20 Animated Films for Grown-Ups

Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled ride. Redline proves animated action can be every bit as exciting as its live-action counterparts, with a straightforward premise executed with breathtaking precision. In a future where car racing has reached interplanetary proportions, the races are faster and deadlier than anything you’ve seen, and every frame was hand-drawn, resulting in fluid animation with astonishing detail. It delivers the same heart-pumping thrill as Mad Max: Fury Road and is too intense for younger viewers.

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America might look like a simple comedy with toilet humor and two lovable dim-wits, but it’s much more than that. Underneath the laughs lies a sharp satire of American values, with the duo reflecting the world around them. Creator Mike Judge uses the pair to point a finger back at the people who critique the show, asking who taught them to be this way, and in doing so he sheds light on the societal norms that shape behavior. If you want a film that’s equal parts hilarious and thought-provoking, this is a perfect pick.

Jay and Silent Bob are back, bringing the Bluntman and Chronic comic books to life in a new way. With Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith reuniting for these legendary characters, you know it’ll be a wild ride. Don’t let the simple animation fool you; the crude humor in Smith’s script is a perfect fit for Jay and Silent Bob’s antics, with countless laugh-out-loud moments and a Stan Lee cameo in the post-credits stinger. It’s a must-see for fans of the duo.

Experience the action, adventure, and heartwarming themes of The Incredibles. This Pixar classic has something for everyone: kids love the exciting action and cool superpowers, while adults appreciate its touching message about the importance of family. Mr. Incredible is used to working alone, but that approach leads to his downfall, and only when he learns to work with his family can he save the day. As fans grow older, that message resonates even more. (Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.)

Get ready for a spine-chilling experience with The Wolf House, a disturbing, eerie animated horror film that’s not for the faint of heart. With a unique blend of stop-motion and hand-drawn animation, painted and animated directly onto the walls of real sets, it takes you on a journey you won’t forget. It follows a young woman on the run from a sinister cult as she takes refuge in a mysterious house, and the presentation makes it as unforgettable as it is unsettling. Consider yourself warned: this is not one to show the kids.

Prepare for a thrilling adventure with Ginger and the rest of the flock in Chicken Run. A major hit on release, it still holds the record as the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time. Kids loved it for the animation, fun characters, and straightforward plot, but there’s much more under the surface: the story is really about labor exploitation and the pursuit of freedom. Ginger inspires her fellow birds to escape the oppressive Tweedy farm and seek both physical and mental liberation, and her line about the fences being “in your heads” hints at a surprisingly profound message beneath an entertaining movie about chickens.

“The Breadwinner” immerses you in 2001 Afghanistan under the oppressive rule of the Taliban. Eleven-year-old Parvana is determined to support her family after her father is wrongfully imprisoned, and to navigate the restrictive laws she bravely disguises herself as a boy and sets out on a dangerous mission to free him. This beautiful, emotional story is a testament to the resilience of a child’s spirit and their love for family. Though rated PG-13 and widely acclaimed as a family film, its intense themes make it better suited to a mature audience.

“The Iron Giant” rose from box-office disappointment to cult-favorite status, and while its themes may have been too complex for younger audiences, it has captured the hearts of viewers of all ages. Young Hogarth forms an unlikely bond with a colossal robot from outer space that crash-lands in his backyard, and as he teaches the giant the value of peace and non-violence, he challenges it to choose its own identity and explore what it means to be human. Its powerful message about self-discovery and the consequences of our actions speaks directly to adults, making it a must-watch.

This heart-wrenching film has earned its reputation as one of the most tear-jerking movies of all time, animated or otherwise. A powerful anti-war work, Grave of the Fireflies follows two Japanese siblings as they struggle through the tragedy and destruction of WWII after a bombing destroys their home and takes their mother’s life. Its raw, vivid portrayal of war’s devastating consequences is not for the faint of heart, but for those willing to face its message, it’s a profoundly moving experience. Made more than 30 years ago, it holds up remarkably well and is widely considered one of the greatest Japanese films ever made.

Discover the unlikely but heartwarming friendship between Mary and Max, two very different people brought together by fate through a pen-pal relationship that spans years and continents despite their differences. The stop-motion animation is a little unconventional, but that only adds to the film’s charm. Even while tackling heavy, confronting themes, Mary and Max proves animated characters can be every bit as relatable and emotional as any live-action performance, in a beautiful story of friendship and connection that stays with you.

Isle of Dogs is an emotional and visually captivating experience, and despite its adorable canine ensemble, it isn’t for the faint of heart: scenes of violence, disturbing moments, and an exploration of historical traumas make it best suited to mature audiences. Wes Anderson, the mastermind behind Fantastic Mr. Fox, returns to stop-motion with the story of a future Japan where all dogs are exiled to a trash-filled island after a canine flu outbreak. With an A-list voice cast including Bryan Cranston, Greta Gerwig, and Bill Murray, it showcases the strength of animation and storytelling.

A classic anime film about an actress turned J-pop idol, Perfect Blue follows Mima Kirigoe on a suspenseful, disorienting journey. As she sinks into her new career, she’s plagued by unsettling encounters with an obsessed fan and a shadowy figure from her past. Directed by the iconic Satoshi Kon, it’s a seminal work in adult animation and a must-see for fans of the genre, sending Mima down a dark, twisted path as the line between fantasy and reality blurs. It’s a captivating, unnerving experience throughout.

Tower revisits a day that changed the course of American history. On August 1, 1966, a mass shooting at the University of Texas shook the nation and left a lasting impact on its survivors. Through rotoscope animation, the film brings the stories of that day to life, centering the experiences of the people who lived through it. It’s a heavy, serious watch that approaches one of the first high-profile mass shootings in modern history, and its aftermath, with empathy, and it’s a gripping, unforgettable use of the medium.

An animated film tackling a serious subject doesn’t guarantee success, but Persepolis is an exception. Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel about growing up in Iran before, during, and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution comes to life through striking line-drawn images that give the story remarkable clarity. The movie expertly recreates Satrapi’s iconic monochromatic style, but its protagonist, Marjane, is anything but black and white: she rebels against the Iranian regime, against the pampered culture she encounters in France, and even against her own restless skepticism.

Step into a world of danger and discovery with Ghost in the Shell, a cyberpunk thriller that explores the impact of technological advancement on humanity in a dystopian 2029. Cyborg and public-security agent Motoko Kusanagi hunts down the enigmatic brain-hacker known as the Puppet Master, in pulse-pounding action paired with genuinely heavy themes. A bleak yet captivating portrait of the future, the film examines the dangers of technology and the conflict over identity, reminding us that even amid technological marvels, corruption and greed remain ever-present.

Embark on a journey to the planet Ygam, where humans are nothing more than tiny pets to the towering Traags. The story follows a young Traag who takes in a human child after a tragic event, and watches as the world opens up in ways never imagined. With its stunning animation and captivating world-building, Fantastic Planet is an experimental masterpiece that has left a lasting impact on the medium, transporting you to a strange, fantastical world and offering a fresh perspective on the relationships between different species.

Anomalisa pairs stunning animation with real emotional depth. This Charlie Kaufman-penned film, originally written under the pseudonym Francis Fregoli, brings the audience into a stop-motion world where puppets come to life through powerful voice work from David Thewlis and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It follows a customer-service guru, brilliantly played by Thewlis, as he discovers the beauty of individuality through his encounter with Leigh’s character. The result is a mesmerizing, melancholy character study that explores human emotion in a visually striking and unforgettable way.

Get ready for a wild, crude comedy in Sausage Party, which puts a raunchy spin on the look of a Pixar movie. It imagines a world where food products are conscious and have their own dreams, right up until they face their fate as someone’s dinner. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the duo behind “Superbad,” lead the charge, with a voice cast including Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, Paul Rudd, and Danny McBride. Be warned that it’s firmly R-rated, with crude humor, drug use, and explicit sexual content, very much for adults only, but beneath the shock value it lands some real satire about belief and free will.

Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox is a work of ironic genius, taking Roald Dahl’s 1970 children’s novel and transforming it into a stop-motion masterpiece that enchants audiences of all ages. With George Clooney’s irresistible vocal performance as Mr. Fox, the film offers a witty, sophisticated take that will leave kids puzzling over jokes about real estate and Mr. Fox’s civilized justification for stealing poultry. An elaborate, thrilling underground heist tale, its thrift-shop artificiality (the jerky movements, the puffs of cotton-ball smoke) somehow adds a touch of realism to its fantastical world.

Embark on a philosophical journey with Waking Life, Richard Linklater’s mind-bending animated odyssey. The protagonist travels from dream to dream, exploring the mysteries of life and searching for answers to the biggest questions, delving into meditations on existentialism, the meaning of life, and the paradox of free will. Linklater pushed the boundaries of animation with his distinctive rotoscoping technique, shooting digital video of real actors and having animators bring the footage to life, which is a big part of why Waking Life is considered one of his greatest films.