Movies like Rise of the Guardians (2012)
The best movies like Rise of the Guardians (2012) are Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010), The Star (2017) and The Polar Express (2004). If Rise of the Guardians hooked you with its action and adventure, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedKlaus (2019)8.2/10 from 4,923 votes
- NewestThat Christmas (2024)Released 2024
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)
When a young owl is abducted by an evil Owl army, he must escape with new-found friends and seek the legendary Guardians to stop the menace.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Star (2017)
A small but brave donkey and his animal friends become the unsung heroes of the greatest story ever told: the first Christmas.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Polar Express (2004)
When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Boss Baby: Christmas Bonus (2022)
Christmas Eve takes a twisty turn when the Boss Baby accidentally swaps places with one of Santa's elves and gets stranded at the North Pole.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDragon Rider (2020)
An unlikely trio of heroes – a dragon, a boy and a forest brownie – embark on an epic adventure to find the “Rim of Heaven” - the mythological safe haven for all dragons.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKlaus (2019)
A selfish postman and a reclusive toymaker form an unlikely friendship, delivering joy to a cold, dark town that desperately needs it.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisElliot: The Littlest Reindeer (2018)
When Blitzen announces his retirement on December 21st, a miniature horse has 3 days to fulfill his lifelong dream of earning a spot on Santa's team at the North Pole try-outs.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
SnoozefestMovies like thisArthur Christmas (2011)
For hundreds of years, the Claus family has delegated the title "Santa" to a chosen few of its members, which can be passed down upon retirement. Each Christmas, Santa and his vast army of highly trained elves produce gifts and distribute them around the world in a one-night high-tech operation. However, when one of 600 million children to receive a gift from Santa on Christmas Eve is missed, it is deemed ‘acceptable’ to all but one—Arthur Claus, the current Santa’s misfit son deemed ineligible for the title, who executes an unauthorised rookie mission to get the last present halfway around the globe before dawn on Christmas morning.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFrozen (2013)
Young princess Anna of Arendelle dreams about finding true love at her sister Elsa’s coronation. Fate takes her on a dangerous journey in an attempt to end the eternal winter that has fallen over the kingdom. She's accompanied by ice delivery man Kristoff, his reindeer Sven, and snowman Olaf. On an adventure where she will find out what friendship, courage, family, and true love really means.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMerry Madagascar (2009)
While trapped on the island of Madagascar, the Central Park Zoo escapees receive a visit from Santa--crash landing on their territory and getting amnesia to boot! The animals must help Santa assume his rightful place in the universe, while King Julian laps up the opportunity for his subjects.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEpic (2013)
A teenager finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil is taking place. She bands together with a rag-tag group of characters in order to save their world—and ours.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTrolls Holiday (2017)
When the eternally optimistic Poppy, queen of the Trolls, learns that the Bergens no longer have any holidays on their calendar, she enlists the help of Branch and the rest of the gang on a delightfully quirky mission to fix something that the Bergens don't think is broken.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & animation
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: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPrep & Landing (2009)
Wayne gets a new rookie partner, Lanny, after his previous partner got the promotion he wanted. Lanny has to remind Wayne of the Spirit of Christmas and the importance of being an elf in Santa's Prep and Landing elite unit.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Grinch (2018)
The Grinch hatches a scheme to ruin Christmas when the residents of Whoville plan their annual holiday celebration. But a certain little who might change things.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTrolls (2016)
After the monstrous Bergens invade Troll Village, Princess Poppy, the happiest Troll ever born, and overly-cautious, curmudgeonly outcast Branch set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Their mission is full of adventure and mishaps, as this mismatched duo try to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009)
A blue harvest moon will rise, allowing the fairies to use a precious moonstone to restore the Pixie Dust Tree, the source of all their magic. But when Tinker Bell accidentally puts all of Pixie Hollow in jeopardy, she must venture out across the sea on a secret quest to set things right.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBig Hero 6 (2014)
A special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHow to Train Your Dragon (2010)
As the son of a Viking leader on the cusp of manhood, shy Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III faces a rite of passage: he must kill a dragon to prove his warrior mettle. But after downing a feared dragon, he realizes that he no longer wants to destroy it, and instead befriends the beast – which he names Toothless – much to the chagrin of his warrior father.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both fantasy & adventure
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisDragons: Gift of the Night Fury (2011)
Hiccup and Toothless go on an exciting adventure and discover an island of new dragons.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisZootopia (2016)
Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia's police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case - even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBrave (2012)
In the mystical Scottish Highlands, Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both adventure & animation
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: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisThat Christmas (2024)
It's an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans — including Santa's.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWish (2023)
Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force – a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe - the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico - to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNiko 2: Little Brother, Big Trouble (2012)
Set right before Christmas, young reindeer Niko must deal with his mother's remarriage and his being tasked with looking after his little stepbrother.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
SnoozefestMovies like thisSaving Santa (2013)
A lowly stable elf finds that he is the only one who can stop an invasion of the North Pole by using the secret of Santa's Sleigh, a TimeGlobe, to travel back in time to Save Santa - twice.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
SnoozefestMovies like thisSecret of the Wings (2012)
Tinkerbell wanders into the forbidden Winter woods and meets Periwinkle. Together they learn the secret of their wings and try to unite the warm fairies and the winter fairies to help Pixie Hollow.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
When Clara’s mother leaves her a mysterious gift, she embarks on a journey to four secret realms—where she discovers her greatest strength could change the world.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both family & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBeauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
Astonished to find the Beast has a deep-seated hatred for the Christmas season, Belle endeavors to change his mind on the matter.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like this
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Rise of the Guardians?
The closest matches to Rise of the Guardians are Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010), The Star (2017) and The Polar Express (2004). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Rise of the Guardians?
People who watched Rise of the Guardians most often go on to Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010), The Star (2017) and The Polar Express (2004).
What is the highest-rated movie like Rise of the Guardians?
Klaus (2019), rated 8.2/10 by 4,923 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Rise of the Guardians?
That Christmas (2024) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Rise of the Guardians?
Yes: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010), The Star (2017) and The Polar Express (2004).
How are movies similar to Rise of the Guardians chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Rise of the Guardians, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.