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When it comes to movie nights with your kids, there’s no place like Disney. It’s “where dreams come true,” after all, right?
So, of course, when looking at their extensive collection of movies and TV shows, kids and parents will all find something they’ll love. From fairytale classics like Snow White, Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp, comedies like Mrs. Doubtfire and The Parent Trap, and musicals like Frozen and Mary Poppins that will have you humming their songs for weeks, Disney+ will be the right spot for you.
Below are our top 35 must-see movies — from brand new ones to newish, old, and super old — for kids of all ages and their parents, too. (If you want movies that work particularly well for the younger-kid set, head here for our favorite films for preschoolers.)
Happy watching!
A version of this article was originally published in December 2015.
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‘Mulan’
Image Credit: Jasin Boland / © Disney+ / Courtesy Everett Collection Does your child, too, start every day by channeling his inner Donny Osmond and sing-shouting, “Let’s get down to business, to defeat the Huns”? No? Just mine, then. Okay. But whether your kid is already a die-hard devotee of the Mulan animated classic, they will be thrilled by Disney’s live-action version with Liu Yifei.
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‘The Princess Bride’
Image Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection We’re pretty sure we weren’t the only ones squealing with glee when The Princess Bride started streaming on Disney+. Complete with romance, suspense and a whole lot of laughs, this is a movie the whole family can watch (and quote!) over and over again.
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‘Hamilton’
Image Credit: ©Disney+/Courtesy Everett Collection While Broadway is where the show got started, the film version of the fan favorite Hamilton (or should we say, fanatic favorite) is on Disney+. It’s the perfect homeschool “field trip” to teach your kids about American history. Just aim for older kids; there’s some swearing, some deaths, some sex mentions, etc.
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‘Tarzan’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./courtesy Everett / Everett Collection From the Phil Collins tunes to Minnie Driver and Rosie O’Donnell being generally hilarious, Tarzan is one you’ll want to watch with your kids over and over. And maybe even start a family jam band so you can cover that N’SYNC original song that randomly pops up in the middle. We’re telling you! Delightful surprises abound!
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‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’
Image Credit: Jonathan Olley / © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / © Lucasfilm / courtesy Everett Collection If your kids are looking for some newer releases, we’ll put our hat in the ring and recommend the latest Star Wars movies, including Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Just note that this film is rated PG-13 (because, you know, lightsabers and stuff), so keep it on your older-kid watch list and read on for some recs for the young ‘ uns.
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‘Candleshoe’
Image Credit: Everett Collection / Everett Collection A hidden gem from the Disney vault, this sweet, hilarious kid-fueled treasure hunt stars a young Jodie Foster, as well as the inimitable Helen Hayes as the owner of Candleshoe, a stately mansion in the English countryside filled with orphans, hijinx, and maybe a few ghosts. It’s one that truly appeals to all ages — and holds up well after its 1977 release date.
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‘Inside Out’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection We shouldn’t really call a movie this new a “classic,” but here’s our rationale: It is so hard to find older kids’ movies with strong female protagonists who aren’t princesses or witches. In Inside Out, Riley is a regular 11-year-old girl who’s going through a rough time after her parents move to a new city. The voices in her head, er, we mean her emotions, just happen to share certain qualities with Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Bill Hader, and Mindy Kaling. As funny as they are, this movie turns into a real tear-jerker for anyone who’s had to move and leave old friends and an old life behind.
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‘The Lion King’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Picture / courtesy Everett Collection With rich animation, incredible talent and memorable music, this film is sure to please viewers young and old. Might as well make it a double or triple feature with 2019’s live-action The Lion King and 2024’s Mufasa: The Lion King.
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‘Mrs. Doubtfire’
Image Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection The thought of a grown man dressing as an old woman to sneak into the lives of his children and subvert a custody ruling is a bit disturbing, but hey, Mrs. Doubtfire is hilarious.
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‘Finding Nemo’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection While Finding Nemo isn’t that old, it’s undeniably a classic. The film — starring Nemo, Dory and Marlin — is arguably one of Pixar’s best features ever.
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‘Mary Poppins’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Nanny McPhee may have some cool tricks up her sleeve, but all kids should know that only Mary Poppins can clean a nursery, make medicine taste better, and take you on a cartoon adventure with a dancing chimney sweep — all without breaking a sweat.
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‘The Sandlot’
Image Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection Between the mystery of the Beast, a step-by-step tutorial on how to make s’mores, and a touching story about the power of friendship, The Sandlot is a film that your children will remember for-ev-errr.
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‘Aladdin’
Image Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection They may not understand that the late Robin Williams was the voice of Genie, but kids will love Aladdin for its flying carpet and friendly tiger, the strong and opinionated Princess Jasmine and the idea that it’s what’s on the inside of a person that really counts.
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‘The Sound of Music’
Image Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection Every child should watch The Sound of Music, even if it’s only to learn how to sing a proper scale. A screening of this film may lead to having an uninvited kid/guest in your bedroom the next time there’s a thunderstorm, but hey, that will give you a perfect chance to practice your duet.
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‘Fantasia’
Image Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection The short, unscripted cartoons in Fantasia serve as a wonderful way to introduce children of any generation to famous classical music compositions.
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‘Cinderella’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection If you’re looking for an iconic fairy-tale princess, then Cinderella has you covered. Besides, no child’s fairy-tale education is really complete until they see just how tricky it is to run while wearing glass slippers.
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‘Swiss Family Robinson’
Image Credit: Everett Collection / Everett Collection A shipwreck, pirates and the coolest tree house ever make Swiss Family Robinson a great film for every young adventurer.
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‘Beauty and the Beast’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection With a positive message about the power of inner beauty, Beauty and the Beast is so much more than just a fairy-tale romance.
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‘James and the Giant Peach’
Image Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection James and the Giant Peach is an entertaining adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl book that will leave your child begging to read it if they haven’t already. Plus, the film’s stop-motion animation scenes are gorgeous.
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‘The Little Mermaid’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection The Little Mermaid combines magic and romance in a coming-of-age cartoon that makes every child want to jump in the tub and pretend they live under the sea.
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‘The Parent Trap’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection While Lindsay Lohan has continued her acting career since, with a major comeback in 2022, one of our favorite titles of hers is The Parent Trap. After all, wouldn’t you also want to concoct a plan to reunite your family if you found your long-lost twin?
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‘Angels in the Outfield’
Image Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection A heartwarming tale of hope and faith, Angels in the Outfield can simply be enjoyable evening entertainment or a great way to start a bigger discussion about spirituality with your child.
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‘Escape to Witch Mountain’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Escape to Witch Mountain is a delight for any child who’s ever wondered if they’re secretly from another planet.
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‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’
Image Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection A stop-motion animation masterpiece, The Nightmare Before Christmas blends a holiday tale with just a tiny bit of spookiness.
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‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection A blend of live action and animation makes Bedknobs and Broomsticks a memorable movie for any generation.
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‘Toy Story’
Image Credit: Everett Collection Thanks to a stream of successful sequels and plenty of branded merchandise, your child is probably already familiar with Woody, Buzz and their gang. But a viewing of the original Toy Story can’t be beat.
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‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection The very first full-length animated Disney feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, has songs your child won’t be able to stop singing — and a cast of lovable dwarfs. Side effects of viewing may include a temporary suspicion towards apples.
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‘Lady and the Tramp’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Lady and the Tramp teaches kids never to judge someone before you get to know them. Plus, the iconic spaghetti-and-meatballs scene is sure to make the next time your family eats pasta highly entertaining.
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‘Home Alone’
Image Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection So much more than a holiday movie, Home Alone lets kids imagine what it would be like to be on their own — and outsmarting bad guys.
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‘The Muppet Movie’
Image Credit: ©HensonAssociates/Courtesy Everett Collection Kermit and his friends have been all over the place by now, but The Muppet Movie will take your kids back to where it all began — and let them see what things were like when Miss Piggy was the only swine in town.
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‘101 Dalmations’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection The delightfully evil Cruella de Vil and a ton of adorable puppies make 101 Dalmatians an animated classic that stands the test of time.
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‘Moana’
Image Credit: © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection With the mesmerizing voice of Auli’i Cravalho, kids will be swept away by music and enchanted by the world of Moana during their first watch.
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‘Monsters Inc.’
Image Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Sure, monsters can be scary sometimes. But what if watching Monsters Inc. with your kids completely changes their outlook? It could be a game-changer!
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‘Lilo & Stitch’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection With the live-action coming up later this year, there’s no time like now to watch the original Lilo & Stitch. It’ll have your kids wanting a Stitch of their own though, so be warned!
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‘Frozen’
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection It’s hard to believe that we’ve been listening to Idina Menzel sing “Let It Go” for over a decade now. But what can we say? 2013’s Frozen made history!
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