Some of the best kids movies have been around for many years. Now that we have video streaming services, it’s easier than ever to watch the best children’s movies.
Classic animated films like The Lion King and Snow White have captivated audiences for decades, while new animated films like Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled have shown us what modern animation can do.
Of course, there are also plenty of live-action kids movies out there, from E.T. to The Goonies.
We should also mention all of the kid’s superhero movies out there. There are plenty of great kids movies based on superheroes – including Marvel movies like The Avengers and X-Men.
Best Kids Movies
What Are kids movies?
Kids movies are movies that are made for children. They are usually either animated features or live-action features that do not contain any overly scary scenes or graphic violence.
Kids movies usually contain a lot of humor and family values, and in some cases the story is intended to teach an important lesson about life.
A good example of a kids movie is Disney’s The Little Mermaid. This is one of Disney’s many animated films, which were made with the intent to appeal to both children and adults.
Best Kids Movies
Many movies are appropriate for kids. Here are some movies that we feel are the best films for children.
Have you seen them all?
The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated epic musical film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
It is the 32nd Disney animated feature film and the fifth animated film produced during a period known as the Disney Renaissance.
The Lion King was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, produced by Don Hahn, and has a screenplay credited to Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. Its original songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with a score composed by Hans Zimmer.
The Lion King tells the story of Simba, a young lion who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as king; however, after Simba’s uncle Scar murders Mufasa, Simba is manipulated into thinking he was responsible and ran away into exile.
Upon maturation living with two wastrels, Simba is given some valuable perspective from his childhood friend, Nala, and his shaman guide, Rafiki, before returning to challenge Scar to end his tyranny.
The Lion King garnered two Academy Awards for its achievement in music and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. The film also won three Grammy Awards for its soundtrack album.
- blu-ray
- blu ray
- trilogy
- Matthew Broderick, Rowan Atkinson, Johnathan Taylor Thomas (Actors)
- Roger Allers (Director) - Don Hahn (Producer)
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a 2001 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus, based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling.
The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.
It is the first film in the Harry Potter series and chapter 1 of the popular book series.
The film follows Harry’s first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when he discovers that he is a famous wizard and begins his education.
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson (Actors)
- Chris Columbus (Director) - Steve Kloves (Writer) - David Heyman (Producer)
- English, French (Playback Language)
- English, French (Subtitles)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) is a science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison, and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial tells the story of Elliott (Thomas), a lonely boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, dubbed E.T., who is stranded on Earth. Elliott and his siblings help E.T. return to his home planet while attempting to keep him hidden from their mother and the government.
Development began after Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). In 1980, Spielberg met Mathison and developed a new story from a previous idea titled Night Skies.
Unlike most films, it was shot in roughly chronological order; after completing principal photography, Spielberg edited the film alongside editor Carol Littleton while they viewed dailies at Mathison’s house over six months.
- Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace (Actors)
- Steven Spielberg (Director) - Melissa Mathison (Writer) - Steven Spielberg (Producer)
- French, Spanish (Subtitles)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Star Wars (1977)
What happens when you mix a galaxy far, far away with the Hollywood film industry? You get Star Wars. One of the most iconic films of all time, Star Wars, was made in 1977 by director George Lucas.
Audiences were taken on an adventure to a galaxy far, far away, where they watched as Luke Skywalker and his friends fought against Darth Vader and the Empire.
This science-fiction classic had it all: daring space battles, alien creatures, and familiar characters that you could root for. The movie is beloved by many people around the world and has impacted pop culture.
Star Wars (1977) was a smash hit at its premiere, but it wasn’t until years later that it became a truly great movie.
It was re-released in theaters multiple times with improved special effects, which helped make Star Wars (1977) what it is today. It is still popular on TV, especially during the holidays when families gather to watch this great film together.
Star Wars (1977) may have been the start of a franchise for Lucas, but he didn’t stop there. He took audiences to new planets with The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and closed out the trilogy with Return of the Jedi in 1983. These three movies would lay the groundwork for the prequels.
- Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley (Actors)
- Rian Johnson (Director) - Ram Bergman (Producer)
- Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
Queen Of Katwe
So much of this film’s success rests on the shoulders of its charming leading lady. Lupita Nyong’o is a revelation as Mama.
When she’s not serving as a stern disciplinarian, she’s a warm and supportive parent who genuinely loves her children and will go to any length to ensure their success.
The actress imbues her character with a wonderful sense of humanity, even when standing up for herself.
In truth, it’s hard not to love her. Watching her intently stare at Phiona (newcomer Madina Nalwanga) as she wakes up from a nightmare or marvel at the girl’s first game is heartwarming in ways that really shouldn’t be.
Her most impressive scene comes towards the end of the film when Phiona has made it to the national level and finds herself being praised by everyone around her.
She sits quietly in the middle of that adulation, awkwardly munching on a banana while all eyes are on her, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. It’s a great moment that captures what it must feel like to become an overnight sensation at such a young age, something Lupita conveys without saying a word.
The Goonies (1985)
The Goonies is a 1985 American coming-of-age adventure film directed by Richard Donner and produced by Harvey Bernhard. Written by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg, the film was set in the then-future year of 1985 and was shot in Astoria, Oregon, and other locations around the Oregon Coast.
Chris Columbus wrote it from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. The film’s protagonists are teenagers who belong to a close-knit “family” of friends and frequently call upon one another for help rather than adults.
Production for The Goonies began in August 1983 and finished filming in October 1984. Following an intense marketing campaign, The Goonies was released on June 7, 1985, in 1,337 theaters nationwide and earned $6 million on its opening weekend.
It quickly became a popular success with both children and their parents. It made $61 million during its domestic theatrical run and eventually became the 12th highest-grossing film of 1985 in the United States.
The film received praise from reviewers who appreciated the acting efforts of the young cast and credited Spielberg for adding humor and heart to the adventure film genre which he had helped bring into popularity with films like Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and E.
- Factory sealed DVD
- Josh Brolin, Sean Astin (Actors)
- Richard Donner (Director) - Steven Spielberg (Producer)
- Dutch, French, Spanish (Subtitles)
- English (Publication Language)
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
The Mitchells, a family of six from rural southern Georgia, had been coming to the Olive Garden for 20 years, ever since their son was a toddler.
They were regulars on Tuesday night; most weeks, they ate there twice and on special occasions, as many as four times. Their kids all had the “never-ending pasta bowl” every time it was offered, and the youngest girls had their plates with pictures of Disney princesses on them.
They’d ordered for years with no problem. But tonight, sometime after the salad course came out, the hostess asked Mr. Mitchell if he would mind switching to a different table. The one they were sitting at was going to be used by someone else.
The Mitchells were confused; they knew there were other open tables in the restaurant. They asked why they couldn’t stay where they were sitting — after all, it was just a couple of kids coloring on the tablecloth – but the hostess insisted this was impossible.
If he didn’t want to move to another table, she said, he could take his family outside and eat under an awning or at least wait until they cleaned off the table first.
- Mike Rianda (Director) - Phil Lord (Producer)
- English, Portuguese, French, Spanish (Subtitles)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo is a 2003 American computer-animated adventure film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
Written and directed by Andrew Stanton with co-direction by Lee Unkrich, the film stars the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, and Willem Dafoe.
It tells the story of the overprotective ocellaris clownfish named Marlin who, along with a regal blue tang named Dory, searches for his abducted son Nemo in Sydney Harbour. Along the way, Marlin learns to take risks and let Nemo take care of himself.
The film was released in North America on May 30, 2003, and in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2003.
The film received universal acclaim from critics. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, making it the second animated film to ever win the award after Beauty and the Beast (1991).
Finding Nemo became the best-selling DVD of 2004, with over 40 million copies sold as of 2006, and was the highest-grossing G-rated movie of all time before Pixar’s own Toy Story 3 overtook it.
- Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould (Actors)
- Andrew Stanton (Director) - Andrew Stanton (Writer)
- Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)
The Baby-Sitters Club is a 1995 American drama film based on a series of novels written by Ann M. Martin. The movie follows Kristy Thomas (played by Larisa Oleynik) as she creates and leads a club in her town.
The club consists of five other girls, Mary Anne Spier (played by Schuyler Fisk), Claudia Kishi (played by Karen Kopin’s), Stacey McGill (played by Lark Voorhies), Dawn Schafer (played by Jennifer Grey), and Jessi Ramsey (played by Rachel Lee Graham).
The movie also features a cameo appearance from Ann M. Martin herself, who plays an author in a bookstore who helps Kristy find a book she has been searching for.
The movie was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was released on November 15, 1995, by New Line Cinema. It was directed by Melanie Mayron and produced by Martha Williamson. The movie received negative reviews from critics, and it earned $4 million against its $8 million budget.
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Meghan Andrews, Melissa Chasse, Avriel Hillman (Actors)
- Noel Black (Director) - Jeanne Betancourt (Writer) - Scholastic (Producer)
Coco (2017)
In Mexico, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt) is a famous singer and songwriter who abandoned his family to follow his dreams. The older man is fatally injured in a car accident when he swerves to avoid hitting a boy, whom he later learns is his great-great-grandson Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez).
In the Land of the Dead, Miguel meets Hector (Gael García Bernal), a friendly skeleton who works as a tour guide and has tried to get into the Land of the Living for years.
Miguel steals Hector’s guitar and travels to the Land of the Living, where he locates Ernesto’s living family members: daughter Imelda (Alanna Ubach), who runs a shoemaking shop; son Jorge (Gabriel Iglesias), now at work writing a book on music with his wife Carmen (Renée Victor); grandson Antonio (Manny Jacinto), an aspiring musician; and great-granddaughter Rosita (Kristin Chenoweth).
In the Land of the Living, Miguel encounters Héctor, whom he tries to help by giving him back his guitar. Héctor then asks Miguel for help getting back to the Land of the Dead.
- Mike Rianda (Director) - Phil Lord (Producer)
- English, Portuguese, French, Spanish (Subtitles)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Since its release in 1939, “The Wizard of Oz” has become one of the most popular movies. The film won an Academy Award for Best Music and many other awards for its cast and crew. It has become a cultural icon, spawning generations of imitations ranging from movie parodies and allusions to references in songs and television shows.
Tinman, Scarecrow, Dorothy, and the Cowardly Lion set out to see the Wizard of Oz and ask for help for their problems. They meet many strange people on the way to Emerald City. Dorothy gets a pair of silver shoes that she can click together three times to go anywhere she wants to go.
She meets a little person living in a house made out of china who is afraid someone will break her dishes by mistake, so she hides under them. She also meets a group of soldiers made entirely out of tin, including their guns.
When they try to pull the trigger, it makes a noise like tin cans falling downstairs instead of shooting bullets.
When they get through the woods, they run into some flying monkeys with wings on their arms which they flap like birds to fly in the air. Dorothy’s dog Toto runs away because he smells something he wants to chase after.
- Blu-ray
- Blu-ray, NTSC, Full length
- English (Original Language), English (Unknown)
- 1
- 101
Frozen (2013)
Frozen is a 2013 American 3D computer-animated musical fantasy-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
It is the 53rd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, and the first film in the series to be neither produced nor directed by John Lasseter. He had instead served as a supporting executive producer.
The film is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen. It tells the story of a fearless princess who takes an epic journey alongside a rugged iceman, his loyal pet reindeer, and a naïve snowman to find her estranged sister, whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped her in the kingdom of eternal winter.
The film features the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, and Santino Fontana. Christophe Beck was hired to compose the film’s orchestral score, while Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez wrote the lyrics for the songs.
Before this third Frozen that came out recently, I never really paid attention to Kristen Bell or Idina Menzel, but they were both great actresses and singers in this movie! Especially Idina Menzel, who sang Let it go but she also did some cute funny voices too.
- Frozen (Two-disc Blu-ray / DVD + Digital Copy) (2013)
- Chris Buck (Director) - Peter Vecho (Producer)
- French, Spanish, English (Subtitles)
- English (Publication Language)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
The Sound of Music (1965)
The Sound of Music is a 1965 American musical film directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.
The screenplay by Ernest Lehman is based on the 1959 stage musical The Sound of Music, which in turn is based on the memoir of the same title by Maria von Trapp, written with music by Richard Rodgers.
The film, which was made in VistaVision and Technicolor, features songs from the musical score by Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture (the only musical nominated for Best Picture) and Best Director. In 1998, the American Film Institute ranked The Sound of Music as the 54th most excellent American movie of all time, and in 1999 it was ranked as the 36th greatest movie musical.
The Sound of Music was a hit at the 1965 box office; it became the year’s third highest-grossing film in North America after grossing $158 million at the domestic box office (and $286 million worldwide) one of the biggest hits of 1965.
- MUSICAL FEATURES
- Run Time: 176
- Release Date: 2015/03/10
- G
- Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker (Actors)
Inside Out (2015)
Every girl in Riley’s life has a place in her heart, but there’s one person whose place is not inside Riley.
In the mind of a young girl, we see how five emotions steer the way she feels and acts.
The brain’s headquarters control the activities of Riley, an 11-year-old girl who lives in Minnesota with her parents and three younger siblings.
As Riley grows up, her emotions — Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness — help guide her through life’s big transitions. The most important one is when she moves to San Francisco for her father’s new job.
Her Emotions are left to their own devices when Joy and Sadness are ejected from Headquarters during the move.
They must venture through unfamiliar places and meet new friends like Bing Bong, Riley’s childhood imaginary friend; and a lost boy named Bing Bong Jr., to find their way home before Riley turns 11 again and they cease to exist.
Inside Out is a 2015 American 3D computer-animated comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
- Pete Docter (Director) - Jonas Rivera (Producer)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Despicable Me (2010)
Despicable Me opens with a pre-credits sequence that introduces us to Gru (Steve Carell), a supervillain who has been stealing the world’s major superweapons and storing them in his lair.
Accompanied by his diminutive, yellow, three-eyed, goggle-wearing sidekick, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand), Gru is planning his biggest heist yet: the Moon.
Despicable Me is a fun animated film for all ages. Although it is primarily geared toward children, adults will enjoy the cute story and action-packed scenes.
The movie could have been more original with its plotline and characters, but it is still highly entertaining. The most impressive aspect of this movie is its animation.
The quality of the images and colors are spectacular; they are clear and crisp without looking artificial or computerized.
Its clever dialogue, physical comedy, and slapstick scenes designed primarily for younger viewers are also quite humorous.
But adults can still laugh at these parts too because they are not as ridiculous or over-the-top as other animated films produced today.
- Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig (Actors)
- Pierre Coffin (Director) - Chris Meledandri (Producer)
- French, Spanish (Subtitles)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride is a 1987 American romantic comedy fantasy adventure film directed and co-produced by Rob Reiner, starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, and Christopher Guest.
Adapted by William Goldman from his 1973 novel of the same name, it tells the story of a farmhand named Westley, accompanied by companions befriended along the way, who must rescue his true love Princess Buttercup from the odious Prince Humperdinck.
The film effectively preserves the novel’s narrative style by presenting the story as a book being read by a grandfather (Peter Falk) to his sick grandson (Fred Savage).
The film was first released in the United States on September 25, 1987, and was well-received by critics at the time, but was only a modest box office success.
Over time, however, particularly after being aired on cable television in 1989, it has become widely known as one of the most beloved films of all time.
- New 4K digital transfer, with 5.1 surround DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack
- Audio commentary from 1996 featuring director Rob Reiner, screenwriter William Goldman, producer...
- Edited 1987 audiobook reading of Goldman’s novel The Princess Bride by Reiner
- New programs about Goldman’s screenplay and tapestry based on the film
- Archival interviews with Reiner, Goldman, and actors Crystal, Cary Elwes, Christopher Guest, Mandy...
Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story is a computer-animated buddy-comedy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
The feature film directorial debut of John Lasseter was the first entirely computer-animated feature film as well as the first feature film from Pixar.
The screenplay was written by Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow from a story by Lasseter, Pete Docter, Stanton, and Joe Ranft.
The film features music by Randy Newman and was executive-produced by Steve Jobs and Edwin Catmull.
The plot involves Andy Davis receiving a new Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday, causing Sheriff Woody to think that he has been replaced as Andy’s favorite toy.
When Woody attempts to knock Buzz behind a desk, they both fall out of Andy’s bedroom window and into a yard where they come across many plastic playthings belonging to a neighbor named Sid Phillips.
They must escape from Sid’s house before Andy leaves for Cowboy Camp with Woody in tow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNk1Wi8SvNc
- Allen, Tim, Hanks, Tom, Metcalf, Laurie (Actors)
- Lasseter, John (Director)
- Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
The Karate Kid (1984)
The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts drama film directed by John G. Avildsen, written by Robert Mark Kamen, and produced by Jerry Weintraub. It stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, and Elisabeth Shue.
The Karate Kid was a commercial success upon release and garnered critical acclaim, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The film became the first in a series, spawning three sequels (The Karate Kid Part II, The Karate Kid Part III, and The Next Karate Kid) as well as a remake released in 2010.
Daniel moves to Reseda, Los Angeles with his mother Lucille (Randee Heller), who has divorced her husband for his infidelity.
They stay with Lucille’s father, Lou (Martin Kove). Daniel becomes friends with Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue), an attractive high school cheerleader at his school who develops a romantic interest in him.
However, Ali is dating Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), the arrogant captain of the “Cobra Kai” dojo.
- Factory sealed DVD
- Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue (Actors)
- John G. Avildsen (Director) - Robert Mark Kamen (Writer) - Jerry Weintraub (Producer)
- English, French, Portuguese, Spanish (Subtitles)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Mary Poppins (1964)
Mary Poppins is a 1964 American musical-fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney, with songs written and composed by the Sherman Brothers.
The screenplay is by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, loosely based on P. L. Travers’ series Mary Poppins.
The film, which combines live-action and animation, stars Julie Andrews in her feature film debut as Mary Poppins, who visits a dysfunctional family in London and employs her unique brand of lifestyle to improve the family’s dynamic. Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, and Glynis Johns are featured in supporting roles.
The film was shot entirely at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California using painted London background scenes.
In 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
- 50th anniversary edition
- Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke (Actors)
- Robert Stevenson (Director)
- English, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, French (Subtitles)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
When Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, becomes captivated by Christmas, he hatches a plot to take over the Yuletide and conjure up some scary holiday fun. But after a mix-up at the mad scientist Dr. Finklestein’s lab, Jack finds himself with a serious identity crisis that threatens all of Halloween Town!
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 American stop-motion animated musical dark fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton.
The film tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from “Halloween Town”, who opens a portal to “Christmas Town” and tries to bring Christmas under his control.
Sally, a rag doll woman from the real world, is mistakenly sent to “Christmas Town” and is forced to correct Jack’s mistake before he ruins Christmas for the inhabitants of both towns.
Told entirely in rhyme and featuring an all-star voice cast including Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page, and Danny Elfman himself as Jack Skellington, this unique stop-motion feature has become a modern classic in pop culture history!
- Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara (Actors)
- Henry Selick (Director) - Based On A Story And Characters By Tim Burton (Writer)
- English (Subtitle)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Perhaps Robin Williams’ most loved film, Mrs. Doubtfire is the story of a struggling actor who dresses up as a woman to spend more time with his children after a divorce.
Robin Williams stars as Daniel Hillard, an unemployed actor who makes ends meet by playing an eccentric elderly British nanny on TV. Sally Field plays his ex-wife, Miranda Hillard, and Pierce Brosnan plays her love interest Stu Dunemyer.
Mrs. Doubtfire has left an indelible mark on pop culture history. The movie is constantly referred to by other television shows, movies, and even other actors.
It’s also frequently quoted because of its witty script (written by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon) and the talent behind its delivery (Robin Williams’ performance as Mrs. Doubtfire is considered one of his best).
It may not be the best film ever made, but it’s certainly one that’s going to be remembered for years to come.
- Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan (Actors)
- Chris Columbus (Director) - Robin Williams (Producer)
- English (Publication Language)
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)