Without a doubt, “Scooby-Doo” is one of the most beloved cartoons ever created. In the decades since America’s most iconic dog and his mystery-busting teammates first appeared on TV, the team has since appeared in over 40 films, ranging from direct-to-video animated flicks, theatrical releases, a series of live-action prequel films that aired on Cartoon Network and three TV movies that aired in the ’80s starring Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy-Doo.
With so many films headlined by the Scooby Gang, not every one is created equal. Many are just okay, coasting by on the charm of the characters without building an interesting mystery on its own. A select few are even lazier than that, with poor animation, stale humor and boring villains.
But the ones that are great evoke a certain nostalgia for the people who grew up on them, and for good reason: at its core, the “Scooby-Doo” formula remains a solid one, mixing horror, comedy and mystery elements in a deeply entertaining package. The movies allow the creators a chance to expand the mysteries significantly from the 22-minute cartoons, creating far more memorable threats, suspects and casts than can be found in the show. And the movies frequently push the series past the fake monsters and lighthearted threats the crew faces on TV: in many of the films, the monsters are real and pose very serious threats to the gang.
In memory of “Scoob! Holiday Haunt,” which was canceled and indefinitely shelved by HBO Max, here are the 10 greatest films in the “Scooby-Doo” franchise, ranked.
‘Aloha, Scooby-Doo!’ (2005)
While “Aloha, Scooby-Doo!” may not be a magnum opus of mystery filmmaking, its beauty lies quite simply in its setting. All “Scooby-Doo” movies or shows rely heavily on the setting of said mystery, and what’s better than the beautiful Hawaiian islands? “Aloha, Scooby-Doo” sees the gang traversing through jungles, singing songs to snakes and exploring volcanoes in order to take on the evil Wiki-Tiki spirit, which is essentially just a cool-looking evil surfer dude. The film executes the Hawaii vibe and tone to a T, resulting in a totally tubular, radical and righteous adventure for Mystery Inc. – Carson Burton
“Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School” (1988)
One of three Scooby television films broadcast by Hanna-Barbera in the ’80s as part of the company’s “Superstars 10” series, “Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School” arrived at a weird time in the franchise. Daphne, Fred and Velma were almost completely abandoned in favor of the infamous Scrappy-Doo, who joined his uncle and Shaggy on a variety of adventures on the “Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo” show. Scrappy is, luckily, at his least annoying in “Ghoul School,” which sees the trio hired as gym teachers at Miss Grimwood’s Finishing School for Girls. Once there, they discover the school is an educational institute for monsters, with Dracula and Frankenstein’s daughters among the class. Although the plot of the film isn’t terribly memorable, revolving around a generic evil witch trying to kidnap the students, the girls are all likable and adorable, and the film has a laid back hang-out vibe that makes it one of the most purely enjoyable of the “Scooby-Doo” films. — Wilson Chapman
‘Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold’ (2018)
Broadcast from 2008 to 2011, “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” was one of the funniest, weirdest and most delightful comic book shows ever made. The series, which saw Batman (played to perfection by Diedrich Bader) team up with a new hero, was a madcap tour through the lesser known coroners of the comic book universe, filled to the brim with loving references to Batman’s history and a highly meta sense of humor. And although the show got canceled in 2011, seven years later the cast reunited for one final hurrah in this “Scooby-Doo” crossover event. After solving the mystery of Puppetto the Puppeteer, the Scooby gang gets invited to join the Mystery Analysts club of Gotham and track down the Crimson Cloak. While it’s a bit more of a Batman movie than it is a Scooby-Doo film, the gang fits in perfectly with the kooky world of the DC Universe, has great chemistry with the stoic Batman and proves their worth as both detectives and superheroes. And after the show got canceled and ended on a dour note, it’s wonderful to see the “Brave and the Bold” team get a chance for a triumphant reprise. — WC
‘Scooby-Doo’ (2002)
Although it’s a nostalgic favorite for millennials and zoomers alike, the first live-action “Scooby-Doo” film was not well received by critics at the time of its release. The film, which received an anemic 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, was slammed by critics as an unfunny, poor adaptation of the famous cartoons. Still, the film grossed a not-too-shabby $275 million, and retains a fandom to this day. And it’s easy to see why: for a start, it’s perfectly cast, with real-life couple Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar bringing sweet chemistry to himbo Fred and badass Daphne, and Linda Cardellini is a nebbish but determined Velma. Best of all is Matthew Lillard, who embodied Shaggy’s goofy, lovable persona to such an extent that he took over as the full-time voice actor of the character since 2009. Beyond the cast, the film has a playful sense of humor about the series’ history and cliches, complete with many jokes (courtesy of screenwriter James Gunn) that push the film’s PG rating extremely hard — Shaggy even ends up falling in love with a girl named Mary Jane. Add in an appearance from “Mr. Bean” actor Rowan Atkinson as Emile Mondavarious, the head of Spooky Island, and you have a comedy film that both pokes fun at the franchise and pays loving tribute to it. — WC
‘Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster’ (2004)
With “Scooby-Doo and the Loch Ness Monster,” real cultural legend becomes fodder for Scooby antics. The film sees the mystery gang heading to Scotland to visit Daphne’s cousin and watch the Highland Games, a competition composed of many traditional Scottish sports. Shrouded in a mystery that feels more culturally realistic than other Scooby adventures, this film effectively captures the mystique of the Loch Ness monster as well as the interesting setting of Scotland. Its underwater adventures, relatable villain and intricate revelations make this movie one for the ages. Also, by the end, viewers still don’t really know if the Loch Ness monster is real or just another fable; as Velma says, “Maybe some mysteries are best left unsolved.” Jinkies! – CB
‘Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders’ (2001)
In most shows and movies they star in, Scooby and Shaggy are depicted as borderline asexual: more concerned with goofing off and eating than girls. The first and most memorable exception is “Alien Invaders,” which sees the duo meet photographer Crystal and her golden retriever Amber while traveling the desert with the rest of the gang. The two fall head over heels in love with the pair, and their relationships are adorable and believable. But as the gang investigates the sightings of a strange UFO around the area, it becomes obvious that Crystal is hiding a secret from Shaggy that threatens to doom their relationship. Many “Scooby” movies will make you laugh, but this is the only one that will make you cry. — WC
‘Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed’ (2004)
For some reason, I have probably seen this movie upwards of 20 times. Why? Great question. While maybe not a “good” movie, the second live-action “Scooby-Doo” is a gem of the 2000s. From Fred jousting on a motorcycle while Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” plays to Shaggy getting turned into a woman, it’s difficult to put into words what “Monsters Unleashed” is trying to accomplish. Both of the live-action films are weird in their own ways, but this film takes slapstick to the maximum, resulting in a hilariously constructed movie where its flaws are its best parts. It’s insanely odd and laughable yet endlessly entertaining, and it’s nearly impossible to tell if anybody or anything in this film is taking itself seriously or if it is some kind of intentionally amateur text about a talking dog. I don’t know what’s going on, but I love every single last second of it. – CB
‘Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost’ (1999)
The impact of discovering the illustrious Hex Girls in “Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost” as a child should not be underestimated. Easily the most iconic non-Scooby Gang characters of the entire franchise, the emo-grunge group made their culture-shaking debut in “Witch’s Ghost,” the second direct-to-video film in the franchise. Thousands of children everywhere had their goth (and potentially gay) awakening from the trio’s gorgeous designs, and particularly their self-titled song, an absolute banger in the pantheon of greatest songs for film and television. And while their presence can overshadow “Witch’s Ghost,” the rest of the film matches their vibe with an appropriately darker case than usual for the Mystery Gang. When Ben Ravencroft (voiced by the iconic Tim Curry), a clear Stephen King parody, invites the gang to his hometown of Oakhaven, Mass., the quintet winds up menaced by a strange ghost that appears to be of Ravencroft’s ancestor Sarah (Tress MacNeille). Curry and MacNeille bring it with deliciously hammy performances, and the film’s witchcraft and Wiccan lore make it the perfect “Scooby” Halloween flick. — WC
‘Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase’ (2001)
Truly ahead of its time, it’s surprising how unknown it is that “Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase” is really a scathing critique of the digital age. All-encompassing and incredibly inventive, this piece of high art is a warning flare for the dangers of our time’s increasing engrossment with the virtual. The film is up there with the likes of “The Social Network” for its… OK, never mind. What this film really gets right is its ability to capture “Scooby-Doo” at its funniest, wildest and most wide-spanning. It follows the gang as they battle the Phantom Virus in cyberspace, causing the gang to go through a number of levels in a video game to escape. With a unique villain, intriguing plot and modern twist, “Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase” marries contemporary thoughts with classic Scooby hijinks. Each scene is memorable, and it isn’t afraid to engage with some heavier topics. And of course, it’s great to see some “Scooby-Doo” veterans, such as Jaguaro, Gator Ghoul, the Tar Monster, Old Iron Face and the Creeper. – CB
‘Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island’ (1998)
The greatest of them all, “Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island” gets everything right: silly jokes, slapstick fun, wild chases, interesting twists, classic characters and a hefty dash of scares. The film is at once extremely rooted in the classics yet willing to do something never seen before, as the Mystery Gang is all split up and living their own lives. With werecats, zombies and voodoo, “Zombie Island” has just the right amount of creepiness to keep us on our toes without losing the heart and silliness of the originals. The film was also one of the firsts to show the gang fighting against real supernatural beings instead of guys in masks, and the villains themselves were not just cardboard cutouts. The zombies themselves were essentially just puppets for the real antagonists, who are some all-time jerks. Not to mention the “It’s Terror Time Again” scene and song, which is just hall of fame stuff. “Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island” may have caused me many, many nightmares as a kid, but it still does what all “Scooby-Doo” movies do best: bring a smile to our faces. – CB
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