Ages: 8+ (though younger kids who loved the first one will be fine)

Pixar did it again. While everyone was worried this would be a cash-grab sequel, Inside Out 2 actually earned its existence. Riley's now a teenager, which means new emotions show up: Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui (which, yes, your kids will need explained).

The comedy here is sophisticated without being over kids' heads. Anxiety is voiced by Maya Hawke and is both hilarious and painfully relatable—especially for parents who've watched their tweens suddenly become walking bundles of social stress. There's a scene where Anxiety literally tries to control everything that will hit way too close to home.

Why it works: The humor serves the story. Younger kids laugh at the physical comedy and character designs. Older kids and teens see themselves in Riley's middle school social anxiety. Parents get jokes about nostalgia and the existential dread of parenting a teenager. Everyone wins.

Bonus: This movie is an incredible conversation starter about emotional regulation and mental health. Use it.

Ages: 6+

If you haven't heard about this one, you're missing out. Based on Peter Brown's beloved book, this DreamWorks film is about a robot named Roz who crash-lands on an island and ends up raising a gosling. It's funny, gorgeous, and will absolutely wreck you emotionally by the end.

The comedy comes from Roz's literal interpretation of everything and her fish-out-of-water (robot-out-of-forest?) situation. Lupita Nyong'o voices Roz with this perfect blend of robotic precision and growing warmth. Pedro Pascal voices a fox who provides most of the sarcastic humor.

Real talk: This movie made multiple parents I know cry. Like, full-on sobbing in the theater. But it's also genuinely funny, with humor that comes from character rather than cheap gags. The animation is stunning—like, "pause it and it looks like a painting" stunning.

Content note: There are some intense predator-prey moments and themes about survival that might be scary for sensitive younger kids. But nothing gratuitous.

Ages: 6+

Look, nobody needed a fourth Kung Fu Panda movie. But here we are, and it's... actually pretty good? Not as good as the first two, better than the third, and perfectly serviceable for a family movie night.

Po has to choose a successor, which leads to him mentoring a fox thief voiced by Awkwafina. The humor is classic Kung Fu Panda: physical comedy, Po being lovably incompetent until he's suddenly competent, and Jack Black doing what Jack Black does best.

Why it's worth watching: It's comfort food. You know exactly what you're getting. The kids will laugh at the action sequences, you'll appreciate the surprisingly decent message about letting go and trusting others, and nobody will be mad about spending 90 minutes on it.

Not worth watching if: You're tired of the formula. This doesn't reinvent anything. It's Kung Fu Panda. Again. That's either perfect or exhausting depending on your mood.

Ages: 5+

The Minions are back. If that sentence fills you with joy or dread, you already know if this movie is for you.

Despicable Me 4 is fine. It's not offensive, it's not brilliant, it's just... there. Gru and his family go into witness protection, there's a villain from high school, the Minions get superpowers for some reason. The youngest kids (5-8) will lose their minds over the Minions doing Minion things. Everyone else will tolerate it.

The comedy: Very slapstick, very physical, very loud. If your kids loved the previous movies, they'll love this one. If you're hoping for something fresh or clever, keep hoping.

Parent survival tip: The runtime is mercifully short at 95 minutes. You can do this.

Ages: 10+

This is technically a family comedy, though it skews older and has some genuinely creepy moments. The new generation of Ghostbusters teams up with the originals to fight an ancient evil that wants to freeze the world.

The comedy is hit-or-miss. Paul Rudd is charming as always, and there are some great callbacks for parents who grew up with the original films. But it's also overstuffed with characters and plot, which means the humor sometimes gets lost.

Best for: Families with older kids (10+) who want something with more edge. The scares are real, and younger kids might find it too intense. But for tweens and teens who think they're too old for "kid movies," this hits a sweet spot.

Skip it. Just skip it.

Remember how the original Megamind was actually clever and funny? This straight-to-streaming sequel has none of that magic. The animation is noticeably cheaper, the voice cast is different (no Will Ferrell or Brad Pitt), and the jokes fall completely flat.

This feels like it was made by people who watched the first movie once, five years ago, and tried to recreate it from memory. The comedy is forced, the plot makes no sense, and even kids seem to know something's off.

If your kids insist: Put on the original instead. Problem solved.

Ages 5-7: Stick with Kung Fu Panda 4 or Despicable Me 4. The humor is physical and silly, perfect for this age. The Wild Robot works if they're not easily scared by predator-prey dynamics.

Ages 8-11: All of the "good" tier movies work beautifully. Inside Out 2 is especially perfect for this age as they're starting to experience some of Riley's social anxieties themselves.

Ages 12+: Inside Out 2 will resonate most with this age group. They might roll their eyes at the "kid movies," but they'll secretly love them. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire gives them something that feels more mature.

Rewatch factor: Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot are genuinely rewatchable. You'll catch new details and won't want to fake a sudden emergency when your kid asks to watch again. Kung Fu Panda 4 is fine on repeat. Despicable Me 4 might test your sanity after the third viewing.

Theater vs. home: The Wild Robot is absolutely worth seeing in theaters for the animation alone. Inside Out 2 benefits from the big screen but works great at home. Everything else is perfectly fine for streaming.

Conversation starters: Inside Out 2 opens up incredible conversations about anxiety and emotional health. The Wild Robot can lead to discussions about found family, adaptation, and what makes someone a parent.

If you only watch two family comedies from this year, make them Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot. Both are genuinely excellent films that work on multiple levels. They're funny without being stupid, emotional without being manipulative, and beautiful without sacrificing story.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is your solid backup option when you need something reliable. Despicable Me 4 is fine if your kids are already Minions fans. And please, for the love of all that is holy, skip Megamind 2.

The good news? Unlike last year, we actually got some quality family comedies that respect both kids' intelligence and parents' sanity. That's a win worth celebrating.

Want more movie recommendations? Check out our guides on best animated movies for kids, movies that teach emotional intelligence, or alternatives to Disney Plus if you're looking for where to stream these.

And if you're trying to figure out what's appropriate for your specific kid, our movie age rating guide breaks down what those ratings actually mean in practice—because we all know a PG movie from 1985 hits different than a PG movie from 2025.