10 Movies and Shows Like Pete’s Dragon (2016)

Description: This film shares with Pete's Dragon the story of a boy forming a deep bond with a magnificent creature. While one features a dragon and the other a horse, both explore themes of friendship, freedom, and the connection between humans and animals. The cinematography in both films beautifully captures the majesty of their respective creatures.

Fact: Based on the 1941 novel by Walter Farley. The film's second half was directed by Carroll Ballard, a protege of Francis Ford Coppola. It won a Special Oscar for its sound editing.

Description: E.T. shares with Pete's Dragon a heartwarming story of a lonely child forming a deep bond with a magical being. Both films emphasize themes of friendship, family, and acceptance. The emotional tone is similarly touching, with a mix of wonder, adventure, and heartfelt moments.

Fact: E.T. was the highest-grossing film of all time until Jurassic Park surpassed it. The famous line 'E.T. phone home' was ad-libbed. Steven Spielberg based the story on an imaginary friend he created after his parents' divorce.

Description: Like Pete's Dragon (2016), The NeverEnding Story is a fantasy adventure that blends live-action with elements of magical creatures and a young protagonist's journey. Both films explore themes of imagination, friendship, and overcoming adversity. The emotional tone is similarly uplifting yet poignant, appealing to both children and adults.

Fact: The film is based on a German novel by Michael Ende. The iconic theme song was performed by Limahl. The movie's special effects were groundbreaking for its time.

Description: Like Pete's Dragon, Free Willy centers on a child's special connection with an animal (in this case, a killer whale). Both films deal with themes of protection, freedom, and the bond between humans and animals. The emotional tone is similarly uplifting with moments of tension and triumph.

Fact: The whale's name in the film was Keiko, a real orca. The film inspired a real-life campaign to free Keiko. The iconic jumping scene was achieved with an animatronic whale.

Description: This Irish film shares with Pete's Dragon a mystical connection between a child and a mythical creature (in this case, selkies). Both films blend folklore with a gentle, lyrical storytelling style and explore themes of family, heritage, and the magic of nature.

Fact: Based on the novel 'The Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry' by Rosalie K. Fry. Director John Sayles is better known for his political dramas. The film was shot on location in Ireland.

Description: Like Pete's Dragon, this film is a family-friendly fantasy adventure where children enter a magical world. Both feature mythical creatures and themes of courage, loyalty, and the power of belief. The visual style similarly blends realism with fantasy elements.

Fact: Based on C.S. Lewis's beloved novel. Tilda Swinton's White Witch became an iconic villain. The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup.

Description: Like Pete's Dragon, this film combines real-world drama with elements of fantasy and imagination. Both stories focus on children creating their own magical worlds to escape reality, dealing with themes of loss, friendship, and growing up. The emotional tone is similarly bittersweet.

Fact: Based on Katherine Paterson's novel, which was inspired by a real-life tragedy. The author's son wrote the screenplay. The film was shot in New Zealand.

Description: Similar to Pete's Dragon, this fantasy adventure features children discovering a hidden world of magical creatures. Both films combine live-action with fantastical elements and explore themes of family, adventure, and protecting the magical from those who would exploit it.

Fact: Based on the popular book series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. The film combines live-action with CGI creatures. Freddie Highmore played dual roles as twin brothers.

Description: This animated film parallels Pete's Dragon in its story of a young boy forming an unlikely friendship with a dragon. Both explore themes of understanding the misunderstood, bravery, and the bond between human and creature. The visual aesthetics of the dragons in both films are similarly enchanting.

Fact: The film was inspired by the book series by Cressida Cowell. Toothless's design was based on cats, dogs, and horses. It won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature.

Description: The BFG, like Pete's Dragon, is a live-action fantasy film directed by a renowned filmmaker (Steven Spielberg) that features a young protagonist befriending a mythical creature. Both films have a whimsical yet emotional tone, blending adventure with themes of belonging and courage.

Fact: The BFG stands for 'Big Friendly Giant.' It's based on a book by Roald Dahl. Mark Rylance performed the motion capture for the BFG.