I love movie night with my kids. But I’ve learned something important as a parent: a kids’ movie is not always kid-friendly.
Even popular animated and family films can include sexual innuendo, potty humor, flirting, kissing, crude language, and other content I don’t want my younger kids absorbing. I’m cautious about what we watch at home—and I’m completely okay with that.
Below, I’ll share the three things I watch for in so-called kid-friendly movies, and 17 clean family movies our family has actually enjoyed.
Why a “kids’ movie” isn’t always kid-friendly
One thing I have learned as a parent is that a movie made for children is not necessarily appropriate for kids.
We may assume no harm is done, or that our kids don’t even catch on. But I have heard children from good families crack surprisingly dirty jokes, use crude language, and make inappropriate comments about bodies—sometimes without seeming to fully understand what they are saying. I don’t believe parents are intentionally teaching their children these things. Kids pick things up from movies, shows, online content, and other kids. And once one child repeats something, it quickly becomes something other children are exposed to as well. Children don’t have to fully understand something to absorb it and repeat it.
When it comes to movies, the choices I make reflect our family’s values and what I believe is appropriate for my children. A big part of that is honoring God through our words and actions. (You can read more about my personal beliefs that shape these boundaries here). For me, repeatedly exposing my kids to ideas and behaviors that don’t align with what we teach at home can send mixed messages about what is appropriate and what isn’t.
And as much as I’d like to control everything my kids watch, I know that isn’t possible. My kids may watch movies at school, at a friend’s house, or somewhere else I haven’t preapproved. In those situations, conversation becomes even more important. I want my kids to know why we wouldn’t choose certain content—and to recognize for themselves what doesn’t align with our family’s values.
Your boundaries may look different than mine, and that’s okay. Every family has to decide what they want to allow and what they want to teach based on their own values.
So what exactly am I flagging in a “kid-friendly” movie?
3 Things I Watch for in Kids’ Movies
#1 Sexual Innuendo
Somewhere along the way, we seem to have accepted that children’s movies need to include jokes for the adults in the room.
Take Madagascar. In one scene, Gloria emerges from the water with starfish covering her breasts and a crab covering her private area. In Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Moto Moto openly flirts with Gloria, with much of the humor focused on her body. In Zootopia, the rabbit is obviously very uncomfortable entering the nudist yoga center. She cringes as the camera angle focuses on the animals’ private parts. I cringed too.
Most people believe that kids don’t understand these jokes. But if my child is too young to understand a sexual joke, why does a movie made for my child need to introduce it?
#2 Potty Humor
I know this one doesn’t bother everybody. But it definitely bothers me.
For many children, it starts with books. Series like Captain Underpants and Dog Man have made underwear, butts, poop, toilets, and bodily functions a regular source of children’s humor. I’ve seen how quickly one butt joke can send a group of boys into hysterics.
You can read more about my take on this topic in a blog I wrote a while ago about “Why we don’t read Dog Man and other potty-humor books.”
What kids repeatedly read, watch, and laugh about doesn’t necessarily stay on the page or screen. It becomes part of their vocabulary. It becomes part of their moral values and eventually becomes the joke they tell their friends.
Despicable Me and the Minions movies use bottoms and underwear for laughs. The Angry Birds Movie uses a pig’s bare bottom as a visual gag. King Julien’s humor frequently revolves around his body and backside. In Madagascar, he shakes his rear at Maurice and jokes about letting him take a bite of his “buttocks.”
Why has exposing backsides become such an easy and accepted way to get laughs in entertainment made for children?
A few years ago, when my kids took the school bus, there was a 5th grader who thought it was funny to pull down his pants for a second and show his bottom. Another time, on a playdate, my boys were entertained by a friend who personified his butt and kept talking for it.
There are so many ways to make children laugh without relying on private parts, poop, farting, and underwear. I also want my kids to understand that private parts of their bodies deserve privacy and respect. Constantly turning them into punch lines sends a very different message.
#3 Unwanted Romance and Physical Attractions
Another thing I have become much more aware of is unnecessary romance in children’s movies. I’m not talking about children seeing a healthy marriage or watching parents hug or kiss. I’m talking about the flirting, suggestive romantic jokes, kissing, comments about someone’s body or attractiveness, and physical touching that gets inserted into movies aimed at young children.
In Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Moto Moto openly flirts with Gloria, with much of his attraction centered on her body. The Bad Guys 2 includes flirting, kissing, and romantic banter. Many of these movies objectify women’s bodies as well.
This content is teaching kids that such behavior is ok and acceptable in the dating world. There will be plenty of time for our children to learn about attraction, dating, kissing, and romantic relationships. Let’s portray true friendship between boys and girls. Times when they adventure together, solve a mystery, or make each other laugh.
It doesn’t have to become romantic. Give my kids friendship, siblings, and teach loyalty, courage, sacrifice, adventure, imagination, and kindness through interesting and hilarious characters.
The Good News
There are hundreds of genuinely clean, family-friendly movies for kids. There are beautiful stories, hilarious comedies, incredible adventures, classics, sports movies, animal stories, mysteries, and fantasies that our whole family can enjoy.
Childhood is short. Let’s not rush into adulthood.
If you are looking for some nice family-friendly movies to watch with your kids, here are some genuinely good ones.
17 Clean Family-Friendly Movies We Love
Here are short, blog-friendly one-line descriptions you can place beside each movie:
Fly Away Home
This is an oldie but worth the watch. I was able to locate it on Tubi with a free account. It is a touching family adventure about a young girl who raises orphaned geese and helps teach them how to migrate.
National Treasure 1
A fast-paced historical adventure filled with hidden clues, American history, treasure hunting, and mystery.
Because of Winn-Dixie
A heartwarming story about a lonely young girl whose lovable stray dog helps her build friendships and find community. Any Anna Sophia Robb movie is always good.
Race to Witch Mountain
An action-packed adventure about two mysterious children (from another planet) with extraordinary abilities trying to find their way home. (Again featuring Anna Sophia Robb)
Kung Fu Panda (the movie series)
This is one of those movie franchises that I will support. I love all 4 movies, the 4th being my favorite. It is a funny, action-filled adventure about Po, an unlikely hero who learns courage, perseverance, friendship, and what it means to use his gifts well.
Soul Surfer (older kids)
The inspiring true story of surfer Bethany Hamilton and her determination to return to surfing after losing her arm in a shark attack. The shark attack is graphic, so I would fast-forward that if you want to avoid it. Anna Sophia Robb also plays Bethany Hamilton.
The Sheep Detectives (mystery + death of the shepherd — better for ~8+).
I watched this recently after it was raved about. It is certainly family friend. It is a mystery story about a flock of sheep who turn amateur detectives when their shepherd mysteriously dies.
Dolphin Tale
It has been a while since I watched this one, but it is truly an uplifting story inspired by real events about a boy who befriends an injured dolphin and the team determined to help her swim again. There is a sequel to the movie as well.
Raya and the Last Dragon
A beautifully animated adventure about a young warrior who sets out to find the last dragon and reunite a divided kingdom.
The Chronicles of Narnia
A magical fantasy adventure in which children enter the world of Narnia and become part of an epic battle between good and evil. There are 3 movies, all based on the book.
Brave
This is one of my favorite Disney princesses, a Scottish princess whose choices put her family in danger and teach her about courage, love, and reconciliation.
Christopher Robin
If you are a big fan of Winnie the Pooh, this movie is for you. It is a gentle, nostalgic story about a grown-up Christopher Robin rediscovering Winnie the Pooh.
Mary Poppins Returns
A whimsical musical about Mary Poppins returning to help the now-grown Banks children and the next generation find hope and joy during a difficult season. I have found that kids these days don’t like the older version, but who doesn’t love Emily Blunt in this one?
Bridge to Terabithia (grief -preview first)
A moving story about friendship, imagination, grief, and two children who create a magical world where they can escape the challenges of everyday life. This is also based on a book.
Smallfoot
A funny animated adventure that turns the Bigfoot legend upside down as a young yeti sets out to prove that humans really exist. We just came across this movie in the summer.
Ramona and Beezus
One of the more entertaining movies based loosely on the book Ramona and Beezus. Beezus is such a fun character to watch as she lives through everyday joys and struggles of family life.
Secretariat (older kids)
One of my all-time favorite movies is an inspiring true-story drama about Penny Chenery and the legendary racehorse Secretariat. i have watched this with my 12 year old.
There are so many more I can list, but I’ll leave you with this for today and hope you find one that you will truly enjoy. At the end of the day, you need to use your own discretion and choose what’s best for your kids. Some of these movies may have some scenes you may not be comfortable with. Make sure to do your own research before you decide what you feel comfortable watching.
How We Choose Movies as a Family
You don’t need a complicated system. Decide what you’re willing to filter for, preview when you can, and talk about what you watch especially when a movie slips through at school or a friend’s house.
If you want more curated picks from our home, start with our Book Lists—we spend a lot of time choosing stories worth sharing, on the page and on the screen.
FAQ: Kid-Friendly Movies
Are PG kids’ movies always okay for young children?
Not always. PG covers a wide range, and many “family” movies still include innuendo, potty humor, or romantic content aimed at adults in the room.
What makes a movie “clean” for your family?
We look for stories that don’t rely on sexual jokes, potty humor, or unnecessary romance and that still deliver humor, adventure, friendship, and entertainment
Where do you find clean family movies?
Word of mouth, rewatching trusted favorites, reading reviews from PluggedIn and CommonSense Media, and previewing new releases before a full family movie night.