12 Movies Like Coraline You Need to Watch
Craving eerie, imaginative films? Explore 12 carefully chosen picks with fantasy, family, thriller, drama, and animation vibes inspired by Coraline.
If you want spooky, stylish films that mix wonder with a little dread, this roundup is built for you. We’ve pulled together favorites such as Coraline (2009), The Hole (2009), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), Nightbooks (2021), Freaks (2018), and The Uninvited (2009), plus family-friendly picks like Up (2009) and Beyblade: Metal Fusion (2009). The list spans animation, drama, family, fantasy, and thriller, so there’s something here whether you want eerie atmosphere, emotional depth, or a darker adventure. These are the kinds of stories that feel imaginative first and unsettling second, which is exactly why so many readers search for movies like Coraline. If that blend of curiosity and unease is what you’re after, you’re in the right place.
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01
The Hole
fantasy · thriller
After moving into a new neighbourhood, brothers Dane & Lucas and their neighbour Julie discover a bottomless hole in the basement of their home. They find that once the hole is exposed, evil is unleashed. With strange shadows lurking around every corner and nightmares coming to life, they are forced to come face to face with their darkest fears to put an end to the mystery of THE HOLE.
Directed by Joe DanteCast Chris Massoglia, Haley Bennett, Nathan Gamble, Teri Polo, Bruce DernAmazon Prime Video -
02
Up
animation · adventure · comedy · drama · family
Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life.
Directed by Pete Docter, Bob PetersonCast Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy LindoDisney Plus -
03
Where the Wild Things Are
adventure · drama · family · fantasy
Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts—Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander—crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways.
Directed by Spike JonzeCast Max Records, Pepita Emmerichs, Max Pfeifer, Madeleine Greaves, Joshua JayParamount Plus -
04
Nightbooks
family · fantasy · horror · mystery
Alex, a boy obsessed with scary stories, is trapped by a witch in her modern, magical New York City apartment. His original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping him safe as he desperately tries to find a way out of this twisted place.
Directed by David YaroveskyCast Winslow Fegley, Jess Brown, Mathieu Bourassa, Krysten Ritter, CleoNetflix -
05
Freaks
drama · fantasy · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Kept locked inside the house by her father, 7-year-old Chloe lives in fear and fascination of the outside world, where Abnormals create a constant threat—or so she believes. When a mysterious stranger offers her a glimpse of what's really happening outside, Chloe soon finds that while the truth isn't so simple, the danger is very real.
Directed by Zach Lipovsky, Adam B. SteinCast Emile Hirsch, Bruce Dern, Grace Park, Amanda Crew, Lexy KolkerAmazon Prime VideoPeacock Premium -
06
The Uninvited
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery & thriller
Anna returns home after spending time in a psychiatric facility following her mother's tragic death and discovers that her mother's former nurse, Rachel, has moved into their house and become engaged to her father. Soon after she learns this shocking news, Anna is visited by her mother's ghost, who warns her that Rachel has evil intentions.
Directed by Charles Guard, Thomas GuardCast Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel, David Strathairn, Elizabeth Banks, Maya MassarParamount Plus -
07
Beyblade: Metal Fusion
animation · action · family · fantasy
A new cast of characters take on the continued battle between good and evil. Gingka, our hero, and his group of loyal friends take on a dangerous group called the Dark Nebula. Dark Nebula’s mission is to take over the world and unleash their evil upon it; but before they can do so, they must destroy Gingka as he is the only person that’s strong enough to stand in their way. The plot thickens as friends become enemies and enemies become allies. Everything starts and ends with Gingka as he struggles to find the strength to defend his world and the honor of Beyblade.
Directed by Kunihisa Sugishima, Hiroaki Kudou, Shunsuke Machiya, Toshihito Naka, Yoshinori OdakaCast Rob Tinkler, Barbara Mamabolo, Lisette St. Louis, Jason Deline, Peter CugnoFreevee -
08
Inside Out
animation · adventure · comedy · drama · family · fantasy
When 11-year-old Riley moves to a new city, her Emotions team up to help her through the transition. Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness work together, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, they must journey through unfamiliar places to get back home.
Directed by Pete Docter, Ronnie Del CarmenCast Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis BlackDisney Plus -
09
The Secret World of Arrietty
animation · adventure · drama · family · fantasy
14-year-old Arrietty and the rest of the Clock family live in peaceful anonymity as they make their own home from items "borrowed" from the house's human inhabitants. However, life changes for the Clocks when a human boy discovers Arrietty.
Directed by Hiromasa YonebayashiCast Mirai Shida, Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Tomokazu Miura, Shinobu ÔtakeMax -
10
Spirited Away
animation · adventure · family · fantasy
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.
Directed by Hayao MiyazakiCast Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takashi Naitô, Yasuko SawaguchiMax -
11
A Christmas Carol
animation · adventure · comedy · drama · family · fantasy
Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.
Directed by Robert ZemeckisCast Jim Carrey, Steve Valentine, Daryl Sabara, Sage Ryan, Amber Gainey MeadeDisney Plus -
12
The Last Airbender
action · adventure · family · fantasy
The story follows the adventures of Aang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, who must put his childhood ways aside and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations.
Directed by M. Night ShyamalanCast Noah Ringer, Dev Patel, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Jackson Rathbone, Shaun ToubParamount Plus
Wrapping Up
This guide brings together 12 carefully chosen titles that capture the same eerie charm, visual imagination, and emotional pull that made Coraline stand out. From animated and family-centered stories to darker fantasy and thriller picks, there’s a wide range of moods to explore without losing that uncanny edge. Whether you’re revisiting a favorite or discovering something new, these recommendations make it easy to find your next watch. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want another eerie-but-beautiful film suggestion, because it’s updated regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Coraline?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 4, 2026