In 1969, a genre legend was born. Before we had Pennywise, Ghostface, Chucky, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, or even Leatherface, we had the best supernatural fighting presence the world has ever known. I am, of course, talking about Scooby-Doo and his doting owners at Mystery Incorporated, who we've laughed along with as they've unmasked villain after villain for more than 50 years.
The Scooby-Doo franchise has spanned hundreds of episodes fighting ghouls of all shapes and sizes, as well as 42 films, including five feature-length installments and two live-action adaptations with genre icons Matthew Lillard and Sarah Michelle Gellar, not to mention Freddie Prinze Jr. and Linda Cardellini.
Five Nights At Freddy's star Lillard has even confirmed he's on board for another Scooby-Doo project that's currently in the works, telling Toonado: “I'm really excited about [Scooby-Doo]. I can't really talk about it yet, but there's a new project I'm associated with that will allow kids to put themselves into a Scooby-Doo adventure. That's super fun. For me, that's my day job. It's my bread and butter.” Could this be the next Netflix live-action Scooby series we've been promised, or are we getting double the Scoob for our Snax
You would think across so much content you'd have some real stinkers in the bunch – and of course, quality across the world of Scooby-Doo does ebb and flow – but overall, it's a pretty solid franchise when it comes to blending its spooky and comedic themes. Though while it dips, it just as equally soars, and some films stand out among the bunch as the absolute best of the best. Here are the top 9 Scooby-Doo films to get acquainted with the gang.
-
Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare (2010)
Perfect for the spooky summer months (Halloween is year-round, after all), take a trip to Camp Scare with this 2010 Scooby-Doo! flick. Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare sees the gang head to Fred's childhood summer camp, Camp Little Moose, to be camp counselors. However, they soon discover the terrifying ghost stories told around the campfire are all too real when they discover the campers were scared away by the legend of the Woodsman – a former camp counselor seeking revenge on all who visit after being driven insane by endless pranks.
Camp Scare is the perfect introduction to the slasher genre for young fans, complete with classic horror tropes such as a mysterious monster picking off campers, scary stories around the fire, and even a historic legend that serves as the villain's origin story. It's full of the classic goofy humor we know and love from the franchise, as well as genuine spooky moments paying homage to the slasher greats.
Scooby-Doo! And The Loch Ness Monster (2004)
The gang jets off to the United Kingdom to explore a real cultural legend in Scooby-Doo! And The Loch Ness Monster. Rather than exploring Fred's past, this film sees the gang visit Daphne's cousin Shannon and watch the Highland Games. While there, they are told about the tales of the Loch Ness Monster, which is terrorizing the locals, with the Mystery Inc. crew resolving to separate fact from fiction.
The use of a real-life legend makes for an interesting watch, and, what's more, it doesn't end with the usual mask pull revealing a mundane side character who was behind the hijinks all along. Instead, viewers are left to make up their own minds as to whether the Loch Ness Monster is real or not – as Velma says, some mysteries are best left unsolved. The villain is also interesting compared to your usual Scooby-Doo antagonist, feeling more fleshed out and multi-dimensional. But that's not to say the usual mischief and madness we've come to love the series for isn't present – there are quips and wild chases aplenty.
Scooby-Doo and The Ghoul School (1988)
Don't try and tell me you didn't dream of going to The Ghoul School. No? Just me, then. Created as part of the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 series, Scooby-Doo and The Ghoul School follows Shaggy, Scooby, and a slightly less irritating than usual Scrappy hired as gym teachers at Miss Grimwood's Finishing School for Girls. There, they discover the pupils are far from normal – they're monsters, with Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster's daughters among the pupils. The lovable students are put in peril when an evil witch attempts to kidnap them, leaving the mystery-busting trio to protect their newfound ghoulish friends.
This is one for the classic Hollywood movie monster lovers who are also pretty partial to some Scooby-Doo charm. It probably has one of the least memorable plots of the franchise, but the heart at its center is enough to carry the entire film. The students are adorable, and their bond with Shaggy, Scooby, and even Scrappy is enough to warm even the coldest heart of the seasoned horror lover.
Scooby-Doo and The Alien Invaders (2000)
Rather than grounded with classic horror ghosts and ghouls, Scooby-Doo blasts off into space with Scooby-Doo and The Alien Invaders for an out-of-this-world adventure. While driving the gang through a sandstorm, Shaggy accidentally drives onto government property before a UFO sighting causes him to crash near a small town. They investigate the mysterious sighting, with Shaggy and Scooby discovering more than extraterrestrial life when they meet hippy photographer Crystal and her golden retriever Amber, falling head over heels (or paws) in love.
Shaggy and Scooby's respective love stories are an adorable and believable direction to take their characters in, and provide some heartache amid the laughs and frights as it becomes abundantly clear Crystal is hiding a huge secret from Shaggy that threatens their relationship. There are plenty of campy science fiction references for the film buffs to cackle over, and some of Scooby-Doo's most memorable villains in the red-eyed, puke-green alien invaders.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
Despite being met with some backlash at the time of its release, the 2002 James Gunn live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo is a favorite among many franchise fans – and it's easy to see why. From animation to the flesh, the gang heartbreakingly becomes victims of their own success and break up. Two years later, they reunite when they're invited to the Spooky Island resort, created by the eccentric Emile Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson). While there, they investigate unusual occurrences and uncover an ancient evil at the heart of it all…Or do they?
Grossing a mammoth $275 million at the box office, Scooby-Doo still retains everything that made it great at the time of its release. Real-life lovers Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar bring electric chemistry to Fred and Daphne, while Linda Cardellini is captivating as the strong-willed and big-brained boffin Velma. But the real standout is Matthew Lillard as lovable hippy Shaggy, with him going on to voice the character in several animated films, games, and TV series. The story of Monster Island is captivating – and who can say they never wished it was a real holiday resort? The monsters themselves still stand up pretty well more than two decades since the film's release, and their mythology is one of the most fascinating in the film series. Fans heavily criticized the ending of Scooby-Doo, but it perfectly captured the spirit of the bizarre reveals we're used to and endearingly pokes fun at the franchise's tropes.
Scooby-Doo and The Cyber Chase (2001)
Scooby-Doo and The Cyber Chase was truly ahead of its time. Move over The Simpsons, because this film criticized the digital hellscape we'd be plunged into more than 20 years before we were even there. Mystery Inc. visits their old friend Eric, who invites them to see the prize-winning computer game he's entered at his college's science fair. They learn that a Phantom Virus materialized in the game before inadvertently being unleashed onto campus. Of course, the gang beams into the game when the Phantom Virus uses Eric's laser, and from there they have to beat each level to escape.
The Cyber Chase is a unique take on a traditional monster story, with a modern twist taking us into the cyberage and the real-life worry of viruses invading our beloved computer systems. The video game references are engaging and work well alongside heavier topics like cyber-security, data protection, and our reliance on technology. We're also treated to appearances from some Scooby-Doo veterans in the mix. It's also worth noting this is the final film produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera before Hanna's death.
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
Two years after the release of Scooby-Doo, Monsters Unleashed came to screens with more monsters than you could shake a stick at, and who could forget Velma in THAT red latex catsuit? Lillard, Prinze Jr., Gellar, and Cardellini returned as Mystery Inc. following the events of Spooky Island, where they've been propelled to fame once more. At the opening of an exhibition dedicated to their solved cases at the Coolsonian Criminology Museum, their celebrations are cut short when a mysterious masked figure steals two costumes using the reanimated Pterodactyl Ghost. They are smeared by journalist Heather How for failing to stop the attacker, while they have to revisit their old cases to deduce which old face is bringing the fresh spate of crimes.
There's plenty to love about this film – from the full-throttle action sequences to the poignant moments where the gang deals with impostor syndrome and feelings of inadequacy. Despite having some of the series' most fantastical monsters and the most conniving villain, it is the most human Mystery Inc. appears as their flaws are displayed for all to see, as they come to terms with not being perfect, crime-fighting machines and rediscover their raw passion for justice. It's odd, hilarious, and endearing all in one dark, ghostly package. What better representation of Scooby-Doo is there? Well, there are two more…
Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost (1999)
Not only was I desperate to head to Ghoul School, but I also based my entire childhood personality (and also adulthood) on becoming a Hex Girl thanks to Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost. Horror writer Ben Ravencroft (hello, obvious nod to Stephen King) invites the gang to his town, Oakhaven, which Mayor Corey has converted into a tourist attraction based on the ghost of Sarah Ravencroft. Sarah, an ancestor of Ben's, was persecuted as a witch and executed by the townspeople, with Ben insisting that she was not a witch but a Wiccan who endeavored to heal the sick. After Scooby and Shaggy are chased by Sarah's ghost, they are drawn to a gothic rock band named the Hex Girls, which the gang soon believes to be witches.
Aside from the gang, Hex Girls Dusk, Thorn, and Luna are arguably the most iconic characters from the entire Scooby-Doo franchise, single-handedly the source of many young viewers' goth awakening. Their self-titled song is a certified banger, while their characters introduce the Wiccan elements to the story, making it the perfect spooky Halloween Scooby pick. The Witch's Ghost embraces the '90s aesthetic to its fullest potential alongside its timely horror references, the character design, and the dramatic plot that Stephen King himself would be proud of. We're even treated to Tim Curry as the mysterious, deliciously camp Ravencroft, who provides much of the film's hilarious moments – but even his magnetic presence couldn't overshadow the Hex Girls.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
Which other Scooby-Doo film could possibly top the list? Released in 1998, Zombie Island is often referred to as the best and most popular film of the franchise thanks to its slapstick fun, wild narrative, and genuinely scary moments that revolutionized the franchise. Much like Scooby-Doo, the iconic film begins with the gang splitting up and living their own lives after becoming bored with their villains always turning out to be humans in costumes. They reunite for Daphne's birthday and embark across the US on a road trip scouting haunted locations for her and Fred's wildly popular TV series. They arrive in New Orleans after being invited to check out Moonscar Island by Lena Dupree, who alleges the place is haunted by the pirate Morgan Moonscar. Though skeptical, they soon find themselves living a nightmare when they encounter Moonscar's zombified remains – and the undead members of his crew.
There's so much right with this film – from the ghoulish zombies to the unmasking of the real villains behind it all, arguably the most dastardly villains the gang has ever come across. It gave children across the globe nightmares thanks to the design of the zombies themselves (honestly, Scooby-Doo didn't have to go that hard) with the film notably utilizing real supernatural villains rather than once again – to the gang's relief, I'm sure – giving us a bad guy in an elaborate costume. The story has a tangible sense of peril, with Scooby-Doo's signature bizarre humor cutting through the tension to deliver some of the most laughable moments. If none of that tickles your fancy, you won't get the “It's Terror Time Again” scene or song out of your head after watching. It's a cinematic masterpiece.
