Movies like The Magic Lake (1979)
The best movies like The Magic Lake (1979) are The Adventures of Buratino (1959), A Tooth Fairy Tale (2025) and Shrek 3-D (2004). If The Magic Lake 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 ratedMonster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? (2012)8.0/10 from 208 votes
- NewestCATOPTRICS (2026)Released 2026
The 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 thisShrek 3-D (2004)
Lord Farquaad was eaten by the dragon, but his ghost has returned, and he's still evil. With the help of his henchman, Thelonious, he kidnaps Fiona. Shrek and the donkey set out to save her, with help from the dragon, before she goes over a waterfall on a raft.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & animation
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 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 thisThe Hunchedback Horse (1947)
Adventures of Ivan the Fool and humpbacked horse in the world of kind magical creatures and cruel people.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies 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 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 & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPuss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale (2017)
After tumbling into a magic storybook, Puss in Boots must fight, dance and romance his way through wild adventures as he searches for an escape.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDisney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007)
Princess Aurora and Princess Jasmine learn valuable life lessons in two short stories.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLou (2017)
A lost-and-found box holds a mysterious and unseen monster within.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & animation
Worth the HypeMovies 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 & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies 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 thisHappily Ever After (1989)
In the aftermath of her more famous adventure, Snow White must team up with the dwarves' seven female cousins to battle the late Evil Queen's warlock brother and rescue the captured Prince.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Wizard of the Emerald City, Part I (2025)
Ellie lives in a distant city. One day, the evil witch Gingema conjured a hurricane that took Ellie and her dog Totoshka to the country of the Munchkins. To return home, Ellie and her friends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion will set off along the yellow brick road to the Emerald City in search of the Wizard who will grant their cherished wishes.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSnow Queen (2002)
Since a bitter winter storm stole the life of Gerda's mother, she and her father have sadly continued to run the remote hotel they call home. Lonely and isolated, Gerda's only joy is Kai, the handsome bellboy. A mysterious guest with an icy stare arrives at the hotel one night, wrapped in fur and diamonds. By daybreak, the "Snow Queen" has vanished with Kai! Gerda embarks on a journey of morphing seasons, fantastical creatures, and long-frozen mysteries in a desperate quest to find her stolen love.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFairyTale: A True Story (1997)
In 1917, two children take a photograph, which is soon believed by some to be the first scientific evidence of the existence of fairies. Based on the true story of the Cottingley Fairies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPan (2015)
Living a bleak existence at a London orphanage, 12-year-old Peter finds himself whisked away to the fantastical world of Neverland. Adventure awaits as he meets new friend James Hook and the warrior Tiger Lily. They must band together to save Neverland from the ruthless pirate Blackbeard. Along the way, the rebellious and mischievous boy discovers his true destiny, becoming the hero forever known as Peter Pan.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPirates of the Caribbean: Tales of the Code: Wedlocked (2011)
Wenches Scarlett and Giselle fix each other up for their wedding, in which they would each marry their groom. Upon realizing that both their grooms were the same man, Jack Sparrow, the two wenches found themselves in an auction led by the Auctioneer. This short film serves as a prequel to The Curse of the Black Pearl, and explains just why Jack Sparrow's boat the Jolly Mon was seen sinking at the beginning of the whole story; why the wenches were so upset with him; and how Cotton lost his tongue.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Blue Bird (1940)
Peasant children Mytyl and Tyltyl are led on a magical quest for the fabulous Blue Bird of Happiness by the fairy Berylune. On their journey, they're accompanied by the anthropomorphized presences of a Dog, a Cat, Light, Fire, and Bread, among other entities.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisStory of a Mother (2003)
In the coldest night, Death takes the life of a child, his mother will do everything to get him back, even losing everything she has.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy & animation
Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin the Serpent (2004)
When the fearsome Tugarin the Serpent steals the city's gold, the young hero Alyosha Popovich sets out on a daring quest to recover the treasure and bring the villain to justice. Along the way, he is joined by an unlikely group of companions: his loyal mentor Tikhon, a talking horse named Julius, the wise grandmother Babusya, a mischievous donkey, and the beautiful Lyubava. Together, they embark on an adventure filled with unexpected challenges, humor, and heroic deeds.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBabylas' Marriage (1921)
The film is a delightful tale of a spoiled wedding between child's toys which shows Starewicz's typical style of making amusing films appropriate for children without much sentimentality. As in many of his other films, his daughter Nina plays the role of the child.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
The Cat on Boots (1997)
The youngest of the miller's three sons sits sadly in front of his cabin while his brothers inherit their father's mill and donkey, and all he'd gotten was an old tomcat. But what he did not know: it was a quite gifted tomcat. A tomcat that can speak and walk like a human on two legs!
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
Cinderella (1947)
In the fairy kingdom live stepmother, her evil daughters — Anna and Maryana, a limp husband-forester and his daughter from his first marriage — Cinderella. The stepmother exploits the poor girl as a housekeeper. With the help of her godmother-fairy, Cinderella gets to the royal ball, where a beautiful and very kind prince falls in love with her. At midnight, the magic ends, and poor Cinderella has to return to her former life. But on the crystal shoe that Cinderella lost while fleeing the palace to the battle of the palace chimes, the prince searches for the bride.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAbout Dressy Sally (1976)
Sally, a dressy little girl, receives a lesson from a sorcerer about lying and happiness.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
The Starfish (1952)
Three children, holidaying in a small Cornish fishing village, become intrigued by the locals' tales of an elusive witch.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
CATOPTRICS (2026)
How do you phrase desires clearly in front of a magic mirror? When wishes become reality, annoyance turns into despair. Are four attempts enough?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
Paheli (2005)
Kishanlal marries the beautiful Lachchi, but the day after the wedding, he leaves on business for five years. When Kishanlal reappears only a few days later, Lachchi is delighted, but this new Kishanlal is in fact a spirit who has taken the form of Lachchi's husband, after having seen her by chance and fallen in love with her. Four years later, the real Kishanlal returns and the townsfolk must determine who is who.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers (1984)
An intelligent, fearless boy living in a superstitious Transylvanian village goes out into the world to figure out what everyone else is afraid of, "the shivers." A king hires him to rid his castle of ghosts and evil spirits, expecting him to die like all who have tried before him, but the boy is more fearless than he could have known.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
Like The Magic Lake and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The Magic Lake?
The closest matches to The Magic Lake are The Adventures of Buratino (1959), A Tooth Fairy Tale (2025) and Shrek 3-D (2004). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The Magic Lake?
Start with The Adventures of Buratino (1959), the closest match to The Magic Lake.
What is the highest-rated movie like The Magic Lake?
Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? (2012), rated 8.0/10 by 208 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The Magic Lake?
CATOPTRICS (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
How are movies similar to The Magic Lake chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Magic Lake, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.