Now, prior to writing this, you have to understand that I severely underestimated just how many Peanut movies there are. So, instead of ranking every single one (which would probably take a lot longer than the time I have to write this), I rated five of the most popular!
- A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown was the first feature-length Peanuts film made, directed by Bill Melendez in 1969 and shown in theaters on December fourth, 1969. My first thought when I watched this film was that it was an actual masterpiece. It’s a story of hardships and emotion, and some might say that sounds like too much of a dramatic opinion of the movie but I say otherwise. It’s an emotion, feel good movies– if your idea of feeling good is watching a small child battle existential dread while a piano prodigy plays Beethoven in the background. Overall, I think the story was a perfect combination of resilience and lightheartedness. 10/10, perfectly executed and a great start to the Peanuts franchise.
- Snoopy Come Home (1972)
Right from the start, this movie makes it clear that Snoopy has way more dramatic flair than any dog should reasonably have. His journey is equal parts emotional crisis and musical adventure, featuring enough “NO DOGS ALLOWED” signs to make you wonder if the universe itself is conspiring against the one beagle. It’s funny, surprisingly sad, and somehow manages to make a beagle’s identity crisis feel like absolute cinema. 8/10, two points off purely because all the songs are now stuck in my head.
- The Peanuts Movie (2015)
The Peanuts Movie (2015) is like if Charlie Brown finally caught a break, but only after a bunch of hilarious, lovable failures. The animation is fresh, but the characters still feel like they just stepped out of the funny pages. It’s the perfect mix of classic Peanuts charm and modern humor, with just enough Snoopy to keep things awesome. 9/10, because even Charlie Brown deserves a win (eventually).