While nothing else might match the feline grace, wisdom, and sophistication but the cat itself, watching a movie about cats is almost just as good as watching a real feline doing its feline things. And if you have the commodity of watching a cat movie with a cat on your lap softly purring the song of its people, then the experience might be one unmatched by anything else in the meek existence of human beings. So, here we are with our list of the best cat movies to date - watch them alone or with your cat; they will, either way, entertain you and lift up your spirits just like any cat-related thing would.
What should you expect to find on this animal movies list? Well, for starters, such iconic animations like The Lion King and The Aristocats. Then, let's not forget such beauties as That Darn Cat! and, literally, Cats. Although the latter one has eerily human-looking cats, I must admit. However, no matter your final choice, you can rest assured that each of these adorable movies will have a feline star in them!
So, the cat movies are just a cat's scratch down below; why don't you check them out? Once you are there, vote for the best ones and share this article with other crazy cat ladies and berserk cat boys in your life!
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#1 The Aristocats
1970 | 1 hour 18 minutes | Directed by Wolfgang Retherman
Voiced by Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Sterling Holloway
The Aristocats is an animated romantic musical comedy based on the story by Tom McGowan and Tom Rowe. The story here revolves around a family of aristocratic cats—retired opera singer Adelaide Bonfamille's white kitty Duchess and her three kittens, Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie. Once the family's butler figures out that the cats are to inherit all of Adelaide's fortunes, he drugs them and kidnaps them. However, his plan goes awry, and with the help of an alley cat called Thomas O'Malley, the classy cats find their way back to Paris and to the safety of Adelaide's home. And you know, if your super-sophisticated friend finds this to be one of the greatest animated movies of all time, then you know it's very worthy of your time!
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40points
#2 The Lion King
1994 | 1 hour 28 minutes | Directed by Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Voiced by Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones
Raise your hand if you've not shed a tear while watching this animated musical drama as a kid. If you haven't, then there's probably something very, very wrong with you. In all seriousness, though, however many controversies follow this animated flick, it's still one of the best Disney movies, hands down. From the catchy tunes in the background and the foreground to loveable and diverse characters, The Lion King has all the ingredients to make it a timeless classic.
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36points
#3 Lady And The Tramp
1955 | 1 hour 16 minutes | Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Voiced by Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Peggy Lee
Lady And The Tramp is an animated musical romance film produced by Walt Disney. And although you might've already known that, you probably didn't know that the movie was based on a 1945 Cosmopolitan magazine story Happy Dan, The Cynical Dog by Ward Greene. The movie centers around a beautiful, odds-defying love story between a pampered American cocker spaniel Lady, who hails from an upper-middle-class family, and a stray mutt called Tramp. When the two of them meet, it's like their romance was written in the stars—if it all starts quite coldly between them, we all know how the story ends! Lady And The Tramp is a delightful fantasy that hasn't lost its charm even after almost 70 years.
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30points
#4 Oliver & Company
1988 | 1 hour 14 minutes | Directed by George Scribner
Voiced by Joey Lawrence, Billy Joel, Cheech Marin
Oliver & Company is an animated musical film loosely based on Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist. Here, our Oliver is a homeless kitten roaming around the streets of New York. He's taken in by a gang of mutts who survive the mean streets by stealing from others. During one of these robberies, Oliver meets a young girl Jenny, and this encounter will change his life forever. Oliver & Company might not be the most stellar piece by Disney, but it sure is plenty of fun with its never-ending adventure and loveable, colorful cast.
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30points
#5 That Darn Cat!
1965 | 1 hour 56 minutes | Directed by Robert Stevenson
Starring Hayley Mills, Dean Jones, Dorothy Provine, and Syn Cat as D.C. the Cat
That Darn Cat! is a thriller comedy film about bank robbers kidnapping a mischievous cat. As if there is such a thing as a non-mischievous cat… However, after the cat is taken hostage, a cat-allergic FBI agent is assigned to the case, and just by this, you know that That Darn Cat! will definitely have its hilarious moments. And you wouldn't believe the praise the critics had for its suave, blue-eyed, four-legged main star!
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29points
#6 The Secret Life Of Pets
2016 | 1 hour 27 minutes | Directed by Chris Renaud
Voiced by Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart
The Secret Life Of Pets is an animated comedy film following, well... The secret life of pets. And while this story's main hero is a Jack Russell terrier named Max, he's soon joined by his better half, a tabby cat named Chloe, a pug, a dachshund, and a budgie on a quest to unravel the workings of very innocent-looking, yet vicious bunny gangster Snowball. If you've seen The Secret Life of Pets, then you know how much fun this movie is, and if you haven't - it's never too late!
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28points
#7 The Rescuers
1977 | 1 hour 18 minutes | Directed by John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman, Art Stevens
Voiced by Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, Geraldine Page
The Rescuers is an animated adventure comedy-drama film about the Rescue Aid Society - an international mouse organization. Two of these mice are set to save an orphan girl, Penny, being held prisoner in Devil's Bayou. Of course, the mice agents would have never succeeded in their quest if not for one old, wise cat named Rufus. So, once again, a cat saves the day! The Rescuers is a well-balanced animation with a fulfilling story full of laughter.
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27points
#9 The Lion King (2019)
2019 | 1 hour 58 minutes | Directed by Jon Favreau
Voiced by Donald Glover, Beyonce, Seth Rogen
2019's The Lion King is, as you well know it, a photorealistic remake of Disney's 1994 traditionally animated original. Same as back then, the plot follows Simba, a young lion prince, who must embrace his destiny as a ruler after his father, Mufasa, is killed by his vile uncle, Scar. But, despite it being an absolutely accurate retelling of the previous The Lion King movie, the cutting-edge visual effects make this one a really entertaining watch.
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25points
#11 The Lion King 1½
2004 | 1 hour 16 minutes | Directed by Bradley Raymond
Voiced by Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Whoopi Goldberg
The Lion King 1 ½ is an animated direct-to-video musical comedy that serves as an origin story for Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog's unlikely friendship. Now, imagine the whole movie following these two hilarious comedic sidekicks - yep, that's exactly how funny this movie is! Some critics even deemed it to be worthy of its original, so if you've missed it somehow, give it a look.
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24points
#12 Cats
1998 | 2 hours | Directed by David Mallet
Starring Elaine Paige, John Mills, Ken Page
Cats is a direct-to-video musical film based on the legendary stage musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber, which in turn was based on the 1939 book Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. In short - it's a story about a tribe of cats called Jellicle throwing a ball where they are to meet with their leader, Old Deuteronomy. At this ball, one cat is to be chosen to be reborn, and we are told this slightly confusing story through majestic songs and show-stopping dancing. Although there are some differences to the stage musical, this version of Cats is definitely no less fun!
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23points
