The Best Kids Movies on Disney+ Right Now (July 2021)
For the better part of a century, Disney’s brand has been all about children and families. Things have opened up more in the last two decades, but Disney is still at the top of the mountain when it comes to courting younger audiences. In the era of Disney+, Disney and Pixar’s animated offerings are just the beginning. There are also live-action films from both Disney and 20th Century Studios that offer something for the rest of the family as well. To help you make your summer viewing plans with the kids, check out the best kids movies on Disney+ that you can stream right now.
We’ve also rounded up the best kids movies on Hulu, the best kids movies on Netflix, and the best kids movies on Amazon Prime Video if you don’t find what you’re looking for on Disney+.
WALL-E (2008)
WALL-E is another Pixar masterpiece, but this is a movie unlike any other in the studio’s library. In the far future, WALL-E (Ben Burtt) is the last functioning waste disposal robot left on Earth. He’s had so much time to himself that WALL-E has become sentient, and he has a longing for companionship and romance. That’s when EVE (Elissa Knight) enters his life. WALL-E becomes smitten with the new robot when she is sent to Earth to find evidence that the world can be reinhabited by the surviving humans who have been living on a giant spacecraft in deep space for centuries. Although reluctant at first, EVE welcomes WALL-E into her heart. But when EVE’s mission forces her to leave, WALL-E accompanies her on an outer space adventure that will determine humanity’s future.
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Sci-fi
Stars: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger
Director: Andrew Stanton
Rating: G
Runtime: 97 minutes
White Fang (1991)
In the 1991 adaptation of Jack London’s White Fang, Ethan Hawke stars as Jack Conroy, a young man who takes part in the Klondike Gold Rush in 1896. To fulfill his father’s last wish, Jack convinces an older prospector, Alex Larson (Klaus Maria Brandauer), to come with him and stake his family’s claim. Along the way, Jack encounters White Fang, a wolf-dog hybrid who is mistreated by his master, Beauty Smith (James Remar). After freeing White Fang, Jack becomes determined to tame and befriend him. The bond they come to share is very powerful, and it helps Jack decide what he wants out of life and where he should be.
Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Genre: Adventure
Stars: Klaus Maria Brandauer, Ethan Hawke, Seymour Cassel, James Remar, Susan Hogan
Director: Randal Kleiser
Rating: PG
Runtime: 107 minutes
Holes (2003)
Shia LaBeouf stars in the adaptation of Louis Sachar’s Holes as Stanley Yelnats IV, a teenager who is unjustly convicted of theft. Afterward, Stanley is sentenced to 18 months of hard labor at a juvenile detention camp. The warden, Louise Walker (Sigourney Weaver), is forcing the kids in her care to dig holes because she’s looking for a treasure hidden over a century before by the legendary outlaw, Kissin’ Kate Barlow (Patricia Arquette). While serving his time, Stanley befriends Hector “Zero” Zeroni (Khleo Thomas), and he comes to realize that he has a personal connection to the treasure that the warden wants so badly.
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson, Shia LaBeouf
Director: Andrew Davis
Rating: PG
Runtime: 117 minutes
The Sandlot (1993)
Critics didn’t love The Sandlot, but the kids sure did, and that’s why it’s become a beloved coming of age classic. Tom Guiry stars as Scott Smalls, a non-athletic boy who moves to Los Angeles in 1962. Although Scott is initially rejected by the kids who play baseball in the local sandlot, the team captain, Benjamin Franklin “Benny” Rodriguez (Mike Vitar), takes Scott under his wing and teaches him to play. After unwittingly using his stepfather’s Babe Ruth-signed baseball in a game, the ball is lost to a yard guarded by a large dog that the kids call “The Beast.” Somehow, Scott and Benny have to retrieve the baseball, even though it seems impossible.
Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York, Brandon Adams
Director: David Mickey Evans
Rating: PG
Runtime: 101 minutes
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Set in the mythic world of Kumandra, Raya and the Last Dragon follows Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), a member of the great Heart tribe, governed by her father, Chief Benja (Daniel Dae Kim). When a horrific horde of creatures known as the Druun return to Kumandra after they were thwarted 500 years before, the monsters wreak havoc, leaving Raya estranged as her home falls to ruins. It’s up to Raya to take on the greatest quest of all: To search near and far for a dragon known as Sisu, a powerful being that is the only hope against the swarms of Druun. A mesmerizing adventure-epic featuring a lively ensemble of voice actors, Raya and the Last Dragon is a welcome addition to the bountiful archive of Disney films.
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Kids and Family
Stars: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan
Director: Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada
Rating: PG
Runtime: 108 minutes
A Goofy Movie (1995)
It’s a road trip for the ages when Goofy (voiced by Bill Farmer), the lovable but slightly overbearing father of the year, decides to take his teenage son, Max (Jason Marsden), on a fishing trip to Lake Destiny, Idaho. The surprise excursion is thanks to a major musical stunt that Max pulled off at school — a disruptive act that Max’s principal believes may land the boy “in the electric chair” someday. Goofy takes the news seriously and wants to do everything in his power to help his son realign his moral compass, but when “everything” turns into Bigfoot sightings and plummeting toward a demise by waterfall, the father-son duo must band together to beat the odds. A standout film that explores the deep connection between parents and their children, with plenty of Goofy hijinks to pad out the runtime, A Goofy Movie hits just as hard nearly 30 years after its initial release.
Rotten Tomatoes: 58%
Genre: Animation, Kids and Family, Comedy
Stars: Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Jim Cummings
Director: Kevin Lima
Rating: G
Runtime: 78 minutes
Onward (2020)
Ian and Barley Lightfoot (voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) are mythical elf brothers residing in the magical community of New Mushroomton. Living with their mother, Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Ian receives the opportunity of a lifetime when, on his 16th birthday, Laurel delivers a gift to her son from his late father. Amongst the host of artifacts, one of the presents is a letter with the promise of a “visitation spell” to resurrect Ian and Barley’s dad for a single day. Ian and Barley set off on a mythic journey to carry out the spell, facing down hordes of fantastical foes on their epic pilgrimage. Another knockout for Pixar, Onward delivers breathtaking animation, a heartfelt sibling dynamic, and plenty of laughs along the way.
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Kids and Family, Comedy
Stars: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Director: Dan Scanlon
Rating: PG
Runtime: 103 minutes
Cinderella (1950)
Based on the Charles Perrault fairy tale of the same name, Cinderella follows the titular character (voiced by Ilene Woods), a descendant of royalty turned scullion for her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. When news of a royal ball comes around, Cinderella is banished from attending by her malicious heirs. Thankfully, an endearing Fairy Godmother (Verna Felton) arrives just in time, bestowing the saddened Cinderella with regal attire and transforming her animal companions into members of her royal entourage. The repressed Cinderella has one evening to enchant the handsome Prince Charming before the magic wears off at midnight. An epic Disney feature packed with memorable music, rich hand-drawn animation, and delightful characters, Cinderella is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time.
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Kids and Family
Stars: Ilene Woods, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Rating: G
Runtime: 74 minutes
Zootopia (2016)
Zootopia is Disney’s amusing take on the buddy cop comedy subgenre, an experiment in animated, anthropomorphic animals (say that ten times fast) that more than delivers. The duo in this feature is a bunny rabbit cop named Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and a fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). When news of missing creatures hits the streets of Zootopia, Judy is tasked with getting to the bottom of a crime with much deeper roots than she’s expecting. Added to her plate is the stress of needing to break the case in two days or she’s out of a job. A funny neo-noir told through state-of-the-art Disney animation, on top of a narrative interlaced with plenty of cultural and political metaphors, Zootopia delivers on more than one level.
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Genre: Comedy, Animation, Adventure, Kids And Family
Stars: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba
Director: Byron Howard, Rich Moore
Rating: PG
Runtime: 108 minutes
The Muppets (2011)
Penned by actor Jason Segel, The Muppets reunites the classic Jim Henson ensemble of felt with a new player, the sheepishly amusing Walter (voiced by Peter Linz), a longtime fan of the Kermit-led brigade. Vacationing with his best friend Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams), Walter unearths a plot from the scheming Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) that involves demolishing the Muppet Studios for fracking. It’s up to Walter, Gary, and the reunited Muppet cast to thwart Richman’s proposed drilling operation. A loving return to the silver screen, The Muppets sticks to the heart and schtick of the original films, TV series, and specials, with a modern flourish (thanks to Segel’s sharp writing) to grab audiences both old and new.
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Comedy, Kids And Family
Stars: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper
Director: James Bobin
Rating: PG
Runtime: 98 minutes
Into the Woods (2014)
Into the Woods is Disney’s adaptation of the 1986 James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical. A musical melting pot of fairytale characters, the film follows a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) as they venture into the titular woods in search of artifacts that will vanquish a curse bestowed upon them by a witch (Meryl Streep). A seamless blend of family-friendly narrative beats with plenty of showstoppers and earnest performances from the main ensemble, Into the Woods is just as big and dazzling as its original Broadway version.
Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
Genre: Fantasy, Musical
Stars: Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, James Corden, Emily Blunt
Director: Rob Marshall
Rating: PG
Runtime: 124 minutes
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Belle (Emma Watson) is the enchanting and intellectual heartthrob of her small French villa, a home she tires of. When her father, Maurice (Kevin Kline), is taken by prisoner by a wretched beast (Dan Stevens), Belle’s dreams of adventure are answered posthaste. Arriving at the beast’s castle to rescue her father, she offers herself for imprisonment over her father. Accepting her offer, the beast leaves Belle to wander the castle, where she begins befriending its wily cast of characters — servants and keepers hexed into anthropomorphic furniture by the same witch’s curse that morphed the beast from a handsome man into his hairier savage appearance. As time passes, Belle learns to see past the beast’s rough exterior, finding kindness and a heart of gold in the cursed prince. A majestic blend of CGI, heartfelt performances, and excellent music make this a fantastic addition to Disney’s lineup of reimagined classics that include such films as The Lion King, Aladdin, and The Jungle Book.
Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
Genre: Fantasy, Kids and Family, Musical, Romance
Stars: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline
Director: Bill Condon
Rating: PG
Runtime: 129 minutes
A Bug’s Life (1998)
Flik (Dave Foley) is the laughing stock of his entire ant colony. An animated inventor that goes the extra mile to make work easier for his brethren, Flik’s many creations tend to fall by the wayside. When one of his latest contraptions goes haywire, the all-important food storage of the colony is vanquished. More like ransom money, most of the bug-grub was meant for a villainous grasshopper named Hopper (Kevin Spacey). When the angry insect learns that his sacrifice is gone, he demands the ants work overtime to deliver double the supply. With the colony in terror, Flik heads off on a journey to recruit a defense team for his stomping grounds. Packed with laughs, state-of-the-art CGI (for the time), and an emotionally gripping story, Pixar’s A Bug’s Life is an awesome weekend watch for kids and parents alike.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Adventure, Kids And Family, Animation, Comedy
Stars: Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Director: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton
Rating: PG
Runtime: 96 minutes
Descendants (2015)
Imagine if Disney had a shared universe before connected franchises became all the rage. That’s essentially the starting point for Descendants, which follows the journey of four teenagers whose parents include Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, the Evil Queen, and Jafar. Mal (Dove Cameron), Carlos (the late Cameron Boyce), Jay (Booboo Stewart), and Evie (Sofia Carson) accept the invitation of Prince Ben (Mitchell Hope) to attend Auradon Preparatory away from the influence of their evil parents. But the Disney villains have plans to escape their prison, and they want their kids to follow in their evil footsteps. However, once the teenagers experience life in Auradon, they’re no longer sure where their loyalties lie.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Fantasy, Musical, Comedy
Stars: Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, Sofia Carson
Director: Kenny Ortega
Rating: TV-G
Runtime: 112 minutes
Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)
Much as the title suggests, Ever After is a Cinderella story. It’s just not the one you think you know. Drew Barrymore stars as Danielle de Barbarac, a more active heroine than Disney’s original Cinderella. There is no fairy godmother here, but Leonardo da Vinci (Patrick Godfrey) does provide Danielle with some support and guidance. And rather than pursue Crown Prince Henry (Dougray Scott) because he is royalty, Danielle is drawn to him for who he is beyond his title. She even saves Henry on more than one occasion. This is a relentlessly charming and inventive take on an old tale, which still feels fresh and daring two decades later.
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Genre: Romance, Drama
Stars: Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Jeanne Moreau
Director: Andy Tennant
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 121 minutes
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
There aren’t a lot of stop-motion animated films on Disney+, but Fantastic Mr. Fox has a unique style and humor all of its own. Director Wes Anderson adapted Roald Dahl’s classic novel, with George Clooney providing the voice of the titular Mr. Fox. Although Mr. Fox is an exceptional thief, his wife, Felicity (Meryl Streep), convinces him to leave his life of crime behind. Years later, while raising their son, Ash (Jason Schwartzman), Mr. Fox is drawn back to his old life out of frustration. Unfortunately for the Fox family, the angry farmers literally go after them where they live … which forces the Foxes to go farther underground.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson
Director: Wes Anderson
Rating: PG
Runtime: 87 minutes
High School Musical (2006)
The original High School Musical movie not only kicked off a franchise, but it also made Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens into stars. Within this film, Efron and Hudgens play Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, respectively. Troy and Gabriella are immediately drawn to each other when she transfers to his school. Collectively and separately, the duo works up the courage to audition for the school musical despite their athletic and academic callings. However, their fellow student, Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale), schemes to keep them out of the musical in order to maintain her own place in the spotlight. Fortunately for the lovebirds, they have some very loyal friends.
Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
Genre: Musical, Romance, Comedy
Stars: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Lucas Grabeel, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu
Director: Kenny Ortega
Rating: TV-G
Runtime: 98 minutes
Mulan (2020)
Over two decades ago, Disney successfully adapted the legend of Mulan as an animated film. For the inevitable live-action adaptation, there is no talking dragon. But there is a witch. Yifei Liu stars as Mulan, the young woman who goes to war disguised as a man named “Hua Jun.” Under the tutelage of Commander Tung (Donnie Yen), Mulan finds her inner warrior. She also makes a strong connection with Chen Honghui (Yoson An) as they prepare to take on the forces of Böri Khan (Jason Scott Lee). The fate of the kingdom is in their hands.
Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Stars: Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Tzi Ma, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Ron Yuan
Director: Niki Caro
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 115 minutes
The Peanuts Movie (2015)
Another Snoopy flick? “Good grief.” All kidding aside, The Peanuts Movie is a nice CGI update of the classic comic strip created by Charles Schulz. This time, the focus is almost entirely on Charlie Brown (Noah Schnapp). After pining for the Little Red-Haired Girl (Francesca Angelucci Capaldi), Charlie Brown broadens his ambitions to improve himself and catch her eye. His fortunes rise and fall throughout the school year, in keeping with his eternal underdog status. Yet Charlie’s heart shines through, and even the other kids finally come to see him for who he truly is.
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Noah Schnapp, Hadley Belle Miller, Mariel Sheets, Alex Garfin
Director: Steve Martino
Rating: G
Runtime: 88 minutes
Pete’s Dragon (2016)
Although the original Pete’s Dragon is very charming, the 2016 remake is ultimately the stronger of the two films. Bryce Dallas Howard stars as Grace Meacham, a forest ranger who discovers Pete Haley (Oakes Fegley), a 10-year-old boy who has spent half a decade in the wild following a terrible tragedy. Pete’s loyal companion is Elliot, a dragon who can sometimes become invisible. Once the town gets wind of Elliot’s existence, Pete and his surrogate family go to great lengths to protect the dragon just as he had protected Pete for years.
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Stars: Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Robert Redford
Director: David Lowery
Rating: PG
Runtime: 103 minutes
Queen of Katwe (2016)
Queen of Katwe is based on the real story of Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a young girl whose family struggled despite the efforts of her mother, Nakku (Lupita Nyong’o). A missionary named Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) teaches Phiona how to play chess, and she quickly proves to be a prodigy. Phiona’s fervent hope is that her newfound skills will allow her family to escape poverty in Katwe. But the international chess competition is far more difficult than even Phiona had imagined.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Drama
Stars: David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, Madina Nalwanga, Esteri Tebandeke, Peter Odeke
Director: Mira Nair
Rating: PG
Runtime: 124 minutes
Sky High (2005)
Marvel movies are great, but they’re not necessarily the best introduction to superheroes for the younger set. That’s where Sky High comes in. This Disney original features Michael Angarano as Will Theodore Stronghold, the son of two superheroes: The Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston). Unlike his parents, Will doesn’t have any powers when he gets enrolled in Sky High, a literal high school in the sky that teaches superheroes the ropes. While Will struggles to find his place in his parents’ world, an old enemy from The Commander’s past plots to take down the heroes once and for all.
Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
Genre: Action, Superhero, Comedy
Stars: Kelly Preston, Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kurt Russell
Director: Mike Mitchell
Rating: PG
Runtime: 100 minutes
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