32 Best Kids' Movies of 2026, Because We're Always on the Hunt for a Family Movie Night Flick
We're halfway through the year—there's so much to catch up with, and lots more in store!
I'm a parenting editor (and cinephile) married to a film critic, so my daughter never really had a choice about whether or not to become a connoisseur of movies for kids. As a family, we're out in the theaters all the time, watching everything from animated movies to live-action family films, even old revivals. (I have fond memories of taking her to see The Karate Kid on the big screen—it holds up!)
Since we're a cinema-going family, I always have my eye on the future release schedule, and this year is packed with movies for the whole family. After scanning the year ahead, these are the best kids' movies coming out in 2026—or at least the ones I'm looking forward to the most. (Ahem, Wildwood!) From the Mario Bros. to the Toy Story crew, there are definitely lots of sequels that'll reunite kids with their favorite characters. But there are also plenty of new tales to get excited about, along with some big-screen adaptations of beloved books. (Note: I tried to keep it to G and PG movies—sorry, Mando!—but movies slated to come out later in the year haven't been rated yet, so I may have to adjust as the year goes on.) Take a look—they're listed by release date—bookmark the family's faves, and enjoy the upcoming year of films.
Charlie the Wonderdog
Release Date: January 16, 2026
After—what else?—an alien invasion, a pup named Charlie discovers he has super powers, including the ability to speak. He puts his newfound skills to work helping people, but then he realizes super powers alone may not be enough. Owen Wilson is the voice of Charlie. MPAA Rating: PG
Arco
Release Date: January 30, 2026
This animated tale recounts the story of a 10-year-old boy who accidentally travels from the year 2932 to 2075, then teams up with a girl to try and figure out how to get back to his own time. But did fate have a bigger reason for stranding him in his past? This film has been nominated for a slew of animation awards, including the Academy Award, and won the Best Feature Film prize at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival. MPAA Rating: PG
GOAT
Release Date: February 13, 2026
In a true underdog—or make that under-goat—story, this movie follows a goat who dreams of playing roarball, a sports dominated by the fiercest animals around. Stranger Things's Caleb McLaughlin is the voice of the goat in question, though eagle-eared sports fans might also recognize the voice of one of the film's producers, Stephen Curry, as one of the other players. It's from Sony Pictures Animation, the same studio that did KPop Demon Hunters and Across the Spiderverse, and it's done in the same kind of animation style. MPAA Rating: PG
Hoppers
Release date: March 6, 2026
Think of it like Avatar but fuzzier and cuter: In Pixar's newest, an animal lover named Mabel uses a new technology to "hop" into a robotic beaver body, which gives her the ability to communicate with animals. But can she get the animals to band together to fight a human threat? The voice cast is full of comedians, including Bobby Moynihan, Aparna Nancherla, Sam Richardson, Melissa Villaseñor, Ego Nwodim, and Vanessa Bayer, so expect some big laughs. MPAA Rating: PG
The Pout-Pout Fish
Release Date: March 20, 2026
Parents might have already heard of the Pout-Pout Fish—and the "dreary-wearies" he spreads all over the place—if their kids are fans of his eponymous picture-book series. Now he's going on his first big-screen adventure. In this film, the Pout-Pout Fish (Nick Offerman) teams up with an opposite-in-vibes sea dragon (Nina Oyama) to see if they can track down a legendary fish that can grant wishes. (But will he "blub blub blub" like in the books?) MPAA Rating: PG
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Release Date: April 3, 2026
A sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie—and put out on the heels of the re-release of the Super Mario Galaxy collection for the Switch 2—this movie is sure to be a favorite of gamers. But kids who've never played Nintendo might still be taken in by the adventure, which features our heroes traveling into outer space to face off against the son of Bowser. Benny Safdie provides the voice of the Bowser, Jr., and Brie Larson is the voice of another video-game fave, Rosalina. MPAA Rating: PG
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Bebefinn Sing-Along Movie: Into the Pinkfong World
Release Date: April 20, 2026
Parents of "Baby Shark" fans can expand their Pinkfong repertoire with this hourlong special. In it, a child named Finn is pulled into his tablet, where he has to team up with characters like Pinkfong and Baby Shark (and a couple human kids, too) to try and make it back out into the real world. Rating: TV-Y
Disneynature Orangutan
Release Date: April 22, 2026
Released just in time for Earth Day (and in the wake of the popularity of Punch the monkey), this documentary follows an adolescent orangutan named Indah. The documentary is narrated by Josh Gad, who Disney fans know as the voice of Olaf in Frozen. MPAA Rating: G
Swapped
Release Date: May 1, 2026
A body-switching comedy, but make it cute: This Netflix film stars Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple as the voices of a furry woodland creature and a majestic bird. But supernatural forces make it so they have to experience the ecosystem through another animal's eyes. It's from director Nathan Greno, who also directed Tangled. MPAA Rating: PG
Animal Farm
Release Date: May 1, 2026
So many of us have been assigned George Orwell's novella in school, and some may have even seen the old animated adaptation from 1954. But now Andy Serkis, famous for his stop-motion performances of characters like Gollum from Lord of the Rings, is spearheading a new adaptation. Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, and Kieran Culkin provide the voice of the a trio of pigs who spearhead the movement to take over the farm for themselves. MPAA Rating: PG
The Sheep Detectives
Release Date: May 8, 2026
In this film, Hugh Jackman plays a shepherd who entertains himself by reading mystery books out loud to his sheep every night. What he doesn't know is that the sheep actually understand what he's saying, and when the shepherd is tragically murdered, the flock decides to solve the case themselves using what they've learned from his books. Talk about a cozy mystery! MPAA Rating: PG
The Last Whale Singer
Release Date: June 5, 2026
The film follows a young whale named Vincent who doesn't always do what he's told—anybody know any kids that can relate? When the ocean is in danger, though, Vincent has to learn to find his voice and his place in the ecosystem, so it's good for families who want a film with an underlying message about conservation. MPAA Rating: PG
I Am Frankelda
Release Date: June 12, 2026
Netflix acquired this stop-motion animated film from Mexico after it secured a nomination for Best Independent Feature Film at the 53rd Annie Awards. (It's Mexico's first-ever feature-length stop-motion production.) In it, a writer in 19th-century Mexico finds her voice, and her monstrous stories, stifled by society. Then, she gets pulled into her own mind, and has to contend with her own creations. MPAA Rating: PG
Toy Story 5
Release Date: June 19, 2026
The toys from Toy Story have faced obsessed collectors. They've dealt with being accidentally thrown into the trash. They've endured daycare kids, and being passed to new owners. But can they handle the newest threat to playtime—a tablet? Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the gang return to see if toys can triumph over technology. MPAA Rating: PG
Minions & Monsters
Release Date: July 1, 2026
It seems the only constants in life are death, taxes, and more Minions movies. This time, the Minions have their hearts set on Hollywood and want to become stars on the big screen. Only when they want to make a monster movie, they decide to summon real monsters to be in it, and have to save the world from the chaos they created. Adult cinephiles can look for lots of Old Hollywood Easter eggs and references to classic cinema as the Minions cause mayhem on Hollywood studio lots. MPAA Rating: PG
Moana
Release Date: July 10, 2026
Disney's live-action remake train continues to head down its track, and after last year's Lilo & Stitch, we have another island-and-ocean adventure: Moana. (Hey, maybe 2016 really is making a comeback.) Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as the demigod Maui, with Catherine Laga'aia as his Moana. It's directed by Thomas Kail, who's best known for directing a different project full of songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda songs—the Hamilton musical on Broadway! MPAA Rating: PG
Descendants: Wicked Wonderland
Release Date: July 17, 2026
The Descendants have had to deal with their fair share of villains, but never have Red and Chloe had to deal with one as unpredictable as Maddox Hatter. It's a good thing they have Red’s sister Pink, Luisa Madrigal’s son Luis, Captain Hook’s daughter Hazel, and Maddox’s son Max on their side. This debuts on The Disney Channel on July 16, then comes to Disney+ the next day. Rating: TV-G
Snoopy Presents: There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy
Release Date: July 31, 2026
In this new, original Peanuts special, Snoopy's doghouse is accidentally sold in a yard sale, sending him off on an adventure to find it again. Like all the new Snoopy shows and movies, this one is only available on Apple TV+. Rating: TV-G
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie
Release Date: August 14, 2026
The PAW Patrol and dinosaurs: a match made in preschooler heaven. This is a follow-up to 2023's PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, only instead of becoming super heroes, this adventure has a pre-historic spin. MPAA Rating: PG
Camp Rock 3
Release Date: August 22, 2026
Jonas Brothers fans old and new can gather together and re-visit the Camp Rock franchise together.. Along with the Jonases, Maria Canals-Barrera is reprising her role in Camp Rock 3, with Demi Lovato signed on as executive producer. It will be released both on the Disney Channel and on Disney+. Rating: TV-G
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