Movies like Carnival (1986)
The best movies like Carnival (1986) are Sing: Thriller (2024), Thriller Night (2011) and Destino (2003). If Carnival hooked you with its animation and music, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks
- Highest ratedDestino (2003)7.2/10 from 300 votes
- NewestSing: Thriller (2024)Released 2024
Sing: Thriller (2024)
Buster Moon dreams up a star-studded spectacle set to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in this animated short featuring characters from the hit "Sing" films.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & music
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThriller Night (2011)
A Shrek parody of Michael Jackson's Thriller song and music video, with Donkey singing.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDestino (2003)
Short film to a song of love lost and rediscovered, a woman sees and undergoes surreal transformations. Her lover's face melts off, she dons a dress from the shadow of a bell and becomes a dandelion, ants crawl out of a hand and become Frenchmen riding bicycles. Not to mention the turtles with faces on their backs that collide to form a ballerina, or the bizarre baseball game.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & music
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWinnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)
Winnie the Pooh and his friends experience high winds, heavy rains, and a flood in Hundred Acre Wood.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & music
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Pied Piper (1933)
The people of Hamelin, overrun with rats, offer a bag of gold to anyone who can get rid of the rats. A piper offers to do the job, and successfully lures the rats into a mirage of cheese, which disappears. The citizens, disappointed that all he did was play a tune, offer only pocket change. The piper, angered, plays a new tune that has all the children of the city follow him, even the new twins the stork is preparing to deliver.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMickey's Grand Opera (1936)
Mickey is preparing to conduct an opera when he chases Pluto away. Pluto crashes into a magician's props backstage and spars with the hat, its rabbits, and its doves. The opera begins: Clarabelle plays flute, Clara and Donald are the leads in Romeo and Juliet. Pluto follows the magic hat onstage, to Mickey's growing annoyance. The hat falls into a tuba, and soon the animals are filling the stage.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFlowers and Trees (1932)
A jealous stump threatens two trees that are in love by starting a forest fire. When the rain comes and puts out the fire the forest revives and celebrates the wedding.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisArlo the Alligator Boy (2021)
Upon learning that he is from New York City, a wide-eyed boy, who is half human and half alligator, decides to leave his sheltered life in the swamp and search for his long lost father. A musical adventure.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & music
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSolid Serenade (1946)
Tom ties up Spike and sneaks into the courtyard of the glamorous Toodles Galore with his bass, hoping to woo her with his song, much to the annoyance of a sleeping Jerry.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisScrat's Continental Crack-Up: Part 2 (2011)
This short film continues the adventures of the title character as he tries to retrieve his elusive acorn.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Knight for a Day (1946)
By accident, Cedric (Goofy), replaces his master, Sir Loinsteak, in the armor just before the joust with champion Sir Cumference.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies 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
SnoozefestMovies like thisThru the Mirror (1936)
Mickey has been reading Alice in Wonderland, and falls asleep. He finds himself on the other side of the mirror, where the furniture is alive.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHawaiian Vacation (2011)
The toys throw Ken and Barbie a Hawaiian vacation in Bonnie's room.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMater and the Ghostlight (2006)
Mater, the rusty but trusty tow truck from Cars, spends a day in Radiator Springs playing scary pranks on his fellow townsfolk. That night at Flo's V8 Café, the Sheriff tells the story of the legend of the Ghostlight, and as everyone races home Mater is left alone primed for a good old-fashioned scare.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGroot's Pursuit (2022)
Groot investigates a spooky noise that’s been haunting the Quadrant, which leads to an intense dance off.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFerdinand the Bull (1938)
This Oscar-winning short tells of a bull who preferred to sit under trees and smell flowers to clashing horns with his fellow animals. As luck would have it, an untimely bee reveals Ferdinand's ferocious side via pained howls and wild stomping. This lands him in the bull-fighting arena amidst characters based on Walt's animators with a matador reportedly modeled after Walt himself.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Art of Skiing (1941)
Goofy, staying at the Sugar Bowl resort, demonstrates the basics of downhill skiing, which the titles and announcer insist is pronounced "SHEEing". The equipment is, of course, of the era. As you can imagine, Goofy has much trouble keeping his skis parallel and pointing downhill. The final ski jump conveniently lands Goofy right back in bed.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSea Scouts (1939)
Donald is an admiral on a seagoing voyage with his nephews in which they encounter a ravenous shark.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWelcome to the Club (2022)
Heart set on becoming a princess, Lisa Simpson is surprised to learn being bad might be more fun.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisShannon Amen (2019)
Shannon Amen unearths the passionate and pained expressions of a young woman overwhelmed by guilt and anxiety as she struggles to reconcile her sexual identity with her religious faith. A loving elegy to a friend lost to suicide.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
9 Kisses (2014)
"9 Kisses" is a 2014 New York Times Magazine project featuring nine artistic short films where top actors of the year pair up for intimate, staged smooches. Directed by Elaine Constantine, these roughly minute-long clips range from romantic to awkward, showcasing diverse famous pairings in public night settings.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both music
Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex (2022)
When army of Gigans tries to invade and destroy the Earth, the only one who can stop them is Godzilla.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Shorts from Radiator Springs (2016)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Rendezvous in Space (1964)
This documentary, the final film directed by Frank Capra, explores America's plans for the future of space exploration. It was produced by the Martin-Marietta Corporation for exhibition in the Hall of Science at the 1964 New York World's Fair.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Oumpah-Pah the Red Skin (1965)
A short animation film about knights.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
The Criminals (1993)
Animated mugshots of criminals.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
A Family Portrait (2009)
A family portrait session goes horribly wrong, as secrets and jealousy bubble to the surface under the photographer's watchful gaze.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Filipinescas - Getanzte Legenden der philippinischen Inselwelt (1961)
TV movie about dance rites in the Philippines
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both music
Time Travellers (2023)
Medieval time travelers on a flying visit to the future, the so-called present, and the not-so-distant past encounter burgers, SUVs, esotericists, and a mammoth, and then (spoiler alert) return to the past.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Like Carnival and something else?
Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Carnival?
The closest matches to Carnival are Sing: Thriller (2024), Thriller Night (2011) and Destino (2003). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Carnival?
Start with Sing: Thriller (2024), the closest match to Carnival.
What is the highest-rated movie like Carnival?
Destino (2003), rated 7.2/10 by 300 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Carnival?
Sing: Thriller (2024) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Carnival?
Yes: Sing: Thriller (2024), Thriller Night (2011) and Destino (2003).
How are movies similar to Carnival chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Carnival, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.


























