Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
Thats easier said than done, and Pinocchios journey is fraught with peril.
Some capture the spirit of the original story beautifully, offering enchanting worlds and characters.
Others are disturbingly inept, and make you wonder how they were ever green-lit in the first place.
The films are as vast as the creature that swallows Pinocchio whole.
24.Welcome Back Pinocchio(2007)
24.
Of course you havent, but for some reason,Welcome Back Pinocchiohas.
It looks dreadful and displays a complete lack of imagination, with a script that feels impossibly amateur.
They even took the name Jiminy Cricket!
(A Disney creation: The original storys talking insect doesnt have a name.)
23.The New Adventures of Pinocchio(1999)
23.
Pinocchio is very British for some reason and regularly speaks about the importance of enterprise.
To make things even worse, it perpetuates ugly, harmful stereotypes about transgender people.
22.Pinocchio(2015)
22.
The result is jarring, to put it kindly.
Pinocchio regularly looks like hes floating around space.
At least this ugly snoozefest has a sweet old dog.
21.Pinocchio(2022)
21.
Disney is no stranger to remaking its animated classics, and the latest victim isPinocchio.
Theres a slew of dreadful, unimaginative songs and useless new characters that only weigh things down.
This erotic adventure is distressingly wooden, and they missed a trick by not calling itPornocchio.
19.Pinocchio: A True Story(2022)
19.
But father, when can I leave to be on my own?
was the line heard round the world when the trailer forPinocchio: A True Storydropped earlier this year.
Well, just barely, because the film is every bit as lifeless as it looks.
That would be ridiculous, but the talking animals and magic make complete sense, apparently.
Its more emotionally inert romance than exciting adventure, and this Pinocchio sure does like to backflip.
18.Pinocchio(2002)
18.
Unsurprisingly, an older man playing a child puppet is not only off-putting, but reeks of ego.
Thats a real shame, because the set design and costumes are tremendous, brilliantly evoking a fairytale aesthetic.
Apparently, the recut English version is even worse.
17.Pinocchio 3000(2004)
17.
Human characters live in the uncanny valley: Everyone else looks like a childhood nightmare monster.
and the characters are barely developed.
Sure, the film offers something different, but why does it have to be so drab?
16.Pinocchio(1992)
16.
The most distinctive thing here is that this puppet come to life absolutely loves to cry and whine.
Seriously, Pinocchio doesnt stop whining!
Its a torturous (and committed) vocal performance.
The animation is uninspired and the plot is by-the-numbers with no new twists or turns.
15.The Adventures of Pinocchio(1996)
15.
Even the work of Jim Hensons Creature Shop cant prevent Pinocchio from looking like an experiment gone wrong.
14.Pinocchio(1911)
14.
A madcap, breakneck-paced Pinocchio with an impressive commitment to animal costumes.
One of Italys earliest feature films, its often surreal, absurd, and thrilling.
Collodis nephew, Paolo Lorenzini, tried to sue Disney but was unsuccessful and wrote this 1947 version instead.
There are some interesting effects for its age, but time hasnt been particularly kind to this straightforward adaptation.
12.Turlis Abenteuer(1969)
12.
But as family-friendly versions of Pinocchio go, you could do a lot worse.
11.The Adventures of Pinocchio(1984)
11.
Unfortunately, the animation is dated and the voice work is suspect, which all-too-frequently dulls the emotional impact.
Theres also a literal war on Christmas, so maybe your problematic uncle will love it.
10.The Adventures of Pinocchio(1972)
10.
The film is anchored with a wonderful performance from Nino Manfredi, who imbues so much humanity into Geppetto.
Its hard to make talking to a puppet feel genuine and heartfelt, but Manfredi does it with ease.
The miniseries its cut from is even longer, at over five hours.
9.Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night(1987)
9.
Former Disney animator Hal SutherlandsPinocchio and the Emperor of the Nightis actually a sequel to the Collodi tale.
It is a fun new adventure for Pinocchio enthusiasts.
8.The Adventures of Pinocchio(1971)
8.
Like Geppetto bringing Pinocchio to life, this 1971 Italian animation feels like it was made with love.
It follows Collodis original story faithfully, without leaning too heavily into the darkness until the all-important transformation sequence.
Its striking character designs and narration separate it from the crowd.
Italian animator Giuliano Cencis film attempts to add some real dimension to the lively puppet.
CencisPinocchiois deeply invested in the characters development, which makes its inevitable conclusion feel heartwarming and well-earned.
7.Pinocchios Revenge(1996)
7.
But what if Pinocchio was a cold-blooded murderer?
And yet, it works.
If lovingPinnochios Revengeis wrong, I dont want to be right.
6.Pinocchio(2012)
6.
Its super sweet, but not afraid to dive into the books darker aspects (which are plentiful).
Its one of the more family-friendly versions of the story and offers plenty to charm adults as well.
5.Pinocchio in Outer Space(1965)
5.
4.Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio(2022)
4.
Guillermo del Toro has worked on his own version of Collodis story for over a decade.
His passion project is finally here, and its worth the wait.
Its an effective tool that offers a scathing critique of fascism, matching well with the wonderfully anti-authority Pinocchio.
3.The Adventures of Buratino(1959)
3.
Much of Ivano-Vanovs work is lost, butThe Adventures of Buratinois an excellent starting point to discover his talent.
This is a lovely, whimsical odyssey that doesnt waste a second of its 67-minute runtime.
2.Pinocchio(2019)
2.
Theres noPinocchiofilm that perfects the balance of creepiness and heartfelt better than Matteo Garrones.
Just look at Pinocchio no other film has made the character more convincing as a puppet come to life.
Add in a gorgeous score by Dario Marianelli, and you have a wondrous if overlong movie.
1.Pinocchio(1940)
1.
Could it be anything else?
No other Pinocchiofilm recognizes just how grotesquely evil the coachman is.
None have a better donkey transformation sequence, which is downright blood-curdling.
Its not just a hugely entertaining, perfectly paced film its also an incredible work of art.
Its not just the best Pinocchio movie: Its one of the best films ever made.
