Best Movies like Moana (2016)

Raya and the Last Dragon and Moana both center on young female protagonists from non-Western cultures who embark on perilous voyages to save their communities, encountering mythical creatures along the way. Each is an animated family adventure with comedic elements and features a heroine determined to restore harmony to her world.

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.

Like Moana, Kubo and the Two Strings follows a young hero on an epic quest shaped by ancient mythology. Both films use animation to blend fantastical folklore with themes of self-discovery and courage, as their protagonists set out to confront great dangers and unravel magical legacies.

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.

Brave shares Moana’s focus on a spirited chief's daughter who challenges tradition and forges her own path. Both animated adventures explore themes of family, destiny, and personal growth as their heroines confront supernatural forces and use wit, bravery, and compassion to solve their people’s challenges.

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.

Song of the Sea and Moana both weave folklore and myth into their narratives, centering on young characters journeying through magical landscapes to undo a world-altering curse. Their animation celebrates cultural heritage and highlights the importance of familial bonds and personal sacrifice in the face of ancient magic.

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 Princess and the Frog, like Moana, is an animated family adventure featuring a strong female lead who embarks on a transformative journey. Both stories blend comic moments with fantasy elements and showcase heroines who must overcome magical obstacles to restore balance to their communities.

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.

Wolfwalkers, like Moana, is an animated family film driven by a young, brave protagonist who challenges established beliefs in her world. Both stories are deeply rooted in cultural traditions, explore humanity’s relationship with nature, and use richly textured animation to bring their mythic tales to life.

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.

Spirited Away and Moana each follow a young protagonist who enters a magical world on a journey of self-realization. Both films blend coming-of-age themes with imaginative animated settings and supernatural beings, encouraging courage and resilience as their leads confront daunting mystical challenges.

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.

Ponyo and Moana feature young characters whose fates intertwine with the ocean and its mysterious forces. Both animated films celebrate the bond between humanity and nature, employing fantastical tales and expressive animation to convey journeys that restore balance to their respective worlds.

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.

The Sea Beast connects to Moana through its animated adventure structure and focus on seafaring journeys. Both stories involve young characters facing mythical dangers at sea, exploring themes of bravery, self-discovery, and challenging misconceptions about legendary creatures through high-spirited oceanic quests.

When a young girl stows away on the ship of a legendary sea monster hunter, they launch an epic journey into uncharted waters — and make history to boot. The Sea Beast is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2022 with an average rating of 7.3 by 1,741 people.

Lilo & Stitch, like Moana, is set in the Pacific islands and explores Hawaiian culture in an animated family format. Both feature young heroines whose compassion and unconventional friendships change their worlds, blending comedy with heartfelt adventure rooted in notions of belonging and identity.

As Stitch, a runaway genetic experiment from a faraway planet, wreaks havoc on the Hawaiian Islands, he becomes the mischievous adopted alien "puppy" of an independent little girl named Lilo and learns about loyalty, friendship, and ʻohana, the Hawaiian tradition of family. Lilo & Stitch is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 25m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 7.6 by 7,179 people. The movie made an estimated total of $273,144,151 in the box office.

How to Train Your Dragon shares Moana’s strong-willed young protagonist, who challenges community norms. Both animated adventures center on journeys that foster personal growth, involving cooperation with legendary beings and aiming to change societal attitudes through acts of courage and empathy.

As the son of a Viking leader on the cusp of manhood, shy Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III faces a rite of passage: he must kill a dragon to prove his warrior mettle. But after downing a feared dragon, he realizes that he no longer wants to destroy it, and instead befriends the beast – which he names Toothless – much to the chagrin of his warrior father. How to Train Your Dragon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.9 by 14,563 people. The movie made an estimated total of $495,141,736 in the box office.

Ernest & Celestine, although featuring a very different setting, uses animation to focus on themes of friendship, defying social expectations, and forming bonds across divides. Like Moana, it centers on characters determined to carve out their own paths, blending warmth and gentle humor in a family-oriented story.

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 Book of Life, like Moana, is a vibrant animated feature inspired by cultural mythology. Both films follow young leads on epic journeys that explore issues of tradition, family, and self-identity, celebrating heritage while mixing comedy and heartfelt storytelling within rich, imaginative worlds.

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.

The Secret of Kells and Moana both highlight coming-of-age adventures informed by myth and legend. Their young protagonists are drawn into magical quests tied closely to cultural history, conveyed through visually distinctive animation and stories about protecting precious traditions against looming threats.

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.

Finding Nemo, while focusing on undersea creatures, connects with Moana through its animated family adventure set on the ocean. Both films follow characters who embark on perilous ocean journeys motivated by love and resolve, discovering new worlds and forming unexpected alliances along the way.

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.

Avatar, though more mature, shares with Moana a narrative about restoring balance between humanity and nature in a richly animated world. Both stories explore indigenous cultures, feature epic quests, and address the consequences of mystical disruptions on natural and spiritual harmony.

In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization. Avatar is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 42m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.6 by 34,379 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,147,483,647 in the box office.

Mulan and Moana both center on determined young women who defy expectations to protect their people. Each film is an animated adventure with comedic moments, focusing on courage, self-discovery, and challenging traditional roles through dangerous journeys with high personal and communal stakes.

When Imperial China calls one man from every family to defend the empire from invading Huns, a young woman disguises herself as a soldier to take her ailing father’s place. Facing ruthless invaders, brutal training, and the risk of execution if discovered, she must decide who she truly is— and what she’s willing to fight for. Mulan is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 7.9 by 10,575 people. The movie made an estimated total of $304,320,254 in the box office.

Frozen II, like Moana, is an animated feature where a young heroine sets out to confront a magical disturbance threatening her land. Both stories blend fantasy adventure and comedy, focusing on self-discovery, environmental balance, and taking responsibility for one’s destiny through extraordinary journeys.

Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf head far into the forest to learn the truth about an ancient mystery of their kingdom. Frozen II is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.2 by 10,384 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,453,683,476 in the box office.

Brother Bear and Moana are animated adventures featuring transformative journeys driven by a character’s responsibility to restore balance after a disruption. Both highlight themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the importance of community as their leads travel through nature to fix what has been set wrong.

When an impulsive boy named Kenai is magically transformed into a bear, he must literally walk in another's footsteps until he learns some valuable life lessons. His courageous and often zany journey introduces him to a forest full of wildlife, including the lovable bear cub Koda, hilarious moose Rutt and Tuke, woolly mammoths and rambunctious rams. Brother Bear is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 25m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.3 by 5,819 people. The movie made an estimated total of $250,397,798 in the box office.

Encanto relates to Moana through its focus on a magical disturbance endangering a family and their home. Both animated family comedies feature young protagonists confronting magical challenges linked to heritage and identity, using personal courage and ingenuity to heal their communities.

The tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family's last hope. Encanto is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 7.6 by 10,309 people. The movie made an estimated total of $261,292,688 in the box office.

Abominable, like Moana, features a young protagonist who embarks on an extraordinary journey across diverse landscapes to help a mystical being. Both are animated family adventures showcasing personal growth, teamwork, and the overcoming of obstacles to achieve important goals far from home.

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.

The Little Mermaid shares Moana’s oceanic setting and follows a young heroine driven by a desire for something beyond her current life. Both are animated family films rooted in classic storytelling, with journeys shaped by magical forces and a longing for transformative change.

This colorful adventure tells the story of an impetuous mermaid princess named Ariel who falls in love with the very human Prince Eric and puts everything on the line for the chance to be with him. Memorable songs and characters -- including the villainous sea witch Ursula. The Little Mermaid is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 23m runtime, released in 1989 with an average rating of 7.4 by 8,492 people. The movie made an estimated total of $211,343,479 in the box office.

The Land Before Time connects to Moana through its focus on young characters leaving home to navigate dangerous worlds on quest-like journeys. Both animated adventures explore friendship, perseverance, and the importance of community while overcoming daunting obstacles in unfamiliar landscapes.

An orphaned brontosaurus named Littlefoot sets off in search of the legendary Great Valley. A land of lush vegetation where the dinosaurs can thrive and live in peace. Along the way he meets four other young dinosaurs, each one a different species, and they encounter several obstacles as they learn to work together in order to survive. The Land Before Time is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 9m runtime, released in 1988 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,787 people. The movie made an estimated total of $84,704,291 in the box office.

The Lion King and Moana both chronicle a young leader’s journey to reclaim their rightful place and save their people. These animated adventures feature coming-of-age arcs, familial legacies, and the challenges of embracing one’s destiny in the face of tremendous adversity.

Young lion prince Simba, eager to one day become king of the Pride Lands, grows up under the watchful eye of his father Mufasa; all the while his villainous uncle Scar conspires to take the throne for himself. Amid betrayal and tragedy, Simba must confront his past and find his rightful place in the Circle of Life. The Lion King is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 29m runtime, released in 1994 with an average rating of 8.3 by 19,933 people. The movie made an estimated total of $763,455,561 in the box office.

The Croods, like Moana, is an animated family adventure about a prehistoric family forced to explore new worlds when faced with disaster. Both films focus on adapting to change, family bonds, and entertaining journeys through imaginative natural landscapes that challenge the protagonists’ resilience.

The prehistoric Croods family live in a particularly dangerous moment in time. Patriarch Grug, his mate Ugga, teenage daughter Eep, son Thunk, and feisty Gran gather food by day and huddle together in a cave at night. When a more evolved caveman named Guy arrives on the scene, Grug is distrustful, but it soon becomes apparent that Guy is correct about the impending destruction of their world. The Croods is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 39m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 6.9 by 7,632 people. The movie made an estimated total of $587,204,668 in the box office.

The Peanuts Movie offers a gentler coming-of-age story featuring a young protagonist who overcomes personal hurdles with optimism, similar to Moana’s focus on inner growth. Both animated family films center on characters who face challenges with heart, humor, and a strong sense of individuality.

Snoopy embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their arch-nemesis, while his best pal Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest. The Peanuts Movie is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,820 people. The movie made an estimated total of $246,233,113 in the box office.

Wendy shares with Moana a story about a young girl leaving home for a magical adventure, encountering fantastical beings and unusual worlds. Both films reinterpret well-known story motifs, exploring the challenges and transformations that arise from journeys that tread the line between myth and reality.

A re-imagining of "Peter Pan" from the point of view of Wendy Darling, who finds herself lost on a mysterious island where aging and time have come unglued. She must fight to save her family, her freedom and the joyous spirit of youth. Wendy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 5.7 by 139 people. The movie made an estimated total of $235,016 in the box office.

The Black Cauldron connects through its animated fantasy adventure structure, featuring young characters drawn into a quest to undo an ancient evil threatening their world. Both films involve journeys to thwart a magical curse, balancing high stakes with courage and teamwork.

Taran is an assistant pigkeeper with boyish dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen, is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King. The villain hopes Hen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a giant army of unstoppable soldiers. The Black Cauldron is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 1985 with an average rating of 6.4 by 1,459 people. The movie made an estimated total of $21,300,000 in the box office.

Warriors of the Wind shares Moana’s environmental themes, focusing on safeguarding a threatened land against destructive supernatural forces. Both are animated adventures featuring young leads who undertake perilous quests shaped by mythological elements and the urgent need to restore nature’s balance.

After a global war, the seaside kingdom known as the Valley of the Wind remains one of the last strongholds on Earth untouched by a poisonous jungle and the powerful insects that guard it. Led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, the people of the Valley engage in an epic struggle to restore the bond between humanity and Earth. Warriors of the Wind is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 7.9 by 4,138 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,016,411 in the box office.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest, like Moana, is an animated adventure highlighting the tension between humanity and nature. Both films depict young heroes fighting to reverse ecological destruction caused by magical or human forces, reinforcing respect for tradition and stewardship of the natural world.

When a sprite named Crysta shrinks a human boy, Zak, down to her size, he vows to help the magical fairy folk stop a greedy logging company from destroying their home: the pristine rainforest known as FernGully. Zak and his new friends fight to defend FernGully from lumberjacks — and the vengeful spirit they accidentally unleash after chopping down a magic tree. FernGully: The Last Rainforest is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 16m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 6.4 by 648 people. The movie made an estimated total of $32,710,894 in the box office.

My Neighbor Totoro, while more understated, centers on young characters encountering magical beings and forming deep ties with nature. Both it and Moana use animation to blend daily life with the wondrous, emphasizing childhood curiosity, familial support, and the power of mythical landscapes.

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 Tale of The Princess Kaguya and Moana are animated films inspired by folklore, centering on young female protagonists whose journeys challenge expectations. Both stories use expressive animation to explore identity, belonging, and the interplay between personal desires and larger communal responsibilities.

Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthrals all who encounter her. But, ultimately, she must confront her fate. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 17m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 8.1 by 2,020 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,366,656 in the box office.

The Red Turtle shares Moana’s emphasis on the ocean as both setting and transformative force. Both animated films visually explore themes of survival, isolation, and humanity’s relationship with nature, using minimalist dialogue and poetic storytelling to evoke emotional journeys set against vast, mysterious seascapes.

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.

Whale Rider features a young Polynesian girl who, like Moana, must confront tradition and prove her worth to her community. Both stories are rooted in Pacific Island culture and follow determined heroines who challenge expectations to protect and unite their people.

A contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Māori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. Whale Rider is a movie from New Zealand in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.0 by 451 people. The movie made an estimated total of $41,400,000 in the box office.