Ranking Every Aardman Animated Movie From Worst to Best

Aardman Animations is an animation studio unlike any other. From their wonderfully idiosyncratic stories to their instantly recognizable art style, the team has pretty much made a name for themselves as the animation studio when it comes to stop-motion animated films. So much love and dedication is put into their craft that their movies are worth watching simply for that passion alone.

With the sequel to their first feature film Chicken Run having recently been released, there’s never been a better time to look back on the studio’s oeuvre and what’s made them such a household name for animation fans. From cavemen to pirates to hens learning how to fly, Aardman Animations has had quite the interesting filmography.

 

9. Flushed Away (2006)

Director: Sam Fell and David Bowers

There’s certainly nothing wrong with Aardman trying their hand at CGI animation — after all, they’d do it again with Arthur Christmas and produce far better results — but Flushed Away is such a pandering film, it’s almost as if this came from an entirely different company.

Gone are the quiet witty jokes and here to replace them are loud, annoying ones like a character burping for a long time, slugs screaming, and dated pop culture references. Following a rat named Roddy (Hugh Jackman) who gets flushed down the toilet and discovers a city of animals in the sewers of London, Flushed Away feels like the result of Aardman prioritizing competing with other animated titles in the 2000s landscape over crafting a memorable movie.

It’s no surprise that the title isn’t remembered very well by the general public as there was a great lack of charm and likability with the characters and story.

 

8. Early Man (2018)

Director: Nick Park

Cavemen are certainly no strangers to animation as Flintstones and The Croods have proven to be successful franchises, so Early Man didn’t exactly seem like anything new when its trailer first released. After its release, that sentiment still remained true: the film held little in the way of surprises and was far from Aardman’s best work.

The story of a caveman named Dug (Eddie Redmayne) playing football in the bronze age could have resulted in some offbeat story choices, but Early Man just isn’t as anarchic as you would expect from an Aardman title.

Make no mistake, the film is still good, with the occasional hearty chuckle and wholesome moment. However, most of the narrative and humor feels thin and uninspired, and not even a virtuous message about kindness and teamwork can save the staleness of the offering. By the end, it mostly felt like Early Man’s screenplay was in need of a few more drafts.

 

7. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

Director: Sam Fell

This sequel isn’t as great as the original, but it’s still a rollicking good time. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget follows the Chicken Run gang and this time, they’re breaking into a chicken factory in order to rescue Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky’s (Zachary Levi) daughter, Molly (Bella Ramsey).

It’s admittedly not as fresh as how the first film felt, lacking the inventiveness and originality that made Aardman’s first feature movie so great, but there’s still quite a lot of greatness here to be found.

Molly is a great addition to the beloved flock, her upbeat spunky attitude making her instantly endearing. There are plenty of fun action sequences and cheerful jokes here as well, it’s fun to be able to spend time with these characters again, and as always, Aardman’s stop-motion animation looks fantastic. It’s not as tasty as it could be, but Chicken Run 2 is still a delicious meal.

 

6. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019)

Director: Richard Phelan and Will Becher

Aardman’s film sequels can never seem to match the quality of their predecessors, even if they boast chuckle-worthy pun-based titles. Just like Chicken Run’s sequel, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon isn’t quite as good as the first Shaun the Sheep Movie, which is understable considering how beloved and celebrated the first film is.

However, there’s still wonderful craftsmanship being displayed on screen as the film tells the story of Shaun and his herd helping a lost extraterrestrial find her way home – all without any dialogue.

The film takes a while to get up to speed as the first half isn’t as exciting or quick-witted as you would expect from a Shaun the Sheep title, but by the end, this sci-fi sequel delivers an offering that’s clever, fun, and even sweet. Hopefully this isn’t the end for the film franchise as it’s a delight to see the antics of Shaun and his friends in a feature-length offering.

 

5. The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012)

Director: Peter Lord

With Sinbad, Treasure Planet, and the multiple Pirates of the Caribbean films, you could argue that pirate films were a tired genre by the time The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! released, but leave it to Aardman to breathe new life back into such an enervated genre.

Based on the book by Gideon Defoe and Defoe writing the screenplay himself, what we have here is a pirate film unlike any other, one that could’ve only come from the great studio behind Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit.

This animated offering is a gleefully bonkers film that boasts well-staged gags so plentiful, you’ll have to rewatch the film to appreciate them all. Following a pirate captain (Hugh Grant) who sails with his crew in order to win the title of Pirate of the Year, this movie is an easy pick if you’re looking for a fun and frothy animated time.

 

4. Arthur Christmas (2011)

Director: Sarah Smith

Thankfully for Aardman Animations, their second attempt at a CGI-animated movie ended up being amazing and not the unlikable mess that Flushed Away turned out to be. Actually, Arthur Christmas is so good that it’s one of the best Christmas movies of all time, and is a joy to watch every time the holidays come around.

The film centers around Arthur Claus (James McAvoy), Santa’s youngest son, as he attempts to deliver a present for a child that Santa forgets about. As always, Arthur Christmas is as funny and charming as Aardman movies come, and the third act especially is one of the studio’s most exciting third acts in their films.

The thing that really shines through, though, is the title’s commentary on the commercialism of Christmas and the importance of prioritizing love and family over materialism and gifts. That’s something that really hits once you’ve experienced just how stressful and artificial the holidays can be.

 

3. Chicken Run (2000)

Director: Peter Lord and Nick Park

The story of a flock of chickens attempting to learn how to fly in order to avoid being turned into pie, Chicken Run started Aardman’s feature filmography with an absolute bang. Even until now, the film remains the top-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, and was distributor DreamWorks’s highest grossing animated film until Shrek was released in 2001.

It’s easy to see why the film was such a success. Starring Julia Sawalha as Ginger and Mel Gibson as Rocky, Chicken Run was a refreshing big-screen adventure, one that didn’t look like anything that was competing with it.

Chicken Run would also establish a lot of what we’d come to expect for Aardman films, such as the big-eyed character designs, witty humor, and a more laid-back pace from what we’re used to with most Western animated films. While the movie does lean toward being too predictable at times, it more than makes up for it with its vibrant characters and offbeat imagination.

 

2. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Director: Nick Park and Steve Box

The ultimate animated odd couple, Wallace & Gromit are British icons for a reason: their likable personalities make them the perfect pair for their eccentric adventures. Given how much the Wallace & Gromit shorts placed Aardman on the map, expectations were high for the duo’s first feature-length outing, and they were gleefully met when the film was released.

Following Gromit and Wallace (Peter Sallis) as they try to find the creature who’s been eating the city’s vegetables before the annual Giant Vegetable Competition, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is such a joyous time, it captures the charm and humor that made the franchise so beloved to begin with.

This film was so delightful that it won the award for Best Animated Feature at the 78th Academy Awards, beating Corpse Bride and Howl’s Moving Castle. A sequel is also set to release in 2024, and with Chicken Run 2’s surprisingly good quality, it’s exciting to soon see the man and dog in another full-length adventure again.

 

1. Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)

Director: Mark Burton and Richard Starzak

Who would have expected this film to be the surprise critical darling of 2015? Boasting a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, Shaun the Sheep Movie was lauded for its clever jokes and stellar animation, elevating the simple story of a flock of sleep going into the city to find their farmer into a hilarious and unforgettable time.

Truly, the offering’s humor is its greatest asset, especially when you consider the dialogue-free screenplay. These comedic moments will have you gasping for air while laughing, and they’re so timeless they’re guaranteed to make you laugh no matter how old you are or when you watch it.

However, there’s also a sweet warmth all throughout the film that’s especially present during its third act, making you tear up not just from its gags but from its heart as well. Considering how it’s based on a Wallace and Gromit spin-off show, it’s impressive how well this film stands on its own, even outdoing its source franchise in many ways.

Witty, winning, and wholesome, Shaun the Sheep Movie is Aardman Animations’s magnum opus.

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