TL;DR: The Quick List for 9-Year-Olds
If you’re in a rush to start family movie night, here are the top picks for the 9-year-old crowd:
- The 2025 Heavy Hitters: Superman (The new James Gunn era) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- The Animated Gold Standard: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
- The "Safe" MCU Entry Point: The Avengers and Ant-Man.
- The Non-Marvel Masterpiece: The Incredibles.
- The "Wait a Year" List: The Batman and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
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Nine is a weird, transitional age. They aren't "little kids" anymore—they’ll tell you that the second you suggest PAW Patrol. They want the stakes, the cool suits, and the "epic" vibes of the big-screen blockbusters. But as a parent, you’re likely hitting the "PG-13 wall."
In 2026, the superhero landscape has shifted. We’ve moved past the grim-dark "Snyder-verse" era into something a bit more vibrant, but the rating system is still a blunt instrument. A PG-13 rating can mean "a few swear words and some fantasy action" or it can mean "soul-crushing existential dread and body horror."
At nine, kids are starting to process more complex themes—sacrifice, moral ambiguity, and the idea that the hero doesn't always win immediately. This guide is about finding that sweet spot: movies that feel "grown-up" enough to satisfy their craving for cool, but won't leave them with nightmares or asking questions about nihilism at 2:00 AM.
Last year was huge for superheroes. We finally saw the reboot of the two biggest pillars in comics, and luckily for us, they both landed in a spot that’s relatively friendly for the 9+ crowd.
James Gunn’s take on the Man of Steel was the "reset" we all needed. Unlike the previous versions that felt like they were filmed through a basement window, this movie actually has color.
- Why it works for 9-year-olds: It’s aspirational. It focuses on kindness and being a "good person" rather than just punching things through buildings.
- The Caveat: It’s PG-13 for some intense action sequences. If your kid is sensitive to "world-ending" stakes, maybe watch a trailer together first. But generally, this is the gold standard for a "first big PG-13 movie."
This was the standout of 2025. It has a retro-futuristic, 1960s vibe that feels more like an adventure movie than a gritty war film.
- Why it works for 9-year-olds: The family dynamic. The bickering between Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm is basically exactly how siblings act. It’s funny, bright, and emphasizes teamwork over solo "edge-lord" brooding.
- The Caveat: There are some sci-fi elements that get a bit "trippy" (looking at you, Silver Surfer), which might be confusing, but it’s rarely scary.
Check out our guide on the differences between Marvel and DC for parents
If you haven't shown these to your 9-year-old yet, stop reading this and go turn on the TV. Animation allows for a level of creativity and "comic book feel" that live-action just can't touch.
This is arguably the best superhero movie ever made, full stop.
- Why it works: Miles Morales is the ultimate relatable protagonist for a 9-year-old. He’s dealing with school, parents, and trying to find his own identity. The visual style is like a comic book come to life.
- The Caveat: It’s a long movie (almost 2.5 hours) and it ends on a massive cliffhanger. Also, the "Canon Event" conversation gets pretty deep—be prepared to talk about whether we can change our own destinies.
Even though it’s over 20 years old now, it holds up perfectly.
- Why it works: It’s a movie about a family. Every kid sees themselves in Dash or Violet. It’s the perfect bridge between "cartoon" and "superhero epic."
- The Caveat: Syndrome is actually a pretty menacing villain if you really think about his backstory, but for a 9-year-old, it’s mostly just high-stakes fun.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a beast. If you try to watch it all, you’ll be there until your kid graduates college. For a 9-year-old, you want the entries that are heavy on humor and light on trauma.
The 2012 original is still the best entry point. It’s a classic ensemble piece. It’s basically a live-action version of playing with action figures in the backyard.
- Parents should know: There’s some mild profanity (the "S-word" makes an appearance), and the finale involves an alien invasion of NYC, but it’s mostly bloodless "disintegrating robots/aliens" violence.
This is essentially a heist movie with a superhero coat of paint.
- Why kids love it: The shrinking mechanics are inherently funny and cool. Seeing a giant Thomas the Tank Engine roar through a bedroom is peak 9-year-old humor.
- Parents should know: It’s one of the lower-stakes Marvel movies, which makes it great for kids who get anxious during "the world is ending" plots.
Ms. Marvel (Disney+ Series)
Okay, it's a show, not a movie, but it’s essential.
- Why it works: Kamala Khan is a superhero fangirl. She’s literally us. It deals with family, heritage, and the awkwardness of middle school in a way that’s incredibly charming.
There are some movies that show up on "Best Superhero" lists that you should probably skip for now.
- The Batman: It’s a masterpiece, but it’s a 3-hour noir detective film where it rains the entire time and people get their faces duct-taped. It’s too dark, too slow, and honestly, a 9-year-old will be bored out of their mind before the first hour is up.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: I love Rocket Raccoon, but the animal experimentation scenes in this movie are legitimately traumatizing. Unless your 9-year-old has nerves of steel and you’re prepared to pay for therapy, wait on this one.
- Deadpool & Wolverine: Just... no. I don’t care if their friends at school say they saw it. It’s a hard R for a reason. It’s 120 minutes of creative profanity and gore. Save it for high school.
When you're screening these, don't just look at the rating. Look at these three things:
1. The "Mean" Factor
Is the villain scary because they want to take over the world (fine), or because they are a psychological tormentor (less fine)? 9-year-olds can usually handle "aliens attacking a city," but they struggle more with "villain kidnapping a child and threatening them."
2. The Humor Style
A lot of modern superhero movies (especially the recent Marvel stuff) rely on "ironic" or "cynical" humor. Some of this goes over a 9-year-old's head, but some of it can start to influence how they talk to you. If you notice them getting a bit too "snarky" after a Marvel marathon, it might be time to pivot to something more earnest like The Flash (the movie has its issues, but it's very "comic booky").
3. The "Brain Rot" Trap
Not all superhero content is created equal. There’s a lot of "superhero" content on YouTube (think Spider-Man and Elsa type weirdness) that is absolute garbage. Stick to the curated movies and shows rather than letting the YouTube algorithm decide what "superhero" means.
Superhero movies are a great "in" for bigger conversations. Use the post-movie car ride to ask:
- "Do you think the hero was right to keep that secret?"
- "If you had one superpower, would you use it to help people or just to make your life easier?" (Their answer will tell you a lot about their current moral compass!)
- "Why do you think the villain felt like they had to do that?"
Ask our chatbot for more conversation starters about media and ethics
At nine, your kid is looking for heroes to look up to. They want the spectacle, but they still need the safety of a story that believes in "good."
Start with Superman or Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. These movies respect their intelligence without exposing them to the "everything is terrible" vibe of adult cinema.
And remember: if they find a movie too scary, it’s okay to turn it off. There’s no "cool parent" award for forcing a kid through a movie that makes them want to sleep in your bed for a week.
- Audit your streaming watchlists: Make sure the "Kids" profile on Disney+ and Max is actually set to the right age rating.
- Plan a "History of Heroes" night: Watch the 1978 Superman and then the 2026 version to talk about how movies have changed.
- Check the Screenwise app: If your kid asks about a specific obscure hero movie, look it up on Screenwise to see the "WISE" score and what other parents in your community are saying.