While we love a scary family movie that has the whole crew cuddling up on the couch, a deep family movie that you’ll still be talking about over breakfast the next morning, and even an educational family show to help teach your little ones life lessons, sometimes you just want a feel-good family movie that will put a smile on everyone’s face. And that’s exactly what this list holds. These are some of the best kids’ movies to stream, with fantastic plotlines, positive messages, and fun characters that you won’t be able to get enough of.
Some of the options on this list of feel-good family movies are animated; others focus on real-life characters. There are classics like “Frozen” or “Encanto” and newer or lesser-known options for you to discover. We also call out the age range each film is meant for, so you can find the best movies to watch with your kids. The one thing they all have in common, though, is that they’re totally uplifting. So add these to your list for the next rainy day or outdoor movie party you’re hosting – you may just find your new favorite.
– Additional reporting by Charlotte Kho
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"Sing 2"
Netflix’s description: “Buster Moon and his musically gifted friends must persuade the reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to join them for the opening of their new show.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Stream “Sing 2” on Netflix here.
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"Surf's Up"
Netflix’s description: “A young surfer enters his first contest, hoping a win will earn him respect. But an encounter with a laid-back local forces him to rethink his values.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 7 and up
Stream “Surf’s Up” on Netflix here.
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"Puss in Boots: The Last Wish"
Netflix’s description: “When his legendary feats bring his nine lives down to one, Puss in Boots sets out to find a magical Wishing Star in his most daring adventure yet.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 8 and up
Stream “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” on Netflix here.
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"Cheaper by the Dozen"
Disney+’s description: “While raising twelve children, a middle-aged couple decides to pursue more demanding careers – only to discover that big families and big careers are a difficult mix.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 8 and up
Watch “Cheaper by the Dozen” on Disney+ here.
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"Cars"
Disney+’s description: “Race car Lightning McQueen is living in the fast lane . . . until he hits a detour and gets stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on Route 66. There he meets a heap of hilarious characters who help him discover there’s more to life than fame.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Watch “Cars” on Disney+ here.
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"Encanto"
Disney+’s description: “”Encanto” tells the tale of the Madrigals, an extraordinary family living in a magical house in the Colombian mountains. But when Mirabel, the only ordinary family member, discovers the magic surrounding their home is in danger, she may be her family’s last hope.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Watch “Encanto” on Disney+ here.
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"Akeelah and the Bee"
Peacock’s description: “Akeelah, an 11-year-old girl living in south Los Angeles, discovers she has a talent for spelling, which she hopes will take her to the National Spelling Bee.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 8 and up
Watch “Akeelah and the Bee” on Peacock here.
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"Up"
Disney+’s description: “Retired balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, part rascal and part dreamer, takes to the sky by tying thousands of balloons to his house. Unbeknownst to Carl, a young Wilderness Explorer named Russell becomes an unexpected stowaway on the journey they never expected.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Watch “Up” on Disney+ here.
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"Finding Nemo"
Disney+’s description: “When young clownfish Nemo is unexpectedly captured from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and taken to a dentist’s office aquarium, it’s up to Marlin, his worrisome father, and Dory, a friendly but forgetful regal blue tang fish, to make the epic journey to bring him home.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 5 and up
Watch “Finding Nemo” on Disney+ here.
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"Ralph Breaks the Internet"
Disney+’s description: “Ralph and Vanellope risk it all by traveling to the world wide web – which may or may not survive Ralph’s wrecking.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 8 and up
Watch “Ralph Breaks the Internet” on Disney+ here!
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"Chicken Little"
Disney+’s description: “When the sky is falling and sanity has flown the coop, who will rise to save the day? Together with his hysterical band of misfit friends, Chicken Little must hatch a plan to save the planet from alien invasion and prove that the world’s biggest hero is a little chicken.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 7 and up
Watch “Chicken Little” on Disney+ here.
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"Meet the Robinsons"
Disney+’s description: “Young Lewis, who’s always wondered why his mother put him up for adoption, may get his answer when Wilbur Robinson whisks him away to the future.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 7 and up
Watch “Meet the Robinsons” on Disney+ here.
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"UglyDolls"
Amazon’s description: “An animated adventure in which the free-spirited UglyDolls confront what it means to be different, struggle with a desire to be loved, and ultimately discover who you truly are is what matters most.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Rent “UglyDolls” on Amazon here.
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"Frozen"
Disney+’s description: “Fearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, will the trio find Elsa in time to save Arendelle?”
Ages it’s best suited to: 5 and up
Watch “Frozen” on Disney+ here.
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"Inside Out"
Disney+’s description: “When 11-year-old Riley moves to a new city, her Emotions team up to help her through the transition. Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness work together, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, they must journey through unfamiliar places to get back home.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Watch “Inside Out” on Disney+ here.
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"Wonder Park"
Amazon’s description: “‘Wonder Park’ tells the story of a magnificent amusement park where the imagination of a wildly creative girl named June comes alive.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 7 and up
Rent “Wonder Park” on Amazon here.
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"Mary Poppins Returns"
Disney+’s description: “The magic returns in Disney’s reimagined classic as Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) helps the Banks family remember the joy of what it’s like to be a child. Together with her friend Jack the lamplighter (Lin-Manuel Miranda), fun is brought back to the streets of London in celebration that everything is possible…even the impossible!”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Watch “Mary Poppins Returns” on Disney+ here.
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"The Secret Life of Pets 2"
Amazon’s description: “‘The Secret Life of Pets 2’ explores the bonds between pets and the families that love them, and answers the question: What are your pets doing when you’re not at home?”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Rent “The Secret Life of Pets 2” on Amazon here.
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"Coco"
Disney+’s description: “In Disney•Pixar’s vibrant tale of family, fun and adventure, an aspiring young musician named Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) embarks on an extraordinary journey to the magical land of his ancestors. There, the charming trickster Héctor (Gael García Bernal) becomes an unexpected friend who helps Miguel uncover the mysteries behind his family’s stories and traditions.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 5 and up
Watch “Coco” on Disney+ here.
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"The Princess Diaries"
Disney+’s description: “When news of her long-absent father’s death surfaces, a socially awkward but very bright 15-year-old girl learns that he was the prince of Genovia, making her a princess.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 8 and up
Watch “The Princess Diaries” on Disney+ here.
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"Ratatouille"
Disney+’s description: “In one of Paris’ finest restaurants, Remy, a determined young rat, dreams of becoming a renowned French chef, setting off a hilarious chain of events.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Watch “Ratatouille” on Disney+ here.
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"Abominable"
Amazon’s description: “When friends Yi (Chloe Bennet), Jin and Peng discover a Yeti, they name him Everest and embark on a journey across China to reunite the magical creature with his family.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 5 and up
Rent “Abominable” on Amazon here.
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"Over the Moon"
Netflix’s description: “Fueled by memories of her mother, resourceful Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon on a mission to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Stream “Over the Moon” on Netflix here.
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"The Nut Job"
Amazon Prime Video’s description: “Go nuts for this hilarious family adventure about a mischievous squirrel who leads a team of woodland creatures on a mission to find the tastiest nuts for winter.” Ages it’s best suited to: 6 and up
Stream “The Nut Job” on Amazon Prime Video here.
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"The Willoughbys"
Netflix’s description: “Four siblings with horribly selfish parents hatch a plan to get rid of them for good and form a perfectly imperfect family of their own.”
Ages it’s best suited to: 8 and up
Stream “The Willoughbys” on Netflix here!
