Every time a new year passes, its always fun to look at the anniversaries for the new year. Looking back 10 years ago, it’s clear that 2015 was a great year for kids and family films. This year spawned some of the best kids/family movies ever made, such as the likes of Paddington and Inside Out. Not only did these movies rule the year 2015, the animation medium as a whole had a great year.
Looking back at the quality projects released 10 years ago, one can only hope that 2025 is met with the same class and standard as 2015 received. These films released a decade ago should serve as a great example of what audiences should look for in the coming year.
10
‘Max’
Release Date: June 26th
Another movie not liked by critics as much as audiences is the incredibly lovable and charming Max. Following the heartfelt story of an ex-service dog named Max (Carlos the Dog), too traumatized to continue his service, the film showcases Max as he is adopted by the family of his former service partner who died in combat.
Everyone loves a good dog family film. They’re able to bring out the best, most extreme emotions in audiences, which makes them some of the most compelling movies out there. Max is no different. While it’s not the perfect project, it does everything it seeks to do in its premise and offers viewers a unique look into the lives of service animals.
Max
- Release Date
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June 26, 2015
- Runtime
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111 minutes
9
‘Hotel Transylvania 2’
Release Date: September 25th
The sequel to the hit, Hotel Transylvania, may not have been as well received by critics as the crew probably would have hoped, but audiences found a lot of enjoyment in it. Following the consequences of the shift in status quo at the end of the first film, where Dracula (Adam Sandler) opened Hotel Transylvania’s doors to the human race, the original vampire has some growing concerns regarding his grandson.
Now that he’s accepted that Johnny (Andy Samberg) and Mavis (Selena Gomez) are together, they’ve had a child, and he doesn’t seem to be showing his potential vampire side. While there’s a plethora of clichés and trope work, the sequel has heart and some stellar animation to top the cake with some great frosting.
8
‘Descendants’
Release Date: July 31st
While the Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs) of recent years have gotten a lot of flak for not being close to the quality of the classics, one that stands out among the rest is Descendants and its follow-up films. When the film first premiered on July 31st, 2015, people were very surprised at the quality of the movie and its unique concept.
When the exiled children of classic Disney villains are invited to attend a school with the children of Disney heroes, things begin to go about as one would expect. With tunes that are catchy and entertaining, the story boasts a strong confidence unlike other DCOMs recently. It spawned one of the most successful Disney Channel franchises ever made.
Descendants
- Release Date
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July 31, 2015
- Runtime
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112 Minutes
7
‘Cinderella’
Release Date: March 13th
While nobody seems to have a very good outlook on the Disney live-action remakes of recent years, Cinderella is known as one of the best. Directed by the wonderful Kenneth Branagh, this flick is a great example of how live-action remakes should be handled (if they have to be made, that is). Not to mention, the iconic Lily James brings a performance unlike any other.
… this flick is a great example of how live-action remakes should be handled (if they have to be made, that is).
The cinematography is excellent, and the screenplay handles the classic tale with grace and prowess. With all the current live-action remakes hitting theater screens, if audiences are looking for another to find solace in which they can be great, Cinderella is a great one to look back on. The reviews speak for themselves.
6
‘Minions’
Release Date: July 10th
Ever since the release of Despicable Me in 2010, the general world has either fallen in love with or had disdain for the iconic Minions. So, no one was really surprised when the Despicable Me spin-off Minions movie was announced. Because why wouldn’t the studio want to capitalize on such a worldwide phenomenon?
It wasn’t the perfect movie, but it was a genuinely hilarious one. The whole charm of the Minions is their goofy and nonsensical humor, which Minions brought in, tenfold. Following the goofy antics of Kevin, Stuart and Bob (all voiced by Pierre Coffin) as they travel through world history before they eventually meet their infamous boss, Gru (Steve Carell).
Minions
- Release Date
-
July 10, 2015
- Runtime
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91minutes
5
‘The Peanuts Movie’
Release Date: November 6th
The Peanuts have been a staple for the kids/family genre since their debut in animation in 1969. There’s no chance that they’ll make an exit from media anytime soon, which made the announcement of The Peanuts Movie no surprise. It would also serve as the first project in the franchise to utilize CGI animation.
People fell in love with this new adaption of Peanuts, and it served as the perfect go-to family film for the 2015 Holidays. It featured everything that makes a good Peanuts film and then some. It revived people’s love for the franchise and had them genuinely hoping for more in the future. The Peanuts Movie is already a certified classic.
The Peanuts Movie
- Release Date
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November 6, 2015
- Runtime
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93minutes
4
‘The Good Dinosaur’
Release Date: November 25th
For the most part, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures provides some amazing content. The Good Dinosaur was their big 2015 example of this. Following the adventures of a dinosaur and a young boy and features some of the studio’s best animation to date. It’s dazzling and stellar to the eyes while executing a well-written and entertaining story.
While it’s not as renowned or talked about as their other films, The Good Dinosaur is an underrated Disney feature that needs far more recognition than it’s gotten. Directed by the ever-talented Peter Sohn, who brought the iconic Ratatouille to life in 2007, this flick was the perfect thing for Disney to release as Christmas drew near.
The Good Dinosaur
- Release Date
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November 14, 2015
- Runtime
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101
3
‘Shaun the Sheep Movie’
Release Date: August 5th
Shaun the Sheep is an incredibly beloved franchise for all ages. Brought together through claymation, much like Wallace and Gromit, it’s an animation style that is not only charming and enjoyable, but highly respected. It’s not easy to bring a film to life in this style, so it was huge news when the Shaun the Sheep Movie found a release in August.
With a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, Shaun the Sheep Movie was a massive success and reminded everyone exactly why waiting so long for these kinds of films is worth it. The movie feels very much like an episode of the show, which is no fault to it. It’s a smart, delightful and overall excellent film that is worth looking back on, no matter the year or anniversary.
Shaun the Sheep Movie
- Release Date
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February 5, 2015
- Runtime
-
85 minutes
2
‘Inside Out’
Release Date: June 19th
Inside Out finds itself being one of Pixar’s best, highest-rated films to date. 11-year-old Riley’s (Kaitlyn Dias) story was compelling not just for the children in the audience, but for the adults too. The story told through her emotions was moving in so many ways and captured the attention of everyone across the planet. As they typically do, Pixar crafted an absolute worldwide phenomenon.
The screenplay is not only smart and complex, but heartfelt and genuine in every way. It won awards all-across the board and is one of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time. When looking at every year’s best kids/family movies, they’re typically packed with animated flicks and if a Pixar movie isn’t on there, then something is wrong. One can look to Inside Out for proof of that.
1
‘Paddington’
Release Date: January 16th
There’s a reason that Paddington 2 is always fighting against Citizen Kane for the highest-rated movie of all time. The franchise is so beyond adorable and top-tier, and that started with the first film in 2015, Paddington. The depiction of the small and adorable Paddington (Ben Whishaw) heading to England after the destruction of his home in the Peruvian Rainforest won the hearts of people all over the world.
Paddington is a movie that’s full of wit, spirit, love and packed to the very brim with positivity that gets even the most pessimistic viewers smiling by the end of it. It’s a film that is for anyone and everyone and has zero problems being a bit cheesy and whimsical for the sake of good storytelling that always sends a positive message, no matter what, feeling like a warm hug. With the third film coming out soon, Paddington is the perfect film to return to in 2025.
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