Movies like Empress of Darkness (2020)
The best movies like Empress of Darkness (2020) are Welcome to Smelliville (2021), The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024) and Strings (2004). If Empress of Darkness hooked you with its adventure and animation, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedAvatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026)9.0/10 from 1,440 votes
- NewestAvatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026)Released 2026
Welcome to Smelliville (2021)
The Oggly family arrive at the municipal rubbish dump of Smelliville and must look for a new home, but they never feel really welcome anywhere. They stink and are for most humans just a tad too oggly. When Firebottom, the family dragon, crash-lands on the run-down rubbish tip of the small town of Smelliville, the Ogglies at once feel at home. And it's here they want to stay.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)
A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and traitorous lord of Rohan seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisStrings (2004)
The story of Prince Hal who sets out to avenge his dead father against the city's rivals, the Zeriths, little knowing it was his wicked uncle Nezo who is the real killer, with his own designs on the throne.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Monkey King (2023)
A stick-wielding monkey teams with a young girl on an epic quest for immortality, battling demons, dragons, gods — and his own ego — along the way.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAvatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026)
Avatar Aang, the world's last Airbender, learns of an ancient power that could save his culture from extinction. With the help of his friends, he embarks on a global quest to find it before it falls into the wrong hands and threatens to upend the peace they sacrificed everything to achieve.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisHilda and the Mountain King (2021)
When Hilda wakes up in the body of a troll, she must use her wits and courage to get back home, become human again — and save the city of Trolberg.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisArctic Dogs (2019)
Animals band together to save the day when the evil Otto Von Walrus hatches a sinister scheme to accelerate global warming and melt the Arctic Circle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
SnoozefestMovies like thisFreedom Fighters: The Ray (2018)
Earth-X is one of many realities in the multiverse, with one glaring difference from our Earth: The Nazis won World War II. Led by The Ray, a group of heroes known as the Freedom Fighters battle selflessly against tyranny. But when The Ray is transported to our Earth to save his life, he passes his powers to his unsuspecting counterpart, Ray Terrill. Charged with superhuman abilities, Terrill is newly christened The Ray and must adapt and overcome the challenges of crime-fighting with a little help from The Flash and Green Arrow. Seasoned and ready to fight, The Ray now faces his biggest battle: a return to Earth-X to lead the Freedom Fighters against Overgirl and her evil Nazi henchmen!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMonster High: Scaris City of Frights (2013)
The Monstruitas of Monster High are obsessed with going to Scaris, The City of Frights for Fashion international competition where the winner will become the apprentice of the world famous Madame Ghostier designer.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui (2004)
In the time before time, six unlikely Matoran find themselves transformed into mighty Toa. The new Toa Metru must prove themselves as true heroes, find the missing Toa Lhikan, and uncover a plot that threatens the heart of Metru Nui.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Water Man (2020)
Hoping to save his sick mother, a boy named Gunner and his friend Jo venture into the remote Wild Horse forest to search for a mythical figure who possesses the secret to immortality. When they go missing, Gunner's father Amos must immerse himself in his son's world to find them.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & 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 Pilgrim's Progress (2019)
An epic journey, faithfully adapted to modern-day. Christian faces distractions, challenges, and perils at every turn of the way. But ends victorious, with helpful guides, as he stays on the narrow path to the distant Celestial City.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)
Escaping from poverty to become a witcher, Vesemir slays monsters for coin and glory, but when a new menace rises, he must face the demons of his past.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSecret Society of Second-Born Royals (2020)
A rebellious teenage princess discovers she has superhuman abilities and joins a secret society of extraordinary second-born royals tasked with protecting the world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDave Made a Maze (2017)
Dave, an artist who has yet to complete anything significant in his career, builds a fort in his living room out of pure frustration, only to wind up trapped by the fantastical pitfalls, booby traps, and critters of his own creation. Ignoring his warnings, Dave’s girlfriend Annie leads a band of oddball explorers on a rescue mission. Once inside, they find themselves trapped in an ever-changing supernatural world, threatened by booby traps and pursued by a bloodthirsty Minotaur.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAngels Fallen: Warriors of Peace (2024)
When an Iraq War veteran receives a calling from a higher power, he embarks on a mission to stop a fallen angel from raising an army of the dead to take over the world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisPinocchio (2009)
The enchanted story of Pinocchio.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSofia the First: The Floating Palace (2013)
After Sofia helps a little mermaid named Oona, Sofia's amulet grants her the power to transform into a mermaid and visit her new friend's underwater kingdom. But when Cedric (disguised as a seamonster) plots to steal Oona's enchanted Mermaid Comb, danger surfaces for both worlds. With a little help from special guest, Princess Ariel, Sofia embarks on an adventure to rescue Oona and prevent a typhoon before it's too late.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMythica: The Godslayer (2016)
As the Lich King's zombie legions ravage the world, a cursed young sorceress embarks on a quest to obtain a weapon from the gods. But when she joins her sworn enemy in a desperate attempt to save the world, she must recover the good in herself before her friends are all dead, and defeat the Lich King before the gods are destroyed and the world forever enslaved.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisNova Seed (2016)
Beneath the decay of a dying world lives the Mad Doctor Mindskull. Using the planet's power of creation he has created the ultimate Weapon. Can mankind find a way to stop this Evil before time runs out? The only answer lies within the Nova Seed.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
Shimajiro to Ururu no Heroland (2019)
Hero Land is a world where you can meet the heroes and heroines you have been waiting for, created by the inventor girl "Ururu". Shimajiro and his friends were overexcited, but a bad robot appeared there and Hero Land was in big danger. Can Shimajiro and his friends work together to help?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
The man is the only bird who wears his own cage (2008)
Experience a cold world full of people whose heads have been replaced by a cage filled with a rubber balloon.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
Terrorforming (2021)
A cosmic opera about Mice & Angels. Part of Brain Dead’s Mutant Sequencer Vol. 1
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
100 Years - Armenian Genocide (2015)
In 2015, we created this cell animation short to commemorate the Armenian Genocide Centenary. To the date, the Turkish government still denies the genocide took place, dodging their responsibility. 100 years will have passed this April 24th, and Armenians will keep on fighting for justice. This is a small tribute to the 1.500.000 victims.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness (2006)
When D-Roc sees a pair of expensive sneakers called Air Jareds, he wants his mother to buy them to wear at school in order to look cool. His mother purchases a cheaper priced pair of Air Johnsons instead. Afraid of looking bad to his crew, D-Roc asks Soo-Young to make Air Jareds out of Air Johnsons and when they work out well, they realize they can make money by converting the shoes. Their plan to make money eventually goes wary and D-Roc is taught a lesson about being himself.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Fuelled (2021)
Fuelled tells the story of a housewife on the path of revenge for her late husband.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
First Born (2020)
Determined to gain favor in his family's eyes and match his sister's status, a boy must prove his worth and show his potential in an upcoming martial arts competition.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
The Story of Animation (2012)
The Story of Animation is an educational film about the process of animation aimed primarily at potential animation clients.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-roc's Street (2006)
D-Roc, Dee-Dee, DJ, Money, Lissette, Slim, Chad, Gwenny, and Soo Young are working together to find a way to bring the true meaning of Christmas home to less fortunate young Gavin and his family.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Empress of Darkness?
The closest matches to Empress of Darkness are Welcome to Smelliville (2021), The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024) and Strings (2004). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Empress of Darkness?
Start with Welcome to Smelliville (2021), the closest match to Empress of Darkness.
What is the highest-rated movie like Empress of Darkness?
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026), rated 9.0/10 by 1,440 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Empress of Darkness?
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Empress of Darkness?
Yes: Welcome to Smelliville (2021), The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024) and Strings (2004).
How are movies similar to Empress of Darkness chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Empress of Darkness, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.