8 Great Underrated Animated Movies On HBO Max

Published May 15, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content Every major streaming service currently available has some fantastic animated films available, often for the entire family to enjoy. HBO Max is one of the most popular platforms out there and it has some of the best animated movies ever made. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Spirited Away, Your Name, Flow, My Neighbor Totoro, and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm are just some of the incredible titles you can stream on HBO Max. While those are a few of the most critically acclaimed animated movies on the platform, there are also some extremely popular ones like Despicable Me, Kung Fu Panda 2, and The LEGO Batman Movie. Due to that impressive array of releases, there are several great films in the genre that tend to get overlooked. The real treat of having a streaming service with hundreds of movies is that you can find some hidden gems. HBO Max is home to some animated projects that everyone should dig deep and see. Films that flew under the radar upon release, some that went straight to on-demand services, international movies that are from legendary studios, and even some that are part of major franchises, yet people still looked past them. Each is worth a viewing because they're all a ton of fun. Ferdinand (2017) Ferdinand is one of those movies that kind of has everything needed to be an animated hit. It has adorable animal characters, is based on a popular kids' book, and features a voice cast of notable actors. It worked to an extent as the film did gross nearly $300 million but with a budget of just over $100 million, it didn't make enough money. Ferdinand received solid reviews, with both John Cena and Kate McKinnon getting positive acclaim for their voice acting. The story centers on the titular pacifist bull who must overcome the expectations of bullfighting to get the life he wants. Ferdinand was actually nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards and picked up two nominations at the Golden Globes. The history of Mortal Kombat movies is a mixed bag. The live-action one from 1995 is a classic for millennials, the 1997 sequel was a huge misfire, and the modern takes have been solid. However, some of the best films come from the animated realm in the Mortal Kombat Legends series. The most famous is Scorpion's Revenge, while Snow Blind and Battle of the Realms are good, but it's the most recent, Cage Match, that makes the list. Cage Match focuses on Johnny Cage and is set in the '80s, while working as a Miami Vice style story. The visuals are pretty good, especially for a film that didn't get a theatrical release or have a huge budget. and the entire thing is a blast. Scoob! (2020) It feels like every generation should get some kind of version of Scooby-Doo. During the 2000s, we got live-action films about the gang but the 2020s brought us a new animated take. Scoob! is a modern take on the iconic character and was one of the movies hurt by the pandemic. Despite its low box office intake, Scoob! is worth checking out. Reviews were relatively mixed but there's no doubt that there's fun to be had, especially to watch as a family. With good voice acting, solid visuals, and a delightful story, Scoob! is somehing of a hidden gem among animated projects released during the 2020s. When Marnie Was There (2014) Some of the greatest animated movies of all time have come from Japan. Studio Ghibli is known for releasing classics, especially when Hayao Miyazaki is behind them, as he's released the likes of Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. When Marnie Was There wasn't from Miyazaki but it is from Studio Ghibli. The film, based on the novel of the same name, centers on a girl who comes across a mysterious girl at an abandoned mansion who asks her to keep her secrets. The stunning movie received a Best Animated Feature nomination at the Oscars and should be seen by more people. DC League Of Super-Pets (2022) During the 2010s, it seemed like everything connected to the world of superheroes was guaranteed to be a huge hit. That changed a bit during the 2020s, with some folks believing that superhero fatigue had become a thing. Whether that's true or not, DC League of Super-Pets ended up being a solid hit. It grossed over $200 million, yet still didn't get the admiration it deserved. The film follows Krypto, Superman's dog, as he bands together with other superpowered pets to rescue their heroes after they get kidnapped by Lex Luthor. It's a great kind of superhero fun for everyone to enjoy and sits at 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. Belle (2021) Over the years, we've been treated to so many versions of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. Live-action, Disney's version from 1991, modern retellings, and more. Belle is one of the most recent takes on the story and is a Japanese movie that blends the sci-fi, fantasy, and musical genres. Belle centers on a girl named Suzu who is struggling with the loss of her mother and throws herself into an online world under an avatar named Belle. What follows is a gorgeous film that looks visually stunning, has catchy music, and tells a wonderful story. This should've been a bigger hit than it was. Weathering With You (2019) Makoto Shinkai is one of the most outstanding animated filmmakers in the world today. Anyone who needs evidence of that should check out his Disaster Trilogy, which is a trio of movies that don't connect but each has to do with a different kind of disaster in Japan. The first film in the series is Your Name, which is a modern classic. The third entry is Suzume, another incredible film. Weathering With You is the middle installment and it can get lost in the shuffle next to the other two. The movie centers on a teenage boy who runs away from his troubled home and befriends a girl who has the ability to control the weather. The film holds a 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating and was up for four Annie Awards. The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024) For many millennials, the Looney Tunes were an avid part of growing up but over the years, they've fallen by the wayside in terms of popularity. That means that the latest film focusing on the characters, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, wasn't watched by many and received little fanfare. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie centers on Porky Pig and Daffy Duck as they attempt to save the planet from a chewing gum scheme by a group of aliens. It's the kind of ridiculous thing that makes a Looney Tunes project work. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie flopped at the box office but was met with rave reviews from critics and longtime fans.