Movies Like So Dear to My Heart (1948)

So Dear to My Heart is a 1948 animation, drama, family film from Hamilton Luske with a MovieMagicScore of 6.6/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Animation Drama Family

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

2016

A quiet teenage artist Rafe Katchadorian has a wild imagination and is sick of middle school and the rules that have been put before him. Rafe and his best friend Leo have come up with a plan: break every rule in the school hand book and as you expect trouble follows.

6.9

MagicScore

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

2010

Greg Heffley is headed for big things, but first he has to survive the scariest, most humiliating experience of any kid’s life – middle school! That won’t be easy, considering he’s surrounded by hairy-freckled morons, wedgie-loving bullies and a moldy slice of cheese with nuclear cooties!

6.3

MagicScore

The Pagemaster

1994

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 unknown world of books, and he has to try and get home again.

6.4

MagicScore

The Incredible Mr. Limpet

1964

Milquetoast Henry Limpet experiences his fondest wish and is transformed into a fish. As a talking fish he assists the US Navy in hunting German submarines during World War II.

6.2

MagicScore

Pollyanna

1960

A young girl comes to an embittered town and confronts its attitude with her determination to see the best in life.

6.9

MagicScore

Song of the South

1946

Uncle Remus draws upon his tales of Br'er Rabbit to help little Johnny deal with his confusion over his parents' separation as well as his new life on the plantation.

6.5

MagicScore

Mary Poppins Returns

2018

Mary Poppins returns to the Banks family and helps them evade grave dangers by taking them on magical, musical adventures.

6.5

MagicScore

On Moonlight Bay

1951

The Winfield family moves into a new house in a small town in Indiana. Tomboy Marjorie Winfield begins a romance with William Sherman who lives across the street. Marjorie has to learn how to dance and act like a proper young lady. Unfortunately William Sherman has unconventional ideas for the time. His ideas include not believing in marriage or money, which causes friction with Marjorie's father, who is the local bank vice president

6.3

MagicScore

Pete's Dragon

1977

Pete, a young orphan, runs away to a Maine fishing town with his best friend a lovable, sometimes invisible dragon named Elliott! When they are taken in by a kind lighthouse keeper, Nora, and her father, Elliott's prank playing lands them in big trouble. Then, when crooked salesmen try to capture Elliott for their own gain, Pete must attempt a daring rescue.

6.3

MagicScore

#10

The Velveteen Rabbit

2009

A lonely boy wins over his distant father and strict grandmother with help from a brave velveteen rabbit whose one wish is to become a real rabbit someday.

6.6

MagicScore

#11

The Velveteen Rabbit

2023

When seven-year-old William receives a new favorite toy for Christmas, he discovers a lifelong friend and unlocks a world of magic.

7.0

MagicScore

#12

Peter Rabbit

2018

Peter Rabbit's feud with Mr. McGregor escalates to greater heights than ever before as they rival for the affections of the warm-hearted animal lover who lives next door.

6.7

MagicScore

#13

James and the Giant Peach

1996

When the young orphan boy James spills a magic bag of crocodile tongues, he finds himself in possession of a giant peach that flies him away to strange lands.

6.6

MagicScore

#14

Paddington 2

2017

Paddington, now happily settled with the Browns, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy, but it is stolen.

7.5

MagicScore

#15

Paddington

2014

A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family, who offer him a temporary haven.

7.1

MagicScore

#16

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

2022

When the Primm family moves to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle — a singing crocodile who loves baths, caviar and great music — living in the attic of his new home. But when Lyle’s existence is threatened by evil neighbor Mr. Grumps, the Primms must band together to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places.

7.0

MagicScore

#17

Paddington in Peru

2024

Paddington travels to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and up to the mountain peaks of Peru.

6.8

MagicScore

#18

Harold and the Purple Crayon

2024

Inside of his book, adventurous Harold can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and draws himself off the book's pages and into the physical world, Harold finds he has a lot to learn about real life.

6.7

MagicScore

#19

The Cat in the Hat

2003

During a rainy day, and while their mother is out, Conrad and Sally, and their pet fish, are visited by the mischievous Cat in the Hat. Fun soon turns to mayhem, and the siblings must figure out how to rid themselves of the maniacal Cat.

5.3

MagicScore

#20

Boundin'

2003

On a high mountain plain lives a lamb with wool of such remarkable sheen that he breaks into high-steppin' dance. But there comes a day when he loses his lustrous coat and, along with it, his pride. It takes a wise jackalope - a horn-adorned rabbit - to teach the moping lamb that wooly or not, it's what's inside that'll help him rebound from life's troubles.

6.5

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like So Dear to My Heart?

The top films similar to So Dear to My Heart by MovieMagicScore are Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (6.9), Diary of a Wimpy Kid (6.3), The Pagemaster (6.4). Each shares animation/drama/family themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is So Dear to My Heart worth watching?

So Dear to My Heart holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.6/10 from 47 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is So Dear to My Heart?

So Dear to My Heart (1948) is a animation, drama, family film directed by Hamilton Luske, starring Bobby Driscoll, Luana Patten, Beulah Bondi.

Where can I find more recommendations like So Dear to My Heart?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more animation recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life Movies like Diary of a Wimpy Kid Movies like The Pagemaster Movies like The Incredible Mr. Limpet Movies like Pollyanna Movies like Song of the South

About movies like So Dear to My Heart

This ranked list pairs So Dear to My Heart (1948), a animation and drama and family film from Hamilton Luske, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Bobby Driscoll take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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