Honestly, trying to map out every single one of the my little pony movies is like trying to organize a stampede of caffeinated pink ponies. It’s chaotic. You have decades of history, multiple "generations" that don't always talk to each other, and a weird period where everyone suddenly turned into high schoolers with magical ears.
Most people think it all started with the 2017 blockbuster featuring Emily Blunt and Sia. It didn't. Not even close. If you grew up in the 80s, your version of a "pony movie" involved a sentient purple goo called the Smooze trying to consume Dream Castle. If you’re a Gen Z fan, you probably started with the 3D-animated A New Generation on Netflix. The point is, the franchise is a sprawling, multi-generational beast. It’s not just for kids, and it’s certainly not just one continuous story.
The 1986 Original: Darker Than You Remember
Let’s go back. 1986. Danny DeVito is voicing a creature called the Grundle King.
The original My Little Pony: The Movie was a weirdly dark fantasy epic. It wasn't just about tea parties. It was about an unstoppable oozing mass (the aforementioned Smooze) created by three witches who lived in a place called the Volcano of Gloom. It’s peak 80s animation—gritty, slightly terrifying, and filled with songs that actually slap.
Critically, it was a flop.
It made about $6 million against a much larger budget, which is probably why Hasbro played it safe for nearly thirty years after that. But for collectors, this is the holy grail. It established the "G1" aesthetic that still drives the vintage toy market today. You can't understand the modern my little pony movies without acknowledging that this weird, dark, psychedelic film is the foundation. It’s where the high stakes began.
The Equestria Girls Detour: A Very Weird Choice
Fast forward to 2013. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the biggest thing on the internet. Instead of a theatrical film about ponies, Hasbro releases Equestria Girls.
🔗 Read more: All I Watch for Christmas: What You’re Missing About the TBS Holiday Tradition
Suddenly, Twilight Sparkle goes through a magic mirror and becomes a human teenager.
Fans were... confused. Why take a show about magical horses and turn it into a high school drama? The answer was purely commercial—Hasbro wanted to compete with the Monster High doll line. But something strange happened. The movies actually got good. Rainbow Rocks (2014) is legitimately cited by many critics and fans as having some of the best music in the entire franchise.
It’s an outlier in the catalog of my little pony movies. It’s basically a spin-off universe where magic exists in a world of lockers and cafeterias. If you’re watching these in order, this is where the timeline splits. You have the "Pony" world and the "Human" world. They rarely cross over after the first few films, but for a solid four years, this was the primary cinematic output for the brand.
The 2017 Reset and the Power of Star Power
When people search for my little pony movies, they usually mean the 2017 theatrical release. This was the big one. Lionsgate put some serious muscle behind it.
Look at this cast:
- Emily Blunt as Tempest Shadow (the broken-horned villain)
- Liev Schreiber as the Storm King
- Zoe Saldana as Captain Celaeno
- Uzo Aduba as Queen Novo
The animation style changed too. They moved away from the Flash-based animation of the TV show to a much more lush, traditional 2D look using Toon Boom Harmony. It felt expensive. It felt "theatrical."
💡 You might also like: Al Pacino Angels in America: Why His Roy Cohn Still Terrifies Us
The plot followed a classic "hero's journey" structure. Twilight Sparkle and her friends are forced out of their home by an invading army and have to travel across the desert, the sea, and a mountain of hippogriffs to save the day. It didn’t reinvent the wheel. It stayed safe. But for the "Brony" fandom and the millions of kids watching at the time, it was the peak of the "Friendship is Magic" era.
The G5 Shift: Netflix and the 3D Revolution
Things changed again in 2021. The "Generation 4" characters (Twilight, Pinkie Pie, etc.) were retired.
My Little Pony: A New Generation introduced us to Sunny Starscout. This was a massive technical leap. No more 2D. We moved into high-fidelity 3D CGI.
The film tackled some surprisingly heavy themes for a movie about colorful horses. It’s set in a future where the different types of ponies—Earth ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasi—have become segregated by fear and prejudice. Magic has disappeared. Sunny, an Earth pony, has to prove that friendship isn't just a fairy tale.
Vanessa Hudgens and James Marsden took over the lead roles. The movie was a massive hit for Netflix, consistently ranking in their Top 10 for weeks. It successfully bridged the gap between the old fans and a brand-new generation of kids who find the older 2D style "dated."
Why the Continuity is a Total Mess
If you’re trying to find a "viewing order" for my little pony movies, honestly? Don't bother.
📖 Related: Adam Scott in Step Brothers: Why Derek is Still the Funniest Part of the Movie
The 1986 film is its own thing.
The 2017 film exists within the Friendship is Magic TV show timeline (specifically between seasons 7 and 8).
The 2021 film (A New Generation) is technically a distant sequel to the 2017 world, but it’s set hundreds of years in the future.
The lore is loose. Writers at Hasbro have admitted that they prioritize the "spirit" of the characters over rigid Tolkien-esque world-building. For example, in the G5 movie, we see artifacts from the G4 era, like a ruined version of Twilight Sparkle's castle. But how the world went from a magical utopia to a segregated wasteland is never fully explained in the movies. You have to dive into the comics and IDW publishing runs to get those answers.
Actionable Insights for Collectors and Parents
If you're diving into this world, whether for nostalgia or for your kids, there are a few things you should actually do to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch 'Rainbow Rocks' even if you hate the concept. Most people skip the Equestria Girls movies because the "human" designs look weird. Don't. The soundtrack is genuinely impressive and it features some of the best character development for Sunset Shimmer, who eventually became a fan-favorite.
- Check the 'Make Your Mark' Specials. On Netflix, the G5 movie was followed by several "specials" that are essentially mini-movies. Bridlewoodstock is the standout there.
- Don't ignore the 40th Anniversary content. Hasbro has been releasing shorts that lean heavily into "G1" nostalgia. If you liked the 1986 vibe, these are for you.
- Verify the platform. These movies are scattered. The 2017 film is often on Hulu or Paramount+, while the newer 3D films are strictly Netflix originals. The 80s movie is hardest to find legally, usually requiring a physical DVD purchase or a deep dive into niche streaming services like Tubi.
The landscape of my little pony movies is constantly shifting. With a new "G5" series currently in production and rumors of another theatrical push by 2027, the "Pony Cinematic Universe" isn't slowing down. Just don't expect a perfectly linear timeline. It’s all about the "magic of friendship," even if that magic sometimes requires a total reboot of the universe every ten years.
To get started, track down the 2017 film first. It’s the best entry point for understanding why this franchise has such a massive, dedicated adult following while still keeping its core audience of children entertained. From there, jump forward to A New Generation to see where the brand is heading next.