25 Films Every Child Under 13 Should Watch
There’s no reason why adults can’t watch (and love) films meant to entertain children, but it’s almost inevitable that they’ll lose a little of their magic if not seen through the eyes of young children – sometimes a sense of childlike wonder is the special sauce that makes movie from good to great. Here are 25 movies every kid should see before they turn 13 (and threaten to turn into tiny adults).
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Why include the Pixar sequel and exclude the original? Somehow, when its creators flipped the script to allow space-age action figure Buzz Lightyear to come to the aid of Woody the cowboy, the story felt fresher. The animation is also better, and the script is funnier. By the time the film gets to a montage showing one toy’s heartbreaking backstory, even adults will feel like they’ve given a CGI character a soul, and kids will run to their rooms to hug their little-used toys.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Chicken Run (2000)
Aardman Animation was best known for creating short, smart films starring its beloved characters Wallace and Gromit, until it teamed up with Dreamworks Animation to create this story about a team of chickens who hatch a plan to escape their farm. If your TV screen is sharp enough, you’ll literally see the animators’ fingerprints on the claymation characters of modern classics, which is a sign of deep love for their craft. Your kids will be too busy for the chickens to run away and not notice.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Circus (1928)
Getting young children to appreciate something without color or dialogue can be a challenge. However, this silent masterpiece by Charlie Chaplin is filled with so many silliness and other creative comedy scenes that they won’t even mind if no one speaks out loud. This is a great way to get them interested in old movies at an early age.
Where to watch: Max , The Criterion Channel, digital rental.
The Lion King (1994)
This animated musical tale of Shakespearean proportions has been adapted into almost every media, but its message has always been the same, whether you saw it on stage or screen: “Remember who you are.” This is a great idea for kids to learn.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Shrek (2001)
Dreamworks flipped the script on the Disney fairy tale by making the story’s hero a grotesque and pompous ogre. The jokes made at the House of Mouse’s expense will likely go over the heads of younger viewers, but the story’s message about self-esteem will stick with them.
Where to watch: Netflix, digital rental.
Bear (1989)
This nature film about an orphaned grizzly cub and the Kodiak bear who “adopts” him boasts fantastic wildlife footage that will delight young viewers, while the story of conservation, compassion and family will resonate with all ages.
Where to watch: Prime Video, YouTube, Freevee, Tubi, Pluto TV, Kanopy, Peacock, digital rental .
Mary Poppins (1964)
This live-action/animation hybrid about a nanny who changes the lives of a British family, is still delighting kids of all ages with its (still) stunning visuals and catchy songs 50 years later.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Dreamworks once again flips the script on the typical fantasy tale of flying fire-breathers with a visually stunning adventure about a young Viking who befriends a dragon while his village wages war against the species. Knowing that no one will believe him, including his disapproving father, he and his friends must show the villagers that humans can coexist with other species. Any child who has ever asked their parents “why” can understand this message of questioning the norm.
Where to watch: Max , Digital rental
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
What child wouldn’t want to escape their black and white existence and go somewhere over the rainbow? For decades, young audiences have been captivated by her journey through the jolly old land of Oz, and everything from the story, songs, and special effects are still amazingly intact.
Where to watch: Max , Digital rental
Inside Out (2014)
Mothers and fathers often raise their children with the mistaken belief that their children should always be joyful. As this film so eloquently (and humorously) shows, it is completely normal for children to feel sadness, disgust, anger and fear. This is why Inside Out works so well with younger audiences and makes their parents weep uncontrollably.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
The Land Before Time (1988)
Animator Don Bluth left Disney because he was disappointed that the company was cutting corners. He went on to create some of the most beautifully animated films in cinema, including The Secret of NIPH and An American Tail. However, in his second collaboration with Steven Spielberg, The Land Before Time , he mastered the art of telling an emotionally complex story that wasn’t toned down for children, an aspect they would surely appreciate. Ironically, the film spawned numerous direct-to-video sequels that cut corners, all without Bluth’s involvement.
Where to watch: Netflix, digital rental.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
The Muppet Show was one of the highest rated programs in the world when Jim Henson decided to bring his characters to the big screen. It was a brilliant idea on his part to infuse this film with wit and quirks for children and make it entertaining for adults. The result was outrageous but heartfelt chatter about friendship, virtue and inclusivity.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Disney created a true role model for young audiences in the strong, smart and independent Belle, a character who speaks her mind and ignores the persistent advances of the toughest man in her French provincial village. Instead, she falls in love with the sensitive but cursed prince, who shows her that there is more to him than his fiery temper and shocking appearance.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Extra-Terrestrial: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Chances are you haven’t seen Spielberg’s classic family film in a while, so you might not realize that it was intentionally photographed from a child’s point of view . It’s a brilliant trick to attract young viewers to the story of a boy who befriends an alien. This allows them to be a part of Elliott’s hilarious and heartbreaking experiences.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Sandbox (1993)
Contrary to what “Field of Dreams” and other mind-blowing baseball movies would have you believe, baseball is entertainment. That’s what makes this ’90s classic about a group of friends trying to recover a signed Babe Ruth baseball from their neighbor’s backyard so great: It perfectly captures how kids feel when they’ve found their tribe.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
The Lego Movie (2014)
Perhaps it’s because Lego sets from popular movie franchises are incredibly expensive, but it’s easy to love a movie where the hero builds a double-decker couch to save his friends rather than escapes in a superhero car. While this moment may appeal more to parents, kids will love this silly but innovative ode to creativity, especially its meta ending.
Where to watch: Netflix, digital rental.
Wall-E (2008)
There’s little optimism in post-apocalyptic movies, but there’s a lot of hope for the robot protagonist in this Pixar film. His relationship has a lot to do with Eve, another machine that holds the key to restoring life on Earth, which has literally become a junkyard. There’s not a lot of dialogue in this film, making it ideal for younger children, and it doesn’t hit viewers over the head with its environmental message. Perhaps that’s why this film is part of the Criterion Collection.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
Home Alone (1990)
The film’s ending is a masterclass in physical comedy (every kid loves a good kick in the groin), and it’s great to see a film with a main character under 10 acting so responsibly without his parents.
Where to watch: Disney +, digital rental.
March of the Penguins (2005)
Kids will love this captivating documentary about the emperor penguins’ difficult journey to give their adorable babies the food they need to survive.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Coco (2017)
Ironically, this film about a child learning about his family’s history during a Day of the Dead celebration may seem more stressful to bereaved parents than to younger viewers. It’s also a great movie that teaches kids the importance of family and tradition.
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.
The Iron Giant (1999)
In what is perhaps the best role of Vin Diesel’s career, the actor voices an alien robot who befriends a young child named Hogarth at the height of the Cold War. Children will be drawn into the playful relationship between Hogarth and the titular character, but this powerful story of violence, war, friendship and what it truly means to be a good person will stick with them.
Where to watch: Paramount+ With Showtime , digital rental
Spirited Away (2001)
Much of Pixar’s work is heavily influenced by Hayao Miyazaki, and this beautifully detailed anime about a young girl trying to free her parents from the spell of a witch is a great example. Wall-E shares themes of consumerism and man’s conflict with nature , and his view of the clash of generations of cultures was used in “Red”. And, like the last film, this is one of the few films made for a teenage audience.
Where to watch: Max , Digital rental
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Even with all the dangers lurking within, what kid wouldn’t want to take a tour of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? While the Oompa-Loompas can sometimes be a little preachy, rarely do films capture the pure wonder of a child and the consequences that happen when adults distort their sense of wonder.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Someone has finally made a comic book movie for kids, and it’s even more inventive, poignant, and relevant than its live-action counterparts. Take that, Deadpool.
Where to watch: Fubo, digital rental.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Most children don’t like listening to stories from their grandparents. This is how this humorous film begins. But children quickly learn that the tales told by their elders are the best, which is why this endlessly quotable film has been told to children for generations and influenced everything from Shrek to Tangled .
Where to watch: Disney+ , digital rental.