Ages: 6-10 | 1h 18min

Disney's animated Wimpy Kid series continues to be weirdly good. This latest installment dropped December 5th and follows Greg through another school year catastrophe—this time involving a "brain swap" science fair project that goes predictably wrong.

Why it works for this age: The humor is solidly middle-grade (fart jokes, mild embarrassment, sibling annoyance) without being mean-spirited. Kids who haven't read the books can follow along fine, but book fans will catch extra jokes. The animation style is simple and clean, almost like watching the book pages come to life.

Parent note: If your kid is 5-6, gauge their tolerance for mild embarrassment humor first. Some sensitive kids find Greg's constant social failures stressful rather than funny. The 7-8 crowd usually eats this stuff up.

Ages: 6-8+ | 1h 43min each

Yes, these are from 1990 and 1992. Yes, they're still genuinely entertaining for kids who've never seen them. Kevin McCallister being forgotten by his family and then defending his house against burglars with elaborate traps remains peak wish-fulfillment for the elementary school set.

Why they work in 2026: The slapstick holds up remarkably well. The burglars getting hit with paint cans and stepping on ornaments is timeless physical comedy. Plus there's something delightfully analog about the whole premise—no cell phones, no tracking apps, just pure chaos.

Real talk on the age range: Common Sense Media says 10+, but that's overly cautious. Most 7-8 year olds are fine with the cartoon violence. The actual concerning part is whether your kid will freak out about the "family forgetting the child" premise. Some anxious kids find that genuinely upsetting. You know your kid. Maybe watch the first 20 minutes together and see how they handle it.

Also: The sequel is basically the same movie in New York. If they like the first one, they'll like the second one. If they're meh on the first one, skip the second.

Ages: 5-10 | 1h 42min

If your household hasn't already watched this 47 times, welcome to the club. Mirabel's story about being the only non-magical kid in a magical family continues to hit different for every kid who's ever felt overlooked. The music (Lin-Manuel Miranda) is genuinely great, which matters when you're going to hear "We Don't Talk About Bruno" approximately 4,000 more times.

Why it's perfect for December: The family dynamics are complex enough to be interesting but not so heavy that it's a bummer during holiday break. Plus the visual design is stunning on a big TV, which makes it feel like an event even if it's your fifth viewing.

Ages: 5-10 | 1h 47min

Another repeat-viewing champion. Moana's ocean adventure with the demigod Maui is basically a perfect kids' movie: strong protagonist, clear stakes, beautiful animation, songs that don't make adults want to die. The coconut pirates (Kakamora) are scary for about 90 seconds, then they're funny.

Parent win: This movie has enough going on that you can half-watch it while doing something else without losing the plot. It's also great for kids who are into ocean documentaries or mythology.

Ages: 6-10 | 1h 45min

Miguel's journey into the Land of the Dead to uncover his family's musical history is Pixar at its best. Beautiful, funny, and yes, you will cry at the end. Every single time.

Content note: This movie is about death and dead relatives. For most kids 6+, it presents death in a comforting, culturally rich way. But if you've recently lost a family member or your kid has death anxiety, maybe save this one for another time. You know your situation.

Ages: 6-10 | 1h 42min

This November 2022 release bombed at theaters, which is a shame because it's a genuinely fun adventure movie. The Clade family of explorers discovers a mysterious plant that powers their world, then has to journey into a strange underground ecosystem to save it. Think Jules Verne meets environmental science.

Why kids love it: The creature design is wild and creative. The teenage son character (Ethan) is dealing with normal teenage stuff (crushing on a boy, living up to family expectations) in the middle of this adventure story. The pacing is solid—something's always happening.

Why parents should care: This is one of the few Disney movies that casually includes a gay teen character without making it A Big Deal. Ethan has a crush on a boy the same way characters in other movies have crushes. If that's going to be a problem for your family, now you know. If it's not, your kid probably won't even comment on it.

Ages: 6-10 | 1h 54min

Raya's quest to find the last dragon and save her divided world is a solid adventure with gorgeous Southeast Asian-inspired animation. The dragon (Sisu, voiced by Awkwafina) is goofy and earnest in a way that balances out the heavier themes about trust and betrayal.

Parent note: This one has some genuinely scary moments—people turning to stone, intense fight sequences. Most 7-8 year olds handle it fine, but sensitive 5-6 year olds might need a heads up or a skip.

Ages: 5-10 | 1h 35min

Two sea monsters disguise themselves as human boys for a summer adventure in a 1960s Italian seaside town. It's basically a love letter to childhood friendship, gelato, and Vespas. The stakes are lower than most Pixar movies (no one's dying, the world isn't ending), which makes it perfect for a chill afternoon.

Why it's great for this age: The friendship between Luca and Alberto feels real. The "secret identity" element is exciting but not stressful. The runtime is blessedly short. And the Italian setting is so charming that some families have used it as a springboard to learn about Italy or try Italian cooking.

Ages: 7-10 | 1h 40min

Mei Lee turns into a giant red panda when she gets emotional, which is a metaphor for puberty but also just a fun magical premise. Set in 2002 Toronto with a heavy dose of boy band obsession (4*Town is genuinely catchy).

Age note: This skews slightly older in the 5-8 range. The puberty metaphors will sail over younger kids' heads, but the panda transformation and friend drama is accessible. Some 5-6 year olds might not connect with the middle school setting as much as 7-8 year olds will.

Ages: 7-10 | 1h 40min

Joe Gardner's journey through the afterlife and back is Pixar's most philosophical movie. It's about finding purpose, appreciating life, and jazz music. The animation is stunning, the music (by Jon Batiste and Trent Reznor) is incredible, and the message is genuinely profound.

Real talk: This movie is better for 8+ kids who can handle abstract concepts. Younger kids might enjoy the visuals and humor but miss the deeper themes. It's also a rare kids' movie that adults might actually want to rewatch on their own.

Short answer: Most of them are fine but not better than the originals.

The Little Mermaid (2023) is solid—Halle Bailey is great, the underwater visuals are impressive, and it's basically the same story with some updated elements. If your kid hasn't seen the original, this works fine. If they're attached to the animated version, they might find this one weird.

[Beauty and the Beast (2017)](https://screenwiseapp.com/media/beauty-and-the-beast-movie is visually impressive but loses some of the charm of the animated version. Emma Watson is lovely but not a strong singer, which matters in a musical.

Hot take: Just show them the animated originals. They're shorter, tighter, and the animation allows for more expressive characters and creative sequences. The live-action remakes are fine for a second viewing if your kid is obsessed with the story, but they're not superior versions.

Lightyear: Buzz Lightyear's origin story sounds great in theory but is oddly joyless and confusing. Kids expecting Toy Story vibes will be disappointed. It's not bad, just weirdly bland.

Elemental: The Romeo and Juliet story of fire and water elements falling in love is visually gorgeous but the pacing drags. Better for 8+ kids who can handle slower, more emotional storytelling. Younger kids get bored.

Most of the Disney Channel Original Movies: Look, I want to be kind here, but most of these are just not good. Zombies, Descendants, etc.—they're fine for background noise but they're not going to be anyone's favorite movie. The exception is High School Musical, which is a genuine cultural artifact, but it's really more for the 8+ crowd.

For 5-6 year olds:

For 7-8 year olds:

The Disney+ algorithm is not your friend. It will autoplay whatever it thinks will keep your kid watching, which is not the same as what's age-appropriate or quality content. Take 30 seconds to actually select something rather than letting it autoplay into whatever's next.

Ratings are guidelines, not rules. The G/PG ratings are helpful but not perfect. A G-rated movie from 1994 might have content that feels different than a G-rated movie from 2024. Common Sense Media has detailed content breakdowns if you want to preview something.

Repeat viewing is fine. If your kid wants to watch Encanto for the eighth time this month, that's not screen addiction—that's how kids process stories and find comfort. Save your battles for actual concerning content, not rewatches of quality movies.

Use the profile settings. Disney+ lets you set up kid profiles with age restrictions. It's not perfect but it prevents your 6-year-old from accidentally stumbling into The Mandalorian or some random Marvel show with intense violence.

Your best bets for late December 2025 with 5-8 year olds:

Something new: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer

Holiday spirit: Home Alone

Guaranteed crowd-pleaser: Encanto or Moana

Hidden gem: Strange World or Luca

Emotional depth: Coco

The honest truth is that Disney+ has enough quality content that you can get through winter break without resorting to random YouTube videos or letting your kid watch the same show for six hours straight. Mix in some board games, outdoor time, and creative activities, and you'll make it through.

And if your kid watches the same movie three times in one week? You're doing fine. Sometimes comfort and predictability is exactly what everyone needs during the chaos of late December.