Let's be real: "movie apps" is just what we call streaming services now that our kids have never known a world with Blockbuster. We're talking about the usual suspects — Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Max (formerly HBO Max), Hulu, Apple TV+, and Paramount+.
But here's the thing: not all streaming services are created equal when it comes to kids. Some have robust parental controls and genuinely excellent kids' sections. Others are basically throwing everything at the wall and hoping your 7-year-old doesn't stumble onto Euphoria.
The average family now subscribes to 3-4 streaming services, which means you're probably spending $40-80/month on content. That's a lot of money to hand over without understanding what safety features you're getting (or not getting).
And unlike the old days when you could just "not rent that movie," streaming services put thousands of titles at your kid's fingertips. The autoplay feature alone has caused more parenting stress than I can quantify. One minute they're watching Bluey, the next they've somehow landed on a true crime documentary about a serial killer.
Disney+ — The Safe Bet (Ages 2+)
The Good: Disney+ is the closest thing to a "set it and forget it" streaming service for young kids. The Kids Profile is genuinely locked down — we're talking G and PG content only. The catalog is deep with classics, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content. Encanto, Moana, the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe
, The Mandalorian — it's all here.
The Bad: The catalog skews young. If you have tweens or teens, they'll quickly exhaust the age-appropriate content and start complaining. Also, Disney's definition of "family-friendly" can be... optimistic. Some Marvel content is pretty intense for younger kids.
Parental Controls: Excellent. PIN-protected profiles, content ratings filters (G, PG, PG-13, etc.), and the Kids Profile is genuinely restricted.
Best For: Families with kids under 10 who want a relatively worry-free experience.
Netflix — The Chaotic Library (Ages 5+)
The Good: Netflix has the most content, period. Their kids' section includes some genuinely excellent originals like The Last Kids on Earth, Nailed It!, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. The recommendation algorithm is solid once you've trained it.
The Bad: Netflix's quality control is non-existent. For every Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, there are ten shows that are absolute brain rot. The autoplay and "Up Next" features are aggressive and will absolutely lead your kid down weird rabbit holes. Also, the Kids Profile isn't as locked down as Disney+ — you'll still need to actively curate.
Parental Controls: Decent but not great. You can set maturity ratings by profile, require a PIN for certain ratings, and view watch history. But the Kids Profile still surfaces a lot of questionable content.
Best For: Families willing to actively curate and monitor. Not great for young kids unsupervised.
Amazon Prime Video — The Messy Attic (Ages 8+)
The Good: Prime Video has some hidden gems, especially if you're willing to dig. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel... wait, that's not for kids. Okay, they have Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street and some solid movies in their catalog.
The Bad: The interface is a disaster. The Kids section exists but it's poorly organized and mixes free content with rentals, which is confusing for kids (and expensive for you). The parental controls are clunky.
Parental Controls: Weak. You can set up a Kids profile and PIN-protect purchases, but that's about it.
Best For: Families who already have Prime for shipping and want some occasional bonus content. Not worth subscribing for kids' content alone.
Max (HBO Max) — The Prestige Option (Ages 10+)
The Good: Max has quality over quantity. Studio Ghibli films, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Cartoon Network classics. The content that IS here is often excellent.
The Bad: The kids' section is thin, and HBO's bread and butter is prestige adult content. This is not a service you want your 6-year-old browsing unsupervised.
Parental Controls: Adequate. You can set up Kids Profiles with content restrictions and PIN protection.
Best For: Families with older kids (10+) who want access to higher-quality films and shows.
Apple TV+ — The Underdog (Ages 5+)
The Good: Apple TV+ has a surprisingly strong kids' lineup for such a new service. Ghostwriter, Helpsters, and Snoopy in Space are all solid. The production quality is consistently high.
The Bad: The catalog is small. You'll burn through the kids' content in a month or two.
Parental Controls: Good. Kids profiles with age restrictions and PIN protection.
Best For: Families already in the Apple ecosystem looking for a supplemental service with quality content.
YouTube and YouTube Kids deserve their own conversation. Short version: YouTube Kids is better than regular YouTube for young kids, but it's still the Wild West. Read our full guide on YouTube vs. YouTube Kids if this is a major part of your family's screen time.
Here's what you should be doing regardless of which services you subscribe to:
Set up separate profiles for each kid. This lets you tailor content by age and track what each child is watching.
Use PINs religiously. PIN-protect your adult profile, purchases, and anything rated above your comfort level.
Check watch history regularly. Not to spy, but to understand what the algorithm is serving up and course-correct if needed.
Disable autoplay. This feature is designed to keep eyeballs glued to screens. Turn it off in settings.
Co-watch when possible. Especially with new content. You'd be surprised what gets a "G" rating these days.
If you can only afford one service and have kids under 10, Disney+ is your best bet. It's the most consistently safe and has the deepest catalog for that age range.
If you have tweens/teens or want more variety, Netflix is worth it despite its chaos — but you'll need to be more hands-on with monitoring.
Max and Apple TV+ are great supplemental services if you're already paying for multiple subscriptions and want quality content for older kids.
Amazon Prime Video is fine if you already have it, but don't subscribe just for kids' content.
The real answer? Most families end up rotating services. Subscribe to Disney+ for three months, binge everything, cancel, switch to Netflix, repeat. There's no rule that says you need to maintain all subscriptions year-round.
Start with a family meeting. Show your kids how to navigate the Kids Profile on whichever service you choose. Explain why certain content is restricted and what they should do if they see something that makes them uncomfortable.
Do a 30-day audit. Check watch history weekly for the first month. Are your kids finding good content? Are they hitting the same show over and over? Are they wandering into weird territory?
Adjust as needed. Parental controls aren't set-it-and-forget-it. As your kids get older, you'll need to loosen restrictions. As new concerning content appears, you might need to tighten them.
And remember: streaming services are just one piece of the screen time puzzle. Balance is key, and that looks different for every family.