We’ve chosen the ten best movies featuring pandas as the central character or a central component to the main plot line, based on our research and personal favourites. If you’re a fan of these films, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!
Kung-Fu Panda
Kung-Fu Panda is a movie that is full of action, humour and memorable characters. It’s still one of the best movies of all time.
The Chinese setting is brilliantly captured and the voice cast is certainly impressive too. However, Jack Black stands out and brings Po to life in the best possible way. It’s hard to imagine another actor pulling off a charismatic and enigmatic panda quite like him. Because of that, Kung-Fu Panda is easily one of the best panda movies ever made.
Kung-Fu Panda 2
While the first movie set the scene and laid the foundations for all of our characters to build off of, Kung-Fu Panda 2 takes these concepts and runs with it. Featuring a darker story and a much better villain this time around, the sequel to Kung-Fu Panda is let down only slightly by its formulaic plotting.
The expansion of Po’s character arc allows him to explore more deeply his feelings and motivations, which in turn makes for a more realistic and engaging read.
The sequel to the 2010 hit Kung-Fu Panda 2 is much darker and more personal than the first film. It builds off of what has been done before to deliver a much more personal and dark movie. The result is a much bigger movie that still manages to be entertaining.
Kung-Fu Panda 3
Despite its flaws, the third Kung-Fu Panda movie is a welcome addition to the series and introduces new characters and new challenges for Po to face. The story is well-told and provides a lot of interesting insight into the character. However, despite its flaws, the movie still falls short of being as charming or endearing as the other two movies.
While it’s predictable and does have a very forgettable main villain, Kung-Fu Panda 3 is an enjoyable movie nonetheless.
The pacing is excellent and the humor keeps the movie consistently lighthearted. The animation is much improved from the previous two films too, and all of this combines to create a decent movie befitting of the Kung-Fu Panda name. ..
Wild About Pandas
Wild About Pandas is a BBC-produced documentary that takes on two predominant views. The first follows two giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, as they arrive in Edinburgh Zoo ready to be relocated. The other view whisks us away to China as we see how giant pandas are looked after in their homeland. This ties into the narrative of pandas being released back into the wild. ..
Wild About Pandas is an interesting and informative documentary film that features dual perspectives. The pacing is good and there are some great shots captured in the film. ..
Amazing Panda Adventure
This Chinese-made remake of the Adventure of A Panda features an animatronic Panda instead of the real animals used in the original. Despite some cheesy dialogue, the film remains an enjoyable family movie for kids.
The Amazing Panda Adventure is a movie primarily tailored for kids, but it’s enjoyable enough for adults to enjoy, too. ..
Pandas
Pandas is a short documentary film that clocks in at 40 minutes. However, it’s also one that packs an awful lot of punch into that short time. Narrated by Kristen Bell, the film follows a researcher who forms a bond with a cute and cuddly Panda called Qian Qian.
This documentary film is about the conservation of pandas and how people are trying to help them. The movie is very interesting and I really enjoyed it. The visuals are really beautiful and the story is very interesting. I think that people of all ages should watch this movie.
Trail of the Panda
Disney’s Trail of the Panda is a well-worn concept that takes a well-worn concept and adds a splash of panda to the mix. This emotionally stirring but simple drama has won critical acclaim and has been picked up by several distributors.
In China, a 10-year-old mute orphan boy named Lu rescues a lost panda cub separated from its mother. From here, the duo form an unbreakable bond while hiding out from a couple of trappers. The story follows their journey as they travel across China in search of a new home for the panda and try to evade capture by the trappers. ..
Trail of the Panda is a movie that unabashedly knows its Disney territory. What’s great about it, though, is just how real pandas are used seamlessly with the main story. There are some great individual moments here, and the third act definitely packs an emotional punch. It’s not perfect, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable panda movie well worth a watch. ..
The Panda movies on our list are some of the best that have been made, and they are sure to please any movie lover. Some of these films may be new to you, while others may be classics. Whichever ones you choose to watch, we guarantee that you will not be disappointed. ..
