If your family movie nights needed a glow-up in 2023, Hollywood and the streamers were more than happy to clock in. This year brought a little bit of everything: colorful animation, magical remakes, big-screen game adaptations, funny animal adventures, heartfelt coming-of-age stories, and enough popcorn-worthy spectacle to keep kids glued to the couch and parents pretending they were “just watching for the kids.” Sure. We believe you.
The best new and upcoming kids’ movies for 2023 were not all cut from the same cookie-cutter dough, and that is exactly what made the year fun. Some titles were built for little kids who want laughs, songs, and talking animals. Others leaned toward tweens and families who like a little mystery, superhero action, or emotional depth with their snacks. The result was a genuinely strong year for family movies, whether you love theaters, streaming, or the sacred tradition of letting the kids pick while you silently hope it is not chaos in animated form.
Why 2023 Was Such a Big Year for Family Movies
One reason 2023 felt packed is that studios finally stopped treating family entertainment like a one-lane road. Instead of relying only on sequels and princess castles, the year mixed video-game nostalgia, fresh original animation, teen comedies, fantasy adventures, and cozy holiday specials. That gave parents more options and gave kids more chances to discover a movie that actually matched their age, mood, and obsession of the week.
Another reason the year worked so well is balance. Theaters had giant crowd-pleasers like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Wish, while streaming platforms served up easy movie-night wins like Nimona, Leo, Chupa, and Family Switch. Translation: fewer arguments over where to watch and more time debating who gets the biggest blanket.
44 Best New and Upcoming Kids’ Movies for 2023
Not ranked because asking parents to rank 44 family movies is how you start a living-room civil war.
Winter and Early Spring Picks
- Dog Gone A family-friendly tearjerker with heart, humor, and one very good dog. If your house treats pets like tiny royalty, this one lands immediately.
- The Amazing Maurice Talking cats, a clever rat-filled setup, and a fantasy world with enough wit to keep adults from checking their phones.
- True Spirit A spirited adventure based on a real teenage sailor, perfect for kids who love determination, bravery, and stories that actually inspire action.
- Mummies Ancient Egypt gets a lively animated makeover in a movie that mixes comedy, action, and enough visual chaos to entertain younger viewers.
- We Have a Ghost A spooky-but-playful family option that gives older kids and tweens a supernatural comedy with more charm than nightmares.
- The Magician’s Elephant Gentle, imaginative, and beautifully earnest, this is the kind of animated fantasy that feels like a bedtime story with better lighting.
- Chang Can Dunk A warm sports story with real emotional stakes, big teen energy, and a message about identity that hits harder than the title suggests.
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods For superhero-loving families with older kids, this one delivers jokes, action, and plenty of “what if a teenager got god-level powers?” fun.
- The Portable Door Office fantasy sounds weird, but stick with it. This whimsical adaptation turns magical bureaucracy into a surprisingly fun family adventure.
- We Lost Our Human Interactive, goofy, and built for chaotic households, this animated Netflix experiment lets kids help drive the story. Good luck agreeing on choices.
- Chupa A sweet creature adventure set in Mexico, this movie blends myth, family, and emotional warmth into an easy pick for a cozy weekend watch.
- Prom Pact A sharp teen comedy with brains, ambition, and high-school drama, best for tweens and teens who like romance without drowning in syrup.
Spring Standouts
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie Bright, fast, and unapologetically game-shaped, this was one of 2023’s easiest all-ages wins. Even non-gamers could ride the rainbow road.
- Peter Pan & Wendy A familiar story with a more reflective tone, giving families a fresh look at Neverland without tossing the original magic overboard.
- Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Not for tiny kids, but a wonderful pick for older children and parents who appreciate funny, honest coming-of-age storytelling.
- Crater Friendship, grief, and lunar adventure blend together in a sci-fi story that feels like a throwback family film with a modern emotional core.
- The Little Mermaid Ariel swam back into the spotlight in a live-action remake packed with musical nostalgia, fantasy romance, and big under-the-sea spectacle.
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse A visual fireworks show with real heart, huge imagination, and enough multiverse energy to leave kids asking ten thousand questions.
- Elemental Pixar brought warmth, humor, and a surprisingly tender immigrant-family metaphor to a movie about fire, water, and unexpected connection.
- Carl’s Date Short, sweet, and classic Pixar comfort food, this little companion piece gave audiences more Carl and Dug, which is rarely a bad idea.
Summer Movie-Night Favorites
- Nimona One of the year’s smartest animated surprises, this genre-bending adventure is funny, rebellious, heartfelt, and full of shape-shifting chaos.
- Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken A bubbly sea-creature comedy that leans hard into middle-school awkwardness, identity, and the eternal struggle of fitting in.
- World’s Best Music, math, family, and self-discovery make this a lovely streaming option for households that like heart with their humor.
- Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie Fast, musical, and full of superhero sparkle, this one hits especially well if your kids already know the franchise.
- The Slumber Party Part sleepover comedy, part mystery, part “how did we wake up like this?” disaster. Great for older kids who enjoy chaos with laughs.
- Barbie This is more of an older-kids-and-teens pick, but it was impossible to ignore in 2023. Funny, candy-colored, and sneakily thoughtful.
- Haunted Mansion Best for families with kids who enjoy spooky fun without diving into full horror, this one offers ghosts, gags, and gothic Disney energy.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Loud in the best way, with messy teen energy, stylized animation, and jokes that actually sound like teenagers made them.
- The Monkey King This animated adventure brings myth, action, and humor together in a lively story about ego, growth, and learning to be less annoying.
- Blue Beetle Another strong older-kids option, this superhero story stands out because it feels family-centered instead of only explosion-centered.
Fall Releases Worth Watching
- Spy Kids: Armageddon A franchise reboot with gadgets, sibling teamwork, and enough goofy spy-business to win over nostalgic parents and curious kids alike.
- PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie If your household speaks fluent preschool, this one was practically required viewing. Puppies plus superpowers equals easy math.
- Once Upon a Studio A short but joyful Disney celebration that feels like a warm hug for anyone who grew up with animated classics.
- Under the Boardwalk Singing crabs should not work this well, and yet here we are. It is quirky, colorful, and pleasantly different from the usual lineup.
- Scooby-Doo! & Krypto, Too! Mystery Inc. and Superman’s dog in one movie? This is pure crossover sugar for cartoon-loving kids.
- Leo Adam Sandler’s classroom lizard comedy turned out to be much sweeter than expected, balancing jokes with a surprisingly thoughtful message.
- Trolls Band Together Glitter, music, reunion drama, and candy-colored visuals make this an obvious crowd-pleaser for younger kids and soundtrack enthusiasts.
- Wish Disney’s starry fantasy had the big songs, the magical sidekick energy, and the kind of fairy-tale look that screams family movie night.
Holiday and Year-End Winners
- Family Switch Body-swap comedies are basically family-viewing catnip, and this one leans into the formula with a cheerful holiday twist.
- The Velveteen Rabbit A tender, storybook-style special that feels perfect for younger kids and anyone emotionally vulnerable around beloved toys.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever Greg Heffley plus holiday stress plus snowed-in family chaos is a very specific and very reliable formula.
- Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget A long-awaited sequel that brings back the clever escape spirit of the original with fresh, kid-friendly action.
- Wonka Charming, musical, and whimsical, this prequel turned out to be one of the year’s most delightful family surprises.
- Migration Ducks, adventure, jokes, and a strong family core made this animated road-trip-in-the-sky a terrific way to close out the year.
How to Choose the Right 2023 Kids’ Movie for Your Family
Not every great family movie is meant for every age. If your kids are younger, titles like PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Trolls Band Together, Migration, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie are easy wins because they move quickly, keep the humor broad, and do not ask kids to carry a lot of emotional homework afterward. These are your “Friday night, pajamas on, popcorn everywhere, no one overthinks anything” choices.
For older kids and tweens, 2023 had especially strong picks. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Nimona, Leo, Wonka, Barbie, and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. offered a little more texture, whether through humor, identity, family themes, or emotional nuance. In other words, these movies can entertain the kids and still give parents something to chew on besides the last surviving handful of cheddar popcorn dust.
on the Family Experience of Watching Kids’ Movies in 2023
What made 2023 especially memorable was not just the number of kids’ movies released, but the way they fit into real family life. Some years give you a handful of obvious hits and a lot of forgettable filler. This year felt different. It offered movie nights for every mood: loud and silly, soft and sentimental, adventurous and weird, musical and magical. Families did not have to settle for one style of entertainment because 2023 kept the menu surprisingly full.
That mattered more than it sounds. In a lot of homes, family movies are one of the few things everyone still does together without too much bribery. A good family film creates temporary peace treaties between siblings, buys parents ninety blessed minutes of togetherness, and sometimes opens up conversations that sneak in sideways. A movie like Elemental could lead to a chat about family expectations. Leo could turn into a funny conversation about school anxiety. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. gave older kids and parents a natural way to talk about growing up without the awkwardness level reaching “please let the floor swallow me.”
There was also something refreshing about how 2023 balanced theater experiences and at-home streaming. Some movies felt designed for the giant screen, where kids could laugh loudly, point dramatically, and ask ten urgent questions before the previews were over. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Trolls Band Together absolutely thrived in that setting. They had the color, movement, and big-audience energy that make a theater visit feel like an event instead of just expensive popcorn delivery.
At the same time, streaming made the year feel generous. Families could discover gems like Nimona, Chupa, Dog Gone, Family Switch, and The Velveteen Rabbit without turning movie night into a military operation involving parking, jackets, and emergency snacks. That convenience matters, especially for younger kids who are more likely to need a blanket, a bathroom break, a different blanket, and then the original blanket again.
Another standout part of the 2023 experience was variety in tone. Not every kid wanted princesses. Not every parent wanted hyperactive comedy. Not every tween wanted “baby stuff.” This year had room for all of it. There were superhero picks for older kids, heartfelt animation for the whole family, silly franchise fun for preschool audiences, and thoughtful stories for kids on the edge of adolescence. That variety helped family movie night feel less like compromise and more like actual choice.
In the end, the best kids’ movies of 2023 did what great family entertainment always does: they gave people a reason to gather in one room and react together. They made kids laugh, gave parents nostalgia, sparked post-movie debates, and created those tiny memories that last way longer than they should. Years from now, a lot of families will not just remember the movies themselves. They will remember the couch forts, the popcorn bowls, the sing-alongs, the jump scares that were not really scary, and the way one random Friday turned into a pretty great night.
Final Thoughts
If you were building a family watchlist in 2023, you had options for days. The year delivered blockbuster animation, surprisingly strong streaming originals, nostalgic reboots, heartfelt adventures, and a few “wait, that was actually really good” surprises. Whether your kids wanted ducks, turtles, princesses, spies, ghosts, lizards, or a deeply committed plastic doll, the lineup had you covered.
The smartest way to use this list is simple: match the movie to the moment. Need an easy crowd-pleaser? Start with The Super Mario Bros. Movie or Migration. Want something clever and modern? Go with Nimona or Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Want a cozy family watch with heart? Try Leo, Chupa, or Wonka. In short, 2023 was not just a good year for kids’ movies. It was a very snack-friendly one.
