Coco follows Miguel, a 12-year-old boy in Mexico who dreams of becoming a musician despite his family's generations-old ban on music. On Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), Miguel finds himself accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead. To get back to the Land of the Living, he has to seek the help of his deceased ancestors and a charming trickster named Hector.

The movie is a deep dive into Mexican culture, the importance of ofrendas (altars), and the idea that our ancestors stay "alive" as long as we tell their stories. It’s vibrant, musical, and emotionally heavy.

Beyond the catchy songs like "Un Poco Loco" and the Oscar-winning "Remember Me," kids are usually drawn to the world-building. The Land of the Dead isn't a dark, dreary underworld; it’s a neon-colored, vertical metropolis that looks like a glowing party.

Then there’s Dante, the Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican hairless dog) who provides the slapstick physical comedy that keeps things light when the plot gets heavy. Kids also tend to resonate with Miguel’s struggle: the feeling that your family doesn't "get" you or your passions. It’s a universal theme wrapped in a very specific, beautiful cultural blanket.

When parents ask if Coco is scary, they’re usually asking about two things: the visuals (skeletons) and the concepts (death).

The characters in the Land of the Dead are all skeletons. However, Pixar did a lot of work to make them "human." They have expressive eyes, hair, and clothing. They don't look like the scary, rattling skeletons from a horror movie or a Spirit Halloween aisle. They behave like people—they dance, they argue, and they even lose their limbs in comedic ways. For most kids 5 and up, the skeletons aren't the problem.

This is the part that actually trips up kids (and honestly, adults). In the world of Coco, if there is no one left in the Land of the Living to remember you or put your photo on an ofrenda, you experience the "Final Death." You simply fade away into gold dust and cease to exist. Watching a character go through this is heartbreaking and can trigger existential anxiety in sensitive children.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the "twist" in Coco involves a cold-blooded murder. Ernesto de la Cruz, the celebrated hero, is revealed to have poisoned his best friend to steal his songs. Seeing a "hero" turn into a murderer who then tries to kill a 12-year-old (Miguel) by throwing him off a building is a lot. It’s a sharp pivot from the festive vibe of the first hour.

Ask our chatbot for more movies with "secret villain" twists

At this age, kids might find the skeletons confusing or slightly creepy, even with the bright colors. They won't grasp the nuances of the plot, but they will pick up on the "scary" vibes of the climax. If you do watch it, be prepared to answer "Where did he go?" about twenty times. Honestly, Bluey covers themes of mortality much more gently in episodes like "Copycat."

Most kids in this range will love Coco. They’re old enough to follow the story and young enough to be swept up in the magic. You’ll want to be nearby to explain that Miguel isn't actually dead and that his family loves him. This is a great age to start talking about your own family history after the credits roll.

This age group "gets" it. They’ll understand the stakes of the Final Death and the betrayal of Ernesto de la Cruz. They might even get a little misty-eyed during the ending (we all do). It’s a perfect bridge to more complex films like Soul or Spirited Away.

Check out our guide on the best Pixar movies for sensitive kids

Coco is a "conversation starter" movie. Don't just turn it off and move to the next thing. Try these prompts:

If your kids are now obsessed with the Land of the Dead or themes of family legacy, here’s where to go next:

Often compared to Coco, this movie also centers on Día de los Muertos but with a very different, wooden-puppet art style. It’s a bit more of a traditional "hero's journey" and slightly less emotionally heavy than Coco.

While it doesn't deal with death, Encanto is the gold standard for "family trauma but make it a musical." It explores how the pressure of family expectations can be its own kind of "scary."

If the theme of "connecting with a lost parent/ancestor" resonated, Onward is the move. It’s a fantasy quest about two brothers trying to spend one more day with their late father. Warning: the ending is a total tear-jerker.

If you want to talk about mortality but with more action and less "sadness," this is a surprisingly deep film. It features a literal representation of Death (The Wolf) that is genuinely terrifying but leads to a great payoff about valuing the life you have.

Check out our full list of movies that teach empathy

Is Coco too scary? For most kids, no. It’s "intense" rather than "scary." It respects children enough to tell them a story about real things—memory, legacy, and the fact that people we love eventually leave us.

The "scary" elements are balanced by incredible music, a hilarious dog, and a color palette that makes every frame look like a party. It’s the kind of movie that builds "emotional intelligence," which is a fancy way of saying it helps your kids understand big feelings. Just keep the tissues handy—for them, and for you.

Ask our chatbot for a curated list of "Spooky but not Scary" movies for 6-year-olds