Look, we're talking about movies where cars are basically the main character. Racing movies, road trip comedies, animated vehicles with personalities, heist films where the getaway is half the plot. These are the films where engines roar, tires screech, and your kids suddenly become very interested in what kind of car you drive.
The genre is surprisingly vast — from Pixar's masterpiece Cars to the absolutely bonkers Fast & Furious franchise (which we'll get to). Some are perfect for toddlers, others are better suited for teens who can handle the difference between movie stunts and actual physics.
Screenwise Parents
See allCars are inherently exciting to kids. They're loud, they're fast, they represent freedom and adventure. Even before kids can drive (or honestly, before they can reach the pedals), they're obsessed with vehicles. Add in some personality, maybe some talking cars or high-stakes racing, and you've got instant engagement.
Plus, car movies often have clear good guys and bad guys, satisfying victories, and enough action to keep even the most wiggly kid relatively still for 90 minutes. That's worth its weight in goldfish crackers on a long road trip.
Ages 2-5: The Animated Classics
Cars (2006) is the gold standard here. Lightning McQueen learns about friendship and humility in a small town, and honestly? It holds up. The sequel is fine (kids love it, parents tolerate it), and Cars 3 is actually genuinely good with themes about aging and mentorship.
Planes (2013) is the Disney spin-off that's... look, it's not Pixar-level storytelling, but it's harmless and colorful. If your kid is deep in their vehicle phase, they won't care that the plot is predictable.
Ages 6-9: Stepping Up the Action
Speed Racer (2008) is a visual fever dream in the best way. It's like watching a candy-colored video game, and kids this age eat it up. Some mild peril and racing violence, but nothing nightmarish.
Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005) with Lindsay Lohan is genuinely charming. A sentient VW Beetle helps a young woman become a NASCAR driver. It's sweet, funny, and has positive messages about believing in yourself.
Turbo (2013) — a snail who dreams of racing in the Indy 500. It's DreamWorks, so expect some potty humor, but the underdog story lands well.
Ages 10-13: Real Stakes, Real Thrills
Ford v Ferrari (2019) is PG-13 but totally appropriate for mature tweens who can handle some language and intense racing sequences. It's a true story about the 1966 Le Mans race, and honestly? It's just a fantastic film. Matt Damon and Christian Bale have incredible chemistry, and the racing scenes are breathtaking.
Rush (2013) is rated R, so this is strictly for older teens (14+), and even then, watch it first. It's about the rivalry between F1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. There's adult content (language, some sexuality, a brutal crash scene), but for a teen who's genuinely interested in racing history, it's compelling.
Ages 14+: When They Can Handle the Franchise
The Fast & Furious franchise is... a lot. The first film (2001) is actually a pretty straightforward street racing movie (PG-13). By the time you get to the later films, you're watching cars literally fly between skyscrapers and Vin Diesel fighting submarines. The physics are absurd, the action is over-the-top, and the family themes are laid on thick.
Here's the thing: These movies normalize some genuinely dangerous driving behavior. If you're going to let your teen watch them, have a conversation about the difference between stunt driving with professional drivers on closed courses and, you know, actual roads where people die in car accidents. Not trying to be a buzzkill
, but teen car accidents are a leading cause of death, and these movies make reckless driving look heroic.
Racing movies can inspire actual interests. Some kids watch Cars and move on. Others become obsessed with NASCAR, F1, or automotive engineering. If your kid is genuinely interested, lean into it — there are amazing documentaries, YouTube channels about car mechanics, and even video games like Gran Turismo that teach real racing principles.
The sound design matters. Car movies are LOUD. If you're watching on a road trip with headphones, great. If you're in a hotel room at 9 PM, maybe not so much. Also, some kids (especially younger ones or those with sensory sensitivities) find the crash scenes genuinely scary. Preview if you're unsure.
Representation is improving. Newer car movies are doing better with diverse casts and female leads who aren't just "the girlfriend." Ford v Ferrari could've done better here (it's very much a "men doing men things" movie), but films like Cars 3 put Cruz Ramirez front and center as a capable racer.
If you're literally watching these on a road trip:
- Download everything before you leave. Hotel WiFi and highway cell service are both trash.
- Bring a splitter if you have multiple kids. Two kids, one iPad, two sets of headphones, one splitter. You're welcome.
- Consider the irony. You're watching cars race while sitting in a car. In traffic. On I-95. Sometimes parenting is just absurd.
Car movies are a surprisingly rich genre with options for every age. Start with Cars for the littles, graduate to Speed Racer for elementary schoolers, and save Ford v Ferrari for when they're old enough to appreciate a genuinely excellent film.
Just maybe skip the Fast & Furious franchise until they're old enough to understand that real cars don't work like that, and real consequences exist. Or don't — you know your kid. No judgment.
If your kid is obsessed with cars, check out Screenwise's guide to the best video games about cars and racing — some of them are actually educational (yes, really).
Planning a longer road trip? Here's our full guide to screen time on family road trips that covers the "how much is too much" question without making you feel guilty.
Want to find more family movies that aren't car-related? Our family movie night recommendations are organized by age, mood, and whether you need something that won't make you want to drive off a cliff after the third viewing.