Movies like Big Underground Ball (1987)
The best movies like Big Underground Ball (1987) are The Little Matchgirl (2006), The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2012) and How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019). If Big Underground Ball hooked you with its animation and fantasy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedHow to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019)8.0/10 from 1,155 votes
- NewestA Tooth Fairy Tale (2025)Released 2025
The Little Matchgirl (2006)
An animated short based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale about a poor young girl with a burning desire to find comfort and happiness in her life. Desperate to keep warm, the girl lights the matches she sells, and envisions a very different life for herself in the fiery flames filled with images of loving relatives, bountiful food, and a place to call home.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2012)
After a hurricane levels his city, a young man wanders into a mysterious library where books literally come to life. This film won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2012.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHow to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019)
It's been ten years since the dragons moved to the Hidden World, and even though Toothless doesn't live in New Berk anymore, Hiccup continues the holiday traditions he once shared with his best friend. But the Vikings of New Berk were beginning to forget about their friendship with dragons. Hiccup, Astrid, and Gobber know just what to do to keep the dragons in the villagers' hearts. And across the sea, the dragons have a plan of their own...
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisScared Shrekless (2010)
Shrek challenges Donkey, Puss in Boots and his other fairy tale character friends to spend the night in Lord Farquaad's haunted castle, telling scary stories to see who can resist becoming scared and stay the longest.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (2025)
When human sailors are attacked by mysterious creatures of the deep, only one person can stop the war between land and sea: the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow (2013)
When Brainy Smurf is favored to win the annual Smurfberry Hunt for the ninth year in a row, Gutsy Smurf sets out to discover how Brainy wins every year. Gutsy’s investigation takes him into spooky Smurfy Hollow–and right into Gargamel’s trap! Can Brainy and Gutsy, with the help of Smurfette, put aside their rivalry before Gargamel captures them–or worse, they come face-to-face with the legendary ghost, the Headless Horseman?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRevolting Rhymes (2017)
Two half-hour animated films based on the much-loved rhymes written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisOlaf's Frozen Adventure (2017)
Olaf is on a mission to harness the best holiday traditions for Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Adventures of Buratino (1959)
A wooden boy Buratino tries to find his place in life. He befriends toys from a toy theater owned by evil Karabas-Barabas, gets tricked by Alice the Fox and Basilio the Cat and finally discovers the mystery of a golden key given to him by kind Tortila the Tortoise.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Tooth Fairy Tale (2025)
Van, the brave son of a tooth fairy leader, meets the goblins girl Gemma on his first mission. Despite the myths about ancient disputes between fairies and goblins, they share common values. When the greedy Spider Queen threatens both tribes, they must work together.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisDragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014)
A hunt for a lost sheep turns into a competition between Hiccup and friends as they compete to become the first Dragon Racing champion of Berk.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSintel (2010)
A wandering warrior finds an unlikely friend in the form of a young dragon. The two develop a close bond, until one day the dragon is snatched away. She then sets out on a relentless quest to reclaim her friend, finding in the end that her quest exacts a far greater price than she had ever imagined.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMonster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? (2012)
Draculaura’s Sweet 1600th birthday is an extra special occasion to party at Monster High! But her high expectations lead to deadly results when she’s faced with the choice between practical boyfriend Clawd, and new vampire heartthrob, Valentine, a romantic blast from her past.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & animation
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisCharming (2018)
Three fairy tale princesses find themselves engaged to the same guy, Prince Charming.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Snow Queen (2012)
The Snow Queen creates a world of eternal winter, frosting human souls and emotions. When she turns Kai, the son of a wizard, into an ice statue, his sister embarks on a journey to save him and bring life back to the world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisCinderella III: A Twist in Time (2007)
When Lady Tremaine steals the Fairy Godmother's wand and changes history, it's up to Cinderella to restore the timeline and reclaim her prince.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBabes in the Woods (1932)
Two Dutch children stumble on a clearing in the woods where gnomes are going about their business. The gnomes are friendly to the children. A witch comes and takes them away on her broom to her gingerbread house, where she turns nasty on them, turning the boy into a spider, her yowling cat to stone, and tries to turn the girl into a rat when a gnome's arrow stops her. While the gnomes are fighting the witch, Hansel and Gretl free the other children who have been imprisoned and transformed by the witch.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Pied Piper (1933)
The people of Hamelin, overrun with rats, offer a bag of gold to anyone who can get rid of the rats. A piper offers to do the job, and successfully lures the rats into a mirage of cheese, which disappears. The citizens, disappointed that all he did was play a tune, offer only pocket change. The piper, angered, plays a new tune that has all the children of the city follow him, even the new twins the stork is preparing to deliver.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRoom on the Broom (2012)
Animated film based on the wonderful children's picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The story of a kind witch who invites a surprising collection of animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. The gang ultimately saves the witch from a fearsome dragon, and in gratitude she rewards them with a magnificent new broom which has room for everyone. A magical tale about friendship and family from Magic Light Pictures, the producers of the hugely successful The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTome of the Unknown (2013)
Wirt and Gregory are brothers who get tired of walking, so, they borrow a car from a romantic songster made of vegetables.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisAtér (2021)
Sahar tirelessly travels the forgotten plains and cliffs of his native island to prospect for a rare mineral. Suddenly, a voice upsets his search, his relationship with the world, and our Milky Way.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
Gracias, Che Cortázar (1986)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Dedication (2017)
"Dedication" is the story of a maid working in a hotel who uses a black magic spell in the hopes of harnessing the talent of one of the hotel's frequent guests - an eccentric writer - and passing it on to her unborn son.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
Le premier cigare (1897)
Since this is lost the content of the film can only be presumed but it was supposedly depicted a schoolboy smoking his first cigar.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
The Mask of the Devil (1976)
One night, an old lady flees the carnival and takes refuge in the mountains. At midnight, the devil knocks on his door and offers him a very special domino game.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Bruce Bickford Workshop (2007)
The result of a workshop at Calarts in January 2007 with Bruce Bickford, animator for many of Frank Zappa's films, including Baby Snakes. The animation was shot in a 'marathon' style over 36 hours, with each animator or group of animators having 4 hours to work, and without seeing any of the animation before them. The music was recorded by the crew. The film was completed on Mr. Bickford's birthday.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Study of the Virgin in School Uniform Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors (1975)
A surreal, pop-art depiction of a young girl losing her virginity.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Big Underground Ball?
The closest matches to Big Underground Ball are The Little Matchgirl (2006), The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2012) and How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Big Underground Ball?
Start with The Little Matchgirl (2006), the closest match to Big Underground Ball.
What is the highest-rated movie like Big Underground Ball?
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019), rated 8.0/10 by 1,155 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Big Underground Ball?
A Tooth Fairy Tale (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
How are movies similar to Big Underground Ball chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Big Underground Ball, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.