Don Bluth's The Land Before Time is arguably one of the darkest children's movies ever made and yet, it's probably one of the 1980s cartoons that are remembered to this day and even beloved despite its downsides. Indeed, it's quite a charming story with its dynamic animation and likable characters.
What not everyone knows, however, is that the original animated movie had spawned an entire franchise with thirteen direct-to-video sequels with the first one released in 1994, six years after the original, and the last one released in 2016. Some of these were more successful than others and, consequently, were better received.
10 Journey Through The Mists (1996) - 5.8
The fourth movie in the franchise, Journey Through the Mists was directed by Roy Allen Smith who also directed the second and third installments. Nominated for two Annie Awards, it was the last one to feature the original voice cast.
After Littlefoot's grandfather falls ill, only a certain golden flower will be able to cure him. Because the flower only grows in the land of the Mists, Littlefoot and his friends — along with newcomer Ali — embark on a journey to find it.
9 The Big Freeze (2001) - 5.9
Nominated for several awards, The Big Freeze is the eighth movie in The Land Before Time franchise and was directed by Charles Grosvenor who would direct movies in the franchise from the fifth to the twelfth installment.
The dinosaur families get trapped in a valley by an ice storm, but because there is not enough food, the "spike tail" dinosaurs decide to leave because they eat the most. Littlefoot and his friends set out to bring back Spike who had left with his own species.
8 The Secret Of Saurus Rock (1998) - 5.9
Also directed by Grosvenor, The Secret of Saurus Rock is the sixth movie in the franchise. Interestingly, this was the last movie in the franchise to use traditional cel animation as well as the last overseas animation work of the South Korean studio AKOM — known for working on The Simpsons and X-Men among others.
Littlefoot's grandpa tells him about a mythical hero called the Lone Dinosaur while Cera gets two cousins to care for. As the story goes on, the kids damage the Saurus Rock and must now repair it before bad luck spreads.
7 The Great Valley Adventure (1994) - 5.9
The second movie in the franchise, The Great Valley Adventure was the first one directed by Smith and the first one to be animated by AKOM. Like all the sequels in the franchise, the tone was significantly lighter than in the original, and musical numbers were added here and there. The Great Valley Adventure was also nominated for an Annie Award.
As Littlefoot and his friends are playing in the valley, they notice two thieves stealing an egg. They save the egg and get a new friend once it hatches.
6 Journey Of The Brave (2016) - 6.0
The most recent release and fourteenth movie in the franchise, Journey of the Brave was the first movie to be released after a long break since the thirteenth movie was released in 2007.
Littlefoot's father returns to the valley with his herd once a year and Littlefoot is eagerly waiting for his arrival. But once he learns that his father is stranded in the wild, Littlefoot and his friends set out to find and rescue him.
5 The Great Day Of The Flyers (2006) - 6.0
Also directed by Grosvenor, The Great Day of the Flyers is the twelfth movie in the franchise and was the first sequel to be filmed in widescreen and the second one to have a slow-motion scene.
Littlefoot's friend Petrie is getting ready for the Day of the Flyers when he must prove that he is ready to fly with the adults, but he is nervous because he knows that he constantly flies out of formation.
4 The Stone Of Cold Fire (2000) - 6.0
The seventh movie in the franchise, The Stone of Cold Fire, was once again directed by Grosvenor, was the first movie to not feature John Ingle's narration, and was nominated for several awards.
Something strange crashes in the valley and Littlefoot, along with his friends, sets out to look for it. They are joined by Petrie's uncle who believes the object to be the stone of cold fire which has powerful abilities.
3 The Mysterious Island (1997) - 6.0
Praised for its score and songs, The Mysterious Island is the fifth movie in the franchise and the first one directed by Grosvenor. It featured a new voice cast with Aria Curzon winning the Young Artist Award for Outstanding Young Voice-Over.
A swarm of "leaf-gobblers" destroys all food in the valley, so the dinosaurs set out to find a different place to live. Along the way, Littlefoot and his friends end up on an island where they reunite with Chomper and his parents.
2 The Great Longneck Migration (2003) - 6.2
The tenth movie in the franchise, The Great Longneck Migration, was yet again directed by Grosvenor and was nominated for two awards. It was also the first movie in the franchise to have fully computer-generated dinosaurs.
Littlefoot and his grandparents find out that someone from Littlefoot's life is still alive — his father. Now, Littlefoot must choose whether he will stay with his father or live with his friends in the valley.
1 The Land Before Time (1988) - 7.4
Obviously, no other installment in the franchise can beat the original movie. With Steven Spielberg as executive producer, The Land Before Time could be considered the predecessor to Spielberg's Jurassic Park, though the animated movie can definitely stand on its own.
The story follows a group of five young dinosaurs of different species who become friends as they try to survive in the dangerous prehistoric world.
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