There are fine animated films, and then there are fantastic animated films. Movies like Coco fall into the latter’s category of genuinely brilliant, hit-you-in-the-feels animated flicks.
But, if you and your kids have seen Coco a thousand times (or more), you need an option that matches its poignant narrative and earworm tunes, like a movie like Coco.
Fortunately, several movies like Coco will hit all the right notes. So, without fancy words, let’s go to the list of movies like Coco.
1. Corpse Bride (2005)
Victor, the protagonist of Corpse Bride, has direct interactions with dead individuals, including his wife, Emily.
She has been raised from the grave. Coco concentrates on the vibrant Mexican culture surrounding the Day of the Dead.
Still, Corpse Bride has Tim Burton’s touch and performs well to impress spectators with its repetitive yet imaginative aesthetics.
Corpse Bride was a critical and economic success, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. Interestingly, this was Burton’s third stop-motion film.
He also co-directed it and contributed to the development of the characters and scenario. If you fancy movies like Coco, take advantage of this movie.
2. Alice in Wonderland (1951)
A classic scenario involves a character journeying to another world. Another film that highlights this concept is Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, one of the most accurate adaptations of Lewis Carroll’s works.
Despite initial criticism, it became a cult favorite and is today acknowledged as one of Disney’s greatest works.
Although Alice and Miguel’s challenges differ, their adventures push them to explore the world beyond their comfort zone.
The odd, fanciful components are constant, and the people that both protagonists meet defy their traditional thinking. This movie is a must-watch if you love movies like Coco.
3. Encanto (2021)
Like in most movies like Coco, Encanto’s core subject is family. Both follow a Spanish-speaking family and are entrenched in their culture, with a Disney twist.
On the other hand, Encanto takes a different direction, with its protagonist seeking familial acceptance. Because of the miraculous flame that blessed them years ago, everyone in the Madrigal family has a gift.
Unfortunately, Mirabel, the second-youngest kid, is the only member of the family who does not have a gift. As a result, her quest to fit in with her family unwittingly ostracizes her. Still, she also reveals a deeper truth that threatens to ruin all she knows.
4. Turning Red (2022)
Turning Red was a huge success for Disney+ audiences, despite not receiving the film screening it deserved.
It only partially focused on the same issues as movies like Coco. Still, familial bonds and the impact of generational trauma were major themes.
Mei and Miguel battled to be genuine in the presence of their overbearing family members. As a result, they had to focus on family responsibilities and were forbidden to pursue their hobbies openly.
While their family intended well, it eventually wounded and drove the youngsters away. However, Mei’s existence as a red panda and Miguel’s voyage through the domain of the dead assisted them in finding their voice.
5. Finding Nemo (2003)
Like most movies like Coco, the current Pixar classic Finding Nemo both include a search for a missing family member.
However, finding Nemo focuses on a devastated father searching for his abducted son rather than a disgraced and virtually forgotten great-great-grandfather.
The theme of self-discovery is significant in both works. Marlin learns to let go of Nemo and live with his loss. At the same time, Miguel’s family opens up to him about their previous suffering.
Aside from its obvious box office success, which made it the highest-grossing animated film at its debut, Finding Nemo was regarded as the best-selling DVD title of all time, with over 40 million copies sold.
Reviewers also lauded it and garnered Pixar’s first Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
6. Moana (2016)
Moana, like Coco, transports spectators on a fanciful journey into the wide unknown. Both characters, burdened by familial commitments, leave their homes searching for a purpose and immerse themselves in a complex yet intriguing new world.
While the family isn’t the movie’s overriding subject, one of Moana’s primary sources of motivation is her desire to aid her family. But, like Miguel, she wants to discover herself.
So Moana travels the sea against her father’s wishes, seeking to find her place in the world and how to use her ability to aid the people she loves. So grab a glass of your favorite juice and watch this movie if you enjoy movies like Coco.
7. The Lion King (1994)
The notion of family is one of the most obvious links between movies like Coco and The Lion King. However, it also discusses a new generation taking the lead from the previous one and embracing death as a given.
The Lion King was a great success upon its first release, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time and continuing to be the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film today.
It also received two Academy Awards and was redone as a photorealistic feature. As a result, it is currently the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
8. Spirited Away (2001)
Spirited Away is a story about a child’s voyage to another planet. It is a Japanese animated film directed by the prolific Hayao Miyazaki from the well-known Studio Ghibli.
Despite not traveling through the Land of the Dead, Chihiro enters a new realm of spirits and legendary beings and learns more about herself.
When it was released, Spirited Away was the highest-grossing film in Japanese history. It retained that record for over two decades.
It was also the only hand-drawn and non-English-language animated picture to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. So naturally, this movie deserves a place on the list of movies like Coco.
9. Finding Dory (2016)
Finding Nemo gets all the attention, but pay attention to its 2016 sequel, which may even outperform the original in terms of emotional impact. Dory, Nemo’s absent-minded companion, has been searching for her long-lost family all this time.
But when she finds she once had a family, she renews her efforts to find them—all of the tears. Finding Dory, like movies like Coco, deals with difficult family connections.
And, because Ellen Degeneres voice Dory, there is laughter between the many emotional moments.
10. Up (2009)
Back in 2009, Pixar and Disney collaborated on another poignant animated comedy. In Up, a brave scout reminds an older man of his boyhood ambitions.
Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old balloon seller, used to have adventure fantasies. It had always been his dream to travel with his bride, Ellie. But his lofty plans go out the window when he becomes a widower.
Only with the assistance of a teenage Wilderness Explorer called Russell can he choose a new course. Of course, the plot takes some surprising turns, but the movie’s warmth is reminiscent of movies like Coco.
11. Sing (2016)
If you don’t only enjoy the thrills that come with movies like Coco but also fantastic music, have a look at Sing.
Various animals compete for a position in the world’s best singing competition, essentially a fanciful animal version of American Idol.
The only problem is that it’s a ruse concocted by Koala Buster Moon, the owner of a struggling theater anxious to keep the lights on. So naturally, the competitors are still waiting to learn what is happening.
Do they long for their moment in the spotlight? Who will triumph? Is it Meena, the bashful elephant with the killer pipes? Or how about Johnny, the mountain gorilla singer? Will Buster be the one to rescue the day and his beloved theater?
12. Ferdinand (2017)
The protagonist of this beautiful story, a reworking of Munro Leaf’s 1936 children’s book The Story of Ferdinand, is a bull who doesn’t want to fight.
Similar to movies like Coco, themes of life and death are explored here, with a quirky array of characters, including an immensely amusing goat named Lupe, played by Kate McKinnon, striving to save Ferdinand from his bull-fighting fate.
Can this sweet-natured cow get out of the ring? Will his animal instincts triumph? There are no spoilers. All that can be said is that you’ll laugh. You will weep. You’ll click the rewind button to sing to Nick Jonas’s smash single “Home.”
13. Onward (2012)
Everyone will have to deal with the death of a loved one at some point in their lives. But how can you explain it to a child? So, of course, with a movie similar to movies like Coco.
Ian and Barley, two adolescent elf brothers, aren’t ready to say goodbye to their father until they get one last amazing chance to spend the day with him. That is the theme of this family film.
Kids will like the magical scenario, which includes wizards and minotaurs, but still has enough real-world elements, such as Brother Barley’s vehicle, to make it realistic.
And they’ll like the shenanigans the two get up to when their mother gives them a magical staff that brings their father back — well, half of him.
14. Coraline (2009)
Coraline is a darker film worth seeing if you want to see something less lighthearted. It’s comparable to movies like Coco in that it deals with difficult topics, but this film takes things to the next level. Coraline is aimed towards children, although it contains disturbing material.
Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Coraline was drawn into a weird realm full of odd individuals, much like Miguel and Alice, but things turned darker.
When it was released, the picture was lauded by reviewers and became the third-highest-grossing stop-motion animated feature. Additionally, it received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
15. Soul (2020)
While Disney’s Soul was not as well-received as movies like Coco, it is an underappreciated film about mortality, the power of song, and second chances.
In addition, the film explores modern-day black culture and how its characters interact with it, which is rarely handled in Disney films.
Soul’s protagonist, Joe Gardener, aspires to establish a reputation for himself in the jazz world and share his enthusiasm with anybody who will listen. However, like Miguel’s, Joe’s life takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself in the afterlife.
After an accident, his spirit separates from his body. But, instead of embracing it like other souls, he would do anything to return to his previous existence.
Conclusion
It’s as simple as that! These are 15 fantastic movies for you to see if you love movies like Coco! We hope you’ve found your favorite movie on this list, and we’d love to hear about any that we missed.
Please leave a comment if we missed any of your favorites or if you have any recommendations for future additions to our lists so that we can keep building and improving them!
