Over the years, DreamWorks has produced several movies that have varied in quality across the board. Some have gone down as big hits and are viewed as the gold standard for the studio's future films, while others turned out to be duds and remain a subject of ridicule among audiences.
However, there are quite a few DreamWorks films that fall in the middle ground. These movies are well above average in their quality, but fans and studio executives tend to overlook their vast potential to become more. Nevertheless, they all feature unique storytelling and animation that deserve far more attention.
10 Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron Took An Enthralling Approach
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron follows a stallion who gets captured by humans and refuses to be tamed. With the help of a young native boy, the two journey across the Old West to win back their lost freedom.
Spirit has some stunning imagery of Western landscapes. The horse doesn't speak aside from its inner monologue. This approach proved to be a refreshing one that most animated films, past and future, don't often utilize. Most of the story relies on the horse's stellar expressions, which leads to compelling emotions and relationships, particularly with the young native boy.
9 Flushed Away Provides A Fascinating Adventure From The Depths Of A Toilet
Flushed Away involves a young rat from a prestigious family named Roddy getting flushed down the toilet by a sewer rat. While he navigates his way through the London sewers to return home, he finds himself entangled in the plot of a nefarious toad.
The heroes and villains are likable characters with an endearing voice cast that provides a good chunk of comedy. The humor and creativity further themselves through the world of the sewers, significantly through the use of everyday objects. Sadly, Flushed Away was a flop and led DreamWorks to dissolve the partnership that created this movie, giving no further opportunity to explore these bizarre but fascinating ideas.
8 Megamind Is A Clever Spin On A Rampant Genre
Megamind follows the titular character as a villain constantly defeated by the heroic Metro Man. One day, Megamind seemingly kills his nemesis, but he is left with nothing else to do.
Megamind's concept is an imaginative take that can immerse kids and adult fans within and outside the superhero genre. The film is a comedy, with an enjoyable voice cast to bring out the best of it, and it takes full advantage of the heart that comes with the idea. Megamind's transition from villain to hero and his creation of Titan possess a writing that is surprisingly new territory for DreamWorks and superhero movies in general.
7 The Road To El Dorado Has Fun With Its Premise & Characters
The Road to El Dorado follows two con men named Tulio and Miguel finding the lost city of gold known as El Dorado. They are mistaken for gods by the people there and play along with the scheme. A girl named Chel discovers their ruse and offers to help them.
While the musical numbers in The Road to El Dorado aren't the most memorable, the voice actors for the lead characters bring a lot of wit to the dialogue. Adults can enjoy the humor while kids can enjoy the story's playful nature. Its hand-drawn animation didn't always fit its comedic premise, but it has grand moments that proved DreamWorks possessed potential with the art well beyond its usage.
6 Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas Had Unique Style
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas follows the titular sailor as he gets framed by Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, for stealing the Book of Peace. Sinbad's longtime friend, Prince Proteus, offers up his life for Sinbad to embark on a quest to retrieve it and prove his innocence.
Sinbad's story and characters are moderately appealing for a young audience, albeit relatively standard. The film's shining point, however, lies in its animation. The design and movements, particularly regarding Eris, her world, and the constellations, pack an abundance of wonder and enchantment. These elements, in turn, strengthen the film's action sequences and sense of adventure.
5 Rise Of The Guardians Crafted A Unique World
Rise of the Guardians follows a series of legendary guardians, including Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, protecting the world's children from evil. When a villain named Pitch Black tries to take down the guardians by destroying children's belief in them, Jack Frost has to step in to stop him.
Rise of the Guardians primarily focuses on the wonder and innocence of childhood, and the guardians' characters do well to embody the passion for those elements. The idea of these icons of audiences' youth being one giant team is a delight to watch and something that could have done much more.
4 Chicken Run Enchanted Audiences With Its Oddness
Chicken Run involves a group of chickens subjected to a lifetime of laying eggs on a farm. They meet a rooster, who they hope will teach them to fly, but the need becomes urgent when they discover their fate of getting cooked into chicken pies.
Chicken Run's stop-motion animation perfectly suits its surreal premise and writing. It all comes together to bring a movie filled with charm and wit. At the same time, the film isn't afraid to showcase a darker side. These qualities kicked off a solid relationship between DreamWorks and Aardman Animations and furthered DreamWorks' talent in the realm of the bizarre.
3 Monsters Vs. Aliens Possessed Clever Comedy
Monsters vs. Aliens follows a young woman named Susan Murphy who gets hit by a meteor filled with space gunk and transforms into a giant. The government confines her to a compound with a series of other monsters. Susan and the others eventually band together to fight an alien robot.
The film's characters and writing pay clever tribute to and satirize early science fiction and horror elements. The monsters have grotesque but creative designs. Some of the jokes in Monsters vs. Aliens are a tad juvenile, but it crafts an ingenious world. As the cherry on top, Stephen Colbert provides all the fun in his portrayal of the president.
2 Captain Underpants Exceeded Several Expectations
Captain Underpants is based on a series of novels of the same name. It follows two pranksters, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who hypnotize their principal, Mr. Krupp, into thinking he's the titular superhero.
For a series of books meant for little children, the film adaptation of Captain Underpants packed gags that could entertain audiences of all ages. While some jokes were juvenile along the same vein as the books, they possessed a level of wit that kept them from being infuriating. Kevin Hart and Jordan Peele's voice acting provide likability for both characters, and its animation style feels fresh out of the books.
1 Prince Of Egypt Had A Compelling Story
Prince of Egypt was an adaptation of the Book of Exodus. When the Egyptian Prince Moses discovers he is a Hebrew, he decides to embark on a mission from God to lead his enslaved people to freedom.
Prince of Egypt holds evocative imagery and music. These elements particularly shine when showcasing the plagues in Egypt. It might carry too much weight for young audiences, but they can appreciate it more during adulthood. Although it was overwhelmed by a flurry of 3D animated films that came afterward, and DreamWorks would eventually abandon the style, its emotional impact is undeniable and something the studio cannot do any other way.