Sony was among several major studios that expanded into feature animation in the 2000s, alongside Fox’s acquisition of Blue Sky Studios and Universal’s creation of Illumination Entertainment. The studio’s own animation arm, Sony Pictures Animation, launched in 2006 with the voice-heavy family comedy Open Season and has since released more than twenty animated features.
While reception has varied from film to film, Sony Pictures Animation has delivered numerous box-office successes and notable artistic achievements. Its boldest triumph came in 2018 when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
In this installment of Ranked, The Film Magazine reassesses each Sony Pictures Animation release. We evaluate them on their artistic merits, cultural impact, contributions to animation, and popular appeal. Below are the Sony Pictures Animation films, ranked and described.
24. The Emoji Movie (2017)
Budget: $50 million
Worldwide Box Office: $217.8 million
Starring: T.J. Miller, James Corden, Patrick Stewart, Maya Rudolph, Anna Faris, Sofia Vergara, Christina Aguilera
The Emoji Movie arrived late to the trend it sought to exploit, and the result felt flat and uninspired. Despite a capable voice cast, the story was shallow and driven by marketing impulses rather than genuine creativity. It lacked even the camp value that makes some ill-conceived family pictures oddly entertaining.
23. Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022)
The fourth Hotel Transylvania entry felt like a cost-cutting release compared with the earlier films. Released digitally on a streaming platform rather than widely in theaters, it lacked some of the energy and production detail of its predecessors. Even the absence of Adam Sandler’s voice in the lead role signaled a diminished ambition for this installment.
22. The Smurfs (2011)
Budget: $110 million
Worldwide Box Office: $563.8 million
Starring: Hank Azaria, Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry, Anton Yelchin
This live-action/CGI reinvention of the classic Smurfs cartoon simplified the original’s charm and altered its established lore, losing much of the wit and community-focused heart that made the property beloved. The film nevertheless performed well commercially and helped reinvigorate the franchise for younger viewers.
21. The Smurfs 2 (2013)
Budget: $105 million
Worldwide Box Office: $347.5 million
Starring: Hank Azaria, Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry, Jayma Mays, Anton Yelchin
The sequel corrected some weaknesses of its predecessor but did so by returning to overly safe and conventional choices. It felt like a studio attempt to include as many appealing elements as possible, yet never quite captured the warmth or originality of classic family animation.
20. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018)
Budget: $35 million
Worldwide Box Office: $93.3 million
Starring: Jeremy Ray Taylor, Caleel Harris, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ken Jeong
The first Goosebumps film benefited heavily from Jack Black’s charismatic performance; his absence in the sequel left a gap the production struggled to fill. The movie’s live-action elements and production values felt closer to television than a theatrical family feature, which undercut its appeal for audiences seeking cinematic spectacle.
19. Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017)
Budget: $60 million
Worldwide Box Office: $197.2 million
Starring: Demi Lovato, Danny Pudi, Kelly Asbury, Julia Roberts, Michelle Rodriguez, Gordon Ramsay
This fully animated reboot of the Smurfs world improved visuals and presentation, and it offered a simple, wholesome story that better served young audiences. While it didn’t broaden the franchise’s appeal to older viewers, it delivered a pleasant and inoffensive family film experience.
18. Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
Budget: $80 million
Worldwide Box Office: $474.8 million
Starring: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, Mel Brooks
The sequel played things conservatively, sticking to familiar beats rather than taking creative risks. It’s an enjoyable family sequel with likable vocal performances, but it failed to build significantly on the charm and novelty of the original film.
17. Open Season (2006)
Budget: $85 million
Worldwide Box Office: $197.3 million
Starring: Jane Krakowski, Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Billy Connolly, Jon Favreau
As Sony Pictures Animation’s debut feature, Open Season showed promise with experienced directors and a charismatic voice cast. Its story and visuals, however, lacked the imaginative flourishes and narrative depth necessary to make it stand out, leaving it a dated but nostalgic entry for many who grew up with it.
16. The Star (2017)
Budget: $20 million
Worldwide Box Office: $62.8 million
Starring: Zachary Levi, Gina Rodriguez, Steven Yeun, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Oprah Winfrey
This animated retelling of the Nativity through the eyes of animals surprised many with its warmhearted tone and broad family appeal. Though some jokes misfired and the premise felt unconventional for a major studio in the 2010s, The Star achieved a sincere, family-friendly balance between humor and message.
15. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
Budget: $80 million
Worldwide Box Office: $528.6 million
Starring: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key
This third installment revived the franchise’s energy with a warm, comedic story and strong voice performances. While not groundbreaking, it returned the series to a family-friendly formula with charming holiday-style atmosphere and reliable laughs.
14. The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019)
Budget: $65 million
Worldwide Box Office: $145 million
Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Danny McBride
Sony’s takeover improved the sequel’s polish and voice talent. Although Angry Birds was no longer a cultural phenomenon, the film offered sharp comedic timing, strong animation quality, and enjoyable performances—making it a solid, if disposable, family comedy.
13. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Budget: $85 million
Worldwide Box Office: $358.4 million
Starring: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Kevin James
The original Hotel Transylvania found the right balance between affectionate monster pastiche and a heartfelt central story. Adam Sandler’s vocal performance as Dracula tempered his more divisive traits, producing a family film with accessible humor and a genuine emotional center.
12. Peter Rabbit (2018)
Budget: $50 million
Worldwide Box Office: $351.3 million
Starring: James Corden, Domhnall Gleeson, Rose Byrne, Daisy Ridley
Peter Rabbit became a commercial hit in the UK thanks to its familiarity and charming marketing. It’s a safe, family-friendly film with decent humor and broad appeal, even if the animation and story choices stayed within predictable boundaries.
11. Goosebumps (2015)
Budget: $58 million
Worldwide Box Office: $158.3 million
Starring: Jack Black, Odeya Rush, Dylan Minnette
This lively adaptation of the classic children’s horror novels succeeded largely because of Jack Black’s enthusiastic presence. As a family-friendly blend of live-action and CGI, it delivered fun, approachable monster entertainment without aspiring to high art.
10. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2009)
Budget: $78 million
Worldwide Box Office: $274.3 million
Starring: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg, Kristen Schaal
The sequel retained the original’s imaginative spirit and comic energy, though it didn’t quite match the freshness of the first film. Still, it contains many inventive sequences and visual jokes that make it a memorable family comedy.
9. The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)
Budget: $55 million
Worldwide Box Office: £123 million
Starring: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Brendan Gleeson, Martin Freeman
Aardman Animation’s stop-motion sensibility brought a distinctive British wit and visual charm to this Sony-distributed release. While not as universally praised as Aardman’s biggest hits, it remains an enjoyable and unique entry in the studio’s catalog.
8. Surf’s Up (2007)
Budget: $100 million
Worldwide Box Office: $149 million
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Zooey Deschanel, Jeff Bridges, James Woods
The mockumentary approach and sharp voice casting made Surf’s Up a refreshing follow-up to Sony’s first film. Its clever pastiche of surf culture and heartfelt protagonist created a quirky, enjoyable animated feature that still resonates among fans.
7. Wish Dragon (2021)
Budget: $25 million
Worldwide Box Office: N/A (streaming)
Starring: Jimmy Wong, John Cho, Constance Wu, Jimmy O. Yang
Although it initially seemed designed to appeal to the Chinese market, Wish Dragon emerged as a tender, modern take on wish-fulfillment stories. Echoing familiar beats from classics like Aladdin, it pairs magical adventure with sincere themes about friendship and the costs of desire, making it broadly appealing and emotionally resonant.
6. Vivo (2021)
Budget: $25 million
Worldwide Box Office: N/A (streaming)
Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Gloria Estefan, Zoe Saldana
Vivo combined Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical talent with a heartfelt story centered on migration, family, and cultural identity. With catchy songs and a warm, inclusive narrative, the film captures the musical-movie spirit while addressing genuine emotional stakes.
5. Arthur Christmas (2011)
Budget: $100 million
Worldwide Box Office: $147.4 million
Starring: James McAvoy, Bill Nighy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent
This collaboration with Aardman Studios combined clever British humor and inventive storytelling in a festive package. Arthur Christmas is a witty, heartfelt holiday movie that offers humor and warmth for both children and adults, and remains underrated among seasonal animated films.
4. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
Budget: $100 million
Worldwide Box Office: $243 million
Starring: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg
The feature film debut of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller showcased their inventive comedic voice and visual inventiveness. Cloudy captured the childlike wonder of its premise with bold animation, memorable characters, and a heartfelt core—earning a lasting place among Sony’s most imaginative releases.
3. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
Budget: $50–100 million
Worldwide Box Office: N/A (streaming)
Starring: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Olivia Colman
Released to streaming during a turbulent theatrical period, The Mitchells vs. the Machines became a modern instant classic. With electrifying animation, sharp humor, and an emotionally resonant portrait of a family under pressure, the film celebrated creative risk-taking while reminding viewers why original animated features matter.
2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Budget: $100 million
Worldwide Box Office: $236.6 million (as of 8 June 2023)
Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Daniel Kaluuya
A bold, visually eclectic follow-up to 2018’s breakthrough, Across the Spider-Verse expanded the Spider-Verse concept into an ambitious, stylistically daring experience. It packed dense storytelling, inventive animation techniques, and emotional depth into a sprawling, boundary-pushing sequel that advanced the medium.
1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Budget: $90 million
Worldwide Box Office: $375.5 million
Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali
Revolutionary in both visual language and storytelling, Into the Spider-Verse redefined what a mainstream animated feature could accomplish. Its inventive animation, heartfelt narrative, and confident reinvention of comic-book adaptation elevated Sony Pictures Animation into the upper tier of the industry and earned it an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
How do you view Sony Pictures Animation’s body of work? Can its standout films compete with the best from other studios such as Walt Disney Animation? Share your thoughts and follow The Film Magazine for more curated lists and informed commentary.