Max is what HBO Max rebranded to in 2023, and it's honestly one of the more underrated streaming platforms for families. While Netflix gets all the attention and Disney+ has the obvious IP, Max quietly has a surprisingly deep library of kids' movies — from Studio Ghibli films to Looney Tunes classics to newer releases that actually don't suck.
The catch? The interface is... not great for kids. There's no robust parental controls like Netflix, the "Kids" profile is pretty basic, and you'll find R-rated content sitting right next to Paddington. So this is a platform where you're going to want to curate what your kids watch rather than letting them browse freely.
Screenwise Parents
See allHere's what Max has that other platforms don't:
Studio Ghibli. The entire collection. My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service — these are genuinely beautiful films that aren't just "good for kids movies," they're legitimately great cinema. If your kids haven't experienced Ghibli yet, this alone justifies the subscription.
Classic Warner Bros. Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo — the stuff many of us grew up with. It's comfort food viewing, and honestly kind of refreshing compared to the hyper-stimulating content kids consume now.
HBO's prestige kids content. Sesame Street lives here now, along with other quality educational programming that doesn't feel like it was designed by an algorithm.
Surprisingly good family films. Max has a rotating selection of movies like The Iron Giant, Paddington 2, and various Pixar titles that come and go.
Let me break this down by age, because "kids movies" covers a massive range:
Ages 3-6: Gentle Introductions
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My Neighbor Totoro - This is the perfect first Ghibli film. Slow-paced, gentle, no villain, just two sisters and a giant forest spirit. If your kid can handle a movie that's not constantly stimulating them, this is magic.
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Kiki's Delivery Service - A young witch starts a delivery business. It's cozy, it's sweet, and it deals with burnout and depression in a way that's totally age-appropriate.
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Paddington / Paddington 2 - If you haven't seen these, you're missing out. They're genuinely funny, beautifully made, and have actual heart. Paddington 2 is legitimately one of the best family films of the last decade.
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Sesame Street movies - If your kid is in that Elmo phase, Max has you covered.
Ages 7-10: Building Taste
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The Iron Giant - A boy befriends a giant robot during the Cold War. It's beautiful, it's about choosing who you want to be, and yes, you will cry. There's some peril and sad moments, so know your kid.
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Spirited Away - This is the Ghibli film that won the Oscar, and for good reason. It's weirder and more intense than Totoro — a girl's parents turn into pigs, she has to work in a bathhouse for spirits — but it's absolutely stunning. Some kids find it scary, some are mesmerized. Ages 8+ is usually the sweet spot.
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The Lego Movie - Everything is awesome, including this movie. Smart, funny, doesn't talk down to kids.
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Smallfoot - A Yeti discovers humans exist. It's better than it has any right to be, with some surprisingly thoughtful themes about questioning what you're told.
Ages 10+: Ready for More
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Harry Potter series - The entire collection is usually on Max. If your kid hasn't read the books yet, maybe start there, but these are solid family movie nights. Just remember they get progressively darker — the first two are pretty light, by movie 4 we're dealing with actual death and trauma.
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Howl's Moving Castle - More complex Ghibli. A girl gets cursed to be old, moves into a wizard's castle. It's gorgeous, the plot is a bit confusing even for adults, but the vibes are immaculate.
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The Secret Garden (2020 version) - Underrated adaptation. Deals with grief and healing in ways that resonate with this age group.
Not everything in the "family" section deserves to be there:
Tom and Jerry - Look, I grew up with this, but the violence is pretty relentless. If you're trying to reduce aggressive behavior in your house, maybe skip the cat getting flattened by an iron 47 times.
Most live-action DC movies - Even the "kid-friendly" ones tend to be loud, chaotic, and kind of joyless. The animated ones are usually better.
Random direct-to-streaming movies - Max has a bunch of movies you've never heard of for a reason. Not every animated film with talking animals is worth 90 minutes of your life. Check reviews first.
Max's parental controls are pretty basic compared to Netflix or Disney+. You can set up a Kids profile that filters content to TV-7 and below, but:
- Kids can easily switch profiles if they know how
- The Kids profile is maybe too restrictive for older kids
- There's no PIN protection for individual titles
- The content filtering is all-or-nothing
Practical approach: Set up a Kids profile for younger children, but plan to watch with your older kids or pre-approve specific movies rather than letting them browse. Max is better as a "parent-curated" platform than a "kids explore freely" one.
Max isn't trying to be the everything-for-kids platform like Disney+, and that's actually kind of refreshing. What it does have is quality over quantity — the Studio Ghibli collection alone is a masterclass in what kids' movies can be when they're not just trying to sell toys.
Best for: Families who want to introduce their kids to beautiful, thoughtful films that aren't just brain candy. Parents who grew up with Looney Tunes and want to share that. Anyone tired of the same Disney/Pixar rotation on other platforms.
Not ideal for: Families who need robust parental controls. Kids who want to browse independently. Anyone looking for the latest trending kids' content (that's more YouTube and Netflix territory).
Pro tip: Make a watchlist of approved movies so your kids can choose from pre-selected options rather than scrolling through everything. It takes 10 minutes upfront and saves you from a lot of "can I watch this?" negotiations later.
Want to dig deeper into specific movies or compare streaming platforms? Check out our guides on finding quality family content or learn more about age-appropriate streaming
.