Look, Hulu doesn't get enough credit in the kids' content game. Everyone's always talking about Disney+ (which makes sense, Disney owns Hulu) or Netflix, but Hulu's library is actually pretty solid for family movie night. The thing is, it's also kind of a mess to navigate if you don't know what you're looking for.
Unlike Disney+ which is basically "here's everything Disney ever made," Hulu's kids' section is a mix of licensed content that rotates in and out, some originals, and a bunch of stuff that makes you go "wait, why is that here?" So let's cut through the noise and talk about what's actually worth your time.
Here's the thing about streaming services: not all "kids" content is created equal. Hulu's age ratings can be... optimistic. You'll find stuff labeled "family" that has jokes you definitely don't want to explain to a 6-year-old, and you'll find genuinely great films buried under a pile of direct-to-video sequels that nobody asked for.
Plus, Hulu's library changes more frequently than Disney+ or Netflix, so what's available this month might be gone next month. That's both annoying and kind of great—it means fresh options, but also means you can't rely on that one movie your kid loves always being there.
Ages 3-6: The "Please Just Give Me 90 Minutes of Peace" Tier
Paddington and Paddington 2 — If these are currently on Hulu, drop everything. These movies are legitimately delightful. Not just "good for a kids' movie" but actually good movies. Paddington 2 has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes for a reason. Gentle humor, beautiful visuals, and messages about kindness that don't feel preachy. Your preschooler will love the bear, you'll love that you're not watching Paw Patrol for the 47th time.
Curious George — The 2006 movie is sweet and genuinely charming. It's slow-paced in a good way (no overstimulation), and the Jack Johnson soundtrack is actually pleasant. This is peak "I can fold laundry while this is on" content.
My Neighbor Totoro — If it's in rotation, this Studio Ghibli classic is perfect for this age. Yes, it's subtitled (or dubbed), and yes, the plot is basically "kids meet a forest spirit and hang out." But it's magical and calming and weird in the best way.
Ages 7-10: The "Actually Engaging" Tier
The Princess Bride — A perfect movie. Full stop. Adventure, humor, sword fights, true love, and infinitely quotable lines. Some kids find the Fire Swamp scenes a bit intense, but most 7-year-olds can handle it. This is also a great "family movie night" pick because adults genuinely enjoy it.
Night at the Museum — Fun, funny, and sneakily educational. Kids love the chaos of exhibits coming to life, and it might actually inspire a museum trip (or at least some Wikipedia rabbit holes about Teddy Roosevelt).
Spy Kids — Look, it's aged weirdly and the effects are... of their time. But kids in this age range still eat it up. It's got gadgets, adventure, and the core message that kids can be capable and brave. Just maybe skip the sequels.
The Iron Giant — If you want to make your kid cry in a good way, this is your movie. Beautiful animation, touching story about friendship and choosing who you want to be. The Cold War themes might go over younger kids' heads, but the emotional core lands perfectly.
Ages 11+: The "Surprisingly Sophisticated" Tier
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse — If this is on Hulu, watch it immediately. Groundbreaking animation, genuinely funny, and a story about identity and responsibility that works on multiple levels. This is the rare superhero movie that's both kid-friendly and artistically ambitious.
Big Hero 6 — Deals with grief and loss in a really thoughtful way, wrapped in a fun superhero origin story. The relationship between Hiro and Baymax is genuinely moving, and the San Fransokyo setting is gorgeous.
Kubo and the Two Strings — This Laika stop-motion film is stunning and deals with some heavier themes (death, memory, family). It's not a "put this on in the background" movie, but it's beautiful and worth watching together.
The Direct-to-Video Sequels — You know the ones. "Mulan 2," "Pocahontas 2," basically any Disney sequel that didn't get a theatrical release. They're not going to harm your kid, but they're also not going to add anything to their life except 75 minutes of mediocre animation and forgettable songs.
The "We Have Pixar at Home" Movies — Hulu has a bunch of knockoff animated films that look vaguely like Pixar movies but are just... not good. If you've never heard of it and the animation looks slightly off, trust your instincts.
The Rating System Is Weird — Hulu uses TV ratings (TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-PG) and movie ratings (G, PG, PG-13) interchangeably, and they don't always make sense. A movie rated PG in 1985 might have content that would get a PG-13 today. Always check Common Sense Media
if you're unsure.
The Kids Profile Helps, But Isn't Perfect — Setting up a kids profile will filter out obvious adult content, but it's not as locked-down as Disney+ or Netflix Kids. You might still get some PG-13 options showing up, which could be fine or not, depending on your kid.
The Library Rotates — Unlike Disney+ where you can count on the entire Disney vault being available, Hulu's library changes. If you find something your family loves, watch it sooner rather than later, or add it to your watchlist.
Here's the honest truth: Hulu's search and recommendation algorithm for kids' content is not great. Here's what actually works:
- Use the Kids Hub — It's not perfect, but it's better than scrolling through the main library
- Search by specific titles — If you know what you're looking for (like from this guide), just search directly
- Check "Expiring Soon" — Sometimes great movies are about to leave, and this is actually a helpful filter
- Look for the "Certified Fresh" badge — If you see the Rotten Tomatoes badge, it's usually a good sign
Ages 3-6: Stick with G and TV-Y content. Even some PG movies can have scary moments or jokes that don't land with this age group.
Ages 7-10: PG is usually fine, but preview anything with intense action sequences or scary scenes. This is the age where kids start having really different tolerance levels for suspense and peril.
Ages 11+: Most PG-13 content is fine, but you know your kid. Some 11-year-olds can handle intense themes and violence, others can't. The rating system is a guideline, not a rule.
Hulu's kids' movie selection is actually pretty solid if you know where to look. It's not as curated as Disney+ or as algorithm-friendly as Netflix, but it has genuine gems mixed in with the filler.
The real move: Spend 10 minutes now creating a watchlist of the good stuff, so when your kid inevitably says "I'm bored, can we watch something?" at 4 PM on a Tuesday, you're not frantically scrolling through 47 straight-to-video sequels.
And look, if all else fails and your kid wants to watch something questionable, you can always check our database for parent reviews and ratings. We're all just trying to make it through movie night without regrets.
Pro tip: If you find yourself constantly frustrated with finding quality content across different platforms, check out our guide to managing multiple streaming services for strategies that actually work.