Movies like Rubbish (1982)
The best movies like Rubbish (1982) are The Velveteen Rabbit (2023), A Tooth Fairy Tale (2025) and Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007). If Rubbish hooked you with its family 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
- NewestThe Golden Key: A New Pinocchio Story (2026)Released 2026
The Velveteen Rabbit (2023)
When seven-year-old William receives a new favorite toy for Christmas, he discovers a lifelong friend and unlocks a world of magic.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
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 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 & family
Popcorn FlickMovies 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 & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Pagemaster (1994)
Rich knows a lot about accidents. So much so, he is scared to do anything that might endanger him, like riding his bike, or climbing into his treehouse. While in an old library, he is mystically transported into the unknown world of books, and he has to try and get home again.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe House of Magic (2013)
Thunder, an abandoned young cat seeking shelter from a storm, stumbles into the strangest house imaginable, owned by an old magician and inhabited by a dazzling array of automatons and gizmos. Not everyone welcomes the new addition to the troupe as Jack Rabbit and Maggie Mouse plot to evict Thunder. The situation gets worse when the magician lands in hospital and his scheming nephew sees his chance to cash in by selling the mansion. Our young hero is determined to earn his place and so he enlists the help of some wacky magician's assistants to protect his magical new home.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & 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 family & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLegends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014)
Dorothy wakes in post-tornado Kansas, only to be whisked back to Oz to try to save her old friends, the Scarecrow, the Lion, the Tin Man, and Glinda, from a devious new villain, the Jester. New comrades Wiser the Owl, Marshal Mallow, China Princess, and Tugg the Tugboat join Dorothy on her latest magical journey through the colorful landscape of Oz to restore order and happiness to Emerald City.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPAW Patrol: Ready, Race, Rescue! (2019)
It’s the Adventure Bay 500! The pups have built an awesome race track and are ready to be the pit crew for their race hero, The Whoosh! But when the legendary racer is unable to drive in the championship race, he calls on his biggest fan-pup Marshall to take the wheel and race in his place! Marshall has to overcome his lack of confidence and his dastardly competition, The Cheetah, to fulfill his dream of becoming the fastest race-pup ever!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue (1997)
When Toaster and the gang spark friendships with the playful animals at the veterinary hospital, they soon discover their new pals are about to be sent to a testing laboratory.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMonster High: Frights, Camera, Action! (2014)
When Draculaura is led to believe she's the rightful heir to the vampire throne, she and her best ghoulfriends are whisked away to Transylvania for a royal coronation to die for. But they soon discover the hunt for the queen is not over yet. The Ghouls must locate an ancient artifact known as the Vampire's Heart in order to discover the identity of the true Vampire Queen. It's a fangtastic adventure that will lead them from the Tower of Londoom, to a haunted river boat in New Goreleans and finally to the glamorous boo-vie lots of Hauntlywood. Could this be the moment when Draculara finally receives her vampire powers and discovers screams really can come true?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisKung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016)
As Po looks for his lost action figures, the story of how the panda inadvertently helped create the Furious Five is told.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisScooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map (2013)
When Shaggy and Scooby find a mysterious pirate's treasure map in their triple-extra-large Scooby snack pizza, the whole Mystery Inc. gang sets out from their treehouse to find the lost booty of Gnarlybeard and the Phantom Parrot, encountering some suspicious individuals along the way who are also involved in the hunt. The tale is told in brand-new way to see the Scooby-Doo series: entirely through puppets! Pilot for unproduced puppet series based on "A Pup Named Scooby-Doo", released direct-to-DVD.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & animation
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisPinocchio (2022)
A wooden puppet embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMinions & More Volume 2 (2022)
This collection of 11 short films produced by Illumination includes: From the "Despicable Me" franchise: Mower Minions (2016); Yellow Is the New Black (2018); Competition (2015); Cro Minion (2015); Binky Nelson Unpacified (2015); Panic in the Mailroom (2013). From the "Secret Life of Pets" franchise: Super Gidget (2019). From the "Sing" franchise: Eddie's Life Coach (2017); Gunter Babysits (2017). From the "Lorax" franchise: Serenade (2012); Wagon Ho! (2012).
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & animation
Worth the HypeMovies 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 Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie (1981)
Bugs Bunny hosts an award show featuring several classic Looney Tunes shorts and characters.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMonster Family 2 (2021)
To free Baba Yaga and Renfield from the clutches of Monster Hunter Mila Starr, the Wishbone Family once more transforms into a Vampire, Frankenstein's Monster, a Mummy and a Werewolf but when aided by their three pet bats, the Monster Family zooms around the world again to save their friends, make new monstrous acquaintances.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
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 thisPAW Patrol: Jet to the Rescue (2020)
A royal relative steals a gem with the power to make things fly, the Paw Patrol takes to the skies to stop him and save Barkingburg.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPinocchio in Outer Space (1965)
Pinocchio tries to save the Earth from Astro the Space Whale
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & family
Salzburg Marionette Theatre: The Nutcracker (2009)
On Christmas Eve, the parents of Clara and Fritz have invited guests. Among them is Clara’s godfather Drosselmeyer, who presents her with a nutcracker. Clara is delighted and finally falls asleep with her Christmas present tucked under her arm. But at midnight Drosselmeyer appears as a wizard and transforms the Nutcracker into a prince.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & family
The Typewriting Machine (2020)
A fearful composer writes in his typewriting machine and an intimidating pianist cat plays his music during the magnificent show of Marita, the dancer.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
Salzburg Marionette Theatre: The Magic Flute (1994)
The Queen of the Night has begged Prince Tamino to free her daughter Pamina from the clutches of the High Priest Sarastro, who has abducted her. Together with the bird-catcher Papageno, Tamino enters Sarastro's realm to seek her. When he finds her, the two fall in love, but they have to have to undergo ordeals before they can be together. At the end, Papageno is also rewarded with his Papagena.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
Pinocchio (1968)
Pinocchio is a musical version of the story that aired in the United States on NBC, with pop star Peter Noone playing the puppet.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
The Spirit of Christmas (1953)
This Christmas film, created as a special for television broadcast throughout the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania viewing region, was produced by puppeteer Mabel Beaton and her husband Les for Bell Telephone Company and first aired in 1953. Following a short live-action opening portion, featured are two extended marionette segments, the first dramatizing Clement Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas", the second reverently telling the Nativity story; the two stories are staged in classic, traditional style. From 1953 onward, for several years, The Spirit of Christmas was broadcast in the intended region multiple times per holiday season. It was also available as a 16mm film licensed to schools for showings to students. This film often is misstated to have originally been broadcast in 1950.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & family
The Golden Key: A New Pinocchio Story (2026)
A screen adaptation of the beloved international fairy tale by Alexei Tolstoy in a new way. The story of everyone's favorite hero Pinocchio, his dad Carlo and their friends, told with the help of modern life-action technologies.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRumpelstiltskin (1949)
Marionette puppet version of the tale about a little man who grants a miller's daughter the gift of spinning straw into gold.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family & fantasy
31 Minutes: The Movie (2008)
When the evil billionaire Cachirula kidnaps Juanín Juan Harry to complete her bizarre animal collection, the 31 Minutos crew embarks on a chaotic rescue mission, proving that friendship is always worth the chaos.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisEine Woche voller Samstage (1977)
Mr. Taschenbier, who had previously led a rather unremarkable and monotonous life, becomes suspicious when a big thunderstorm suddenly appears on Thursday. After all, the sun had shone on the previous Sunday, Mr. Mon visited him on Monday, and on Tuesday he was on duty as usual. That would be so far admittedly still nothing special, just as little the middle of the week on Wednesday. On Thursday, however, there is thunder. And when Mr. Taschenbier then also has Friday off, he goes into town on Saturday, curious about what might await him. In fact, he encounters a creature that none of the other passers-by can make sense of. Only he logically suspects that it must be a "Sams".
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Like Rubbish and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Rubbish?
The closest matches to Rubbish are The Velveteen Rabbit (2023), A Tooth Fairy Tale (2025) and Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Rubbish?
Start with The Velveteen Rabbit (2023), the closest match to Rubbish.
What is the highest-rated movie like Rubbish?
Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? (2012), rated 8.0/10 by 208 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Rubbish?
The Golden Key: A New Pinocchio Story (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Rubbish?
Yes: The Velveteen Rabbit (2023), A Tooth Fairy Tale (2025) and Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007).
How are movies similar to Rubbish chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Rubbish, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.