"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" set a new standard for superhero movies But what makes the "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" series so great is not the comic book hero at the center of its multiverse shenanigans, but rather its animation, storytelling, character invention and brilliance
The original "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" broke new ground in animation, blending 3D and 2D elements together with innovative technology to create an entirely new and unique style And you can see the lasting ripple effect it has had on the industry in the stylized visuals of several of the films listed below
There aren't many cape-wearing crusaders or crime-fighters on this list, but don't worry These films evoke the same visually stunning innovations and heartbreaking character-driven stories that made the Spider-Verse such a hit in the first place Not every hero wears a Spidey suit While you're waiting for [Across the Spider-Verse] to stream, check out our top 5 movies like [Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]
This is a no-brainer, considering it's from the same team (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller) as "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse/Into the Spider-Verse
This hilarious, offbeat family adventure follows the Mitchell family on a road trip just before their daughter Katie (Abby Jacobson) leaves for film school Everything goes wrong when a robot uprising begins and an artificial assistant (Olivia Colman) leads an army of smart technology to overthrow humanity While the Mitchells fight off murderous Furbies and robot vacuum cleaners, generational ideas about technology and art come to a head It's chaotic and hilarious, with a stellar cast including Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, and Eric Andre
Easily one of Netflix's best family movies to watch, The Mitchells vs The Machines is as much a feast for the eyes as The Spider-Verse Doodles and scribbles adorn the frames as the Mitchells scramble to save the world, as if Katie's sketchbook were brought to life
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If this feels out of place, you're not alone I went into "Puss in Boots" with low expectations: I didn't expect much from "The Last Wish," but in terms of quality, it rivals "Spider-Verse
Puss in Boots is less a spin-off of Shrek than Puss in Boots itself: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is less a spin-off of Shrek than a sharp reworking of the Puss in Boots character, going back to his fairy tale roots It is a film that sharply reconstructs the character of Puss in Puss, returning to his fairy tale roots Antonio Banderas joins Salma Hayek's Kitty and a new cast of fairy tale friends, including Jack Horner (John Mulaney), Goldilocks (Florence Pugh), and her three bear crime family (Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, and Samson Kayo) together, return as Puss in Boots
The film blends 3D and 2D animation, evoking the feel of fairy tale illustrations with lushly rendered backgrounds, stylized visuals, and vibrant colorsPuss and Boots: The Last Wish goes to the heart of the hit original version of Shrek, A triumphant and heartfelt tale about enjoying life to the fullest
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Think of "Bad Guys" as a family-friendly "Ocean's 11" The film follows the villainous animals, voiced by a stellar cast (Sam Rockwell as Mr Wolf, Awkwafina as Mr Tarantula, Marc Maron as Mr Snake, and Craig Robinson as Mr Shark), as they successfully pull off their most difficult con ever: becoming exemplary citizens
After one job goes wrong, the crew's lifetime of daring heists finally catches up with them They are threatened with jail time if they don't change their ways While struggling to make sense of this "being the good guys," the team is divided on whether to use this opportunity for one last job or to actually take this charade to heart The Bad Guys is a heist film with plenty of heart and humor, and the stylized animation is great to watch
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"Wolfwalker" is a gorgeous animated film from Cartoon Saloon, the production company behind 2009's "The Secret of Kells" and 2014's "Song of the Sea" The story takes place in mid-17th century Ireland, where tomboy Robin Goodfellow (voiced by Honor Nifsey) has moved into a small house with her strict but caring father Bill (Sean Bean) [Superstition and magic infest the house, and Bill is ordered to wipe out the wolves from the forest, but Robin stumbles into becoming a crucial ally in their survival Stepping outside the castle walls into the forbidden forest, she befriends the energetic, fierce-haired Meb Meb is a Wolfwalker, a creature of Irish folklore that is neither man nor beast, but a combination of the two She must work with Robin to find her lost mother while Bill and the rest of the town threaten to destroy their home
It's a simple story that tackles some surprisingly complex themes: anti-authoritarianism, modernization, and our place in the world around us And its stylized visuals, inspired by illuminated manuscripts and Celtic fairy tales, are breathtakingly beautiful
Watch on Apple TV Plus
One of Netflix's best family movies, "Claus" is a Christmas movie you can watch all year round
This gorgeous animated film tells the origin story of Santa Claus, but it's not a story you've heard before In the fictional town of Smellensburg, Jesper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman), a spoiled mailman from a wealthy family, befriends Klaus (voiced by JK Simmons), a toy store owner and a mysterious figure to the locals
The animation is primarily hand-drawn, but clever design and lighting tricks using layers and shading are used to give 3D effects to the 2D characters As a Santa Claus origin story, Klaus is a bit complex, but oozes a charming, funny character and goofy humor that you can't help but get into your heart
Watch on Netflix
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