Every parent knows that one kid's worst fear is another kid's "no big deal." That makes choosing movies for young kids tricky. In most cases, kids younger than 3 likely aren't ready for feature-length movies at all. Better bets for a movie-like experience for them are special episodes of favorite TV shows or shorter-form features like Scholastic's great book adaptations.
But as kids get a little older, their attention span grows, their interests expand, and parents are often looking for an hour and half of uninterrupted time. You can experiment with movies from our Best First Movies List or search for movies in your kid's age range. After a little experimenting, you can usually get a pretty good idea of the kind of things that your kids can handle – and what they can't. Depending on your kid's particular sensitivity, the movies below can be great choices (or big no-nos!). And in the end, parents know best, so use our suggestions as a guide, and take it from there.
No Loud Noises or Fast Action
Watch:
Winnie the Pooh, 3+
The Snowman, 3+
Cinderella, 5+
Frogs and Toads: Max's Magical Journey, 5+
No Dead Parents or Lost Pets
Watch:
Curious George, 4+
Tinker Bell, 4+
Robin Hood, 5+
Wallace and Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures, 7+
No Princesses or Pink-splosions
Watch:
The Jungle Book, 4+
Lilo and Stitch, 5+
The Rescuers, 6+
The Incredibles, 7+
No Strong Emotions or Conflicts
Watch:
Puppy Party 2+
Angelina Ballerina: Dreams Do Come True 4+
Ruby's Studio: The Friendship Show 4+
Wings of Life, 6+
No Kissing (Ewww!)
Watch:
VeggieTales: Lord of the Beans, 4+
My Neighbor Totoro, 5+
The Wizard of Oz 6+
Oceans, 8+
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