TL;DR: Brendan Fraser is the unofficial patron saint of sincere, "anti-cringe" parenting. If you're looking for a weekend marathon, start with George of the Jungle for the littles, move to The Mummy for the 10+ crowd, and check out his brand new 2026 release Rental Family (now on Hulu!) for a heartfelt teen-night pick.
If you grew up in the 90s, Brendan Fraser was probably your first cinematic crush or your favorite goofball. But as parents in 2026, we’re looking at him through a different lens. In a world of ironic, detached "brain rot" content, Fraser is the king of earnestness. He’s never "too cool" for a role, which makes his movies a gold mine for families who want entertainment that actually feels like it has a soul.
We’re currently living in the peak of the "Brenaissance." He’s winning Oscars, narrating nature docs, and playing historical icons. Here is how to navigate his filmography without accidentally showing your seven-year-old the terrifying scarab scenes in The Mummy too early.
At this age, kids just want to see a grown man fall down and make funny faces. Brendan Fraser is a master of the "human cartoon" genre.
This is the gold standard. It’s pure, harmless slapstick. Yes, he hits trees. Yes, there’s a talking gorilla. It’s basically a live-action Looney Tunes episode.
- Parent Note: There’s some very mild "butt" humor, but it’s cleaner than 90% of what’s on YouTube Kids right now.
Speaking of cartoons, this movie is often overlooked but it’s a blast for kids who are into Space Jam vibes. Fraser plays a stuntman (and himself), and the meta-humor is actually pretty clever for parents, too.
Released just last year, this is a great "wind down" watch. Fraser’s voice is incredibly soothing, and it’s a nice break from the high-octane energy of his early hits. It’s educational without being a snooze-fest.
This is where things get "cool" but also a little bit intense. This age group is ready for the stakes to be higher.
This is the "safe" adventure pick. It’s based on the Jules Verne book and feels like a theme park ride. There are some jump scares with dinosaurs and giant fish, but nothing that will cause lasting nightmares.
Proceed with caution. This is arguably his best movie, but it is much scarier than you remember. Between the flesh-eating beetles, the guy getting his eyes and tongue stolen, and the jump-scare mummies, it’s a lot.
- The Screenwise Take: Wait until they’re at least 10 or 11. If your kid is sensitive to "body horror" (things crawling under skin), maybe skip it until middle school. If they handle Stranger Things fine, they’ll be okay here.
Now that he’s an Oscar winner, Fraser is doing some heavy lifting in the drama department. These are perfect for those "intentional" movie nights where you want to actually talk about something afterward.
This is his big 2026 streaming debut (it just hit Hulu this month!). He plays an American actor in Tokyo who gets a job at a "rental family" agency—basically, people hire him to pretend to be their father, husband, or friend.
- Why it’s great for teens: It deals with loneliness and the "performance" of social media in a really beautiful way. It’s rated PG-13 for some language and mature themes (there’s a scene involving a sex worker, though nothing happens on screen), but for a 14-year-old, it’s a fantastic conversation starter about what "real" connection looks like.
A 90s classic that aged surprisingly well. Fraser plays a guy who grew up in a nuclear fallout shelter and surfaces in the "modern" world. It’s a great way to talk to kids about how much culture has changed (and how weird the 90s actually were).
If you want to go serious, this is it. It’s a 1950s period piece about antisemitism at an elite prep school. It’s a heavy watch, but if your teen is learning about 20th-century history, this is a phenomenal supplement. Plus, you get to see a very young Matt Damon being a total jerk.
Keep your eyes peeled for Pressure, which is slated for release in May 2026. Brendan is playing General Dwight D. Eisenhower. It’s a WWII thriller about the 72 hours leading up to D-Day, specifically focusing on the weather forecast (stay with me, it’s actually tense).
This won’t be a "fun" movie like George of the Jungle, but for families with history buffs or kids who love Minecraft war builds and want to see the real-life stakes of leadership, it’s going to be a big one.
| Movie | Age | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| George of the Jungle | 5+ | Pure slapstick, very low stakes. |
| Looney Tunes: Back in Action | 6+ | Cartoon violence, but very funny. |
| Journey to the Center of the Earth | 8+ | Mild peril, some monster scares. |
| The Mummy | 11+ | Genuinely scary imagery/body horror. |
| Rental Family | 14+ | Mature themes about identity and loneliness. |
| The Whale | 16+ | Extremely heavy themes of grief and health. |
Brendan Fraser’s characters are almost always defined by their vulnerability. In an era where "Alpha Male" influencers are all over YouTube and TikTok, Fraser offers a different model of masculinity. Whether he’s a bumbling jungle man or a grieving father, he’s not afraid to be soft, to cry, or to be the butt of the joke.
How to talk about it: After watching something like Rental Family, ask your kids: "Why do you think those people felt they needed to 'rent' a family member? Does our 'online' life ever feel like we're just playing a role?"
The "Brenaissance" isn't just a meme—it’s a great opportunity to introduce your kids to an actor who actually seems to care about the stories he’s telling. Start with the silly stuff, respect the "scare factor" of the middle-era adventure movies, and use his newer dramas to have the deep talks.
Check out our full guide on 90s nostalgia for parents
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Next Steps: If your kids finish the Brendan Fraser marathon and want more adventure, steer them toward Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom or Stardew Valley for that same "earnest and cozy" vibe. Avoid the "brain rot" rabbit hole and stick with the classics!