses on a now grown up Christopher. The film starts off with a young Christopher bidding farewell to his friends from Hundred Acre Wood as he heads off to boarding school. However, following boarding school, Christopher grows up to be a stressed and work-focused husband/father who ends up neglecting his family. Pooh, whose friends suddenly go missing, ends up reuniting with Christopher. Following this, we see that Christopher, who was finding it difficult to reconnect with his old friends due to his frustration, is forced to re-evaluate his life. The film is a tear-jerker that reminds the viewers of the importance of family bonds and friendship.
1 Paddington 2 (2017)
Paddington 2 is yet another emotional film that brings back Paddington Bear. In this particular film, Paddington ends up in prison following a misunderstanding where he is framed for the theft of a book which Paddington was hoping to buy for Lucy after saving money from his odd jobs. The film then focuses on how Browns try to clear Paddington's name, which results in the group chasing the thief. The way in which Paddington 2 also focuses on how Paddington wins the hearts of prison-inmates brings in a positive light while sending a beautiful message on humanity.