From returning favorites to brand-new adventures, 2024 has been a big year for kids movies.

The Pixar hits Soul, Turning Red, and Luca, which did not get a theatrical release thanks to the pandemic, were all finally shared on the big screen. And a brand-new Pixar movie—which was also one of the most anticipated sequels—hit theaters. We’re talking about Inside Out 2, of course.

For parents, there’s been plenty of throwbacks and nostalgia in the mix, including Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and Garfield. So whether you’re heading to the theater or cozying up on your couch, here’s your month-by-month guide to the best kids movies of 2024. Just add popcorn, and enjoy the show!

JANUARY

Soul

Where to Watch: Now on Disney+

Starring: Jaime Foxx, Tina Fey

The Academy Award-winning animated film Soul missed its moment in theaters as it was released in 2020—when the world was still shut down. My family found so much solace in this film from the safety of our couch, but we cannot wait to see this beautiful movie, about living life to the fullest, as it was intended—on the big screen. Disney is releasing two more Pixar films that debuted on streaming during the pandemic, including Turning Red and Luca.

What Parents Should Know: Be prepared for questions—especially if your child has yet to experience the death of a loved one. Soul touches on complex themes including life, death, the afterlife, and searching for purpose and meaning in our lives.  

FEBRUARY

Orion and the Dark

Where to Watch: Now on Netflix

Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser

In this animated adventure, Orion (Tremblay) is a young boy with many fears ranging from heights to pets. But the one that has him the most rattled? The dark! To help change his tune, the Dark (Hauser) takes Orion on a nighttime trip to prove the famous adage you’ve likely told your own kids once or twice—the only thing to fear is fear itself!

What Parents Should Know: Orion sketches out his anxieties and fears in a book and some of those images—which include murderous clowns, bugs, public humiliation, and bullying at school—start to come alive (though still in his imagination). Over all, the film encourages kids to push through fears so they can enjoy life and live it to the fullest. 

Tiger’s Apprentice

Where to Watch: Now on Paramount+

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, Brandon Soo Hoo

Tom (Soo Hoo) is a normal boy who lives with his grandmother (Yeoh) in San Francisco’s Chinatown. It turns out that despite being a little eccentric, his grandmother is actually the Guardian of the Phoenix Egg! When she perishes in battle, Tom must apprentice with an unlikely mentor—a tiger named Mr. Hu (Golding)—to learn ancient magic he needs to know to become the egg’s new protector.  

What Parents Should Know: Overall, this film promotes courage, family bonds, and lots of teamwork. But you can expect some mild (and humorous) violence with monster-like demons, plus magical powers that do it all from turning people to stone to causing fart explosions from a goat.

Turning Red

Where to Watch: Now on Disney+

Starring: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh
Turning Red is one of three Pixar movies that never made it to theaters thanks to Covid, and if you have a tween or teen daughter—it’s a must-watch. This beautiful coming-of-age story focuses on 13-year-old Mei Lee (Chiang) going through all the normal turmoil of puberty—butting heads with her mom (Oh), emotional roller coasters, drama with friends . . . except Mei Lee has it a little tougher than your average girl. Why? She transforms into a giant red panda whenever she gets over-excited! 

What Parents Should Know: Puberty and adolescence are the main themes in this film so there’s plenty of references to periods and crushes, which can open up discussions about changing bodies and hormones. There’s some mild language, but overall this is a story that encourages many positive family discussions.

MARCH

Kung Fu Panda 4

Where to Watch: Now streaming on Prime Video

Starring: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis
Po (Black) is about to become the spiritual leader of his Valley of Peace! Great news but first he must find someone to take his place as Dragon Warrior, taking Po on an adventure filled with laughs, team building, and, of course, villain-defeating!

What Parents Should Know: While there will be some mild violence thanks to those over-the-top ninja moves, those action-packed scenes are done with humor. Plus, they’re so over the top, they could never be tried or replicated at home!

Luca

Where to Watch: Now streaming on Disney+

Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer
Luca is the last of the Pixar films sans a theatrical release because of the pandemic and is finally getting its time to shine. This beautiful film takes place on the Italian Riviera and follows an unlikely friendship between a human boy (Tremblay) and a sea monster disguised as a human (Grazer). 

What Parents Should Know: This heartwarming tale does feature some silly body humor, insults in both English and Italian (such as “stupido,” “idioti,” and “jerk”), plus mild injuries from comedic don’t-try-this-at-home stunts such as jumping off of cliffs and trees. Overall, Luca is about acceptance and can open up beautiful conversations that message.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Where to Watch: Netflix, Prime Video

Starring: Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard

Here’s a mind-blowing fact—the original Ghostbusters movie turns 40 years old in 2024! But what’s harder to wrap my head around? The franchise is still popular and my 9-year-old daughter is a fan! The latest installment is a nostalgia-filled throwback to the original, featuring the next generation of the Spengler family, the iconic New York City firehouse, and the OG Ghostbusters fighting off an evil force that could cause a second Ice Age!

What Parents Should Know: As with all the movies in the Ghostbusters franchise, there will be light frights and mild violence—but all done with humor. And yes, while you should be mindful that there will also be some swearing and mature references, it’s nothing too jarring and may even go over the heads of young children who are hyper-focused by the arrival of ghosts in NYC.

MAY

IF

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Cailey Fleming

Where to Watch: Paramount+, Prime

IFs (Imaginary friends) are a treasured part of childhood and Krasinski directs this sure-to-be classic that pays homage to the ones we had—or still hold dear. A young girl named Bea (Fleming) discovers she can see IFs that were abandoned by the kids they once helped. Bea’s not the only one with this gift—she discovers her neighbor, known as The Man Upstairs (Reynolds), can see them too. I’m predicting we’ll all need a box of tissues (or three) to make it through this film!

What Parents Should Know: This sweet movie can bring up deep talks about getting older, big life transitions, and changes that occur while moving from one phase of life to the next. It’s natural to leave behind child comforts such as imaginary friends but it certainly doesn’t make it any less emotional.

The Garfield Movie

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

Starring: Chris Pratt, Nicholas Hoult, Samuel L. Jackson

Children of the 80s, your favorite Monday-hating, lasagna-loving cat Garfield is making a big comeback. Garfield (Pratt), his best pal Odie the dog, and their beloved owner Jon (Hoult) are ready for new fans and new adventures. In this latest adaptation, Garfield reunites with his long-lost father Vic (Jackson).

What Parents Should Know: Overall, this film is silly and humorous—just like the original comic strip. But Garfield and his canine pal Odie are forced to give up their cushy life with their owner Jon when choosing to go on an adventure with Garfield’s long lost dad—that may bring up convos about feeling lonely and/or abandoned as well as the importance of family, both chosen and biological!

JUNE

Inside Out 2

Where to Watch: Coming to Disney+ in the fall

Starring: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke

When Inside Out hit theaters in 2015, I was a brand-spankin’ new mom to a baby girl which meant that Riley and all her emotions—Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness—really spoke to me. (Couldn’t my baby stay little forever!?!) Well, today, that baby is 9, and I battle with her and all those emotions every day! So it’s exciting and bittersweet for me that the Inside Out sequel is here, featuring teenage Riley! All the emotions—especially Joy (Poehler)—are trying to get Riley through this new phase, until a new emotion shows up that no one was expecting. Yes, welcome Anxiety (Hawke) to wreak havoc on Riley’s already delicate mental balance!

What Parents Should Know: Be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions now that Riley is experiencing the joys of anxiety—thanks to the onset of puberty. For many viewers, it should help them feel relieved knowing they’re not alone in these new feelings and outbursts. But for others, it may open up a myriad of questions about what will happen when they go through it one day. Overall, expect these growing pains to be depicted in a heartfelt and humorous way.

JULY

Despicable Me 4

Where to Watch: Prime, AppleTV

Starring: Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, and Sofía Vergara

It’s been seven years since we’ve last seen Gru on the big screen. In Despicable Me 4, Gru and Lucy have a new bundle of joy to add to the family, Gru, Jr. Baby Gru joins sisters Margo, Edith, and Agnes. But in typical Despicable Me fashion, their normality doesn’t last long as a new nemesis comes along. Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina force the family to go on the run along with their Minions.

What Parents Should Know: Despicable Me 4 is rated PG and has a lot of action and cartoon violence. There are also some touching family moments between, Gru, Lucy, the girls, and Gru, Jr. If your little one is a fan of the franchise, they won’t want to miss this one.

Descendants: The Rise of Red

Where to Watch: Disney+

Starring: Brandy (Cinderella), Rita Ora (Queen of Hearts), Kylie Cantrall (Red), China Anne McClain (Uma), and Jeremy Swift (Merlin) 

While not in theaters, the Descendants franchise has been enchanting children and tweens since 2015. This fourth installment of Descendants introduces us to a new character, Red. She is the daughter of the Queen of Hearts. In this film, the Queen of Hearts tries to incite a coup against Auradon. It’s then up to Red and her roommate Chloe (Cinderella’s daughter) to try to undo what the Queen of Hearts has done.

What Parents Should Know: If your kids are fans of the first three movies, the only “descendant” they will recognize will be Uma, the daughter of Ursula. The previous three films were recommended for children over 8 years old so this movie should be similar. Parents can expect some choreographed fighting as good battles evil. Parents of older kiddos may want to check out the newest installment for a sense of nostalgia.

AUGUST

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Where to Watch: Coming to Netflix in October 2024

Starring: Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery, Benjamin Bottani, Jemaine Clement, Tanya Reynolds, Alfred Molina, and Zooey Deschanel

This is the first time the popular book Harold and the Purple Crayon has been adapted into a movie. Zachary Levi plays Harold who can make anything come to life by drawing it. He eventually grows up and draws himself right out of the book and into the real world. Harold quickly realizes he has a lot to learn. Harold’s purple crayon still helps bring imagination to life in the real world setting off all sorts of hijinks and adventures.

What Parents Should Know: The original children’s book from 1955 is generally for young children. But the movie is rated PG, so there may be some scenes of action and adventure that your little one may find a bit scary. 

Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure

Where to Watch: In theaters Summer 2024, streaming release date to be announced.

Starring: The Kaji Family – Ryan Kaji, Shion Kaji, Loann Kaji, Emma Kaji, and Kate Kaji all playing themselves.

Your kids may already be familiar with Ryan’s World from YouTube. But now the Kaji family is hitting the big screen for an all-new adventure. Ryan’s twin sisters Emma and Kate are always trying to play with him. But this time, they find themselves pulled into a magical comic book and Ryan has to jump in and save them. To do so, he turns into his anime superhero alter ego Red Titan.

What Parents Should Know: According to Deadline, this is the first-ever theatrical release of a film by a digital creator. Ryan started his YouTube channel doing toy reviews and it now has more than 37 million subscribers. At the time of writing, the movie is not yet rated. The YouTube channel is geared toward kids ages 3 to 9.

SEPTEMBER

The Wild Robot

Where to Watch: September 27 in theaters nationwide

Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Kit Connor, Stephanie Hsu

This film by DreamWorks Animations follows the adventures of “Roz,” a robot that is shipwrecked on an island. Roz has to learn to adapt to its new environment. It ends up bonding with the animals on the island and “adopts” an orphaned gosling.

What Parents Should Know: This is a science fiction survival story based on the book series of the same name by Peter Brown. At the time of writing, this film is not yet rated, but the book series is geared towards middle grades. However, it is a survival story and the books do include some mildly disturbing scenes.

NOVEMBER

Moana 2

Where to Watch: November 27 in theaters nationwide

Starring: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk

One of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, Moana 2 is set to bring audiences back to the high seas. When Moana gets a call from her wayfinding ancestors, she has to answer it. According to the materials from Disney, “Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.”

What Parents Can Expect: There’s little known at the time of writing about the new film, but parents can expect similar themes of adventure and family bonds. You can also expect the same kind of humor as the first film.

Wicked

Where to Watch: November 27 in theaters nationwide

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Ethan Slater, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum

The wildly successful Broadway musical moves to the big screen. Wicked focuses on the origin stories of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch. It is set in the Land of Oz before Dorothy comes along. The film follows Elphaba from birth through college and shows audiences how she became wicked. She ends up forming an unlikely friendship and then rivalry with Glinda.   

What Parents Can Expect: While the movie is not yet rated, parents can expect it to follow the Broadway show. The website for the musical indicates it is recommended for children ages 8 and older. There are themes of good and evil, and there may be some scary moments for younger children. You might also want to explain to your kids that this film is just part one. Part two won’t be released until 2025.

DECEMBER

Mufasa: The Lion King

Where to Watch: December 20 in theaters nationwide

Starring: Aaron Pierre, Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Blue Ivy Carter, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner

In this film, Rafiki tells the story of Mufasa to a young lion cub named Kiara, who happens to be the daughter of Simba and Nala. Timon and Pumbaa are there of course with their comic relief. The story is told in flashbacks as audiences learn about Mufasa’s origin story. 

What Parents Can Expect: So here’s what parents should NOT expect: This is not a live-action version of the beloved Disney animated classic. The movie is not yet rated, but Disney says there are themes of action, adventure, drama, and family. 

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Where to Watch: December 20 in theaters nationwide

Starring: Ben Schwartz, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves, James Marsden, Jim Carrey

To be honest, little is known at this point about the plot of the third installment of the Sonic franchise. In fact, the popular film website IMDB actually says “plot under wraps.” The film series is based on the popular video games. What we do know is that the spin-off Knuckles is currently streaming on Paramount+, which may or may not help set up the film.

What Parents Can Expect: As traditionally with the Sonic films, there is plenty of action and adventure to go around. Kids who liked the first two films are likely to enjoy this one as well.