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2022 was the year family movie night got its swagger back. Theaters were humming again, streaming services were dropping “new release” buttons like confetti, and animated heroes were basically doing overtime. If your household calendar included soccer practice, homework negotiations, and “we’re out of snacks!”, there was still room for a movie that made everyone laugh at the same joke (a miracle on par with finding a missing LEGO barefoot-free).
This list is built for real families: toddlers who think everything is either “funny” or “too loud,” grade-schoolers who want adventure, and tweens who pretend they’re not impressedwhile quietly quoting lines the next day. Below you’ll find 50 of the best kids’ movies of 2022, including big theatrical hits, streaming originals, holiday favorites, and a few “older-kid” picks for families with brave viewers and strong popcorn traditions.
How We Picked the Best Kids’ Movies of 2022
“Best” doesn’t mean “perfect for every child.” It means the movie delivers on what families actually need: a clear story, memorable characters, and entertainment value that works across ages. We prioritized films released in 2022 (theatrical or major streaming premieres), plus a mix of animated, live-action, musical, and seasonal titles.
- Family-fit: Movies that generally work for kids and the adults watching with them.
- Rewatch factor: The kind of movie kids ask for againsometimes immediately.
- Variety: Comedy, adventure, fantasy, sports, music, and “cozy” picks.
- Practical reality: Some options are best for older kids; we call that out so movie night stays peaceful.
The 50 Best Kids’ Movies of 2022
Animated Crowd-Pleasers
- Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Monsters and humans swap bodies, and chaos does what chaos does best: multiply.
- The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild A fast, silly Ice Age side-quest with dinosaurs, possums, and Buck doing Buck things.
- Turning Red A hilarious, heartfelt coming-of-age story where emotions literally turn into a giant red panda.
- The Bad Guys A heist comedy with animal criminals trying (and struggling) to go good.
- Lightyear A sleek sci-fi adventure about the “real” space ranger who inspired the toybig action, big heart.
- Minions: The Rise of Gru Minions. Seventies vibes. Villain fanboy energy. Expect nonstop gags and wiggly chaos.
- DC League of Super-Pets When superheroes get captured, it’s up to the pets to save the day (and chew toys everywhere).
- The Sea Beast A gorgeous ocean adventure with monster-hunting, bravery, and a sweet message about rewriting old stories.
- Luck A colorful fantasy about good luck vs. bad luckplus adorable creatures and a surprisingly relatable main character.
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish A hilarious, stylish sequel with real emotion and one of the most fun animated villains in years.
- Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie Big action, big jokes, and a story that actually sticks the landing.
- Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank A scrappy underdog story with martial-arts comedy and a whole lot of “believe in yourself.”
- Marmaduke A giant dog, big antics, and a plot that basically says “what if your pet had confidence?”
- Scrooge: A Christmas Carol A musical animated spin on a classic story, built for families who like holiday songs with sparkle.
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse A gentle, beautiful short film that feels like a bedtime story in watercolor form.
Live-Action Laughs and Family Chaos
- Cheaper by the Dozen A modern remake full of blended-family comedy and “how is the house still standing?” energy.
- Home Team A sports comedy with a big-heart message about showing up for your kids (and surviving youth football).
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 A crowd-pleasing sequel with more characters, bigger set pieces, and extra “gotta go fast.”
- Secret Headquarters Kids discover a superhero lairthen have to protect it like it’s the world’s coolest clubhouse.
- Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile A singing crocodile turns “new city jitters” into a warm, musical family story.
- A Christmas Story Christmas A nostalgic holiday sequel that still understands the power of family chaos and one perfect gag.
- The Railway Children Return A gentle, old-school family drama with bravery, friendship, and wartime kindness.
Musicals, Showbiz, and Big Feelings
- Better Nate Than Ever A musical dreamer chases Broadwaywith plenty of laughs and a sweet message about being yourself.
- Hollywood Stargirl A warm, quirky story about creativity and connection, perfect for families who like softer, heartfelt films.
- Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Bold, bright, and packed with showstoppers; it’s a musical that respects kids’ intelligence.
- Sneakerella A modern, music-filled fairy tale with style, ambition, and just enough romance to stay family-friendly.
- Spirited A musical comedy remix of “A Christmas Carol” with big performances and holiday pep (best for older kids).
Spooky-but-Not-Too-Spooky Favorites
- Hocus Pocus 2 Nostalgia, witches, and Halloween fun that works best for kids who like playful scares.
- Under Wraps 2 A kid-friendly mummy adventure that’s more goofy than scary (great for tweens).
- Wendell & Wild Stylish stop-motion with spooky comedy; better for older kids who can handle darker themes.
- Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again Museum magic returns with new characters, fast jokes, and fantasy adventure.
Smart Animation and “Bigger Kid” Picks
- Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood A nostalgic space story told through a kid’s eyes (best for older kids and parents).
- Pinocchio (Disney) A classic tale retold with familiar characters and gentle lessons about honesty and courage.
- Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Stunning stop-motion with heavier emotions; ideal for mature kids and thoughtful family viewing.
- Enola Holmes 2 Mystery, humor, and a clever heroinegreat for families with tweens who love puzzles.
- The School for Good and Evil A fantasy friendship story with fairy-tale twists and lots of “which side are you on?” drama.
- Strange World A family adventure that mixes creature fun with a message about listening, changing, and growing up.
- Disenchanted Fairy-tale chaos meets real-world parenting; funny, musical, and best if you enjoyed the original.
- Slumberland A dreamworld adventure that leans into imagination, grief, and comfort (bring tissues… just in case).
- The Soccer Football Movie Animated sports silliness where soccer legends get the cartoon treatment and kids get pure chaos.
- Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers A clever, fast comedy loaded with visual jokes; kids enjoy the adventure, adults catch the winks.
- The Bob’s Burgers Movie Musical mystery fun, but better for older kids due to its PG-13 vibe and humor style.
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Big battles and anime flair; great for teens and families who already love Dragon Ball.
- Belle A visually stunning anime about identity and connection in a digital world (best for thoughtful older kids).
- Child of Kamiari Month A spiritual journey with Japanese folklore; gentle, imaginative, and meaningful.
- Bubble A gravity-defying anime romance/adventure with incredible visuals (best for older kids and teens).
- My Father’s Dragon A warm, storybook-style animated adventure about courage, friendship, and doing the hard right thing.
- LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation Light, silly Star Wars fun that’s easy to watch even if you only know “the one with the lasers.”
- Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3 Songs, dancing, and teen-friendly monster mash energy for families who like musical franchises.
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special A funny, heartfelt holiday mini-movie for superhero-loving families (best for older kids).
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Sibling rivalry, middle-school pain, and the universal truth: brothers are chaos in hoodies.
Quick Movie-Night Playbook: How to Pick the Right One
Choosing the “best kids’ movie” is really choosing the best match for your house tonight. Here’s a simple way to avoid the classic movie-night meltdown (a.k.a. the moment someone yells, “This is boring!” five minutes in).
- For ages 4–7: Aim for bright, simple stories with lots of visual humor (think: Minions, Super-Pets, Hotel Transylvania).
- For ages 8–11: Pick bigger adventures and smart comedy (The Sea Beast, The Bad Guys, Sonic 2).
- For tweens and up: Try mysteries and musicals (Enola Holmes 2, Matilda, Better Nate Than Ever).
- For spooky season: Start with playful scares (Hocus Pocus 2, Under Wraps 2) before you go darker.
- For “everyone’s tired” nights: Shorter specials and familiar worlds can be a lifesaver (hello, LEGO Star Wars).
Pro tip: if you’re watching with mixed ages, choose something with two layerssimple jokes for kids and clever details for adults. That’s how you get the rarest thing on Earth: a parent who isn’t secretly checking email during the movie.
Experiences That Make 2022 Kids’ Movies Even More Fun (500+ Words)
Here’s what families tend to notice when they look back at their favorite kids’ movies of 2022: it wasn’t just the moviesit was the ritual. The best family films become tiny traditions, and 2022 delivered a lot of “tradition-ready” options.
1) The “we all laughed at the same part” moment. That’s the gold standard. Movies like The Bad Guys, DC League of Super-Pets, and Minions: The Rise of Gru are basically engineered for shared laughter. The experience is usually the same: one kid starts giggling, a sibling pretends they’re not impressed, and thenboomeveryone’s laughing, including the adults who swore they were only watching “to supervise.” Those shared laughs can reset a rough day faster than a pep talk.
2) Kids love “big feelings” when the story feels safe. A lot of 2022 family films had surprisingly tender emotional cores. Turning Red hits the sweet spot for many families because it turns awkward growing-up feelings into something funny and lovable. The Sea Beast works similarly: it’s exciting on the surface, but underneath it’s about questioning the stories we’re told and choosing courage over fear. Families often find that kids will talk about the emotional parts laterusually in a casual, sideways way, like during toothbrushing or the drive to school.
3) The “kid picks the snacks” power move. One underrated movie-night experience is letting kids take ownership of the night. A simple trick: match snacks to the movie theme. Watching Sonic the Hedgehog 2? Go with “speed snacks” (tiny pretzels, popcorn, grapesanything that feels fast). Watching The Sea Beast? Blue drinks, goldfish crackers, and “sea monster popcorn.” Is it a little extra? Yes. Does it make kids feel like movie night is an event instead of “screen time”? Also yes.
4) The “this is my personality now” phase. Many families noticed how quickly kids turned 2022 movies into identity accessories. A kid watches Super-Pets and suddenly everything is “Krypto this, Krypto that.” Another watches Matilda the Musical and starts practicing dramatic monologues like they’re auditioning for Broadway in the living room (bonus points if a sibling becomes an unwilling supporting actor). This isn’t just cuteit’s kids processing stories through play, which is basically their version of film criticism.
5) Mixed-age viewing gets easier with the right strategy. Families with a wide age range often discovered a “two-pick system.” First, choose a movie that’s safe for the youngest viewer. Then, later in the week, choose a “big kid” picksomething like Enola Holmes 2, Apollo 10½, or Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (if your kids are ready for heavier themes). The experience becomes less of a battle and more of a rotation, which is the closest thing to peace treaties most families will ever sign.
6) The best 2022 kids’ movies created “after-movie habits.” Some films sparked drawing, crafting, or pretend games afterward: kids sketching dream creatures after Slumberland, making “wanted posters” for the animals in The Bad Guys, or turning couch cushions into an “underwater ship” after The Sea Beast. Those are the movies that lingerin a good waybecause they invite imagination to keep going after the credits.
In the end, the real magic of the best kids’ movies of 2022 wasn’t just the animation quality or the celebrity voices. It was the way these films helped families build small, repeatable moments of connectionlaughing together, quoting lines, and turning an ordinary night into something that feels like a memory while it’s happening.
Conclusion: Your 2022 Family-Movie Checklist
If you only pick a few, start with a balanced trio: one laugh-out-loud pick (The Bad Guys), one big-hearted adventure (The Sea Beast), and one “wow” sequel that truly delivers (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish). Then sprinkle in seasonal favorites like Hocus Pocus 2 or Matilda the Musical when your family wants a themed night. With the movies above, you can build a full year of family movie nightswithout rewatching the same film twelve times in a row (unless your kid has declared it their “comfort movie,” in which case… good luck and Godspeed).
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