Best Movies like Coco (2017)

Coco invites us into a vibrant world where family, music, and adventure come together in the most unexpected ways. If you loved Miguel’s journey through the Land of the Dead and his quest to discover his family’s story, you’ll appreciate movies that blend heartfelt storytelling with colorful animation and a touch of magic. The following films capture the same sense of wonder, cultural richness, and emotional discovery that made Coco so memorable. Dive into these enchanting picks next!

Kubo and the Two Strings

Be bold. Be brave. Be epic.
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Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 18th August 2016
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.6/10)

Kubo and the Two Strings, like Coco, is an animated family adventure featuring a young protagonist who embarks on an extraordinary quest in a mystical realm. Both films focus on unraveling family history and are driven by the power of music and storytelling at the heart of their hero’s journey.

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.

The Book of Life

Two worlds. One love.
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Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 35m
Release date: 1st October 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.5/10)

The Book of Life features a vibrant journey into the Land of the Dead, paralleling Coco’s exploration of the afterlife. Both films draw inspiration from Mexican culture and traditions, weaving together themes of family, remembrance, and the significance of honoring ancestors through their animated narratives.

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.

Spirited Away

Beyond the tunnel was a mysterious town.
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Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 2h 5m
Release date: 20th July 2001
Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ (8.5/10)

Spirited Away follows a young protagonist transported to a fantastical realm, where encounters with the dead and magical beings force her to mature and pursue a return to her family. This mirrors Coco’s immersive journey into another world to reconcile family ties and uncover hidden truths.

A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family. Spirited Away is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 8.5 by 18,641 people. The movie made an estimated total of $274,925,095 in the box office.

Song of the Sea

Let the song of the sea sway your heart...
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Genre: Family, Animation, Fantasy
Country: Ireland
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 34m
Release date: 23rd June 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.0/10)

Song of the Sea and Coco both use animation to navigate magical worlds tied closely to family heritage. Each story involves children unraveling mysteries about their origins, highlighting the importance of memory, familial bonds, and cultural storytelling as guiding forces in their adventures.

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.

Corpse Bride

There's been a grave misunderstanding.
Streaming on:
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Animation
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 17m
Release date: 12th September 2005
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.6/10)

Corpse Bride centers on a foray into the afterlife, intertwining themes of love, loss, and the boundary between the living and dead. Like Coco, it uses humor and music within an animated context to explore relationships connecting generations on both sides of life and death.

In a 19th-century European village, a young man about to be married is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious corpse bride, while his real bride waits bereft in the land of the living. Corpse Bride is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 17m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.6 by 10,317 people. The movie made an estimated total of $118,133,252 in the box office.

Moana

The ocean is calling.
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Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Animation
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 47m
Release date: 13th October 2016
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.6/10)

Moana follows a young hero defying familial expectations to pursue her dreams and uncover her people's past. Both films combine adventure, music, and cultural traditions, and feature journeys that help the protagonists forge deeper connections to their heritage.

In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain's daughter's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the demigod to set things right. Moana is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.6 by 13,894 people. The movie made an estimated total of $690,860,472 in the box office.

Onward

Their quest beginneth.
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Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 29th February 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.6/10)

Onward shares with Coco a focus on family and a magical journey spurred by missing or absent relatives. Both animated adventures center on young protagonists navigating fantastical realms to unlock stories from their families’ pasts and find emotional closure.

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.

Soul

Everybody has a soul. Joe Gardner is about to find his.
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Genre: Animation, Family, Drama, Music, Fantasy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 41m
Release date: 25th December 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.1/10)

Soul and Coco both explore transformative adventures in the afterlife, using music as a central motif. In each film, characters grapple with their passions, identity, and the meaning of legacy, resulting in heartfelt journeys of self-discovery set against creative, vibrant backdrops.

Joe Gardner is a middle school teacher with a love for jazz music. After a successful audition at the Half Note Club, he suddenly gets into an accident that separates his soul from his body and is transported to the You Seminar, a center in which souls develop and gain passions before being transported to a newborn child. Joe must enlist help from the other souls-in-training, like 22, a soul who has spent eons in the You Seminar, in order to get back to Earth. Soul is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 8.1 by 11,586 people. The movie made an estimated total of $121,977,511 in the box office.

Big Hero 6

Drop everything. Save the world.
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Genre: Adventure, Family, Animation, Action, Comedy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 24th October 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.7/10)

Big Hero 6 features a young protagonist dealing with family challenges while embarking on an action-filled journey with newfound companions. Both it and Coco use animation to explore themes of loss, personal growth, and the significant role of family memories.

A special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes. Big Hero 6 is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.7 by 16,769 people. The movie made an estimated total of $657,870,525 in the box office.

Finding Nemo

There are 3.7 trillion fish in the ocean. They're looking for one.
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Genre: Animation, Family, Adventure
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 40m
Release date: 30th May 2003
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

Finding Nemo shares with Coco an animated exploration of family bonds and a protagonist lost in a visually striking, unfamiliar world. Both films use adventurous quests as a way for characters to reunite and rediscover the value of their family connections.

Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist's office aquarium. It's up to his worrisome father Marlin and a friendly but forgetful fish Dory to bring Nemo home -- meeting vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish, hungry seagulls, and more along the way. Finding Nemo is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.8 by 20,766 people. The movie made an estimated total of $940,335,536 in the box office.

Raya and the Last Dragon

A quest to save her world.
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Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 47m
Release date: 3rd March 2021
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

Raya and the Last Dragon, like Coco, features a young hero who sets out on an epic animated adventure to heal her family through courage and tradition. Their journeys center on the power of heritage, community, and understanding the importance of one’s roots.

Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. Raya and the Last Dragon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 7.8 by 7,367 people. The movie made an estimated total of $130,423,032 in the box office.

Brave

Change your fate.
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Genre: Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 33m
Release date: 21st June 2012
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

Brave and Coco both revolve around animated protagonists who challenge family traditions and embark on journeys that resolve generational conflicts. Each film emphasizes the importance of understanding where one comes from, ultimately fostering reconciliation within their families.

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.

Wolfwalkers

Be fierce. Be wild. Be free.
Streaming on:
Genre: Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: Ireland
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 26th October 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.2/10)

Wolfwalkers features a young protagonist who enters a magical world steeped in cultural folklore, mirroring Coco’s exploration of its protagonist’s heritage through fantastical animation. Both films highlight family relationships and the importance of tradition through visually inventive storytelling.

In a time of superstition and magic, when wolves are seen as demonic and nature an evil to be tamed, a young apprentice hunter comes to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last pack. But when she saves a wild native girl, their friendship leads her to discover the world of the Wolfwalkers and transform her into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy. Wolfwalkers is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 8.2 by 1,424 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,310,720 in the box office.

The Secret of Kells

Turn the darkness into light
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Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy
Country: Ireland
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 19m
Release date: 9th February 2009
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.4/10)

The Secret of Kells, like Coco, uses animation to guide a young character through a mythical journey that uncovers valuable knowledge about family and cultural heritage. Themes of discovery and the preservation of tradition are central to both stories.

Adventure awaits 12 year old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. In order to finish Brother Aiden's book, Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond the abbey walls and into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide. Will Brendan succeed in his quest? The Secret of Kells is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 19m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.4 by 800 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,803,412 in the box office.

The Little Prince

Growing up isn't the problem... forgetting is.
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Genre: Adventure, Animation, Fantasy, Family
Country: France
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 46m
Release date: 29th July 2015
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.6/10)

The Little Prince reimagines a classic tale with animation, following a child’s imaginative exploration of family, memory, and personal history. Its themes of intergenerational connection and emotional growth align with the journey to unlock family secrets in Coco.

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.

Abominable

Find your way home.
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Genre: Family, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Country: China
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 37m
Release date: 19th September 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.5/10)

Abominable centers on an emotionally driven animated adventure where a young protagonist forms unusual alliances to reunite a magical being with its family. Both Abominable and Coco foreground the importance of family, cross-generational understanding, and personal growth through fantastical experiences.

A group of misfits encounter a young Yeti named Everest, and they set off to reunite the magical creature with his family on the mountain of his namesake. Abominable is a movie from China in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,204 people. The movie made an estimated total of $190,304,772 in the box office.

Ponyo

Welcome to a world where anything is possible.
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Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Family
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1h 40m
Release date: 19th July 2008
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

Ponyo shares with Coco a focus on a child protagonist who drifts from home and undertakes a colorful journey within a magical, animated world. Both stories use their imaginative settings to highlight family, self-discovery, and the bonds that drive the quest.

When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea. Ponyo is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 7.8 by 4,894 people. The movie made an estimated total of $202,404,009 in the box office.

Coco Before Chanel

Before she was France's famous mademoiselle…
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Genre: Drama, History
Country: France
Language: French
Runtime: 1h 50m
Release date: 22nd April 2009
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Coco Before Chanel is unrelated to Coco the animated film, apart from sharing a similar title. It focuses on fashion and biography, with no thematic or narrative connection to Coco’s journey about family, the Land of the Dead, or music.

Several years after leaving the orphanage, to which her father never returned for her, Gabrielle Chanel finds herself working in a provincial bar. She's both a seamstress for the performers and a singer, earning the nickname Coco from the song she sings nightly with her sister. A liaison with Baron Balsan gives her an entree into French society and a chance to develop her gift for designing. Coco Before Chanel is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 50m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.9 by 1,040 people.

Monster House

There goes the neighborhood.
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Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 31m
Release date: 30th June 2006
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

Monster House utilizes animation to send young characters on a supernatural adventure involving the spirit world. Similar to Coco, it bridges the gap between life and death, featuring a journey that tests friendships and bravery in confronting otherworldly mysteries.

Monsters under the bed are scary enough, but what happens when an entire house is out to get you? Three teens aim to find out when they go up against a decrepit neighboring home and unlock its frightening secrets. Monster House is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 31m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 6.7 by 4,391 people. The movie made an estimated total of $140,175,006 in the box office.

Ernest & Celestine

Bonnie and Clyde, Sid and Nancy...
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Genre: Animation, Family, Crime, Drama, Comedy
Country: France
Language: French
Runtime: 1h 20m
Release date: 12th December 2012
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

Ernest & Celestine tells an animated story of unlikely friendships and overcoming societal boundaries, echoing Coco’s core journey of forging new relationships and challenging family traditions through heartfelt adventure, although set within a different cultural and narrative frame.

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.

My Neighbor Totoro

He's your friendly neighbourhood forest spirit!
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Genre: Fantasy, Animation, Family
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1h 26m
Release date: 16th April 1988
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.1/10)

My Neighbor Totoro places children at the heart of an emotionally resonant animated journey, dealing with family love and loss. Its gentle, imaginative exploration of personal growth and the importance of connection shares common ground with Coco’s central themes.

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.

Mary and The Witch's Flower

From a single lie, everything will change.
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Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1h 43m
Release date: 8th July 2017
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Mary and The Witch's Flower features a young protagonist who enters a hidden magical world, paralleling Coco’s foray into the Land of the Dead. Both animated films use extraordinary settings to catalyze transformative journeys of self-discovery and courage.

Mary Smith, a young girl who lives with her great-aunt in the countryside, follows a mysterious cat into the nearby forest where she finds a strange flower and an old broom, none of which is as ordinary as it seems. Mary and The Witch's Flower is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.2 by 928 people. The movie made an estimated total of $42,170,089 in the box office.

ParaNorman

It's all fun and games until someone raises the dead.
Streaming on:
Genre: Family, Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 33m
Release date: 3rd August 2012
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

ParaNorman follows a child with a unique link to the dead, tasked with resolving supernatural challenges in his community. The film, like Coco, examines the ways children interface with the spirit world and strive to heal generational misunderstandings.

In the town of Blithe Hollow, Norman Babcock can speak to the dead, but no one other than his eccentric new friend believes his ability is real. One day, Norman's eccentric uncle tells him of a ritual he must perform to protect the town from a curse cast by a witch centuries ago. ParaNorman 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 2,825 people. The movie made an estimated total of $107,307,220 in the box office.

Missing Link

Discover a comedy of epic proportions.
Streaming on:
Genre: Family, Animation, Comedy, Adventure, Action
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 34m
Release date: 4th April 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Missing Link presents an animated adventure featuring unlikely friendships and a quest for belonging, akin to Coco’s exploration of family origins and intergenerational connection. Both films use humor and imaginative storytelling to underscore the importance of community and understanding identity.

The charismatic Sir Lionel Frost considers himself to be the world's foremost investigator of myths and monsters. Trouble is, none of his small-minded, high-society peers seems to recognize this. Hoping to finally gain acceptance from these fellow adventurers, Sir Lionel travels to the Pacific Northwest to prove the existence of a legendary creature known as the missing link. Missing Link is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.9 by 948 people. The movie made an estimated total of $26,565,710 in the box office.

The Princess and the Frog

Every love story begins with a kiss...
Streaming on:
Genre: Animation, Romance, Fantasy, Family
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 38m
Release date: 8th December 2009
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

The Princess and the Frog centers on a transformative journey involving family, dreams, and the supernatural, brought to life through animated musical storytelling. Like Coco, it weaves together elements of cultural heritage, magic, and the significance of one's aspirations in shaping destiny.

A waitress, desperate to fulfill her dreams as a restaurant owner, is set on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him. The Princess and the Frog is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.2 by 6,215 people. The movie made an estimated total of $270,997,378 in the box office.

The Peanut Butter Falcon

Streaming on:
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 37m
Release date: 9th August 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.4/10)

The Peanut Butter Falcon, while not animated or fantastical, features a young protagonist escaping family constraints to pursue a heartfelt dream. The central journey involves forging new bonds and self-discovery, evoking similar themes of family and personal aspiration found in Coco.

A down-on-his-luck crab fisherman embarks on a journey to get a young man with Down syndrome to a professional wrestling school in rural North Carolina and away from the retirement home where he’s lived for the past two and a half years. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.4 by 1,633 people. The movie made an estimated total of $23,712,097 in the box office.

Fans of Coco will find these films offer vibrant animation and heartfelt stories centered on family and tradition. Each suggestion blends colorful visuals with emotional journeys that celebrate cultural heritage and personal dreams.

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