Over the past decade or so, some of the best movies released around the world are Netflix originals that are exclusive to the streaming service. Some get limited theatrical releases but the main place to watch them is on Netflix. The platform is home to some of the most popular films in recent memory, from Carry On to Bird Box to Leave the World Behind, are Netflix originals, as are Academy Award contenders like Marriage Story, Don’t Look Up, Tick…Tick…Boom!, and Roma. The streamer releases originals covering every genre imaginable.
However, if there’s one genre where Netflix seems to be at its best, it’s animation. In fact, their biggest movie ever is KPop Demon Hunters, which shattered records for viewership on the platform and won an Academy Award. Films like Leo, In Your Dreams, The Willoughbys, and America: The Motion Picture showcase the versatility and creativity that have been put into Netflix’s original animated slate. That makes it so picking out the very best projects from Netflix’s history is tough.
The best Netflix original movies in this genre include stop-motion animation, traditionally drawn animation, impressive use of CGI, and more. They also feature everything from action to musicals to heartwarming stories, and all are among the best films released in the past 10 years.
10
Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022)
Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood is relatively unknown despite the fact that it features impressive visuals, an intriguing premise, and is made by one of the best filmmakers in Hollywood. Richard Linklater wrote and directed the project, which is largely based on parts of his real childhood.
The story centers on a young boy growing up in Houston as the Space Race picked up in the late ’60s. In this fantastical tale, the protagonist ends up as the first child on the moon. Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood was heavily praised for its visual style and its nostalgic feel.
9
Over The Moon (2020)
Plenty of films got overlooked during the pandemic, as so many were released straight into our homes that it was difficult to keep up. Among them was Over the Moon, the feature directorial debut of Glen Keane, who had previously worked on classic Disney movies and the Oscar-winning short, Dear Basketball.
Over the Moon follows an adventurous girl who builds a rocket to meet a mythical goddess who lives on the Moon. Things don’t go quite the way she expects, leading to some outstanding scenes. The film is stolen by Phillipa Soo (Hamilton) for her rendition of “Ultraluminary.”
8
The Sea Beast (2022)
People don’t talk about it enough but 2022 was actually an incredible year for animated movies on Netflix. Four of their greatest animated releases ever came out that year, with one of them being The Sea Beast.
The main premise sees a young orphan girl who goes off with a sea hunter to try and find the elusive beast, the Red Bluster. There’s a ton of heart to this movie, which was met with widespread acclaim. The Sea Beast is somewhat underrated, even if it was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. A sequel is in development.
7
Wendell & Wild (2022)
The name Henry Selick is someone who should always be synonymous with great animated movies. His work in stop-motion animation is legendary, from The Nightmare Before Christmas to James and the Giant Peach to Coraline. The least famous of his works is Wendell & Wild, yet it deserves to be ranked among his best.
Written by Selick and Jordan Peele, the movie focuses on two demons who scheme their way into a deal with a teen girl that would allow them to leave the Underworld. The film was up for three Annie Awards and is something of a hidden gem.
6
I Lost My Body (2019)
While 2022 was Netflix’s best year for original animated movies, 2019 is right up there beside it. One reason is just how fantastic and creative I Lost My Body is. This French film is aimed at older audiences rather than children, and tells a masterful story.
The plot is split into two, with one focusing on a young man’s pursuit of the girl he loves, and the other centering on a severed hand that attempts to get back to its original body. That kind of outside-the-box thinking has helped I Lost My Body stand out and it earned a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination.
5
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
There were a handful of animated movies in 2021 that stood out, from Encanto to Marcel the Shell with Shoes On to Raya and the Last Dragon. It could be argued that the best of them all is The Mitchells vs. The Machines, which ended up nominated for an Oscar.
Another great release from rising animation studio Sony Pictures Animation, the film follows a dysfunctional family who comes together to help save the world from a robot uprising. There’s a ton of great action in this awesome sci-fi picture that also benefits from some heartfelt emotion.
4
KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
Netflix’s biggest movie of all time is KPop Demon Hunters. The film came from out of nowhere to take the world by storm in 2025, breaking records with relative ease and staying in Netflix’s top 10 for nearly a year. The biggest selling point was the remarkable soundtrack.
“Golden” won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards and several songs from the soundtrack dominated the charts. KPop Demon Hunters is more than music, though, delivering stunning visuals and telling a heartfelt story about a trio of pop stars who also hunt demons, only to learn that one of them is half-demon. It all culminated in a Best Animated Feature Oscar victory.
3
Klaus (2019)
Klaus has one of the most interesting setups for any Netflix original animated movie. If you don’t know what it’s about going in, learning that it’s an origin story for one of the most iconic and well-known characters ever is a fun surprise in this Netflix hidden gem.
The movie sees a young postman get sent to work in a small town where everyone hates each other. While there, he befriends a reclusive toy maker and together, they start to deliver toys to the town, helping to heal it. An origin story for Santa Claus with beautiful visuals, Klaus is a special film.
2
Nimona (2023)
The fact that we almost didn’t get to see Nimona is disheartening. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the movie was shelved several times and then canceled altogether after Blue Sky Studios closed down, only to get picked up by Annapurna Pictures.
That led to Nimona getting released straight to Netflix and it was remarkable. The story sees aspiring knight Ballister get framed for the murder of the Queen before he befriends the titular shapeshifter. The animation style is gorgeous, the story is lovely, and the action is top-notch.
1
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Like so many other classic tales, the story of Pinocchio has been told so many times throughout history. Many would agree that the best take on it came out in 2022, as iconic director Guillermo Del Toro put out a stunning stop-motion iteration.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio mostly follows the story we’ve all come to know but is set in fascist Italy and features the kind of creatures that the filmmaker is known for. It makes for a totally unique adaptation that earned the Best Animated Feature Academy Award and might be Del Toro’s greatest work.
