Not all kids' movies are created equal, and you know this if you've ever sat through a direct-to-streaming sequel that felt like it was animated by someone's cousin in their basement.

The movies worth your time (and your kids' attention) generally have:

Moana - Still holds up as one of the best. The music is catchy without being annoying, the story is genuinely engaging, and it's got strong themes about identity and perseverance. Plus, the ocean is a character, which is just cool.

Turning Red - Yes, it's about puberty. No, your 5-year-old won't pick up on that. They'll just see a girl who turns into a giant red panda, which is objectively awesome. The mother-daughter relationship stuff might hit you right in the feelings though.

Luca - A sweet summer friendship story that's visually gorgeous. It's about sea monsters who pretend to be human, but really it's about being yourself and finding your people. Not as emotionally manipulative as some Pixar films, which is honestly refreshing.

Encanto - You've probably already seen this twelve times, but it genuinely deserves the hype. Complex family dynamics, incredible music, and a protagonist who doesn't have a special power—which is actually the whole point. Fair warning: "We Don't Talk About Bruno" will live in your head rent-free.

Raya and the Last Dragon - Underrated gem about trust and rebuilding community. Some action sequences might be intense for sensitive kids, but the themes about working together and believing in people are solid.

The Mitchells vs. The Machines - Wait, this is technically a Sony movie but it's on Disney Plus in some regions. If you have it, watch it. It's about a family road trip during a robot apocalypse, and it's absolutely hilarious. The family dynamics feel real, the animation style is unique, and it's got genuine heart.

Soul - This is Pixar at its best. It's about a jazz musician who dies (yes, really) and has to find his way back to life. The existential themes might go over younger kids' heads, but tweens and teens will get something real out of it. And honestly, parents might need tissues.

Strange World - This one flew under the radar, probably because Disney barely marketed it. It's a sci-fi adventure about three generations of explorers, and it's got environmental themes without being preachy. Also features Disney's first openly gay teen protagonist, handled in a completely natural way.

Lightyear - Not as good as the Toy Story movies, but still solid. It's about time travel and sacrifice and what it means to be a hero. Some kids found the time-loop concept confusing, so maybe watch it with them the first time.

Most of the direct-to-streaming sequels - Look, The Lion King 1½ exists, but that doesn't mean you need to watch it. If it went straight to Disney Plus (or straight to VHS back in the day), approach with caution.

The live-action remakes - Hot take: most of these are unnecessary. The original The Lion King is right there. The live-action version is... fine? But it's not better. Same with Mulan, which somehow took out all the songs and Mushu and still charged $30 extra when it first came out.

Anything your kid wants to watch on repeat that you can't stand - This is personal preference, but life's too short to hear "Let It Go" 400 more times if you've already hit your limit.

Use the profiles feature - Set up a kids profile. It filters out the mature content and makes browsing easier. You can also see what they've been watching, which is useful.

Search by age - Disney Plus has age-based categories, but they're not always obvious. Try searching "ages 5-7" or "preschool" to narrow things down.

Check the runtime before committing - Some "movies" are actually just three episodes of a show strung together. Know what you're getting into.

Create a watchlist - When you find something good, add it to your list. Future you will thank present you when you need a movie fast and your brain is blank.

Read the content warnings - Disney Plus shows you if there's scary content, mild violence, etc. Actually read them. "Fantasy action" can mean anything from magical sparkles to full-on battle sequences.

Disney Plus has legitimately great kids' movies—you just have to know where to look and what to skip. The classics (The Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast) are there and still hold up. The Pixar library is mostly gold. And the newer Disney Animation films are generally solid, even if they're trying really hard to recreate the Frozen magic.

The key is being intentional about what you put on. Just because it's animated and rated G doesn't mean it's worth two hours of your family's time. But when you find the good ones? They're actually worth rewatching. Even if you do end up with "Surface Pressure" stuck in your head for three weeks straight.

Set up your family's profile properly - Take five minutes to customize the kids profile settings. You can adjust the age rating and turn off autoplay, which is a game-changer.

Make a family watchlist together - Sit down with your kids and browse for 10 minutes. Let them add movies they want to watch, and you add some you think they'd like. Then when movie time comes, you're choosing from a curated list instead of scrolling endlessly.

Check out our guide to screen time balance - Because even the best movies are still screen time, and context matters.

And if you're looking for alternatives to movies, we've got guides for family board games, kid-friendly podcasts, and cozy video games that might give everyone's eyes a break from the screen.