TL;DR: The Quick List for Your Next Movie Night
If you’ve got five minutes before the popcorn burns and the kids start fighting over the remote, here are the top picks for a modern Disney+ night that won't leave you scrolling for forty minutes:
- Best for Emotional Intelligence: Inside Out 2
- Best for Family Discussion: Encanto
- Best Visual Masterpiece: Soul
- Best "I Can't Believe We Missed This": Raya and the Last Dragon
- The "Skip It" (No-BS Review): Wish
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We’ve all been there. It’s Friday night, the pizza is on the way, and you’re staring at the Disney+ home screen like it’s a structural engineering exam. You want something better than the "brain rot" your kids are watching on YouTube—no more Skibidi Toilet or endless "Ohio" memes for one night, please. You want a movie that actually says something, but you also don't want to re-watch The Lion King for the 400th time.
The "Classics" are great, but Disney and Pixar have entered a new era. They’re tackling anxiety, generational trauma, and social dynamics in ways that actually resonate with 2025 kids. Here is how to navigate the modern Disney+ library like a pro.
If you’re looking for more than just a distraction, these films are basically a "cheat code" for talking about big feelings.
If you have a kid approaching middle school, this is mandatory viewing. It introduces "Anxiety" as a character, and honestly, it’s a better explanation of the teenage brain than most textbooks. It’s the perfect antidote to the mindless scrolling of TikTok because it gives kids a vocabulary for why they’re suddenly feeling "weird" or "cringe" about everything.
- Ages: 6+ (but hits hardest for ages 9-13)
- Talk about: What does your "Anxiety" character look like?
This movie is deep. Like, "existential crisis for parents" deep. But for kids, it’s a beautiful story about finding spark in the everyday. It’s a great pivot if your kids are obsessed with "grind culture" or becoming the next MrBeast. It reminds them that just living is enough.
- Ages: 8+ (younger kids might find the "Great Before" a bit abstract)
- Talk about: What are the small things that make life worth living?
Sometimes movie night is about seeing your own family’s chaos reflected on screen—but with better music.
By now, you’ve heard "We Don't Talk About Bruno" enough to lose your mind. But if you look past the earworms, this is a masterclass in how to talk about family roles and pressure. Whether your kid is the "perfectionist" like Isabela or the "strong one" like Luisa, there’s a conversation starter here.
- Ages: All ages
- Why it works: It moves away from the traditional "villain" trope and focuses on internal family healing.
Let’s be real: some parents found this one "controversial" because it mentions periods and puberty. In this house, we don't pull punches—it’s a fantastic movie. It captures that messy, loud, obsessive phase of early 2000s fandom (basically the Roblox era of its time) and the struggle of growing up.
- Ages: 10+
- Note: If your kid is starting to act "Ohio" (weird/cringe) and pulling away from you, watch this together. It helps.
Disney has had a few "flops" recently that were actually... pretty good? If you’re tired of the mainstream hits, try these.
This movie is a total vibe. The world-building is incredible, and it’s one of the few Disney movies that feels like a high-stakes adventure game like Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It’s about trust in a divided world—a pretty relevant topic for 2026.
- Ages: 6+ (some intense fantasy action)
This one got buried, but it’s a solid sci-fi flick. It features a three-generation family of explorers and a very cool, "biologically inspired" world. It’s also notable for having a gay lead character whose romance is treated as completely normal and non-issue—which is how it should be.
- Ages: 7+
- The No-BS Take: The plot is a little predictable, but the visuals are a 10/10.
Not everything with a castle logo is gold. If you value your time, you might want to pass on these.
I wanted to like this. It was the 100th-anniversary movie. But guys, it’s just... boring. The songs feel like they were written by an AI that was told to "sound like Disney," and the villain is forgettable. It’s not "bad" for kids, but it’s definitely "check your phone while they watch it" territory for parents.
Just watch the original. Or watch the Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio on Netflix if your kids are older and can handle some darkness. This Disney live-action remake is soul-less and the CGI is unsettling. It’s a pass.
Keep these on your radar for upcoming theater trips or Disney+ releases.
The first Zootopia was a brilliant allegory for prejudice and systemic issues. The sequel is expected to dive even deeper into social dynamics. Given how much kids are navigating online communities and "clans" in games like Fortnite, the social commentary here will likely be very timely.
Pixar’s next big swing. It’s about a kid who accidentally becomes the ambassador for Earth in an interstellar organization. It looks like it will tackle themes of "faking it 'til you make it" and finding your place when you feel like an outsider.
In a world where kids are increasingly consuming "snackable" content—30-second YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels—sitting down for a 90-minute narrative is actually a cognitive win. It builds attention spans and allows for shared "cultural touchstones" within your family.
When your kid says something is "lowkey fire," you want to know what they're talking about. When you watch a movie together, you’re building a shared language. You aren't just watching a movie; you're creating a reference point for future "real" talks.
Learn more about the benefits of long-form media vs. short-form video
- Ages 2-5: Stick to the "Shorts" collections on Disney+. Bluey (obviously) or the Olaf Presents shorts are perfect. Their attention spans aren't ready for a full feature film yet.
- Ages 6-9: This is the sweet spot for Encanto, Moana, and Raya. They can follow the plot and handle the "scary" moments.
- Ages 10-13: They might act like they’re too cool for Disney, but Inside Out 2 and Soul will usually hook them if you don't make a big deal out of it.
Disney+ is generally the "safest" of the streamers, but keep an eye on:
- The "Scary" Factor: Even "PG" movies like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (which is on Disney+) can be way too much for younger kids.
- The Auto-Play Trap: Disney+ loves to roll right into the next thing. Set boundaries before you start. "One movie, then we’re done."
Family movie night shouldn't feel like a chore or a "brain rot" session. By picking films like Inside Out 2 or Soul, you’re choosing content that respects your child’s intelligence and gives you an opening to talk about the stuff that actually matters.
Next Friday, skip the "Classics" tab and try something from the last five years. You might find that the "New Disney" is exactly what your family needs.
- The "Veto" Rule: Let every family member have one "veto" per month for movie night.
- The "No Phones" Policy: If you want them to stay off Discord during the movie, you have to put your phone in the kitchen, too.
- Check the WISE Score: Before you hit play, look up the movie on Screenwise to see how other intentional parents rated it.