Movies like The Ugly Duckling (2016)
The best movies like The Ugly Duckling (2016) are Arctic Dogs (2019), Minions & More Volume 1 (2022) and Duck Duck Goose (2018). If The Ugly Duckling hooked you with its animation and comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedChickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness (2022)7.2/10 from 299 votes
- NewestL'araignée au fond de la cour (2025)Released 2025
- In ChineseNezha Conquers the Dragon King (1979)Also in Chinese
Arctic 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 thisMinions & More Volume 1 (2022)
This collection of 10 short films produced by Illumination includes: From the "Despicable Me" franchise: Puppy (2013); Minion Scouts (2019); Training Wheels (2013); The Secret Life of Kyle (2017); Santa's Little Helpers (2019). From the "Grinch" franchise: The Dog Days of Winter (2019). From the "Secret Life of Pets" franchise: Norman Television (2016); Weenie (2016). From the "Sing" franchise: Love at First Sight (2017). From the "Lorax" franchise: Forces of Nature (2012).
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDuck Duck Goose (2018)
After he’s grounded by an injury, a high-flying bachelor is saddled with two wide-eyed orphans as they come face-to-face with the dangers and beauty of the outside world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Tidal Zone: SpongeBob Universe Special (2023)
GrandPat travels through alternate dimensions and timelines to get home.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPets United (2019)
When Roger (a Robin Hood-esque, stray dog) and Belle (an elegant yet spoilt pet cat) are thrown together amidst the chaos of a robot take-over of their home city, they must push all their preconceptions aside in order to survive, as they embark on a high-stakes, action-packed adventure.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
SnoozefestMovies like thisChickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness (2022)
A brave young animal explorer teams up with two trusty friends to find a powerful artifact before his greedy uncle can get his paws on it.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisExtinct (2021)
Op and Ed, two adorable donut-shaped animals - flummels - accidentally time-travel from 1835 to modern-day Shanghai. There they discover traffic, trans fats, and worst of all, that flummels are now extinct. It's up to this bumbling pair to save themselves and their species...and, just maybe, change the course of history.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & comedy
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 & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!) (1980)
Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty and Marcie travel to France as foreign exchange students. Also along is Snoopy and Woodstock. While everyone is excited about the opportunity to travel to a foreign country, Charlie is disturbed by a letter he receives from a mysterious girl from France who invites him as a her guest only to find that he does not seem welcomed to her Chateau.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCars Toon Mater's Tall Tales (2008)
Mater the tow truck travels from country to country as he retells his infamous but unbelievable stories.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Willoughbys (2020)
When the four Willoughby children are abandoned by their selfish parents, they must learn how to adapt their Old-Fashioned values to the contemporary world in order to create something new: The Modern Family.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022)
The fearless one-eyed weasel Buck teams up with mischievous possum brothers Crash & Eddie as they head off on a new adventure into Buck's home: The Dinosaur World.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRugrats Go Wild (2003)
When the Rugrats find themselves stranded on a deserted island, they meet the Thornberrys, a family who agrees to help them escape.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTrouble (2019)
A pampered dog named Trouble must learn to live in the real world while trying to escape from his former owner's greedy children and must learn how to survive on the big-city streets.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie (2018)
Thomas leaves Sodor to fulfil his dream of seeing the world. This heroic quest takes Thomas across deserts, through jungles and over dangerous mountains as he travels across five continents seeing sights he has never seen before.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNezha Conquers the Dragon King (1979)
In Chentang Pass, Nezha, the magical son of General Li Jing, makes enemies with Ao Guang, the Dragon King of East Sea. When he is reported to heaven's court and his home is threatened, Nezha takes it upon himself to destroy the palace and defeat the dragons. A retelling of the classic chapters from Investiture of The Gods.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTweety's High Flying Adventure (2000)
A full-length animated feature starring the little yellow bird. When Col. Rimfire announces at the Looney Club his belief that cats are the most intelligent animals, Granny, hoping to raise enough money to save a nearby children's park, makes a wager that her Tweety can fly around the world in 80 days, collecting the pawprints of 80 cats in the process. Sylvester, still hoping to make Tweety his personal snack, is incensed at the thought of some other cat getting the little bird first and vows to follow Tweety around the world and catch the canary himself.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWelcome 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 thisSecrets of the Heavenly Book (1983)
Yuangong, the deacon, opened the shrine and exposed the holy book to the human world. He is now punished to guard the book for life by the jade emperor for breaking heaven’s law. In order to pass this holy book to human beings, he would have to get by the antagonist fox.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Loud House Movie (2021)
The Loud family travel to Scotland and discover they are descendants of Scottish royalty as they move into their giant ancestral castle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMilagros: Una osa extraordinaria (2023)
Milagros is a bear who, after experiencing many adventures, decides to fulfil her destiny: preserving her species and telling her story to raise awareness about wildlife conservation.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & comedy
L'araignée au fond de la cour (2025)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & comedy
Bango Vassil (2018)
Two children share an altogether different kind of New Year's Eve, taking an icy journey where they must cross waters and cultures to make a fresh start.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & adventure
Mog's Christmas (2023)
Mog feels a little ignored during the Thomas family's Christmas preparations. When she spots the huge Christmas tree, she freaks out and climbs to the roof, where she refuses to move no matter how hard the family tries.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & comedy
Nelly Jelly: My Movie (2023)
Kake Make's six adventures, starting at home, will soon expand to various magical corners of the world where she will meet her imagined friends monsters, pirates and even travel to the Tooth Fairy's feast.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & adventure
Ni churras Ni merinas (TBA)
A short movie about a mom telling her son about a story from the past about and extinct animal, and the reason was the climate change.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
The Fog From London (1992)
Little Fox found a bottle of fog in the forest. For his release from the magic vessel, the Fog from London promised to fulfill any wish of the Little Fox.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Merry Christmas: Max's Miraculous Gift (1993)
It is Christmas Eve. Max is excited. Because he has wished for something very special – but only quietly – he did not dare to wish aloud. At last, it is time for the presents. Max is overjoyed. How did his parents know what he had wished for? And the present is even better than he imagined. The craziest adventures can be experienced with it. And what he does experience, how he makes Kimba the lion his friend, or why he gets splashed soaking wet by Dicki the elephant, you can witness in the animated story of “Max and his wonderous present”. Do you already know what kind of present it is?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
MAKING LOVE (2025)
Three young children set out to decipher a mystery unfolding in their little corner of the world. With good intentions, they embark on a dangerous investigation after a mysterious family.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure
Isabel's Treasure (2019)
Isabel's family has moved into a dilapidated house. Everything is falling apart, her parents can barely keep up with the renovations, and Isabel doesn't like it at all. If they had treasure, they could buy a nice house - and her father thinks treasures really exist. She promptly sets off secretly to find treasure for her family. On her search she meets all sorts of fairytale characters: a pirate, a wise seer and a witch. Can Isabel find the treasure with their help?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure
Like The Ugly Duckling and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The Ugly Duckling?
The closest matches to The Ugly Duckling are Arctic Dogs (2019), Minions & More Volume 1 (2022) and Duck Duck Goose (2018). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The Ugly Duckling?
Start with Arctic Dogs (2019), the closest match to The Ugly Duckling.
What is the highest-rated movie like The Ugly Duckling?
Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness (2022), rated 7.2/10 by 299 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The Ugly Duckling?
L'araignée au fond de la cour (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Chinese movies like The Ugly Duckling?
Yes: Nezha Conquers the Dragon King (1979) and Secrets of the Heavenly Book (1983).
How are movies similar to The Ugly Duckling chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Ugly Duckling, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.