20 of the Best Movies to Watch Like Paddington
He’s everybody’s favourite cuddly, little bear, but there are simply not enough Paddington films to satisfy our need for anthropomorphic cuteness. So, here are a bunch of movies like Paddington to keep you going long after the marmalade sandwiches run out and find out where to watch them all online below.
Paddington Bear is a British institution. He’s been entertaining audiences since way back in 1958, first starting life as a book before moving to the small screen. In the past decade, we’ve been treated to feature length Paddington adventures, and rather miraculously, his quaint three-film run is one of the best movie trilogies of the modern era.
From his first outing under Paul King’s directorship, featuring Nicole Kidman’s villainous turn as Millicent, to Hugh Grant’s scene-stealing arrival in Paddington 2, and the third entry, Paddington in Peru, this sweet series of films has given audiences so much joy.
Now, we’re looking beyond the Paddington trilogy for movies that offer up a similar vibe, theme, or general concept. So, whether you want a cosy family movie night, or just like seeing humans and animals get into mischief together, there’s something for everyone in our list of the best movies like Paddington.
Wonka
You could almost certainly watch Wonka and immediately know it’s a Paul King film without having to be told as much. The director carries over all the quaint charm, whimsy, and vibrancy that we’ve come to expect from the man responsible for Paddington and its sequel, and it’s clear to see why he got the gig for Wonka.
An array of British acting talent crossover from the Paddington series here – including Sally Hawkins, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant – to make you feel right at home. Indeed, you wouldn’t even be surprised if Paddington himself showed up (but sadly, he doesn’t). Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet is delightful in the titular role, bringing a fresh spin on such an iconic character.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Remember in Paddington 2 when our half-pint hero is incarcerated and turns everyone’s prison gear pink? Well, imagine that but with a Wes Anderson spin, and you’ve got a perfect match in The Grand Budapest Hotel. It’s an oddly sweet film; for all its madcap antics and tomfoolery, Anderson’s Oscar-winning tale is, at its core, a story of friendship and camaraderie.
Be warned, though, The Grand Budapest is certainly not suitable for children. It comes with a healthy dose of profanity, nudity, and even a bit of violence, albeit of a slapstick variety.
My Neighbor Totoro
What is Paddington, if not the story of a fluffy animal going on wild adventures with his human friends? In that respect, you’ll get the same kicks out of this Studio Ghibli classic, and then some.
The prolific anime house has produced some of the best animated movies of all time, but My Neighbor Totoro might just be the finest of them all. It’s endearing, funny, imaginative, and has an emotional undercurrent that elevates it beyond mere kids’ entertainment, into something truly beautiful.
Wolfwalkers
Speaking of beautiful animated movies, Cartoon Saloon are one of the most exciting new studios on the block, and they’re yet to miss with their relatively small but superb catalogue of films.
One could argue that My Father’s Dragon has more in common with Paddington – given the playful nature of the eponymous creature – but it is Wolfwalkers that is most deserving of your attention. There’s a real profundity to Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart’s mythical tale, which makes it a more serious viewing experience than Paddington, perhaps, but it still evokes that same childlike wonder that we cherish so much.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes on
Paddington may be adorable, but Marcel has him beat paws down. This unique and delightful A24 flick combines clever stop-motion animation with real world settings to tell the simple story of a little shell trying to find his place and purpose in life.
While the mockumentary framing device here is very different to Paddington – and probably puts Marcel the Shell with Shoes on out of reach for younger viewers – there’s no denying that, tonally, these two films share a kinship rooted in heart and humour.
Okja
You wouldn’t ordinarily expect to see a Bong Joon-ho picture on a list making comparisons with Paddington, but here we are. Thankfully, Okja doesn’t align with the bloodsoaked chaos one would normally get from the acclaimed director, with the Netflix movie instead going hard on emotional weight and childish innocence.
Okja is humorous – in that dark manner in which Bong excels – but it carries a strong environmentalist message, too, and one that Paddington himself would be proud to endorse, we’re sure.
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
From one British institution to another, it would be foolish of us to neglect the work of Aardman Animation on this list. The only difficult part is picking which Wallace and Gromit film to focus on.
By selecting the most recent effort, Vengeance Most Fowl, we can also sneakily force you to go back and watch The Wrong Trousers, too, as the new movie relies on you having seen the iconic 1993 film.
Given Paddington’s propensity for dealing with nefarious characters, it wouldn’t be at all out of place to see him battling Feathers McGraw in Gromit’s place, actually. Now there’s a crossover we’d love to see!
Ratatouille
A quick game of word association can connect the dots between Paddington and Ratatouille quite easily: Animal, hat, food, mischief, you get the picture. The Disney Pixar movie is a bona fide classic and a deserving winner of the Oscar for Best Animated Feature back in 2008.
At its core, Ratatouille is a story about finding a passion in life, but it is also underpinned by the universal feeling of leaving a past life behind to pursue a new one. It’s something Paddington knows all too well, having upped sticks and took on a big adventure in London after leaving Peru, and Remy the rat follows a similar path in leaving behind the garbage cans of the Parisien streets to ingratiate himself in the grandeur of fine dining restaurants.
The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot has similar themes of a classic fish out of water story, but we’re including it on this list for mere vibes alone more than anything. It’s one of the best animated movies of the last year, and is just so sweet and stylish that you cannot help but fall in love with Roz and her animal companions.
There’s actually an argument to be made that The Wild Robot could be even more wholesome than Paddington. It’s a close contest, that’s for sure, so if that’s the mood you’re in, you could do far worse.
Where the Wild Things Are
Spike Jonze’s adaptation of the classic children’s book is a spectacularly imaginative and nuanced interpretation of a source material that is actually incredibly short. Jonze imbues his version of Where the Wild Things Are with a surprising degree of humanity and realism that you’ll soon forget you’re watching a bunch of giant monsters on a fantasy island.
This is not one that younger children are likely to engage with, truth be told. However, for slightly older kids who are perhaps beginning to get to grips with their emotions (or indeed, any adults who are doing the same), Where the Wild Things Are is a poignant experience indeed.
Honourable mentions:
- Babe
- Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical
- The Cat in the Hat
- Rango
- Fantastic Mr Fox
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
- E.T the Extra-Terrestrial
- An American Tail
- The Mitchells vs the Machines
- Elf
Where to watch movies like Paddington streaming online
Check out the list below on where to watch all these movies like Paddington streaming on services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more!