Best Movies like Up (2009)

Coco joins Up in the animation and family genres, centering on a protagonist who embarks on a transformative journey, meeting unlikely companions while honoring memories and generational connection. Both films explore personal growth and celebrate adventure late in life or across generations.

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history. Coco is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 45m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 8.2 by 21,205 people. The movie made an estimated total of $814,641,172 in the box office.

Kubo and the Two Strings, like Up, is an animated adventure featuring a young companion and a quest that leads the heroes to confront their past and form new relationships. Both use imaginative visuals to depict journeys driven by loss, hope, and the allure of discovery.

Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers. Kubo and the Two Strings is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.6 by 3,867 people. The movie made an estimated total of $76,249,438 in the box office.

Paddington 2 shares Up’s family-friendly comedic tone and centers on a lovable character’s impact on those around him. Like Carl and Russell’s journey, Paddington’s ventures foster bonds and teach the value of kindness and unexpected friendships during life’s challenges.

Paddington, now happily settled with the Browns, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy, but it is stolen. Paddington 2 is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,851 people. The movie made an estimated total of $290,132,513 in the box office.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty taps into the spirit of adventure seen in Up, focusing on a previously ordinary person’s literal and emotional journey toward fulfilling long-held dreams, discovering meaning, and embracing the wider world’s possibilities after years of routine.

A timid magazine photo manager who lives life vicariously through daydreams embarks on a true-life adventure when a negative goes missing. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.2 by 8,386 people. The movie made an estimated total of $188,133,322 in the box office.

A Monster Calls, while more somber, explores themes of loss, coping, and emotional transformation—core to Carl’s story in Up. Both feature protagonists grappling with life-changing events, supported by a fantastical companion on a journey that helps heal past wounds.

12-year-old Conor encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school. A Monster Calls is a movie from Spain in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.3 by 3,604 people. The movie made an estimated total of $47,309,313 in the box office.

Mary and Max parallels Up by depicting an unlikely friendship bridging generations through heartfelt storytelling. Both animated features use their distinctive art styles to address loneliness, personal growth, and the profound impact that new connections can have at any age.

A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York. Mary and Max is a movie from Australia in English, with a total 1h 32m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.9 by 2,293 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,740,429 in the box office.

The Little Prince weaves together generations and the importance of imagination, much like Up. Animation and adventure elements drive a story about a child and an elder forming a bond during a transformative journey, rediscovering wonder and the importance of cherished memories.

Based on the best-seller book 'The Little Prince', the movie tells the story of a little girl that lives with resignation in a world where efficiency and work are the only dogmas. Everything will change when accidentally she discovers her neighbor that will tell her about the story of the Little Prince that he once met. The Little Prince is a movie from France in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.6 by 3,007 people. The movie made an estimated total of $101,281,211 in the box office.

Pete’s Dragon threads together themes of loss, hope, and the rediscovery of family. Like Up, it depicts a multi-generational emotional journey, blending adventure with the formation of meaningful companion bonds, set against the search for belonging and acceptance.

For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace, who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales... until she meets Pete, a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete's descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham's stories. With the help of Natalie, an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon. Pete's Dragon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 6.4 by 2,348 people. The movie made an estimated total of $143,695,338 in the box office.

WALL·E is another Pixar animated feature where a protagonist embarks on a transformative quest. Both films use minimal dialog in key moments, focus on unlikely partnerships, and weave themes of environmental or emotional renewal through poignant storytelling.

After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E— a robot designed to clean up the earth—discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen. WALL·E is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 8.1 by 20,594 people. The movie made an estimated total of $521,311,860 in the box office.

Song of the Sea, much like Up, is a beautifully animated adventure about a young protagonist on a quest filled with discovery and loss. Both films explore transformative journeys, emotional healing, and the importance of connection with others during life-changing circumstances.

The story of the last Seal Child’s journey home. After their mother’s disappearance, Ben and Saoirse are sent to live with Granny in the city. When they resolve to return to their home by the sea, their journey becomes a race against time as they are drawn into a world Ben knows only from his mother’s folktales. But this is no bedtime story; these fairy folk have been in our world far too long. It soon becomes clear to Ben that Saoirse is the key to their survival. Song of the Sea is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 8.0 by 1,604 people. The movie made an estimated total of $857,522 in the box office.

The Boy and the Beast features a cross-generational relationship formed during an adventure, parallel to Up’s dynamic with Carl and Russell. Both animated films blend fantasy, discovery, and a journey that helps the characters find belonging and overcome adversity.

Kyuta, a boy living in Shibuya, and Kumatetsu, a lonesome beast from Jutengai, an imaginary world. One day, Kyuta forays into the imaginary world and, as he's looking for his way back, meets Kumatetsu who becomes his spirit guide. That encounter leads them to many adventures. The Boy and the Beast is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.9 by 1,627 people. The movie made an estimated total of $49,714,378 in the box office.

The Iron Giant, rooted in the animation and family genres, tells of a moving bond formed between an unlikely pair—mirroring Up’s intergenerational friendship. Central to both films is an adventure that helps the characters cope with loss and find acceptance.

In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices. The Iron Giant is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 26m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 8.0 by 6,280 people. The movie made an estimated total of $23,300,000 in the box office.

Mary Poppins Returns and Up both follow an unexpected visitor who brings joy and growth into the lives of those stuck in routine or mourning. These family films use magical realism and theme of renewal to mend relationships and inspire characters to embrace change.

Mary Poppins returns to the Banks family and helps them evade grave dangers by taking them on magical, musical adventures. Mary Poppins Returns is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.5 by 3,493 people. The movie made an estimated total of $348,807,090 in the box office.

Brave, like Up, features a protagonist on a heartfelt journey towards self-understanding and familial connection. Both films, through animation, portray challenges that change the characters’ perspectives on life, emphasizing the significance of courage and meaningful relationships.

In the mystical Scottish Highlands, Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida's quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom's three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin, the surly Lord Macintosh, and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall. Brave is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.0 by 14,328 people. The movie made an estimated total of $538,983,207 in the box office.

Ernest & Celestine explores the life-changing friendship between two unlikely companions, echoing Up’s central dynamic between Carl and Russell. Both animated features use charming storytelling to break barriers, foster empathy, and show how connection evolves lives.

Celestine is a little mouse trying to avoid a dental career while Ernest is a big bear craving an artistic outlet. When Celestine meets Ernest, they overcome their natural enmity by forging a life of crime together. Ernest & Celestine is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.8 by 701 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,170,333 in the box office.

The Red Turtle, though told with minimal dialogue, is an animated exploration of solitude and unexpected companionship leading to transformation. This echoes Up’s themes of coping with loss and opening up to new relationships during life-altering adventures.

The dialogue-less film follows the major life stages of a castaway on a deserted tropical island populated by turtles, crabs and birds. The Red Turtle is a movie from Belgium in French, with a total 1h 21m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.4 by 1,388 people. The movie made an estimated total of $921,974 in the box office.

Finding Neverland shares Up’s focus on the redemptive power of imagination and adventure, centering on adults who rediscover hope and joy through fantastical experiences. Both illustrate how transformative journeys can mend grief and inspire new beginnings across generations.

During a writing slump, playwright J.M. Barrie meets a widow and her four children, all young boys—who soon become an important part of Barrie’s life and the inspiration that lead him to create his masterpiece. Peter Pan. Finding Neverland is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 7.3 by 3,782 people. The movie made an estimated total of $116,766,556 in the box office.

Secondhand Lions centers on an older protagonist finding renewed purpose through an unlikely friendship with a young companion, mirroring Up’s heartwarming intergenerational dynamic. Both stories use humor and adventure to explore rediscovering the joy and meaning of life late in life.

The comedic adventures of an introverted boy left on the doorstep of a pair of reluctant, eccentric great-uncles, whose exotic remembrances stir the boy's spirit and re-ignite the men's lives. Secondhand Lions is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.2 by 844 people.

The Good Dinosaur, another animated adventure, follows a young character through unfamiliar territory, forging a bond with a new companion. Both films harness sweeping journeys and the challenges of self-discovery as foundations for friendship and coping with loss.

An epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. The Good Dinosaur is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.7 by 6,091 people. The movie made an estimated total of $332,207,671 in the box office.

The Book of Life, like Up, is an animated family film that weaves themes of memory, legacy, and love through a vibrant visual journey. Both stories follow characters who embark on adventures that ultimately honor their loved ones and personal histories.

The journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. The Book of Life is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,978 people. The movie made an estimated total of $97,437,106 in the box office.

Big Fish shares Up’s structure of recounting lifelong dreams and the blending of reality with fantastical adventure. Both films explore themes of legacy, father-son or intergenerational relationships, and finding meaning in one’s memories and adventurous stories.

Throughout his life Edward Bloom has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, he remains a huge mystery to his son, William. Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father from flashbacks of his amazing adventures. Big Fish is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.8 by 7,865 people. The movie made an estimated total of $123,200,000 in the box office.

Porco Rosso, also an animated adventure, focuses on an older protagonist taking to the skies, similar to Carl’s airborne escape in Up. Both films combine whimsical aerial journeys with themes of personal change and facing the regrets of the past.

In Italy in the 1930s, sky pirates in biplanes terrorize wealthy cruise ships as they sail the Adriatic Sea. The only pilot brave enough to stop the scourge is the mysterious Porco Rosso, a former World War I flying ace who was somehow turned into a pig during the war. As he prepares to battle the pirate crew's American ace, Porco Rosso enlists the help of spunky girl mechanic Fio Piccolo and his longtime friend Madame Gina. Porco Rosso is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 7.8 by 3,761 people. The movie made an estimated total of $44,600,000 in the box office.

Christopher Robin similarly revisits childhood wonder as an adult, focusing on reconnecting with the imagination and meaningful friends left behind. Both films use a blend of animation and live action to explore renewal and rediscovery in later life.

Christopher Robin, the boy who had countless adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood, has grown up and lost his way. Now it’s up to his spirited and loveable stuffed animals, Winnie The Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and the rest of the gang, to rekindle their friendship and remind him of endless days of childlike wonder and make-believe, when doing nothing was the very best something. Christopher Robin is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.3 by 2,942 people. The movie made an estimated total of $197,744,825 in the box office.

Babe: Pig in the City, a family-friendly film, centers on an unlikely protagonist embarking on an adventurous journey in unfamiliar surroundings. Like Up, it highlights the importance of kindness and forming new connections in the face of adversity.

Babe, fresh from his victory in the sheepherding contest, returns to Farmer Hoggett's farm, but after Farmer Hoggett is injured and unable to work, Babe has to go to the big city to save the farm. Babe: Pig in the City is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 5.7 by 1,342 people. The movie made an estimated total of $69,100,000 in the box office.

My Neighbor Totoro and Up are animated tales centered on characters navigating new emotional landscapes after major life changes. Both films explore intergenerational bonds and the healing power of whimsical adventures shared by unlikely companions.

Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her. My Neighbor Totoro is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 26m runtime, released in 1988 with an average rating of 8.1 by 8,950 people. The movie made an estimated total of $41,000,000 in the box office.

The Triplets of Belleville, an animated adventure, tracks a journey driven by devotion and unexpected companionship. Like Up, it features a quirky protagonist’s determination and resourcefulness in a visually inventive world, highlighting resilience in the face of daunting challenges.

When her grandson is kidnapped during the Tour de France, Madame Souza and her beloved pooch Bruno team up with the Belleville Sisters—an aged song-and-dance team from the days of Fred Astaire—to rescue him. The Triplets of Belleville is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.4 by 1,053 people. The movie made an estimated total of $14,776,760 in the box office.

Meet the Robinsons offers an animated adventure focused on an outsider who finds belonging and a sense of family through an extraordinary journey. Both films tie together themes of embracing the future, cherishing memories, and the importance of connection.

Lewis, a brilliant young inventor, is keen on creating a time machine to find his mother, who abandoned him in an orphanage. Things take a turn when he meets Wilbur Robinson and his family. Meet the Robinsons is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 6.9 by 3,193 people. The movie made an estimated total of $169,332,978 in the box office.

Onward is an animated family adventure about siblings on a quest that transforms their lives and perspectives. Echoing Up’s message, the film emphasizes the importance of relationships, self-discovery, and reconciliation with one’s past during an unpredictable journey.

In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there. Onward is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 7.6 by 6,649 people. The movie made an estimated total of $141,888,276 in the box office.

The Illusionist is an animated film driven by an unlikely bond formed between disparate characters, much like the relationship at the heart of Up. Both stories capture the bittersweet nature of change, connection, and the passage of time.

A French illusionist travels to Scotland to work. He meets a young woman in a small village. Their ensuing adventure in Edinburgh changes both their lives forever. The Illusionist is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.3 by 686 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,007,194 in the box office.

Bridge to Terabithia, a family film, centers on young companions who use imagination and adventure to process loss and change. As with Up, the journey deepens their bond and helps them face emotional challenges using the power of friendship.

Jesse Aarons trained all summer to become the fastest runner in school. So he's very upset when newcomer Leslie Burke outruns him and everyone else. Despite this and other differences including that she's rich, he's poor, she's a city girl, and he's a country boy the two become fast friends. Together they create Terabithia, a land of monsters, trolls, ogres, and giants where they rule as king and queen. Bridge to Terabithia is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.3 by 5,387 people. The movie made an estimated total of $137,587,063 in the box office.

Paddington, like Up, brings together a cast of characters whose lives are changed by an unexpected visitor. Through comedic family storytelling, both films celebrate acceptance, the creation of new relationships, and the joyful transformation that follows.

A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family, who offer him a temporary haven. Paddington is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.1 by 4,298 people. The movie made an estimated total of $333,960,862 in the box office.

Balto shares Up’s structure as an animated family adventure about an improbable hero who embarks on a risky journey with loyal companions. Each story emphasizes perseverance, self-discovery, and the consequences of courage in facing the unknown.

An outcast half-wolf risks his life to prevent a deadly epidemic from ravaging Nome, Alaska. Balto is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 18m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 7.3 by 2,240 people. The movie made an estimated total of $11,348,324 in the box office.

Hugo focuses on a young protagonist’s adventure that brings together an unexpected friendship across generations. Like Up, the narrative weaves themes of loss, mechanical ingenuity, and the power of personal connection in overcoming life’s setbacks.

Orphaned and alone except for an uncle, Hugo Cabret lives in the walls of a train station in 1930s Paris. Hugo's job is to oil and maintain the station's clocks, but to him, his more important task is to protect a broken automaton and notebook left to him by his late father. Accompanied by the goddaughter of an embittered toy merchant, Hugo embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of the automaton and find a place he can call home. Hugo is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 7.2 by 7,745 people. The movie made an estimated total of $185,770,160 in the box office.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a family adventure about companions overcoming obstacles to return home. Both films showcase the perseverance of unlikely heroes and the strength drawn from friendship during arduous treks filled with danger and discovery.

Before the Seavers leave for a family vacation to San Francisco, they drop off their pets -- Chance, an adventurous American bulldog; Shadow, a wise golden retriever; and Sassy, a cautious cat -- at a friend's ranch. But when the animals start to worry that they've been left for good, the three embark together on a treacherous and thrilling journey to find their way back home through the California wilderness. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 24m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,133 people. The movie made an estimated total of $57,333,324 in the box office.

A Shine of Rainbows centers on themes of belonging and emotional healing through newfound family bonds, akin to the journey in Up. Each film explores how change and kindness can transform both young and older characters searching for acceptance.

An orphaned boy named Tomás is adopted by Maire O’Donnell to live on a whimsical Irish isle filled with new friends, secret caves and a lost baby pup seal stranded on the coast. But when Maire's reluctant husband Alec refuses to accept Tomás as his own son, the boy drifts down a fateful path of adventure and self-discovery, illuminating how rainbows can shine around - and within - us all. A Shine of Rainbows is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.5 by 54 people.

Fly Away Home tells of a family adventure involving flight and the developing bond between young and older characters. The film, like Up, intertwines themes of coping with change, forging new connections, and the liberating possibilities found in exploration.

Amy is only 13 years old when her mother is killed. She goes to Canada to live with her father, an eccentric inventor whom she barely knows. Amy is miserable in her new life... until she discovers a nest of goose eggs that were abandoned when a local forest was torn down. The eggs hatch and Amy becomes "Mama Goose". When winter comes, Amy and her dad must find a way to lead the birds South. Fly Away Home is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 1996 with an average rating of 7.0 by 519 people. The movie made an estimated total of $25,143,818 in the box office.