Summary
- Rats aren’t just grim symbols – they star in heartwarming family adventures like Cinderella’s helpful mice and Stuart Little.
- Even other critters get screen time – Chip n Dale, a hit pair! Their meta buddy comedy is both funny and adorable.
- Rats are diverse on screen – from Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Flushed Away’s adventure, there’s a rodent movie for everyone!
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Rats have a bigger cinematic presence than many people might have expected, based on the number of fantastic movies about rats (and mice). Given that rats (and most rodents) are seen as harbingers of disease and filth, it would be easy to assume that they would show up only as symbols of squalor, and yet, many of the best rats (and mice) on the big screen show up in kids movies. Only a few of the best rat movies show them as dirty or villainous.
Mice, especially, often become the heroes of family adventure movies — from the sewing mice in Cinderella to the mischievous Stuart Little, but rodent leads are not limited to animation and kid-friendly films. Horror, drama, and even superhero movies have all included a rat (or a hundred of them!), as everything from sidekicks to symbols — and there’s a rat-appropriate movie for everyone.
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20 Cinderella (1950)
Cartoon Mice Provide The Comic Relief In This Disney Classic
Cinderella (1950)
Animation
Family
Fantasy
Musical
Romance
Director Clyde Geronimi , Wilfred Jackson , Hamilton Luske Release Date March 4, 1950 Cast Ilene Woods , James MacDonald , Eleanor Audley , Verna Felton
It’s no surprise that many of the best movies featuring mice, rats, and other rodents come from Disney, given that their mascot is literally a cartoon mouse. The Disney fairy tale of Cinderella is the classic fairy tale — a young woman with a wicked stepmother, who gets magical help to go to a ball, meet a prince, and fall in love. While it is the fairy godmother who helps her with the magical aspects of that one night, Cinderella’s real friends are the loyal mice that live with her, especially Jaq and Gus.
She had helped release this little band of mice from their traps, dressing them and taking care of them, and they help her by making a dress for her and freeing her when she is locked in her room. In fact, fans who rewatch the Disney classic might be surprised by how much of the movie focuses on these mice.
19 Dumbo (1941)
A Friendly Rodent Guides The Titular Flying Elephant
Dumbo (1941)
Director Ben Sharpsteen , Norman Ferguson , Wilfred Jackson , Bill Roberts , Jack Kinney , Samuel Armstrong Release Date October 31, 1941 Cast Edward Brophy , Verna Felton , Cliff Edwards , Herman Bing , Sterling Holloway , Margaret Wright , Hall Johnson Choir Runtime 64 Minutes
Another Disney classic that features a kindhearted mouse alongside the titular hero is 1941’s Dumbo. The movie is, of course, the story of the big-eared elephant who becomes a star in the circus thanks to its unique ability to fly. However, as Dumbo himself does not talk in the movie, it is up to Timothy Q. Mouse to guide most of the story.
Comedian Edward Brophy played Timothy Q. Mouse, although he was uncredited for his voice work — a sign of the times for Dumbo, as this wasn’t uncommon in animated movies of the era.
This friendly rodent takes it upon himself to be Dumbo’s protector and encourages him as the others mock him for his appearance. He is another little mouse with a big heart who helped the hero of the story reach his amazing heights. Comedian Edward Brophy played Timothy Q. Mouse, although he was uncredited for his voice work — a sign of the times for Dumbo, as this wasn’t uncommon in animated movies of the era.
18 Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
Two Of The Most Famous Animated Chipmunks Make A Triumphant Comeback
Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers
Director Akiva Schaffer Release Date May 20, 2022 Cast John Mulaney , Kiki Layne , Will Arnett , Andy Samberg , Eric Bana , Flula Borg , Dennis Haysbert , Keegan Michael Key , Tress MacNeille , Tim Robinson , Seth Rogen , J. K. Simmons Runtime 97 minutes
It’s not only rats and mice that feature in movies about rodents, as other critters like squirrels and chipmunks also regularly feature. While perhaps not as well known as a certain singing trio, chipmunks Chip and Dale have been cartoon staples for decades. In adapting the beloved Disney cartoon characters, 2022’s Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers takes a unique approach and makes for a hilarious meta buddy comedy.
The movie is set in a world in which Chip and Dale are chipmunk actors who were the stars of their hit show years ago but have now grown apart, only to be forced back together to solve a real mystery. Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers is filled with cameos from animated characters and has a genuinely clever story about the history of animation and its evolution. The result is a terrific comedy with some adorable rodent heroes that more people should check out.
17 Chicken Run (2000)
Tweedy’s Farm Would Have Been Inescapable Without Some Helpful Rodents
Chicken Run
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Director Peter Lord , Nick Park Release Date June 21, 2000 Cast Phil Daniels , Lynn Ferguson , Mel Gibson , Tony Haygarth , Jane Horrocks , Miranda Richardson
A hilarious parody of The Great Escape, Chicken Run is an animated comedy about a group of chickens on a farm who attempt to escape their fate of becoming pies by staging a daring escape. As the title suggests, the chickens are the stars of the show, but there are some fun support players in the form of Nick and Fletcher, two rats who get involved in the plot. Nick and Fletcher are con-men and fences, helping the chickens get everything they need to hatch their escape plan in exchange for their favorite food — eggs.
Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels played Nick and Fletcher in Chicken Run, with the rodents voiced by Romesh Ranganathan and Daniel Mays in the sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
The two friends mostly watch the events unfold with Nick offering his own cynical points of view and Fletcher proving himself to be not the most intelligent rat around. However, the rats prove to be helpful allies and are important enough that they made their return in Chicken Run 2. Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels played Nick and Fletcher in Chicken Run, with the rodents voiced by Romesh Ranganathan and Daniel Mays in the sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
16 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
The Most Well-Known Rodent Martial Artist Ever Put To Screen
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Director Jeff Rowe Release Date August 4, 2023 Cast Nicolas Cantu , Micah Abbey , Shamon Brown Jr. , Brady Noon , Jackie Chan , Ayo Edebiri , Seth Rogen , John Cena Runtime 100 Minutes
The latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was a hit with audiences and critics for its unique takes on the iconic TMNT characters. One of the movie’s highlights was the character of Splinter, the humanoid rat and mentor to the turtles. Though most versions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have Splinter as a man turned into a rat, this new movie switched it up, making him a rodent transformed by the same ooze as the turtles.
He was also a more lovable character in this version, seen more as a father-figure who walked a fine line between protecting his kids and smothering them. Jackie Chan voicing Splinter made it all the more fun, especially during the sequence when he explains what his life as a rat was like prior to meeting the turtles and getting mutated by the mysterious ooze.
15 Flushed Away (2006)
Rats Take Center Stage In The British Stop-Motion Adventure Movie
Flushed Away
Director David Bowers , Sam Fell Release Date October 22, 2006 Cast Hugh Jackman , Kate Winslet , Ian McKellen , Jean Reno , Bill Nighy , Andy Serkis Runtime 86 minutes
While there are many kids movies that feature talking rats, the rodents rarely take center stage as the main characters – which is why Flushed Away stands out among the best movies featuring mice and rats. Flushed Away was actually quite a risky film to release, being the first production by Aardman Animations (known for Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run) to be produced through computer generation as opposed to their usual stop-motion style. The animation team kept their recognizable character models, though, leading to their uniquely styled rodents in the 2006 film.
Throwing a London-born pet mouse into the city’s underground sewers, Flushed Away blended many genres in following the odyssey and return of its main character Roddy St. James.
Throwing a London-born pet mouse into the city’s underground sewers, Flushed Away blended many genres in following the odyssey and return of its main character Roddy St. James. Despite the all-star cast and relatively positive critical reviews, the film was a box-office flop and sadly marked the end of DreamWorks’ partnership with Aardman Animations.
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14 Mouse Hunt (1997)
A Single Mouse Almost Ruins Two Brother’s Lives
Before Rango and Pirates of The Caribbean, director Gore Verbinski had made his directorial debut with 1997’s Mouse Hunt, a slapstick comedy where two brothers attempt to restore an abandoned Victorian mansion as a way to get their lives back on track. All that stands in their way is a singular mouse. The mouse in Mouse Hunt, though, is certainly no ordinary rodent.
Facing exterminators, giant cats, hoses, and the literal destruction of its home, nothing deterred the mouse antagonist of this film. However, by the end, the mouse amusingly becomes the hero by inspiring the brothers — played by Nathan Lane and British comedian Lee Evans — to go into a string-cheese-making career, uniting the brothers’ two interests of food and string. Mouse Hunt is one of the funniest movies about mice, and is peak 1990s slapstick comedy that the entire family will be able to enjoy.
13 The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
Two Animated Mice Brave Australia
The Rescuers Down Under
Director Hendel Butoy , Mike Gabriel Release Date November 16, 1990 Cast Bob Newhart , Eva Gabor , John Candy Runtime 77 Minutes
Though The Rescuers is often viewed as a rather forgettable Disney entry, The Rescuers Down Under is a rare Disney sequel that surpasses the original. The 1990 movie follows a pair of mice who work for a secret rescue organization and are tasked with traveling to Australia to find a boy who has been taken by a cruel poacher.
It includes a healthy dose of genuine adventure and heartfelt scenes in addition to adorable animated rodents.
The film is a genuinely exhilarating animated adventure that features some astounding sequences, including some breathtaking aerial sequences that kick off the story. This is not only an underrated Disney gem, but also one of the best movies about mice or rats ever made, as it includes a healthy dose of genuine adventure and heartfelt scenes in addition to adorable animated rodents.
12 Stuart Little (1999)
A Family Adopt A Talking Mouse Instead Of A Human Child
Stuart Little has quite an offbeat premise, as it is centered on a human couple who choose to adopt a mouse — and this is seen as a reasonable decision by the rest of the characters. This extends to the police, who at one point in the film have no issues investigating the abduction of Stuart by a pair of mice imposters pretending to be Stuart’s birth parents.
The story manages to be about betrayal, family, and redemption, yet very little about the fact Stuart is a mouse; it is only ever really used as a derogatory slight against him. Regardless, the movie was well-received and grossed just over $300 million (via Box Office Mojo). It’s definitely one of the stranger movies about rats, mice, or any other rodents out there, but this doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.
11 Charlotte’s Web (2006)
Steve Buscemi Voices A Memorable Rat Antagonist
Charlotte’s Web is an emotional and unforgettable children’s story filled with animal characters, and is based on the 1952 novel of the same name by E. B. White. While the main focus of the story is on Charlotte (the spider) and Wilbur — the young pig she tries to help at the barnyard — the show is stolen by the greedy and gluttonous rat named Templeton.
As Charlotte tries to save Wilbur from becoming a meal for the farmer, Templeton (who is voiced by renowned character actor Steve Buscemi in the 2006 film adaptation) is only swayed into lending a hand when there is a clear benefit for him.
As Charlotte tries to save Wilbur from becoming a meal for the farmer, Templeton (who is voiced by renowned character actor Steve Buscemi in the 2006 film adaptation) is only swayed into lending a hand when there is a clear benefit for him. He is always looking for his next meal even when he’s already had his fill. As self-centered as he often seems, Templeton shows that he has some depth in the heartbreaking end of Charlotte’s Web.
10 An American Tail (1986)
The Struggles Of Immigrants Arriving In America Encapsulated By Cartoon Mice
An American Tail (1986)
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
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Director Don Bluth Release Date November 21, 1986 Cast Phillip Glasser , Dom DeLuise , Christopher Plummer , Madeline Kahn , Nehemiah Persoff , Amy Green , John Finnegan , Will Ryan , Erica Yohn Runtime 81 Minutes
Disney may have released most of the animated movies featuring rats, mice, and other rodents over the years, but they don’t hold a monopoly on them, as this underrated gem of a family movie proves. One of the great non-Disney movies of the 1980s, An American Tail, uses adorable mice to tell a very touching immigrant story. The story follows young Russian mouse Fievel who, on a trip to their new life in America, becomes separated from his parents.
The animated adventure is a cute and entertaining story that tugs at the heartstrings and has some genuinely tear-jerking moments. However, it is also a perfect movie for the whole family to enjoy together while seeing an important story being told, and even has a follow-up: Fievel Goes West. Both the original and the sequel are surpisingly emotional too, and deal with some complex themes that are still relevant today.
9 Willard (1971)
A Social Outcast Uses Rats For Revenge
There are a lot of family-friendly movies about rats that show the cute and cuddly side of rodents, with many choosing to animate them to make them as adorable as possible even to those who find them offputting. However, 1971’s Willard is a movie that fully embraces the fact that rats make a lot of people’s skin crawl. Rather than using rats to make off-beat but lovable characters, Willard mines them for horror value.
The creepy and effective horror movie became a surprise box office hit when it was released, and it has enjoyed a cult following since
The horror movie follows the title character, a social misfit whose only friends are rats he shares a bond with. Tired of being tormented, he uses the rats to exact revenge on those who mistreat him. The creepy and effective horror movie became a surprise box office hit when it was released, and it has enjoyed a cult following since, even inspiring a sequel in 1972 and a remake in 2003.
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8 The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
A Unique Interpretation Of Sherlock Holmes
The Great Mouse Detective
Director Ron Clements , Burny Mattinson , David Michener , John Musker Release Date July 2, 1986 Cast Vincent Price , Barrie Ingham , Val Bettin , Susanne Pollatschek , Candy Candido , Diana Chesney Runtime 74 minutes
There have been many re-imaginings of Sherlock Holmes, and 1986’s The Great Mouse Detective is the charmingly animated answer to the question “what if Sherlock Holmes was a talking mouse?” Tracing an entire society of city-dwelling rodents, this film centered itself in the period of Victorian London. It is a natural choice as the film, and characters within it, are heavily inspired by the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, with the main character being Basil, a mouse performing a fair imitation of the famous detective.
Following a diabolical plot to seize control of the crown, the world of The Great Mouse Detective aligns closely with that of the human world above them, with their queen being the ruler of the ‘mousedom’ as opposed to the United Kingdom and royal guard dogs being more of a concern than the Royal Guard themselves. It is a convincing Holmes story, even if the stakes are a touch lower.
7 The Secret Of NIMH (1982)
The Surprisingly Deep Animated Adventure
The Secret of NIMH
G
Director Don Bluth Release Date June 17, 1982 Cast Derek Jacobi , Elizabeth Hartman , Arthur Malet , Dom DeLuise , Hermione Baddeley , Shannen Doherty
Based on the classic children’s novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, this 1982 film brought the perils of a family of field mice into a mystifying tale of magic and science. Paying homage to a number of generic adventure tropes, this pint-sized epic cemented itself as a modern fairy tale. As with any fairy tale, there was some shockingly dark material within The Secret of NIMH, with it at instances questioning both the value of life and sentience itself.
The Secret of NIMH has a surprising amount of emotional depth for an animated movie about rodents, and is definitely one that viewers of all ages are sure to enjoy.
It is clear that the film adaptation added some elements that were not present in the book, such as the ‘magic’ itself, and this was likely in a bid to make the feature more family-friendly. Much like An American Tail and The Great Mouse Detective, The Secret of NIMH has a surprising amount of emotional depth for an animated movie about rodents, and is definitely one that viewers of all ages are sure to enjoy.
6 The Suicide Squad (2021)
The Movie That Proves Controlling Rats Is An Amazing Superpower
The Suicide Squad
Director James Gunn Release Date August 5, 2021 Cast Margot Robbie , Viola Davis , Idris Elba , John Cena , Joel Kinnaman , Michael Rooker Runtime 132 minutes
It is a rare superhero movie that has rats saving the day, which is why The Suicide Squad stands out among the best movies with rats in them purely because it’s among the only superhero movies in the niche subgenre. The reboot of the DC franchise, The Suicide Squad follows a group of incarcerated supervillains who are forced to go on a dangerous government operation to an island where a secret scientific experiment is taking place.
Along with King Shark, Peacemaker and Harley Quinn, the team includes Ratcatcher II, a second-generation supervillain who can control rats, which makes the mission difficult at points, as team member Bloodsport is afraid of rats. James Gunn infuses the movie with a throwback war adventure feel and some hard-R humor that helped make it one of DC’s best reviewed releases.
5 Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
A Unique Animated Movie Featuring A Deadly Rat Security Guard
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Director Wes Anderson Release Date November 13, 2009 Cast George Clooney , Meryl Streep , Jason Schwartzman , Bill Murray , Willem Dafoe , Owen Wilson Runtime 87minutes
Wes Anderson brought to life one of Roald Dahl’s most beloved stories, Fantastic Mr. Fox, through the medium of stop-motion back in 2009. It is a story of a mischievous fox scheming a way to provide his family and community a better life, featuring some witty humor and quotes along the way. One of the obstacles in his path is that of a security guard rat — named Rat.
Acting as more of a self-appointed security guard than a hired official, Rat spends his time sipping away at the coveted cider of Franklin Bean’s cellar.
Acting as more of a self-appointed security guard than a hired official, Rat spends his time sipping away at the coveted cider of Franklin Bean’s cellar. He is one of the few antagonists in the generally light-hearted Fantastic Mr. Fox, bearing a malicious role he did not originally have in the story the film is based upon. It remains one of the most popular Wes Anderson movies and was up for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
4 Steamboat Willie (1928)
The Iconic Mickey Mouse Short
A landmark film for the Walt Disney Company, Steamboat Willie was one of the first cartoons with diegetic sound, making it historic for its technical feats as well as for fully introducing audiences to the characters of both Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Though more of a slapstick short than a character study, the film helped to establish Disney’s signature animation style.
Mickey Mouse is still the flagship character for Disney, functioning as their mascot to this day. This is despite Mickey Mouse’s lack of appearances in Disney’s recent feature film ventures, with his most famous performance dating back to 1940 with Fantasia, one of Disney’s most rewatchable animated movies. Still, Mickey Mouse will likely outlast many other characters by living on in both the merchandise and branding of the company.
3 Encanto (2021)
Rats Keep Bruno Company While He Spends Decades Living In The Walls
Encanto
Director Jared Bush , Byron Howard , Charise Castro Smith Release Date November 24, 2021 Cast Mauro Castillo , John Leguizamo , Carolina Gaitan , Rhenzy Feliz , Diane Guerrero , Wilmer Valderrama , Jessica Darrow , Stephanie Beatriz , Adassa , Alan Tudyk , Angie Cepeda , María Cecilia Botero , Maluma Runtime 99 minutes
Though not members of the Madrigal family, the rats that lurk in the walls of the Casa Madrigal are tinged with the same kind of magic that is found throughout the story of Encanto, one of the best Disney animated movies of the twenty-first century. Despite one of the family members, Antonio, being able to communicate with animals, it is Bruno the outcast that shares the deepest affinity with the rodents of this film.
Rats and Bruno share a lot in common as both are seen as bad omens or forewarnings of a decline and, as such, face a lot of judgment.
The rats keep Bruno company and fulfill his human needs as best as he can make them, using them as his entertainment as well as confidants. Rats and Bruno share a lot in common as both are seen as bad omens or forewarnings of a decline and, as such, face a lot of judgment. The family’s acceptance of Bruno, and the rats with him, is indicative of their positive change in attitude as a whole.
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2 The Green Mile (1999)
A Mouse Plays A Key Role In The Timeless Stephen King Adaptation
The Green Mile
Director Frank Darabont Release Date December 10, 1999 Cast Tom Hanks , Michael Clarke Duncan , David Morse , Bonnie Hunt , James Cromwell , Michael Jeter , Graham Greene , Doug Hutchison Runtime 189 Minutes
The Green Mile may be markedly different in tone from most movies featuring rats or mice, but it’s still one of the best. An adaptation of a Stephen King story, The Green Mile is set on Death Row in the 1930s following the arrival of the giant yet seemingly gentle prisoner, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan).
Another key part of the story is a mouse called Mr. Jingles who hangs around the prison, delighting the guards and prisoners with its cleverness. Jingles is also key to revealing Coffey’s abilities after a sadistic guard kills the mouse and Coffey is able to bring it back to life with healing abilities. In The Green Mile’s bittersweet ending, taking place in modern time, Mr. Jingles is shown to still be alive, having his life magically extended by Coffey’s powers. Mr. Jingles exemplifies the magic, sadness, and heart of this Stephen King adaptation.
1 Ratatouille (2007)
Pixar’s Classic Tale Of A Rat Chef
Ratatouille
Director Brad Bird Release Date June 29, 2007 Cast Patton Oswalt , Ian Holm , Lou Romano , Brad Garrett , Peter O’Toole , Janeane Garofalo , Brian Dennehy , Peter Sohn , Will Arnett Runtime 111 Mins
When it comes to movies about rats, Ratatouille stands as both the best as the most unique. Remy the rat did more to improve the reputation of rodents in this film than any other on-screen creature to come before him. Ratatouille used the rodents of its story to tackle the complex world of French gastronomy, putting on blast the inaccessibly prejudiced world the industry was creating for itself.
Remy is used as a tool to represent the country style of French cooking and its pedestrian undertones that high-end restaurateurs had become scornful of.
Remy is used as a tool to represent the country style of French cooking and its pedestrian undertones that high-end restaurateurs had become scornful of. The fact he is a rat, the last thing anyone wants to see in a kitchen, compounds this. With its culinary accuracy and comedic beats, Ratatouille is easily one of the greatest films ever made about cooking, and won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.