30 great kids' movies to watch now
With the school holidays in full swing and COVID-19 still restricting where we can go and who we can mix with, millions of parents are looking for something – anything! – to help keep the children occupied.
This list of great kids movies collects together 30 brilliant ways to make sure your young ’uns’ screentime is well spent. You’ll find everything from animated classics like Shrek to ’80s fantasy epics like The NeverEnding Story – as well as a few intriguing oddities.
Because children of different ages have very different tastes, we’ve given each of the best kids’ movies an age range to show who they’re most suitable for. But rest assured that the vast majority of these films have plenty to offer grown up viewers who might be trapped on the sofa with their sprogs.
So put the popcorn in the microwave, turn on the TV, and get your family ready for some great kids’ movies…
Worth showing to your kids as an intriguing experiment, just to see what the hell they make of it. Director of MASH, McCabe & Mrs Miller, Nashville and other classics of Hollywood’s 1970s golden age, Robert Altman seemed an unlikely candidate to direct a live-action version of the long-running cartoon about a sailor who gains super-strength by eating spinach. An early vehicle for the talents of Robin Williams, it’s an uneven affair that bombed on release. But there’s still plenty to like – and at worst, it might get the young ’uns eating their greens.
Age range: 6 – 10
Given the ongoing, seemingly impossible quest to make a decent film based on a video game franchise – the recent Sonic the Hedgehog did as good a job as any – transferring the feathered stars of mobile gaming to the big screen seemed a tough ask. So it proved to be, because while The Angry Birds Movie takes a decent stab at adapting a plot-free game, and the cast is a who’s who of US comedy talent (Jason Sudeikis, Maya Rudolph, Danny McBride, Bill Hader), the jokes are hit and miss, and there’s more than a whiff of cash-in. Not that any of that will bother its target audience…
Age range: 4 – 8
You have to wonder what Beatrix Potter would have made of this 21st century update of her enduring rodent hero – he certainly didn’t wear denim in the original books. The movie sees Peter and his critter chums taking on the great-nephew of original bunny-scourge Mr McGregor, with Domhnall Gleeson successfully transferring his General Hux sneer to kid-friendly pest control. James Corden is slightly miscast as the too-cool-for-school Peter – and the movie courted controversy for its ridiculously cavalier attitude to allergies – but little ’uns will still love it.
Age range: 4 – 8
If you grew up in the ’80s, chances are this adaptation of the Broadway musical was part of the soundtrack to your childhood. Directed by John Huston – the same John Huston who made Humphrey Bogart classics The Maltese Falcon and The African Queen – Annie’s the Great Depression-set story of an orphan who gets taken in by billionaire Daddy Warbucks, a man eager to improve his PR. The plot is undoubtedly by-the-numbers stuff, but don’t say we didn’t warn you when a couple of the catchier tunes get embedded in your brain. If it’s good enough for Jay-Z…
Age range: 6 – 12
Family movies were a very different beast back in the ’90s, and Free Willy is the poster boy for a whole sub-genre of treacly heart-warmers. It’s kinda like ET – albeit without the Spielberg magic – with a killer whale subbing in for the alien as a lonely kid forms an unlikely friendship with an orca in an amusement park. While the park’s owner plots to cash in on Willy, the lad plots to free him (see, it’s not just a clever title), and everybody feels better at the end. Certainly not one for the cynical, but kids will undoubtedly warm to an aquatic star who is definitely not a fish.
Age range: 8 – 13
The most remarkable thing about this Netflix-made, Judd Apatow-produced reboot of the freaky man-child’s adventures is that 60-something star Paul Reubens still looks the part – you can thank some impressive digital trickery for that. Otherwise it’s a faithful, good-natured return to the movie franchise Tim Burton kicked off with the cult classic Pee-wee’s Big Adventure back in 1985 – though Big Holiday is so idiosyncratic that it’s liable to leave newcomers a tad befuddled.
Age range: 6 – 10
As the driving force behind movies like ET and The Goonies, Steven Spielberg was regarded as a Peter Pan of cinema when he crafted this sequel to J.M. Barrie’s classic novel about a boy who never grew up. The twist? Pan has grown up and become a corporate lawyer who looks a lot like Robin Williams – so it’s all a bit awkward when Captain Hook kidnaps his kids. Despite being regarded as one of the misfires of Spielberg’s career, Hook does have its moments, with some memorable set-pieces and stunning set design. Williams goes a bit heavy on the schmaltz, but co-stars Julia Roberts (Tinker Bell), Dustin Hoffman (Hook) and Bob Hoskins (Smee) are bang on the money.
Age range: 6 – 10
If there’s one thing traditional stop-motion does better than a computer it’s creating freaky, other-worldly creatures. And so, following on from the macabre Coraline and ParaNorman, Laika’s third feature-length offering makes heroes out of a bunch of grotesque trolls dressed in cardboard. Game of Thrones’ Isaac Hempstead Wright plays a kid who was taken in by the Boxtrolls as a nipper, and now spends his time convincing the human residents of Cheesebridge that the trolls are all right really. Though, seeing as they have a penchant for stealing delicious cheese, that may be a tough ask…
Age range: 7 – 10
To anyone introduced to A Series of Unfortunate Events by three seasons of the Netflix show, this Jim Carrey vehicle may feel like it’s treading old ground. Even so, there’s plenty to like in this visually stunning take on Daniel Handler’s Lemony Snicket novels. Carrey is given full licence to overact as the sinister Count Olaf, trying to scheme his way to the orphaned Baudelaire siblings’ fortune. While the movie lacks some of the snark of the novels, it successfully channels the essence of Tim Burton and Roald Dahl.
Age range: 8 – 12
The executive producing dream team of Steven Spielberg and Back to the Future director Robert Zemeckis team up for a CG-animated movie that harks back to their ’80s glory days. There’s an undeniable Goonies vibe (no bad thing) to this performance-captured tale of a bunch of kids who find their way into a creepy house at the end of their street, and end up on an adventure. It’s funny, the characters are relatable and – crucially – it keeps the scares firmly in PG territory.
Age range: 8 – 12
With hundreds of books, and hundreds of millions of sales, R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series is a publishing phenomenon that almost rivals Harry Potter. But with so much source material to choose from, where would anyone start to turn it into a movie? The ingenious solution here is to make Stine a character in his own right (played by Jack Black) and to take the story in a very meta direction. It turns out that the Goosebumps books have the power to unleash actual monsters – don’t worry, it’s only in the film, not in real-life – and that the author needs to write a new story on a magical typewriter to banish them. Think Stranger Than Fiction with a pre-teen horror edge.
Age range: 8 – 12
Having riffed off video games in the first movie, reformed arcade villain Ralph escapes into the world wide web to repair his diminutive BFF Vanellope von Schweetz’s out-of-guarantee game. While kids will enjoy the lead characters, exciting computer world, and much-publicised Disney Princesses reunion (everyone from Snow White to Moana shows up), there’s arguably more here for grown-ups. Much of the running time is spent spoofing the likes of Google, eBay, and the ultra-violent car racing of Grand Theft Auto, and while it’s not quite as clever as it thinks it is, there’s a satirical edge to the knockabout fun.
Age range: 8 – 12
Steven Spielberg was the king of the family movie in the 1980s, but these days he tends to concentrate on more grown-up fare. He made a rare return with an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic tale of an orphan who befriends a Big Friendly Giant, and the result is sweet and remarkably faithful to the source novel. Spielberg regular Mark Rylance is perfect as the BFG, though even the beautifully realised snozzcumbers, whizzpoppers and trogglehumpers can’t hide the thinness of Dahl’s plot.
Age range: 7 – 10
It may feel like an evolutionary step backwards after stop-motion studio Laika’s dark, complex Kubo and the Two Strings, but there’s still lots to like about their story of a Bigfoot on the hunt for rellies in the Himalayas. Hugh Jackman shows why he should play for laughs more often as dapper, delusional British explorer Sir Lionel Frost, while Emma Thompson crops up as a wonderfully icy Yeti. But as always with Laika, the main thing on your mind is pondering how they managed to create such sophisticated scenes in stop-motion animation. CG isn’t the only kid on the animation block…
Age range: 6 – 10
Released the same year as The Sixth Sense, M Night Shyamalan’s other big script of 1999 is resolutely twist free. Instead, it’s a fun, kid-targeted adaptation of E.B. White’s 1945 novel about a mouse adopted by a human family. Michael J Fox is perfect as the voice of Stuart, a talking rodent who sees plenty of action negotiating the human world. As Stuart drives diminutive vehicles and dodges hungry cats, you find this is one mouse you’re happy to see running around in your front room.
Age range: 4 – 10
Okay, the title’s rather misleading – the running time is a mere 94 minutes – but you can forgive the exaggeration because this is one of the most beloved fantasy movies of the ’80s. A shy, book-loving kid learns that reading isn’t always good for you when he dips into the eponymous library book, and finds himself sucked into the magical world of Fantasia. It’s a world packed with memorable iconography – the child-like princess; the faceless, malevolent Nothing; cute, dog-like dragon Falkor – and all cut from the same cloth as Labyrinth and Return to Oz.
Age range: 8 – 12
Netflix’s first animated feature made a big enough impression to earn itself an Oscar nomination and a Bafta win. This seasonal tale about a wannabe postman who offers to deliver toys for the eponymous toymaker stands out for its very modern take on traditional animation, with the stylised, angular 2D characters augmented by CG flourishes. The script lacks the laughs that are second nature to Pixar – and the PG rating means it’s too dark for toddlers – but it’s still a good way to celebrate Christmas any day of the year.
Age range: 7 – 10
This movie should have been huge. After all, it’s a major Hollywood adaptation of Hergé’s beloved Tintin stories, directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Steven Moffat (who left during production to become showrunner on Doctor Who), Edgar Wright, and Joe Cornish. Uber-fan Peter Jackson was even set to direct the sequel that never came. That it never happened possibly owes more to Uncanny Valley performance capture than it does to storytelling which – like the character design – captures the essence of the graphic novels.
Age range: 8 – 12
Aussie director George Miller’s career is one of extremes. At one end is the bleak post-apocalyptic violence of the Mad Max movies; at the other is family-friendly talking animal fare. Even after the success of sheep-herding pig blockbuster Babe, however, Happy Feet felt like a gear shift – after all, how did anyone conceive a movie about a group of Emperor penguins who spend their time singing classic songs at each other? And the Footloose-inspired rebel among their number who just wants to dance? Beautifully made, moving and with a powerful environmental message, Happy Feet is a bizarre – but entertaining – concoction.
Age range: 6 – 10
Two decades before Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan played avatars in a misbehaving video game, the eponymous gaming franchise was already giving interactive gaming a bad name. Kirsten Dunst plays one of a pair of siblings who play a board game whose every dice roll unleashes numerous species of rampaging jungle animals and a very confused Robin Williams – his character has been trapped in the game since he was a kid. There’s a Spielbergian, Gremlins vibe to the whole thing, and the early CG effects are dated but impressive.
Age range: 8 – 12
It’s the Dracula sequel Bram Stoker never got around to writing – y’know, the one where the Count is the proprietor of a hotel that caters exclusively for werewolves, invisible people, Frankenstein’s monster, and other literary creatures of the night. Dracula’s cosy existence is thrown upside down, however, when his daughter, Mavis, falls for a human guest who unwittingly books a room… Expect a fun movie with a zingy script and top direction from Genndy Tartakovsky, the brains behind Samurai Jack and the first, 2D-animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoon.
Age range: 6 – 12
The breakout stars of the Despicable Me franchise become the headliners of their very own movie, and the fact it’s the highest-grossing non-Disney animated movie of all time suggests they never really needed Gru anyway. This prequel is the origin story for the diminutive yellow hench-things, revealing how their species has devoted their entire species to serving the baddest people in the world – and embroiling them in a plot to steal Queen Elizabeth’s crown. Parents may be left scratching their heads as they look for a plot beyond the slapstick and fart gags, but if you’re under 10, this is like Citizen Kane.
Age range: 6 – 10
No list of great kids’ movies would be complete without some seasonal offerings, because – let’s face it – most tiddlers are happy to get a dose of festive spirit at any time of year. Aardman may have replaced the thumbprint charm of plasticine with a sleeker CG look, but they sacrifice none of their charm as Santa Claus’s clumsy son takes it on himself to deliver the one present his dad forgot. Expect elves, high-tech sleighs, and fun family sniping in a charming movie that delivers at any time of year.
Age range: 6 – 10
Tim Minchin’s superlative West End/Broadway version of Roald Dahl’s classic novel is yet to get the movie treatment. Until it does, Danny DeVito’s movie adaptation can fill the gap. Mara Wilson gives one of the great child performances as Matilda Wormwood, the super-intelligent kid who discovers she has telekinetic powers, and uses them to turn the tables on her beastly parents and headmistress. Movie adaptations of Dahl’s books can be hit-and-miss, but this is one of the best – and if you have an under-10 at home, you won’t find a better role model than Matilda.
Age range: 5 – 10
Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty… Before Robert Rodriguez made Spy Kids, there was nothing on his resumé to suggest he had any intention of making a movie for children. But his pre-teen spin on the Bond formula – where a pair of unwitting kids spring into action when their spy parents are kidnapped by an evil TV host – is action-packed and loaded with ingenious gadgets. It’s also a tiny bit disturbing, with freaky hench-thumbs, lurid CG visuals, and a Roald Dahl-ish vibe – a formula potent enough to spawn two sequels and a TV spin-off.
Age range: 6 – 10
Shaun has come a long way since he was a woolly supporting player in Wallace & Gromit caper A Close Shave. With a successful TV series and a 2015 movie behind him, the ovine hero’s second big screen outing sets its crosshairs on the final frontier when a cute, dog-like alien called Lula crash lands on Mossy Bottom Farm. As ever, the whole thing’s told without dialogue, but you never notice anything missing thanks to Aardman’s flawless claymation and trademark supply of puns and visual gags.
Age range: 3 – 8
Nobody was ever going to match Julie Andrews’ iconic, Oscar-winning performance as the magical nanny, but Emily Blunt gives it a damn good go in a sequel that arrived 54 years after the original. The charming story sees Ms Poppins, well, returning to watch over Michael Banks’s kids, taking them on magical adventures, while making a song and dance about everything. Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda is also up for a jolly holiday as a lamplighter whose bizarre cockney accent feels like a fitting tribute to Dick Van Dyke’s in the original.
Age range: 4 – 12
If you’re going to start introducing children to Martin Scorsese’s back catalogue, Hugo is arguably a better place to start than Goodfellas – much as they’d probably love the swearing. On one level it’s the story of a pair of kids (Asa Butterfield and Chloë Grace Moretz) and their quest to discover the origins of a mysterious mechanical automaton in 1931 Paris. But more than that it’s Scorsese’s love letter to the early days of cinema, with Ben Kingsley turning up as pioneering director Georges Méliès.
Age range: 8 – 12
Given Studio Ghibli’s peerless back catalogue, it would be easy to fill any list of great kids’ movies exclusively with movies from the Japanese masters. That wouldn’t be fair on mere mortals, however, so we’ve just allowed them one slot. It could easily have gone to Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, or Kiki’s Delivery Service, but instead we’ve plumped for My Neighbor Totoro. Why? Kids of any age will love it, everybody needs a friendly wood spirit like Totoro (a Ghibli icon to rival Mickey Mouse), and who wouldn’t want to take a ride on a Catbus?
Age range: 4 – 10
In the early days of CG animation, the trailblazing Pixar tended to have things all their own way. That all changed with Shrek, as DreamWorks rewrote the rules of movie fairytales with the smart, funny, and ever-so-slightly subversive story of a grumpy ogre who turns out to have a heart of gold. The characters are memorable and the voice cast spot on – Eddie Murphy’s turn as Donkey is one of the few vocal performances ever nominated for a Bafta – but it’s the script that shines, as brilliant put-downs mingling seamlessly with the touching “true love’s kiss” finale.
Age range: 5 – 95
30 great kids' movies to watch now
With the school holidays in full swing and COVID-19 still restricting where we can go and who we can mix with, millions of parents are looking for something – anything! – to help keep the children occupied.
This list of great kids movies collects together 30 brilliant ways to make sure your young ’uns’ screentime is well spent. You’ll find everything from animated classics like Shrek to ’80s fantasy epics like The NeverEnding Story – as well as a few intriguing oddities.
Because children of different ages have very different tastes, we’ve given each of the best kids’ movies an age range to show who they’re most suitable for. But rest assured that the vast majority of these films have plenty to offer grown up viewers who might be trapped on the sofa with their sprogs.
So put the popcorn in the microwave, turn on the TV, and get your family ready for some great kids’ movies…
From animated classics to ’80s fantasy epics, these are some fantastic kids movies to keep them entertained
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