The 30 Best Movies to Stream With Your Kids This Summer

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This article is updated as movies leave and enter various streaming services. New titles are indicated with an asterisk.

Family movie night should never be a battle. It should also be spent watching films that are actually great for the whole family. Instead of driving the kids down the meandering side roads of the streaming algorithms and Netflix’s subcategories, make it easy on yourself and scroll down this list. We’ve curated 30 essential family movies available to watch now on streaming services — no matter what you’re signed up for. Almost every movie on the list is rated either G or PG (yes, we snuck a -13 in here and there), and above all, we wanted to curate the best each service had to offer: You’ll find well-known classics like The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast, vibrant artistic statements like Spirited Away, and new Vulture favorites like Flow. Read on to find something new to watch this week with the kids — no matter which of the major streaming services you subscribe to.

Jump to a streaming service:
Netflix | Disney+ | Max | Hulu | Amazon Prime Video| Peacock | Apple TV+ | Paramount+

How We Pick Our Films

Critic Brian Tallerico watches and writes about movies and TV every day. To curate Vulture’s streaming lists, he dives into each service’s catalogue to surface acclaimed, surprising, or otherwise noteworthy titles — using his taste and a lifetime of cinema study as his guide, instead of whatever the algorithm happens to be pushing. After triple-checking to make sure they’re still available, he watches each, then writes his recommendation. Below we’ve collected selections of family-friendly movies from each streaming service. We highlight more than just Oscar winners or popcorn flicks: These films present interesting ideas, made an impact on cinema, and happen to be beloved by kids.

Netflix

*Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Year: 2013
Runtime: 1h 34m
Directors: Cody Cameron, Kris Pearn
Rating: PG

A rare animated sequel that’s just about as funny as the first film, this 2013 sequel built on the visual wit and sharp characters from the 2009 movie. Bill Hader and Anna Faris lead a stellar voice work as Flint Lockwood are forced to return to Swallow Falls to save the day. It’s inventive and very fun.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 netflix

The Lego Movie

Rating: PG
Year: 2014
Runtime: 1h 40m
Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

The meta-era of films that comment on their own existence that looks like it could reach its apex with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie owes a debt to this clever family film that took the concept of the LEGO toy and turned it into creative gold. Chris Pratt stars as an ordinary LEGO guy who finds himself on an extraordinary journey in a film that’s really about the power of the imagination, distilling the creative joy of playing with LEGOs into a captivating story.

The Lego Movie netflix

Matilda

Year: 1996
Runtime: 1h 38m
Director: Danny DeVito
Rating: PG

The musical version of the Roald Dahl classic dropped on Netflix in 2024, and now they have finally also added the clever and funny 1990s edition of this tale of a precocious kid with superpowers. Mara Wilson plays the title character and real-life couple Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito play her parents. The TV star also directed this charming flick that kinda bombed in theaters but developed a following on VHS and DVD.

Matilda netflix

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Rating: PG
Year: 2021
Runtime: 1h 54m
Directors: Mike Rianda, Jeff Rowe

Originally planned for a theatrical release by Sony (with the much-worse title Connected), the studio sold this off to Netflix during the pandemic…and probably regretted that decision. One of the most beloved animated films in recent years, this is an incredibly smart and sweet family vacation movie, a comedy that’s as much about a tender relationship between a father and daughter as it is the fact that they end up having to save the world together.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines netflix

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Rating: PG
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 56m
Directors: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson

The Oscar-winning director paired his visionary skills with those of stop-motion animators to create this instant classic, a retelling of the beloved fairy tale about the wooden boy who longed to be real. With spectacular voice work, this version reimagines Pinocchio during the period before World War II, allowing him to explore his themes of innocence and violence again. It’s a deeply personal, beautiful film.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio netflix

The Sea Beast

Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 55m
Director: Chris Williams
Rating: PG

One of 2022’s most surprising hits for Netflix has been this film from one of the creators of Bolt and Big Hero 6. It’s a blend of a lot of things that have been done before with echoes of How to Train Your Dragon, Moana, and Pirates of the Caribbean (with a little Kaiju too) but this is a detailed adventure film that really plays to everyone in the family.

The Sea Beast netflix

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Rating: G
Year: 2019
Runtime: 1h 27m
Directors: Richard Phelan, Will Becher

Shaun the Sheep is an international treasure. The silent comedy star leads one of the most consistently hilarious franchises of all time in his own TV episodes and feature films. This one is a brilliant Netflix original from Aardman Animations about how everyone’s favorite ovine helps a stranded alien return to his own kind.

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon netflix

Wendell & Wild

Rating: PG-13
Year: 2022
Runtime: 1h 46m
Director: Henry Selick

The director of A Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline finally returned this year with this clever and twisted tale co-written by Oscar winner Jordan Peele. The comedian also co-stars as one of the title characters, the literal demons for a girl who blames herself for the death of her parents. Selick is a master of stop-motion animation and this project allows him to stretch his visual prowess in new, gross ways. It’s a new Halloween classic (that can be watched any time, of course).

Wendell & Wild netflix

Disney+

Beauty and the Beast

Rating: G
Year: 1991
Runtime: 1h 32m
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

A formative chapter in the history of Disney, this 1991 blockbuster became known as the first animated feature to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. It should have won. It’s a gorgeous movie, a moving retelling of a classic legend with beautiful animation and unforgettable original songs. There’s a passion to the artistry here that’s too often lacking from Disney movies, and it’s one of the main reasons it’s one of the biggest ever.

Beauty and the Beast disney+

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Rating: PG
Year: 2009
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director: Wes Anderson

The director of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel adapted the 1970 children’s novel of the same name in this delightful stop-motion animated classic with one of the best voice casts in history. George Clooney, Meryl Steep, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, and Owen Wilson star in the tale of the titular character as his family is hunted by three farmers. It’s a visual marvel for the whole family.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox disney+

The Lion King

Rating: G
Year: 1994
Runtime: 1h 33m
Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

A key part of the Disney Renaissance, this animated classic is one of the most beloved Disney films in the history of the company. It’s one of the Disney movies that became more than just a movie, inspiring sequels, theme park attractions, and even a massive hit Broadway show. People keep returning to the story of Simba as it gets passed down from generation to generation, probably earning a new fan somewhere in the world every single day.

The Lion King disney+

The Princess Bride

Rating: PG
Year: 1987
Runtime: 1h 38m
Director: Rob Reiner

One of the most beloved fantasy films of all time, this adaptation of the book of the same name by William Goldman was an instant hit. Regularly appearing on lists of the funniest and most romantic films ever made, the tale of Westley and the Princess Buttercup was even inducted into the National Film Registry in 2016. It’s a classic, a movie that works well for all ages because of its big heart, sharp wit, and creative soul.

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The Princess Bride disney+

Ratatouille

Rating: G
Year: 2007
Runtime: 1h 52m
Director: Brad Bird

Brad Bird would quite simply be one of the best family filmmakers of all time if he had only worked on The Simpsons or made The Iron Giant or The Incredibles, but he directed this gem, too. The man is a master of the animated form, and that’s certainly true regarding this fable about a rat who becomes a master chef in Paris. A wonderful tale about fulfilling unexpected dreams, it’s one of Pixar’s best.

Ratatouille disney+

Toy Story

Rating: G
Year: 1995
Runtime: 1h 24m
Director: John Lasseter

As Snow White is to Disney, Woody and Buzz are to Pixar. The iconic characters took the world by storm with their first film, the true breakthrough for Pixar, and a movie that changed modern animation forever. Every kid on Earth dreamed at some point about what would happen if their toys came to life, and the geniuses at Pixar turned that idea into movie history. All four films, of course, are on Disney+, and they’re all worth revisiting.

Toy Story disney+

HBO Max

*Flow

Year: 2024
Runtime: 1h 26m
Director: Gints Zilbalodis

A surprising winner of the Oscar for Best Animated Film, this one is now exclusively on Max. It is the dialogue-free fairy tale of a cat trying to survive a crumbling world with a group of unexpected animal companions. It’s an ambitious and clever film that plays well for all ages.

Flow HBO Max

Harry Potter

Rating: PG or PG-13
Year: Various
Runtime: Various
Director: Various

J.K. Rowling is horrible now, but the books and films that emerged from her work continue to maintain, and even build, an incredibly loyal audience. The Harry Potter films have a habit of rolling on and off streaming sites, and they’re back on Max (and Peacock) for now, waiting for the entire family to have a marathon of the story of the Boy Who Lived. Like any massive franchise, the series is a rollercoaster of quality, but Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire rule.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone HBO Max

My Neighbor Totoro

Rating: G
Year: 1988
Runtime: 1h 29m
Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Directed by a master of animation, this gentle and beautiful kids movie from 1988 follows an unforgettable spirit friend to two little girls. After their mother is hospitalized, two girls move to an old house, and become friends with the spirits in the woods. That’s just the start of one of the best animated films of all time.

My Neighbor Totoro HBO max

Spirited Away

Rating: PG
Year: 2001
Runtime: 2h 4m
Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Almost all of the Studio Ghibli films are on Max, the now-exclusive home to them when it comes to streaming. It may ve the most important modern animation studio in the world, and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away may be the studio’s pinnacle in terms of animated storytelling. Start with Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Castle in the Sky. You won’t stop.

Spirited Away HBO max

The Wizard of Oz

Rating: G
Year: 1939
Runtime: 1h 41m
Director: Victor Fleming

What could possibly be written if you’re on the fence about The Wizard of Oz? Maybe you haven’t seen it since you were a little kid? Revisit the journey of Dorothy over the rainbow if that’s the case and appreciate this wonderful fantasy on a new level.

The Wizard of Oz HBO max

Hulu

The Dark Crystal

Rating: PG
Year: 1982
Runtime: 1h 33m
Director: Jim Henson, Frank Oz

Look! Muppets! It’s a kid’s movie, right?!?! Sorta. Yes, there are puppets in this fascinating fantasy film, but it’s also a dark, often scary adventure story that doesn’t talk down to children and isn’t cautious about frightening them. It’s hard to express how groundbreaking this movie was for its time in terms of puppetry, special effects, and even the way children’s entertainment was written. It’s wildly influential, and there’s a reason Netflix returned to its world almost four decades later.

The Dark Crystal hulu

Robot Dreams

Year: 2023
Runtime: 1h 42m
Director: Pablo Berger

Based on the 2007 comic by Sara Varon, this animated comedy is a memorable film with no dialogue but a big heart. It’s the tale of a friendship between a dog and a robot in the ‘80s, and more about how that relationship shapes and defines them, even after they’re split forever. Challenge the little ones in your family with something unlike anything else on Hulu.

Robot Dreams hulu

Steven Universe: The Movie

Rating: TVY7
Year: 2019
Runtime: 1h 23m
Director: Rebecca Sugar

After Steven Universe ended its run on Cartoon Network, they produced a film in 2019 that maintains the hit show’s brilliant blend of fantasy and humor. Most of the ensemble cast returns for another story of the Crystal Gems trying to save all organic life on Earth. Steven Universe is a wonderful show, and this movie is a nice cap on its legacy. (Note: The series is also on Hulu.)

Steven Universe: The Movie hulu

*Treasure Planet

Year: 2002
Runtime: 1h 35m
Director: John Musker, Ron Clements

Is this the most forgotten modern Disney movie? A sci-fi adaptation of Treasure Island, it was kind of a bomb, released in the window when Disney was putting most of its effort into promoting the golden age of Pixar. It did get an Oscar nod for Best Animated Feature and has developed a following over the years. It’s not a Mouse House classic, but it’s probably better than you remember.

Treasure Planet hulu

Prime Video

It’s a Wonderful Life

Rating: PG
Year: 1946
Runtime: 2h 10m
Director: Frank Capra

One of the most beloved films of all time doesn’t just have to be watched around the holidays. The lessons in this film about what people value in life could be appreciated any time of the year, as could one of the most iconic performances in film history from Jimmy Stewart.

It's a Wonderful Life prime video

Labyrinth

Rating: PG
Year: 1986
Runtime: 1h 36m
Director: Jim Henson

The legendary creator of The Muppets used his puppet prowess to direct this fantasy flick that enraptured a generation. The one and only David Bowie stars as Jareth, The Goblin King, who kidnaps the half-brother of a girl named Sarah, played by Jennifer Connelly. Some of it is surely a bit dated, but in that good way that reminds people when family films were allowed to be a little weird too.

Labyrinth prime video

*The Secret of NIMH

Rating: G
Year: 1982
Runtime: 1h 19m
Director: Don Bluth

Animation great Don Bluth made his directorial debut with this twisted 1982 fantasy film, proving that he wasn’t going to make movies that talked down or coddled his audience. Adapted from Robert C. O’Brien’s novel, it turns the existence of average field mice into an elaborate fantasy world. Audiences of a certain generation were probably traumatized by its visuals at a young age.

The Secret of NIMH prime video

Peacock

Despicable Me

Rating: PG
Year: 2010
Runtime: 1h 35m
Director: Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin

Who could have guessed that the tale of an awkward supervillain named Gru (Steve Carell) who has his heart melted by three orphaned girls would launch one of the biggest franchises in the world? Since this film was released, there have been two direct sequels (a third is in production) and two Minions movies, along with tons of toys, specials, video games, and even a theme park attraction. It’s Gru’s world.

Despicable Me peacock

Shrek

Rating: PG
Year: 2001
Runtime: 1h 30m
Directors: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson

How culturally seismic was this skewering of fairy tales? It was announced in 2020 that it would be inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. That’s how big. It’s the first non-Disney film to get that recognition. As for the movie itself, it’s held up remarkably well, a modern classic with great voice work and clever writing.

Shrek peacock

Apple TV+

Wolfwalkers

Rating: PG
Year: 2020
Runtime: 1h 43m
Directors: Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart

Wolfwalkers should have won the Oscar in early 2021. It’s a lyrical and gorgeous final act to Cartoon Saloon’s “Irish Folklore Trilogy,” the story of a girl named Robyn Goodfellowe, whose father has been hired to hunt wolves. Robyn befriends a shapeshifter, a girl who is both wolf and human, in a story that incorporates modern storytelling with Irish folklore and inspired visual style. It’s a beauty.

Wolfwalkers apple tv+

Paramount+

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Rating: PG
Year: 2022
Runtime: 2h 2m
Director: Jeff Fowler

For a while it kind of felt like these films about the fast little blue guy were the first new mega-franchise of the pandemic. They’ve frequently ping-ponged between streaming services, and with a third racing into theaters later this year, there’s no time like the present to see why they’re in such high demand.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 paramount+