TL;DR: The Quick List for February 2026
If you're just here to find out what to put on the TV tonight so you can finally fold that mountain of laundry in peace, here’s the current state of play:
- Zootopia 2: Now on VOD (rent/buy). Expected on Disney+ around March 11, 2026.
- Wicked: For Good: Now on VOD. Hits Peacock on March 20, 2026; Netflix on July 20, 2026.
- Avatar: Fire and Ash: Still in some theaters. Expected on Disney+ around June 2026.
- A Minecraft Movie: Streaming now on Max.
- The Bad Guys 2: Streaming now on Peacock; landing on Netflix any day now.
- Dog Man: Streaming now on Netflix.
Ask our chatbot for a curated movie list based on your kid's age
Look, I get it. We just survived the 2025 holiday movie rush, and now we’re in that weird February limbo where the weather is miserable and the "I'm bored" whines are reaching a fever pitch. You know the hits are out there—you probably spent $80 on popcorn and tickets to see them in November—but the real question is: When can I stream them so I don’t have to leave the house?
The 2026 streaming landscape is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle thanks to all those "shared window" deals between studios. Here is the no-BS breakdown of what’s worth your time, what’s coming soon, and what is—frankly—just brain rot in a shiny 4K wrapper.
The Vibe: High-stakes buddy-cop energy with a lot of fur. Status: Available to rent/buy on VOD; Disney+ release expected mid-March 2026.
Disney really took their time with this one (ten years!), and honestly? It paid off. Judy and Nick are back, and this time they’re hunting a mysterious reptile. It’s basically True Detective for the elementary school set, but with more jokes about sloths.
Parent Note: Like the first one, it deals with some heavier themes about prejudice and community, but it’s handled with the usual Pixar-level grace. If your kids are obsessed with the new character Gary (voiced by Ke Huy Quan), be prepared for them to ask for a pet snake.
The Vibe: Emotional, loud, and very, very green. Status: On VOD now. Peacock on March 20; Netflix in July.
The second half of the Wicked saga is finally making its way home. While the first movie was all about the "Popular" fun, For Good is where the real drama happens. It’s visually stunning, but I’ll be honest: it’s long. At home, this is a "pause for snacks" movie.
Parent Note: This part gets significantly darker than the first. The flying monkeys are actually creepy this time, and the ending—well, you know the musical—is a tear-jerker. Best for ages 8+.
Learn more about the Wicked: For Good age rating and content
The Vibe: Three hours of blue people being intense. Status: Theatrical only (for now). Expected on Disney+ in June 2026.
James Cameron did it again. It’s beautiful, it’s underwater (and now under fire with the "Ash People"), and it’s about a million hours long. Unless you have a massive home theater setup, you might actually want to catch this one in the cinema before it hits the small screen.
Parent Note: This is the darkest Avatar yet. There’s a lot of "Na'vi on Na'vi" violence. If your kids are sensitive to animal (or alien-animal) peril, maybe stick to the first one.
Platform: Max The Verdict: It's... fine.
Look, we all saw the trailer and worried. Jack Black as Steve is exactly what you expect, and Jason Momoa in a pink jacket is a choice. Is it high art? No. Is it a "pixelated mess of nostalgia" as some critics said? Kind of. But your kids will watch it three times in a row because they want to see the "chicken jockey" scene again.
Parent Note: It’s harmless. There’s some mild "video game violence" (creepers exploding, etc.), but it’s mostly just goofy fun. If your kid starts asking for Robux because of this, remind them this isn't even the same game.
Platform: Peacock (landing on Netflix soon) The Verdict: Actually better than the first one.
The "Bad Girls" squad is the highlight here. It’s fast-paced, the animation style is still that cool 2D/3D hybrid, and the humor actually lands for adults, too. It’s a solid Friday night pick.
Platform: Netflix The Verdict: Pure Dav Pilkey chaos.
If your kid has read the books, they have probably already watched this twice. It’s loud, it’s silly, and it features a cat who builds giant robots. It’s the definition of "kid-nip."
Parent Note: It’s very safe. Very little to worry about here other than the sheer volume of the sound effects.
Kids in 2026 are living in a "meme-first" culture. They don't just watch a movie; they watch the 15-second clips on YouTube or TikTok before the movie even comes out.
- The "Brain Rot" Factor: You’ll hear them talking about "Skibidi" or "Ohio" or whatever the new 2026 slang is while watching Minecraft. Don't panic. They’re just trying to connect what they see on the big screen to their digital social lives.
- The Rewatch Loop: Streaming makes it too easy to watch the same 10 minutes of Elio over and over. This is great for your productivity, but not great for their attention spans.
Check out our guide on managing the "rewatch loop" and screen time
| Movie | Best Age | The "Red Flag" |
|---|---|---|
| Zootopia 2 | 6+ | Mild peril, some "scary" reptile moments. |
| Wicked: For Good | 9+ | High emotional intensity, some dark magic. |
| Avatar: Fire and Ash | 12+ | Stylized violence, long runtime. |
| Dog Man | 5+ | Bathroom humor (it's Dav Pilkey, after all). |
| Minecraft Movie | 7+ | Mild fantasy violence, general goofiness. |
In 2026, the biggest frustration is finding where the movie is. Universal movies (like Wicked and The Bad Guys 2) usually hit Peacock first for 4 months, then jump to Netflix for 10 months, then go back to Peacock.
If you’re telling your kid "we'll watch it on Netflix" and it’s only on Peacock, you’re in for a meltdown. Always check the Screenwise app before you make promises!
Movie night doesn't have to be a battle. While Avatar might be a bit much for the littles, and Minecraft might make your brain hurt, we're actually in a bit of a "Golden Era" for high-quality animation.
- If you want something smart: Wait for Zootopia 2.
- If you want something to keep them quiet: A Minecraft Movie is your best friend.
- If you want to cry into your wine: Wicked: For Good.
- Check your subscriptions: Do you actually have Peacock? If not, you might be waiting until July for Wicked.
- Set a "One and Done" rule: To avoid the rewatch loop, try to make movie night a "one-time event" rather than something they can just restart the second it ends.
- Talk about the themes: Especially with movies like Zootopia 2, use the drive to school to ask what they thought about the characters' choices. It’s a low-pressure way to check in on their emotional processing.
Ask our chatbot for more family-friendly streaming recommendations