Topic: Mental Health, Anxiety, and the "Belief System"

If the first Inside Out was about learning that it’s okay to be sad, the sequel is a masterclass in the chaos of the teenage brain. Riley is now 13, and the "Console" has been hijacked by Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment.

What makes this movie a "big talk" catalyst isn't just the new characters—it’s the concept of the "Belief System." The movie shows how our experiences create beliefs ("I am a good person" vs. "I am not good enough"), which eventually form our identity.

How to talk about it: Ask your kid which emotion is "driving the console" lately. It’s a low-pressure way for them to admit they’re feeling overwhelmed without it feeling like a therapy session. If they say "Anxiety is definitely in charge," you can talk about how Anxiety in the movie actually thought she was helping Riley by preparing for every bad outcome. It’s a great bridge to discussing how to handle school stress.

Ask our chatbot for specific questions to ask your teen after Inside Out 2

Topic: Adaptation, Chosen Family, and Motherhood

Based on the incredible The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, this film is a visual gut-punch in the best way possible. Roz, a service robot, gets stranded on an island and has to "override" her programming to become a mother to an orphaned gosling.

This movie hits on two levels. For kids, it’s about fitting in when you feel like a "glitch." For parents, it’s a direct look at the self-sacrifice and "reprogramming" we do when we have children. It doesn't sugarcoat the wildness of nature, either. It’s honest about survival.

How to talk about it: Focus on the line: "Sometimes to survive, we must become more than we were programmed to be." Talk about what "programming" feels like for them—is it the pressure to get straight As? To be the best at sports? To act a certain way on TikTok?

Topic: Cooperation and Environmental Change

If you want to move away from "brain rot" entirely, Flow is your best bet. It’s a dialogue-free masterpiece about a cat and other animals navigating a world overtaken by a great flood.

Because there’s no talking, kids have to actually pay attention to visual cues and body language. It’s the ultimate antidote to the overstimulated, 2-second-cut style of YouTube Shorts.

How to talk about it: Since the movie is silent, the discussion can be about how the animals—who are natural enemies or strangers—had to trust each other to survive. It’s a perfect metaphor for community and how we treat people who are different from us when things get tough.

Topic: Grief and the Loss of Childhood Wonder

John Krasinski’s IF is a bit of a tear-jerker, but it handles the concept of "growing up" with a lot of grace. It follows a girl who can see everyone's discarded imaginary friends.

While it looks like a goofy comedy, it’s actually a story about a kid dealing with the fear of losing a parent and the way we use imagination to cope with trauma. It’s heavy, but it’s handled with a "Pixar-level" touch of whimsy.

How to talk about it: This is a great entry point to talk about how kids use digital worlds like Roblox to express themselves. Just like the "IFs" in the movie, sometimes the characters kids create in Roblox or Minecraft are ways for them to process their real-world feelings.

Topic: Imposter Syndrome and Finding Your Voice

Disney and Pixar’s next big one, Elio, follows an underdog who is accidentally beamed up to space and identified as the Ambassador for Earth. He’s a kid who doesn't fit in, suddenly tasked with representing the entire planet.

Why this matters: Every kid (and let’s be real, every adult) feels like an imposter sometimes. Elio is the personification of that "I have no idea what I'm doing" feeling.

Check out our preview guide for Elio and other 2025 releases

We talk a lot about "brain rot" in digital wellness circles. Usually, we’re referring to low-effort, high-stimulation content that provides zero nutritional value for a child's developing brain. Think of it like the "junk food" of media.

When we choose movies like The Wild Robot or Inside Out 2, we are providing "whole foods." These stories require empathy, pattern recognition, and emotional intelligence to process.

According to recent media usage stats, the average 8-to-12-year-old is spending about 4-6 hours a day on screens, much of it consumed in 30-second increments. A two-hour movie that follows a complex emotional arc is actually a "workout" for their attention span and their ability to empathize with others.

Not every "deep" movie is right for every kid. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Look, some of these movies are going to be "mid." You might sit through Spellbound and think the songs are annoying or the plot is predictable. That’s okay. The goal isn't necessarily for you to have a life-changing cinematic experience. The goal is to find a shared reference point.

When your kid is struggling with a friend group transition, you can say, "It’s like when Envy took over the console in Riley’s head." It gives them a way to talk about their feelings without the "cringe" of a direct "how are your feelings today?" conversation.

A note on "sad" movies: Don't be afraid of the movies that make them cry. Resilience isn't built by avoiding sad things; it's built by processing them in a safe environment (like your couch, with popcorn). If The Wild Robot makes them sob, that’s a win for their emotional development. It means they’re connecting.

Digital wellness isn't just about "screen time limits" or blocking apps. It’s about content quality. Replacing an hour of mindless scrolling with a high-quality film that explores the human condition is a massive upgrade for your family's digital life.

Next movie night, skip the "recommended for you" algorithm and pick something that actually has something to say.

Learn more about how to choose high-quality media for your family

Ask our chatbot for a personalized movie recommendation based on your kid's interests