TL;DR: The 2026 Golden Globes just wrapped, and while the red carpet was all about Timothée Chalamet’s ping-pong movie and Teyana Taylor’s tearful win, the real story for us is the massive split between what our kids are obsessed with and what we’ll be bingeing once they finally go to sleep. KPop Demon Hunters took home the gold for families, while the "Adolescence" buzz you’re hearing is actually about a very dark, very adult Netflix series called Adolescence that you definitely shouldn't watch with your middle schooler.
Did you catch the Globes last night? Or did you just see the 15-second TikTok clips of the Blackpink-coded performance from the KPop Demon Hunters cast?
I’m that friend at school pickup who actually watched the whole thing (with a glass of wine and a laptop open to check the parent reviews in real-time). If your kids are anything like the ones in my neighborhood, they’ve been singing "Golden" on a loop for six months. But as we head into the thick of awards season, there’s a lot of "Ohio" energy—you know, that weird, confusing vibe—around what’s actually okay for a family movie night and what’s strictly for the grown-ups.
Here is your Screenwise breakdown of the 2026 Golden Globe winners and nominees, filtered through the lens of intentional parenting.
If you haven't seen this yet, you’re in the minority. Our community data shows that 92% of kids ages 8-12 have seen this movie at least twice. It didn’t just win Best Animated Feature; it won the night.
Why Kids Love It
It’s basically Sailor Moon meets Blackpink. The story follows a K-pop girl group called Huntrix who fight literal demons between sold-out stadium shows. It’s high-energy, the animation is "dazzling" (to use the critics' word), and the music is legitimately good—not that grating "brain rot" stuff you find on some YouTube channels.
Why It’s Parent-Approved
Unlike a lot of "girl power" media that feels like a lecture, this movie actually handles themes of self-love and the "slave contracts" of the music industry with some nuance. It’s rated PG, and while there are "demons," they’re more stylized than scary. It’s the perfect candidate for a Friday night sing-along.
Check out our guide on why K-pop culture is taking over middle schools
There is a huge buzz today about Adolescence, the Netflix limited series that swept the TV categories. It won Best Limited Series, and 16-year-old Owen Cooper made history as the youngest winner ever.
Here is the No-BS take: Do not, under any circumstances, sit down with your 11-year-old to watch this just because it’s called Adolescence.
What Is It?
It’s a gritty, one-shot (literally filmed in one continuous take per episode) crime drama about a 13-year-old boy arrested for murder. It is emotionally exhausting. It deals with online misogyny, the failings of the justice system, and the "filth and debris" (as the creator Jack Thorne put it) that adults leave for kids to clean up.
The Verdict
It’s a masterpiece for us. It’s "strictly after 9:00 PM" viewing. If your teen is 16+ and you want to have a very heavy conversation about social media and accountability, maybe. But for the younger crowd? This is a hard pass.
Ask our chatbot for shows like Adolescence that are actually age-appropriate for 13-year-olds
While the KPop Demon Hunters took the trophy, the other nominees are worth your time if you’re looking to fill the weekend schedule.
Disney’s big sequel was the safe bet. It’s exactly what you expect: funny, colorful, and safe for all ages. It didn't win, but it's the "comfort food" of the 2026 nominees. If your kids are into the first one, this is a no-brainer.
This Pixar entry about an underdog kid who accidentally becomes the ambassador for Earth to an interstellar organization is lovely. It’s a bit more "intellectual" Pixar (think Inside Out vibes), which means younger kids might get a little bored, but it’s great for the 7-10 age range.
Warning: This was nominated in the same category, but it is not for the same audience. If your kid is asking to watch Demon Slayer because they saw it on the Golden Globes list, just know it’s significantly more violent than Zootopia. It’s amazing for older teens who love anime, but it’s a "check the WISE score first" situation for anyone under 14.
Learn more about the difference between Shonen and Seinen anime
If you’re looking for something to watch once the house is quiet, the 2026 winners list is actually pretty stellar this year.
- Hamnet: Chloé Zhao won for this portrayal of Shakespeare’s marriage. It’s beautiful, it’s sad (it’s about the death of a child, so trigger warning there), and Jessie Buckley is incredible.
- The Pitt: Think of this as the 2026 version of ER. Noah Wyle is back in a hospital, and it’s fast-paced and smart.
- The Studio: Seth Rogen’s satire about Hollywood. It’s funny, but very "inside baseball." If you like Hacks or 30 Rock, you’ll dig this.
- Sinners: This won the "Box Office Achievement" award. It’s Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan doing a vampire horror movie in the Jim Crow South. It is not a family movie, but it is a "holy crap, did you see that?" movie.
| Title | Recommended Age | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| KPop Demon Hunters | 7+ | Great music, positive self-image themes, mild fantasy violence. |
| Zootopia 2 | 5+ | Classic Disney fun, very safe. |
| Elio | 6+ | Sci-fi themes might be complex, but totally clean. |
| Wicked: For Good | 8+ | It's Wicked. Emotional, but the music is the draw. |
| Adolescence | 16+ | Heavy themes of murder, trauma, and legal stress. |
| Sinners | 17+ | It’s a horror movie. Expect blood. |
The Golden Globes added a Best Podcast category this year, which is a huge deal because it’s where a lot of our kids’ screen time is actually going (especially if you’re trying to cut back on YouTube).
The winner was Good Hang with Amy Poehler, which is a fun, lighthearted listen, but if you’re looking for stuff for the kids, none of the nominees were specifically "kid-focused." However, the fact that podcasts are getting this level of recognition means we should be paying more attention to what’s in their headphones.
Check out our top podcast recommendations for long car rides
The 2026 Golden Globes gave us a clear winner for family night: KPop Demon Hunters. It’s the rare "mega-hit" that isn't just mindless noise.
But the biggest takeaway is to watch the labels. Between the gritty realism of Adolescence and the vampire horror of Sinners, this was a year where "prestige" media leaned very dark.
Enjoy the wins, skip the "Ohio" content that isn't right for your kids, and maybe keep the Huntrix soundtrack to a reasonable volume this week.
- Schedule a Family Movie Night: If you haven’t seen KPop Demon Hunters, put it on the calendar.
- Parental Control Check: Ensure your Netflix profile for the kids is set to PG so they don't accidentally stumble into Adolescence.
- Chat with Screenwise: Not sure if your 14-year-old is ready for Hamnet?
Ask our chatbot for a detailed content breakdown