Movies Like Nilus the Sandman: The Boy Who Dreamed Christmas

If you liked Nilus the Sandman: The Boy Who Dreamed Christmas (1991), a animation and fantasy movie directed by Chris Delaney, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
A Tooth Fairy Tale (2025)
★ 8.5/10Also animation and fantasy
Van, the brave son of a tooth fairy leader, meets the goblins girl Gemma on his first mission. Despite the myths about ancient disputes between fairies and goblins, they share common values. When the greedy Spider…
2
Welcome to Smelliville (2021)
★ 6.7/10Also animation and fantasy
The Oggly family arrive at the municipal rubbish dump of Smelliville and must look for a new home, but they never feel really welcome anywhere. They stink and are for most humans just a tad too oggly. When Firebottom…
3
The Snowman (1982)
★ 7.6/10Also animation and fantasy
A young boy makes a snowman one Christmas Eve, which comes to life at midnight and takes him on a magical adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus.
4
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (2025)
★ 6.7/10Also animation and fantasy
When human sailors are attacked by mysterious creatures of the deep, only one person can stop the war between land and sea: the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia.
5
Arctic Dogs (2019)
★ 5.9/10Also animation
Animals band together to save the day when the evil Otto Von Walrus hatches a sinister scheme to accelerate global warming and melt the Arctic Circle.
6
Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness (2022)
★ 7.2/10Also animation and fantasy
A brave young animal explorer teams up with two trusty friends to find a powerful artifact before his greedy uncle can get his paws on it.
7
Monster High: Scaris City of Frights (2013)
★ 7.8/10Also animation and fantasy
The Monstruitas of Monster High are obsessed with going to Scaris, The City of Frights for Fashion international competition where the winner will become the apprentice of the world famous Madame Ghostier designer.
8
The Twits (2025)
★ 5.8/10Also animation and fantasy
When the meanest, nastiest villains pull a trick to take over their town, two brave children team up with a family of magical animals to bring them down.
9
Kermit's Swamp Years (2002)
★ 5.8/10Also fantasy
At 12 years old, Kermit the Frog and best friends Goggles and Croaker travel outside their homes in the swamps of the Deep South to do something extraordinary with their lives.
10
Alien Xmas (2020)
★ 6.4/10Also animation and fantasy
A young elf mistakes a tiny alien for a Christmas gift, not knowing her new plaything has plans to destroy Earth's gravity — and steal all the presents.
11
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019)
★ 8/10Also animation and fantasy
It's been ten years since the dragons moved to the Hidden World, and even though Toothless doesn't live in New Berk anymore, Hiccup continues the holiday traditions he once shared with his best friend. But the Vikings…
12
The Boxtrolls (2014)
★ 6.7/10Also animation and fantasy
An orphaned boy raised by underground creatures called Boxtrolls comes up from the sewers and out of his box to save his family and the town from the evil exterminator, Archibald Snatcher.
13
The Velveteen Rabbit (2023)
★ 6.9/10Also animation and fantasy
When seven-year-old William receives a new favorite toy for Christmas, he discovers a lifelong friend and unlocks a world of magic.
14
The Swan Princess: A Fairytale Is Born (2023)
★ 6/10Also animation and fantasy
Before becoming queen, Uberta lived a humble life with her husband Maximillian when she is suddenly thrust into royalty. Through triumph and tragedy, she learns the lessons needed to become a beloved Queen, all while…
15
Revolting Rhymes (2017)
★ 6.9/10Also animation and fantasy
Two half-hour animated films based on the much-loved rhymes written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake.
16
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2012)
★ 7.4/10Also animation and fantasy
After a hurricane levels his city, a young man wanders into a mysterious library where books literally come to life. This film won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2012.
17
Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale (2017)
★ 6.6/10Also fantasy and animation
After tumbling into a magic storybook, Puss in Boots must fight, dance and romance his way through wild adventures as he searches for an escape.
18
The Willoughbys (2020)
★ 7.1/10Also animation and fantasy
When the four Willoughby children are abandoned by their selfish parents, they must learn how to adapt their Old-Fashioned values to the contemporary world in order to create something new: The Modern Family.
19
Dashing Through the Snow (2023)
★ 6.1/10Also fantasy
Eddie Garrick is a good-hearted man who has lost his belief in the wonder of Christmas. While spending time with his nine-year-old daughter Charlotte on Christmas Eve, he befriends a mysterious man in a red suit named…
20
The Pagemaster (1994)
★ 6.4/10Also fantasy and animation
Rich knows a lot about accidents. So much so, he is scared to do anything that might endanger him, like riding his bike, or climbing into his treehouse. While in an old library, he is mystically transported into the…